Academy Award-nominated Toni Collette is an actress who never fails to deliver. Whether she is playing an ABBA-loving social outcast or a puckered middle-aged influencer, she gives it her all, and then some. Recently starring as Laura Oliver in the Netflix thriller miniseriesPieces of Her, the actress — whose career spans several decades — isn’t relinquishing her crown anytime soon.
In honor of Collette’s contribution to the big and small screen, this article charts the actress’s five best movies and series. FromMuriel’s WeddingtoKnives Out, these are the titles that earned Collette her fans, and the status of Australia’s national treasure.
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Muriel’s Wedding (1994)
Directed by P. J. Hogan,Muriel’s Weddingis a comedy-drama movie about a social outcast (Collette) living in a dead-end town in Australia. Fed up with her humdrum life, Muriel steals money from her family to fund atrip to Sydneywhere she hopes to find a husband and finally get the big wedding she’s dreamed of. Moving in with best friend Rhona (Rachel Griffiths), and getting a job at a video store, Muriel finds herself not one, but two suitors — one a shy, awkward man (Matt Day), and the other a buff athlete (Daniel Wyllie) needing a visa.
Fans ofBeachesandThelma and Louisewill loveMuriel’s Weddingwhich, contrary to its title, is actually more about Muriel’sfriendship(with Rhonda) than anything. Rhonda brings out the best in Muriel — as Collette and Griffiths seem to do for each other — and viewers have the pleasure of watching the duo jam to ABBA and take revenge on their insufferable childhood bullies. Funny, sweet, and sad at the same time,Muriel’s Weddingis, above all, a feminist flick, boosted by strong performances from its female actresses.
The Sixth Sense (1999)
The third movie from directorM. Night Shyamalan,The Sixth Senseis also his best to date. A supernatural thriller, it follows child-psychologist Malcolm Crowe (Bruce Willis) whose 9-year-old patient (Haley Joel Osment) claims he can speak to the dead. In this movie, Toni Collette stars as Osment’s on-screen mother Lynn Sear. Understandably, Lynn is concerned about her son’s wellbeing and, like Malcolm, is initially skeptical of his gifts. Is Cole a medium or merely delusional?
Collette received an Oscar nomination for her performance as Cole’s mother, and for good reason. The actress portrays Lynn’s heartbreak, and love for her son, with ease, and it’s hard not to feel sympathy for the woman. Collette’s emotional performance reaches its peak when Lynn and Cole discussthe latter’s gift. Visibly distressed, Lynn is also angry when Cole claims his grandmother (Lynn’s mother) visits him sometimes. Her attitude changes, however, when Cole relays information he otherwise would have no way of knowing. This causes Lynn to break down and hug her child in a very tender moment.
Hereditary (2018)
The horror movie that made Ari Aster a household name, and A24 a lot of money,Hereditarystars Toni Collette as Annie Graham, a miniature artist living with her husband Steve (Gabriel Byrne), and their two children, 16-year-old Peter (Alex Wolff) and 13-year-old Charlie (Milly Shapiro). Following the death of Annie’s mother Ellen (Kathleen Chalfant), a mysterious presence begins to haunt the family, targeting Peter and Charlie in particular.
Though Collette has starred in other horror movies (The Night Listener,Fright Night,Krampus) none have achieved the same level of success asHereditary,which is a modern horror like no other (except maybeMidsommar:Aster’s second movie). Collette’s performance is also unmatched, rivalling established Scream Queens such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Sarah Paulson. Delving deep into Annie’s psyche, Collette embodies her tortured soul with surprising authenticity. There isnothing corny or clichéabout Annie’s terror; her screams are terrifying, whether they are deafening or silent, and her performance in the second half is truly haunting.
Unbelievable (2019)
Based on a true story,Unbelievableis a Netflix miniseries about a teenage girl named Marie Adler (Kaitlyn Dever) who is accused of lying about having been raped. Forced to withdraw her statement by police officers who don’t believe her, Marie is shunned by her family and peers and left feeling hopeless. That is until detectives Karen Duvall (Merritt Wever) and Grace Rasmussen (Collette) take on her case. Investigating a series of similar crimes, the two women uncover evidence that might just prove Marie’s innocence and bring her perpetrator to justice.
Colette is theepitome of a strong, independent womanin this series. Both Grace and Karen are forces to be reckoned with and put the male police officers who failed Marie to shame. They are smart, sympathetic, and best of all, based on real women. The highlight of Marie’s story, they are also the highlight of the series, embodying as they do, the light at the end of the tunnel. A testament to their magnetism, Collette won a Critics' Choice Award for her performance as Grace, and both she and Wever were nominated for Golden Globes.
Knives Out (2019)
Directed by Rian Johnson,Knives Outis a murder mystery movie with an ensemble cast of A-listers including Daniel Craig, Christopher Plummer, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and, of course, Toni Collette. When wealthy crime novelist Harlan Thrombey (Plummer) is found dead the morning after his 85th birthday party, hiscryptic and greedy familyare individually questioned by renowned detective Benoit Blanc (Craig). As secrets are spilt, it soon becomes clear that everyone has a motive, making Blanc’s job very difficult indeed.
Full of twists and turns, Academy Award-nominatedKnives Outis the ultimate detective movie. In it, Collette plays Joni, Harlan’s widowed daughter-in-law. AGwyneth Paltrow-esque figure, Joni is the owner of failing skincare company Flam and needs money to right the company’s tainted image. Again, Collette steps into this role like it is her. And though Joni is a total headache, the actress at least elicits a few laughs at her expense.
