Single Best Performance by an Actress (Hollywood, war, actors, oscar)

[ans57]

Hilary Swank in "Big Boys Don't Cry."

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by jtur88

Charlize Theron in "Monster"

Ditto

[greatblueheron]

Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice.....so very admirable. Same for C Theron/Monster.

Adding one more to the list and due a thrashing from OP:

Patty Duke as Helen Keller in The Miracle Worker

[Willsson]

There are several great actresses who could satisfy single best performance but really, that would be a viewers choice. And as much as Kathryn Hepburn has always been my idea of the perfect woman and actress... (sorry ladies, she is a great deal like my mother, physically and mentally)

I'd have to give the ultimate award to Bette Davis.

[Miaiam]

Meryl Streep's Sophie's Choice.

But there are many others who were equally amazing too.

[annika08]

Lili Taylor as Valerie Solanis in I Shot Andy Warhol

[English Dave]

Jane Fonda in They shoot horses don't they? (1969)

[Niftybergin]

Meryl Streep in Out of Africa.

[English Dave]

A poster said Bette Davis without naming a film of hers. Many years ago I
would have agreed, but, I now find I find her hard to watch in many of her
peak years films. She is very mannered and quite irritating to watch with her
arms flying everywhere, spinning round to dramatic effect etc. BUT in a few
films she is still great, generally when directed by William Wyler. I still like her in
Jezabel and The Little Foxes, both directed by him.

[jtur88]

Originally Posted by English Dave

Jane Fonda in They shoot horses don't they? (1969)

Funny, I had been thinking of Jane Fonda for "Julia" (1977). Is it still considered Treason for an American to say Jane Fonda was a good actress?

I like Annika's choice of Lili Taylor, too.