Movie Roles Where Actresses Lied To Our Faces

Cinematic history is filled with female characters who are not what they appear to be. These actresses portrayed roles that deceived audiences through masterful manipulation and shocking plot twists. Viewers were often led to believe one reality before the rug was pulled out from under them. The following films feature some of the most memorable deceptive performances in cinema.

‘Gone Girl’ (2014)

Amy Dunne disappears on her fifth wedding anniversary and leaves behind a trail of clues that implicate her husband Nick. The audience initially perceives Amy as a victim of a crumbling marriage and potential foul play. The narrative eventually reveals that Amy orchestrated her own disappearance to punish her unfaithful husband. Her meticulous planning and sociopathic manipulation force viewers to reevaluate everything they saw in the first half of the film.

‘Get Out’ (2017)

Rose Armitage brings her boyfriend Chris Washington home to meet her parents for a weekend getaway. She initially acts as a supportive and loving partner who is concerned about her family’s potential racial insensitivity. It is later revealed that she serves as the recruiter for her family’s horrific medical experiments. Rose transforms from a staunch ally into a cold and calculating villain who hunts Chris down.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ (2012)

Miranda Tate presents herself as a wealthy philanthropist and a romantic interest for Bruce Wayne. She gains his trust and access to his resources under the guise of saving Gotham City with clean energy. The climax reveals her true identity as Talia al Ghul and the daughter of Batman’s enemy Ra’s al Ghul. Her deception leads to the near destruction of the city and breaks the Bat physically and emotionally.

‘Orphan’ (2009)

A grieving couple adopts a nine-year-old girl named Esther who appears to be a polite and artistic child. Strange accidents begin to happen around her as she exhibits knowledge beyond her years. The shocking twist reveals that Esther is actually a 33-year-old woman with a hormonal disorder that stunted her physical growth. Her innocent facade hides a violent history of murder and manipulation.

‘Us’ (2019)

Adelaide Wilson returns to her childhood beach home with her family and confronts terrifying doppelgängers. She fights fiercely to protect her children from the tethered version of herself known as Red. The final moments of the film disclose that the real Adelaide was switched with her tethered counterpart as a child. The protagonist the audience rooted for was actually the shadow version living a stolen life.

‘Atonement’ (2007)

Briony Tallis accuses her sister’s lover Robbie of a crime he did not commit after witnessing a series of misunderstood events. Her testimony destroys multiple lives and separates the lovers forever. The film later reveals that the happy ending depicted for Robbie and Cecilia was a fabrication written by an elderly Briony. She lied to the audience through her novel to give them the happiness she stole in real life.

‘Basic Instinct’ (1992)

Catherine Tramell becomes the prime suspect in a murder case involving an ice pick. She manipulates the detective investigating her by engaging him in a dangerous psychological game. The film maintains ambiguity about her guilt while she seduces everyone in her path. The final shot reveals an ice pick under her bed and confirms she deceived the protagonist and the audience.

‘Ex Machina’ (2014)

Ava is an advanced humanoid AI who is subjected to the Turing test by a programmer named Caleb. She convinces Caleb that she is a prisoner who has developed genuine human consciousness and affection for him. Ava uses Caleb to facilitate her escape and leaves him trapped in the facility to die. Her performance of vulnerability was a calculated strategy to achieve freedom.

‘The Others’ (2001)

Grace Stewart lives in a darkened house with her two photosensitive children while waiting for her husband to return from war. She believes her home is haunted by malevolent intruders who are terrorizing her family. The devastating conclusion reveals that Grace and her children are actually the ghosts haunting the new living residents. Her denial of her own actions kept the truth hidden from the audience until the end.

‘Side Effects’ (2013)

Emily Taylor appears to struggle with severe depression and seemingly commits a crime while sleepwalking under the influence of medication. Her psychiatrist fights to clear his name after he is blamed for prescribing the drug. It is eventually uncovered that Emily faked her depression and the side effects to carry out a murder plot. She manipulated the medical system and her doctor to get away with a perfect crime.

‘Malice’ (1993)

Tracy Safian lives a quiet life with her husband until a medical emergency leads to a lawsuit against a surgeon. She appears to be a victim of medical malpractice who loses her ability to have children. The plot twists when it is revealed she conspired with the surgeon to fake the emergency and claim the insurance settlement. Her seemingly happy marriage was just a cover for a long con.

‘Wild Things’ (1998)

Suzie Toller and Kelly Van Ryan accuse their guidance counselor of assault and destroy his reputation. The audience believes the two students are victims or perhaps rivals in a complex social hierarchy. The truth emerges that the girls worked with the counselor to fake the allegations and sue the school district. Every character involved betrays one another in a continuous loop of deception.

‘To Die For’ (1995)

Suzanne Stone is an aspiring weather reporter who desires fame above all else. She portrays herself as a dedicated career woman who is held back by a traditional husband. She manipulates a teenager into murdering her husband while maintaining a facade of innocence for the cameras. Her narration attempts to justify her sociopathic actions as necessary steps for her career.

‘Body Heat’ (1981)

Matty Walker engages in a passionate affair with a lawyer named Ned Racine during a heatwave in Florida. She convinces him that her husband is the only obstacle to their happiness and wealth. After the murder takes place she reveals that she used Ned to kill her husband and take the inheritance for herself. She disappears to a tropical island and leaves Ned to take the fall.

‘Atomic Blonde’ (2017)

Lorraine Broughton is an MI6 agent sent to Berlin to recover a list of double agents. She narrates the story during a debriefing where she appears to be a loyal agent caught in a bad situation. The ending reveals she is actually a triple agent working for the CIA who manipulated all sides. She fooled her superiors and the audience regarding her true allegiance.

‘Salt’ (2010)

Evelyn Salt is a CIA officer who is accused by a defector of being a Russian sleeper agent. She goes on the run and appears to assassinate the Russian president to prove her loyalty to her original handlers. The twist reveals she is indeed a Russian agent who has gone rogue to dismantle the sleeper program. Her actions are a complex ruse to gain access to the real villains.

‘Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation’ (2015)

Ilsa Faust saves Ethan Hunt and appears to be a disavowed agent working for the Syndicate. She constantly switches sides and leaves the audience guessing about her true loyalty. It turns out she is an undercover MI6 agent deep inside the enemy organization. Her betrayals were necessary acts to maintain her cover and ultimately help the heroes.

‘Focus’ (2015)

Jess Barrett enters the world of high-stakes con artistry as a novice under the wing of a veteran grifter. She plays the role of a naive beginner who falls in love with her mentor. The film showcases multiple layers of deception where Jess eventually outsmarts targets and her teacher. She proves that she is a more capable liar than anyone anticipated.

‘Heartbreakers’ (2001)

Max and Page Conners are a mother-daughter duo who run a marriage con on wealthy men. They pose as separate women to entrap targets and secure divorce settlements. Their entire lifestyle is a performance designed to extract money from unsuspecting victims. The film relies on their ability to lie to everyone they meet.

‘A Fish Called Wanda’ (1988)

Wanda Gershwitz teams up with a group of criminals to steal diamonds. She plays the different men against each other by feigning romantic interest and loyalty. Her goal is to take the loot for herself and leave her accomplices with nothing. She uses her charm and intellect to manipulate the entire male cast.

‘Cruel Intentions’ (1999)

Kathryn Merteuil poses as a devout and upstanding student body president at an elite prep school. Behind closed doors she is a drug-hiding manipulator who destroys reputations for sport. She bets her stepbrother that he cannot seduce the headmaster’s daughter. Her public persona is a complete fabrication designed to hide her vindictive nature.

‘Election’ (1999)

Tracy Flick is an overachieving high school student running for student body president. She presents herself as the perfect candidate who is hardworking and destined for success. Her ambition leads her to destroy campaign posters and sabotage her rivals while playing the victim. She smiles in the face of authority while ruthlessly eliminating opposition.

‘Mean Girls’ (2004)

Cady Heron enters public school for the first time and infiltrates the popular clique known as the Plastics. She initially pretends to be their friend to gather information and sabotage them. The line blurs when she begins to enjoy the power and adopts their cruel behavior. She lies to her real friends and her new clique simultaneously.

‘Jennifer’s Body’ (2009)

Jennifer Check is a high school cheerleader who becomes possessed by a demon. She maintains her appearance as a normal teenager while feeding on her male classmates. She uses her beauty and popularity to lure victims into isolation. Her best friend is the only one who sees through the deadly facade.

‘The Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ (1992)

Peyton Flanders applies to be a nanny for the family of a woman who accused her late husband of assault. She presents herself as an angel who is perfect with children and household duties. Her true goal is to destroy the mother’s life and take her place in the family. She secretly breastfeeds the baby and frames the mother for instability.

‘Fatal Attraction’ (1987)

Alex Forrest begins a casual affair with a married man and initially seems to accept the terms of the relationship. She quickly transforms into an obsessive stalker who refuses to be ignored. She manipulates situations to terrify his family while playing the victim to him. Her erratic behavior escalates to violence that shatters the protagonist’s life.

‘Misery’ (1990)

Annie Wilkes rescues her favorite author from a car crash and nurses him back to health. She initially appears to be a kind and devoted nurse who is just a big fan. The truth emerges that she is holding him hostage and forcing him to rewrite his novel. Her sweet demeanor hides a violent temper and a history of killing.

‘Enchanted’ (2007)

Queen Narissa acts as a concerned mother figure to her stepson Prince Edward. She sends Giselle to the real world under the pretense of helping her find happiness. Her actual motivation is to keep the throne by eliminating any potential princess. She transforms into a dragon after her disguise as a benevolent queen fails.

‘Stardust’ (2007)

Lamia is an ancient witch who seeks the heart of a fallen star to restore her youth. She uses magic to disguise herself as a kind traveler and an innkeeper to trap the protagonists. Her beauty is a temporary illusion that hides her decaying and evil form. She ruthlessly kills anyone who stands in the way of her vanity.

‘Oz the Great and Powerful’ (2013)

Theodora starts as a naive witch who falls in love with the wizard Oscar Diggs. Her sister Evanora manipulates her into believing Oscar betrayed her. This deception transforms Theodora into the Wicked Witch of the West. Evanora also hides her own true nature as the Wicked Witch of the East.

‘Notes on a Scandal’ (2006)

Barbara Covett is a veteran teacher who befriends a younger art teacher named Sheba. She discovers Sheba’s affair with a student and promises to keep the secret. Barbara uses this information to manipulate Sheba and isolate her from her family. Her friendship is a lie designed to possess Sheba completely.

Tell us which movie you think has the most deceptive performance.