Julianne Moore

Moore plays Cathy Whitaker, a 1950’s housewife, in this drama written and directed by Todd Haynes. Cathy sees her world implode after finding out her husband Frank is gay. During the turmoil, she befriends Raymond, who, to the shock and disapproval of her friends and neighbors, is black. Co-starring Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert, Patricia Clarkson, and Viola Davis.

What’s interesting to me is that these movies are such a commentary couched as melodramas. It’s remarkable that Douglas Sirk and Todd Haynes are able to talk about people who are disenfranchised or kind of outside of their community in some way, or feeling the pressures of what it’s like to live in a town in the United States at that time. I mean, that’s what’s so exciting about these, but the content is actually so rich and interesting and humane.

Moore plays Audrey Woods, a New York divorce attorney, in this romantic comedy directed by Peter Howitt. Woods is constantly at odds with her main competitor, Daniel Rafferty (Pierce Brosnan). He is her opposite in every way, except one – they both find themselves gradually falling in love. Co-starring Parker Posey and Michael Sheen.

This was the first time that I’d done straight-up romantic comedy. I’ve never come across one, and I never had one that I liked so much before. I really liked this. These very professional people meet each other and kind of gradually fall for each other. It’s about learning how to take responsibility for your personal life.

Moore plays Susanna, a rock star, in this drama directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel and adapted for the screen by Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright from the 1897 Henry James novel of the same name.  Susanna lives with Beale, an art dealer, but as middle age ennui begins setting in, they separate and spark a tug-of-war over their daughter, Maisie. Co-starring Steve Coogan and Alexander Skarsgard. Moore speaks on Susanna:

What’s interesting to me about Susanna as a mother, particularly, is how inconsistent she is. You see how much she loves this child, and how much she would like to be able to parent this child — and then her own inability to do it.