Rachel Weisz’s Best Roles

Rachel Weisz is a truly captivating performer, an English actress who combines formidable intelligence with deep emotional resonance in every role she takes on. A Cambridge University graduate, she began her career in the theater before making a name for herself in Hollywood with a series of memorable performances. She has proven her incredible versatility time and again, moving effortlessly between crowd-pleasing blockbusters and challenging independent films.

Her talent has been recognized with the industry’s highest honors, including an Academy Award, showcasing her ability to deliver deeply moving and complex character studies. Whether she is playing a daring adventurer, a passionate activist, or a cunning courtier, Weisz brings a unique grace and strength to the screen, cementing her status as one of the most respected actors working today.

‘Disobedience’ (2017)

In this powerful drama, Rachel Weisz portrays Ronit Krushka, a successful photographer living a secular life in New York. She is forced to return to the Orthodox Jewish community in London that she left behind years ago following the death of her estranged father, a revered rabbi. Her reappearance is a disruption to the community’s quiet, traditional way of life.

The film explores Ronit’s reconnection with two childhood friends, one of whom she had a forbidden romance with as a teenager. This friend is now married to the other, creating a complex and emotionally charged dynamic. The story is a sensitive and intimate look at faith, sexuality, and the tension between personal freedom and community obligation.

‘The Brothers Bloom’ (2008)

Weisz plays Penelope Stamp, a wealthy and eccentric shut-in who becomes the target of two globetrotting con men. Penelope has mastered a vast array of hobbies but has experienced very little of the real world, making her both a seemingly easy mark and an unpredictable force. Her character is quirky, charming, and yearning for adventure.

The story follows the two con artist brothers as they embark on one last job, planning to swindle Penelope out of her fortune. However, their plan gets complicated when genuine feelings develop and Penelope proves to be more than they bargained for. It is a whimsical and stylish caper film about love and the art of the con.

‘Black Widow’ (2021)

Rachel Weisz joins the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Melina Vostokoff, a highly skilled spy and scientist from Russia’s Red Room program. She served as a mother figure to a young Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova during an undercover mission in America. Her character is a brilliant, tough, and somewhat socially awkward veteran of espionage.

The film sees Natasha Romanoff confronting the dark parts of her past, which forces a reunion with her estranged spy family, including Melina. Together, they must team up to take down the very program that created them. Melina’s scientific expertise and complex history with the Red Room are crucial to their mission.

‘Constantine’ (2005)

In this supernatural action film, Weisz takes on a dual role, playing twin sisters Angela and Isabel Dodson. Angela is a skeptical LAPD detective who refuses to believe her devoutly Catholic sister’s death was a suicide. Her investigation leads her into a dark and hidden world of demons and angels that walk the Earth.

She seeks the help of John Constantine, a cynical occult expert who can see the half-breed supernatural beings living among humans. Together, they uncover a demonic plot that threatens the balance between heaven and hell. Weisz effectively portrays both the determined detective and her tormented, psychic twin.

‘Runaway Jury’ (2003)

Weisz plays Marlee, a mysterious and cunning woman who operates on the outside of a high-profile court case against a powerful gun manufacturer. She communicates with her partner on the inside, a juror named Nicholas Easter, and together they claim they can control the jury and deliver any verdict for a price.

This legal thriller pits them against a ruthless jury consultant hired by the defense and a principled lawyer arguing for the plaintiff. Marlee and Nick play a dangerous game, manipulating both sides as they pursue their own secret agenda. The film is a tense and clever story full of twists and turns.

‘About a Boy’ (2002)

In this charming romantic comedy-drama, Weisz portrays Rachel, a cool, intelligent single mother. She enters the life of the film’s protagonist, Will Freeman, a wealthy and immature man who has been coasting through life on his father’s royalties. Rachel’s character is a grounding force who challenges Will’s shallow lifestyle.

The story follows Will as he invents a fictional son to try and meet single women at a support group. Through this ruse, he befriends a lonely 12-year-old boy named Marcus, and it is through Marcus that he eventually meets and falls for Rachel. The film is a heartwarming tale about growing up, no matter your age.

‘Definitely, Maybe’ (2008)

Weisz is one of three women from the past of the main character, Will Hayes, in this cleverly structured romantic comedy. She plays Summer Hartley, a confident and ambitious aspiring journalist who has a passionate and complicated relationship with Will during his early years in New York City.

The film’s story is told in flashbacks as Will recounts his romantic history to his young daughter, changing the names so she has to guess which of the three women is her mother. Weisz’s character represents a specific, exciting chapter in Will’s life as he tries to navigate love and career in the big city.

‘The Lobster’ (2015)

In this surreal and darkly comedic film, Weisz plays a character known only as the Short Sighted Woman. She is part of a group of escaped single people called Loners who live in the woods to avoid a society that forces them to find a partner. Her character also serves as the movie’s deadpan narrator.

The story is set in a dystopian near-future where single people are taken to a hotel and given 45 days to find a romantic partner. If they fail, they are transformed into an animal of their choosing and released into the wild. She becomes the love interest of the protagonist, and their forbidden romance challenges the strict rules of both society and the Loners.

‘The Mummy’ (1999)

In her international breakout role, Rachel Weisz stars as Evelyn “Evy” Carnahan, a brilliant and spirited Egyptologist working as a librarian in 1920s Cairo. She is determined to find the lost city of the dead, Hamunaptra, and prove herself as a serious scholar. Her character is a perfect blend of intelligence, bravery, and comedic clumsiness.

Evy hires an American adventurer, Rick O’Connell, to guide her and her brother to the mythical city. Once there, she accidentally reads from the cursed Book of the Dead, unleashing a powerful and vengeful ancient mummy. The film is a hugely entertaining action-adventure that became a massive worldwide hit.

‘The Fountain’ (2006)

Weisz gives a moving performance in a dual role, primarily as Izzi Creo, the terminally ill wife of a modern-day research scientist. In a parallel historical storyline, she plays Queen Isabella of Spain, who sends a conquistador on a quest to find the Tree of Life. Her character is the emotional heart of this visually stunning and philosophical film.

The movie tells three interwoven stories across a millennium, following a man’s quest to save the woman he loves from death. It is a complex and ambitious exploration of love, mortality, and spirituality. Weisz’s portrayal of Izzi provides the film with its profound sense of grace and tragedy.

‘Youth’ (2015)

In this contemplative drama, Weisz plays Lena Ballinger, the daughter and assistant of a retired, world-renowned orchestra conductor. She is vacationing with her father at a luxurious resort in the Swiss Alps when her husband, the son of her father’s best friend, abruptly leaves her for another woman.

The film follows the two old friends, the conductor and a famous film director, as they reflect on their lives, careers, and the passage of time. Lena’s personal crisis forces her to confront her own relationship with her aging father and re-evaluate her life. It’s a beautifully shot film about art, memory, and aging.

‘The Constant Gardener’ (2005)

Rachel Weisz won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Tessa Quayle, a passionate and headstrong human rights activist in Kenya. Her character is fiercely dedicated to exposing the corrupt practices of a multinational pharmaceutical company that is testing dangerous drugs on the local population.

The film begins after Tessa is found brutally murdered. Her husband, a mild-mannered British diplomat, begins to investigate her death, uncovering the dangerous conspiracy she was on the verge of revealing. Told through a series of flashbacks, Weisz’s vibrant performance drives the narrative of this compelling political thriller.

‘Sunshine’ (1999)

In this epic historical drama, Weisz plays a pivotal role as Valerie, a character connected to three generations of a Hungarian Jewish family. The film chronicles the family’s story throughout the turbulent political changes of the 20th century, from the Austro-Hungarian Empire to the aftermath of the 1956 revolution.

The narrative follows the Sonnenschein family as they navigate war, political upheaval, and persecution. They are repeatedly forced to make compromises to survive, and Weisz’s character becomes a key figure in the family’s dramatic and often tragic history. It is a sweeping saga about identity and perseverance.

‘The Favourite’ (2018)

Weisz earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Lady Sarah Churchill, the Duchess of Marlborough, in this sharp-witted historical black comedy. She is the brilliant and manipulative confidante of the frail and volatile Queen Anne of Great Britain. Lady Sarah effectively governs the country in the Queen’s stead, all while managing the monarch’s health and erratic moods.

Her dominant position at court is challenged by the arrival of her younger cousin, Abigail Hill, who uses her charm to ingratiate herself with the Queen. A vicious rivalry develops between the two women as they compete for the Queen’s affection and influence. The film is a darkly funny and acerbic look at power and jealousy.

‘Enemy at the Gates’ (2001)

In this World War II drama, Weisz plays Tania Chernova, a citizen of Stalingrad who becomes a soldier and a skilled sniper in the Red Army. She fights bravely during the brutal Battle of Stalingrad, one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history. Her character is strong, principled, and deeply committed to defending her city.

The film centers on a tense duel between the Soviet Union’s celebrated sniper hero, Vasily Zaytsev, and a highly skilled German major sent to eliminate him. Tania becomes involved with Vasily, creating a love triangle with a political officer that adds a layer of personal drama to the deadly cat-and-mouse game being fought amidst the ruins of the city.

What is your favorite Rachel Weisz performance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.