10 films with actress Carey Mulligan.
This week, Carey Mulligan turned 35. It is amazing how many great roles she has played in the last two decades, given her young age. Not only the number of films is unusual, but also the quality - she has worked with some renowned directors and costars, and has been in adaptations of wonderful pieces of literature by Ishiguro, Hardy, Austen and Fitzgerald. Here are my 10 favourite roles to date.
An Education (2009) by Lone Scherfig
A wonderful and clever coming-of-age film, in which Carey Mulligan plays the protagonist Jenny, who browns up in the London of the 60s. She's a smart and diligent student, whose strict father has high expectations for her. When she meets a much older man, she is fascinated by the new world he opens up to her. A magical film with great performances.
Also starring Peter Saarsgard, Rosamunde Pike, Dominic Cooper, Alfred Molina and Olivia Williams.
Never Let Me Go (2010) by Mark Romanek
Carey Mulligan plays the protagonist in this adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's dystopian novel. Her character Cathy is also the narrator, therefore giving the audience a special connection with her. The film tells the mysterious tale of a group of children growing up in a boarding school, which turns out to be quite unusual. A haunting film.
Also starring Keira Knightley, Andrew Garfield, Sally Hawkins and Charlotte Rampling.
Drive (2010) by Nicolas Winding Refn
An award-winning action film with stunning visuals and haunting music. Ryan Gosling plays the nameless driver, who works both in the film industry and as a getaway driver for criminals. Carey Mulligan plays his neighbour, who lives alone with her son while her husband is in prison. When the two become involved, the situation become difficult for the driver. A suspenseful and stylish film with great atmosphere.
Also starring Ryan Gosling, Bryan Cranston, Oscar Isaac and Christina Hendricks.
Mudbound (2017) by Dee Rees
A film based on the novel by Hillary Jordan, which details the lives of two families in Mississippi after WWII. A white family moves to a more rural neighbourhood, with the young mother played by Carey Mulligan struggling in the new circumstances. A black family nearby, however, is facing very different issues; when each family receives a soldier returning from the war, the contrasts become more distinct. A touching drama with great performances.
Also starring Mary J. Blige, Garret Hedlund, Jason Mitchell, Jason Clarke and Jonathan Banks.
Shame (2011) by Steve McQueen
An unusual film centred on a sibling relationship. The protagonist Brandon is a sex-addict, whose life is already complex enough. But when his sister, played by Carey Mulligan, arrives in New York and wants to stay with him, things become more complex. Mulligan's role is especially famous for a musical performance in a night-club.
Also starring Michael Fassbender.
Far from the Madding Crowd (2015) by Thomas Vinterberg
A visually stunning film based on the novel by Thomas Hardy, which is considered to be one of the most positive things he has written among many tragic novels. His heroine Bathsheba Everdene, played by Carey Mulligan, receives a life-changing inheritance and takes over her family's farm and employees. The new position brings challenges and several interesting men into her life. A Victorian masterpiece, a must see.
Also starring Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge and Juno Temple.
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) by Joel & Ethan Coen
A sad tale of a musician in the 60s in New York, who just cannot seem to catch a break. The protagonist Llewyn Davis, played by Oscar Isaac, is struggling to move his music career forward, and experiences many unexpected challenges. Carey Mulligan plays the most important woman in his life, but of course that is a difficult relationship as well. An unusual Coen film, with plenty of melancholy and music.
Also starring Oscar Isaac, John Goodman, Garret Hedlund, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver.
Suffragette (2015) by Sarah Gavron
Set in London in 1912, a group of women is fighting for women's rights, becoming increasingly frustrated and ready to take bigger risks. In a great cast of female actresses, Carey Mulligan plays a young mother who is struggling to manage her roles and duties towards her child, husband, and her activism. Based on true events with mainly fictional characters; an insightful film about an essential period in women's rights.
Also starring Helena Bonham Carter, Brendan Gleeson, Anne-Marie Duff and Meryl Streep.
The Great Gatsby (2013) by Baz Luhrman
A rather modern adaptation of Fitzgerald's classic, which is showing the luxurious world of the American elites during the Roaring 20s. The protagonist Nick Carraway moves into a new place next to a mysterious man named Gatsby, and finds out that this man knows his cousin Daisy. Daisy Buchanan, the glamorous but unhappy heiress, is played by Carey Mulligan amidst a great ensemble in this expensive production.
Also starring Tobey Maguire, Leonardo Di Caprio, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki and Isla Fisher.
Wildlife (2018) by Paul Dano
The directorial debut of actor Paul Dano, who tackles a family story. Carey Mulligan plays a wife and mother, who has trouble accepting the realities of her life. Especially when her husband takes on a dangerous physical job, she is coping in unusual ways, creating a difficult situation for her teenage son. An interesting family portrait, in which Carey Mulligan delivers an unusual and strong performance.
Also starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Ed Oxenbould.
Note: The adaptation by Joe Wright of Pride & Prejudice (2005) is not listed because Carey is not the protagonist, even though she plays Kitty Bennet wonderfully; and her role in Public Enemies (2009) along Johnny Depp is too small as well. The TV series Bleak House (2005) based on Dicken's wonderful novel isn't listed because it's not a film.
And to finish off, some glimpses into the many charming facial expressions of Carey Mulligan
(in the order of the above mentioned films):
To show her singing talent, here are a few of her musical moments in these films. She is maybe not the kind of actor who would have a career as a singer, but she sure creates some magical moments on screen.
(Images: IMDB)