Toni Collette

Collette plays Ellie Klug, an alcoholic rock journalist, in this drama directed by Megan Griffiths. In her youth, Ellie dated Matthew Smith, an influential folk musician, until he disappeared. Now, she is on the verge of losing her job at a music magazine unless she finds Matthew and writes a story about him. Co-starring Oliver Platt and Thomas Haden Church.

Someone like Ellie, her intention is to numb out. She’s basically self-medicating with a lot of alcohol and avoiding any kind of intimacy or real relationship because it’s too confronting.

Collette plays Pam, a single mother with a new boyfriend, in this dramedy written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash. Pam takes her son, her boyfriend, and her boyfriend’s daughter on a summer vacation where truths are revealed. Co-starring Steve Carrell and Allison Janney. On her character’s journey:

Well, the truth is dawning on Pam. She’s listening, but she’s ignoring. It’s a matter of actually having some self-respect, and listening to that truthful affirmance in your heart. That’s all you can do, really — in anything in life.