The Feldstein family may have created several talents in its midst, including Jonah Hill, but one of the most prominent family members as of late has been actress Beanie Feldstein. After appearing in Greta Gerwig’s directorial debut Lady Bird, her popularity exploded to new levels. However, her biggest break came when she appeared in the movie Booksmart, building on the similar character she had previously played in Lady Bird. Since then, Feldstein has gone on to star in Harriet the Spy as the main character, in the Broadway adaptation of Funny Girl in 2022, and, per Playbill, is slated to appear in the adaptation of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along with Dear Evan Hansen’s Ben Platt. Feldstein also appeared in 2021’s The Humans, which starred fellow actors Steven Yeun and Amy Schumer.
Before she got to where she is today, Feldstein appeared in a string of television roles in shows like Grey’s Anatomy, The Simpsons, and Orange Is the New Black, only landing a consistent role when she was cast in Impeachment: American Crime Story. Her career is just beginning, but she has shown a lot of potential in the realm of comedy and drama. These are her best performances so far.
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5 Harriet the Spy
Apple Studios
Harriet the Spy is Apple TV+’s animated television series based on the children’s book by the American author Louise Fitzhugh. The book was previously adapted into a popular 1996 movie of the same name, but this adaptation brings on Feldstein and Jane Lynch — who would later combine efforts to star on Broadway’s Funny Girl — to tell the story of Harriet, an 11-year-old from New York City who dreams of becoming a writer. There is a reason this book is considered a staple of American children’s literature, while Apple’s series is so-so, Feldstein is part of the glue that keeps it from unraveling.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
4 The Humans
A24
The Humans was adapted from a stage play of the same name by Stephen Karam, who would later direct the film version of his play. The play was a massive success when it debuted and would win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 2016 Tony Award, so when the movie came out, it had credibility in the theater world. The Humans takes place largely in a Lower Manhattan apartment and unfolds similarly to a play on the screen, which means the actors have to be on their best performances lest they break the natural rhythm. Each of the actors in this movie does a wonderful job, keeping the essence of the original source alive in a different format.
3 Impeachment: American Crime Story
FX
Impeachment: American Crime Story is the third season of the series American Crime Story, and this season has a focus on the scandal between Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Sarah Paulson portrays Linda Tripp, the individual who recorded Monica Lewinsky’s calls between Bill Clinton and her, while Feldstein portrays Lewinsky herself. The season only has ten episodes to cover quite a bit of ground in such a short period, and while its main messages and themes get lost in the frenzy that surrounds the case, Paulson and Feldstein’s performances help hold it all together. Even within the storm that ensues from the scandal itself, these two remain strong in their characters, reminding the viewers that they, too, are human.
2 Lady Bird
Lady Bird was Greta Gerwig’s directorial breakout movie and helped cement her status as one of the top rising (and women) directors to look out for in the future. Saoirse Ronan stars as Lady Bird, a high school girl caught up in a potential love triangle between a nerdy theater boy (Lucas Hedges) and a bad boy who’s the epitome of fake Tumblr deep (Timothee Chalamet). But one of the most loyal, relatable characters in the entire movie is Julie (Feldstein), Lady Bird’s theater-loving best friend that is not very popular. Julie may not be considered a major character when it comes to the main plot, but her story helps add texture to the narrative as a whole. She is the true best friend that is still there when Lady Bird returns wounded, offering a helping hand even though Lady Bird abandoned her first.
1 Booksmart
Annapurna Pictures
Now if one likes Julie from Lady Bird, Booksmart’s Molly is everything Julie could have ever been in an alternate universe. Feldstein and Kaitlyn Dever nail their roles as Molly and Amy in Booksmart, two overachieving students who realize they have sacrificed everything in the name of studying when their classmates, who they see as inferior, get into Ivy Leagues just like them. Thus begins a spontaneous, wild journey where they uncover their sexuality, and learn to be free outside academic settings and some unfortunate situations that come with being a youth in today’s world. Feldstein was rightfully nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.
