Favorite Modern Actresses Spotlight: Joan Allen

Just watched an entertaining special on TCM as host Elvis Mitchell interviewed actress Joan Allen. Known to most audiences today for the films The Bourne Supremacy, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Notebook, Face/Off, Pleasantville, The Ice Storm, Nixon, and The Upside Of Anger. She is defintely one of my favorites and her interview was fun and insightful. She spoke on all the directors she worked with. She noted that action maestro John Woo valued her input while making the action flick Face/Off. And it surprised her because she didn't think he cared anything about the small quiet scenes that she had to do, but he did. Or the time she was asked by an interviewer was she intimidated when working with Daniel Day Lewis on the film adaptation of The Crucible. Joan's response was that she compared working with highly respected actors and directors like tennis. It raised your game to be equal to those around her. So that you fed on one another and everyone just clicks. Joan was asked who were her idols growing up and she stated Katherine Hepburn and Donna Reed. She was also asked what kind of films does she like. Joan said she loves all kinds except horrors. She can't take the blood and the scares. About the only scary movie she could handle was Nicole Kidman's The Others. She do remember watching Carrie with her young daughter recently but even that kind of made her jumpy and her daughter had to comfort her. Joan had all these little stories to tell and she came across as genuine and very open. The interview only lasted 30 minutes, but it could have easily went on for another hour. If I interviewed her, we would probably talk all night long. She is awesome.  Just wanted to share that little bit with everyone. Below are my favorite Joan Allen films.

THE BOURNE ULTIMATUM/THE BOURNE SUPREMACY (2007, 2004)
THE UPSIDE OF ANGER (2005)
FACE/OFF (1997)
HACHI: A DOG'S TALE (2009)
THE ICE STORM (1997)
PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED (1986)
MANHUNTER (1986)
PLEASANTVILLE (1998)