Tatiana Maslany is an Emmy-winning actress who has been appearing in television and movies for more than 20 years. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Maslany began acting at a young age, and has experience in theatre and comedy. Over her career, she has performed in the genres of science fiction, horror, and drama. She brings emotions and layers of depth to each performance, and makes herself utterly believable in any role she plays. She demonstrates exceptional range in all of her projects. She even shows off her range within the same project, taking on various clones in Graeme Manson and John Fawcett’s show Orphan Black, which helped her soar to widespread fame, and earned her an Emmy and praise as one of the best actresses on television. Ahead of her upcoming role as Jennifer Walters in Marvel’s She-Hulk series, let’s look at her best performances.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 The Vow (2012)
Screen Gems
Though she has only a small role in Michael Sucsy’s romantic drama The Vow, Maslany shows that she can do a lot with a little as Leo’s (Channing Tatum) friend. This best friend role shows off Maslany’s softer, gentler side, as she provides support and comfort to Leo after his wife gets amnesia due to an accident. Her performance is kind and thoughtful but still feels real, and shows off her range of talents and emotions by being much different from her other roles.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
8 Woman in Gold (2015)
Entertainment Film Distributors
In Woman in Gold, a historical drama directed by Simon Curtis, Maslany plays a younger version of Maria Altmann (Helen Mirren), who escapes the Nazis and works to reclaim a painting that was stolen from her family. In flashback scenes, Maslany gives an intimate look into Maria’s background as she suffers the horrors of World War II, shaping who she would become in the future.
7 Pink Wall (2019)
Dignity Film Finance
Pink Wall, directed by Tom Cullen, is a deep look at the relationship between Jay Duplass’ Leon, and Maslany’s Jenna. Maslany makes Jenna feel like a real person in a real relationship; she’s neither a perfect person nor a horrible one, just a normal person sharing the happy and miserable moments in her relationship.
6 Destroyer (2018)
Mirror Releasing
Maslany plays Petra in Destroyer, a crime movie directed by Karyn Kusama. Once again taking on a role drastically different from her previous performances, Maslany brings a raw grit to Petra, a member of a criminal gang with a serious drug addiction. She makes a worthy, dangerous adversary for detective Erin Bell (Nicole Kidman) and leaves her mark on this suspenseful film.
5 Stronger (2017)
Lionsgate Films
Stronger, David Gordon Green’s movie about Jeff Bauman (Jake Gyllenhaal), survivor of the 2013 Boston marathon bombing, features a standout performance by Maslany as Jeff’s ex-girlfriend, Erin. Maslany brings a grounded depth and complexity to make her performance realistic and much more than that of a passive romantic partner. She realistically portrays Erin’s conflict of restarting her relationship with Jeff, while grappling with his faults and coping with the aftermath of the tragedy.
4 Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed (2004)
One of Maslany’s earliest roles came in Ginger Snaps 2: Unleashed, a horror sequel directed by Brett Sullivan. As the supporting character of Ghost, Maslany’s performance shows the range and complex layers that make her a standout in each role across her career. She makes a great villain as Ghost, an innocent and curious child who wants to learn about protagonist Brigitte’s (Emily Perkins) werewolf transformations, only to strip away the innocence as she reveals herself as a violent, eerie villain.
3 The Other Half (2016)
Mongrel Media
In The Other Half, directed by Joey Klein, Maslany plays Emily, a woman with bipolar disorder, who begins a relationship with Nickie, a man grieving after his brother’s death (Tom Cullen). What may seem like a simple romantic drama is elevated by both performances, especially with Maslany bringing all of Emily’s complexities to life. She once again proves her incredible acting range and vividly relates all of Emily’s highs and lows on screen.
2 Perry Mason (2020-Present)
Home Box Office
As Alice McKeegan in Rolin Jones and Ron Fitzgerald’s legal drama Perry Mason, Maslany again proves what a chameleon she is in another unique role, this time as a religious leader. She’s equal parts intriguing and frightening, drawing the audience in like her religious followers while unsettling them at the same time. You can’t look away whenever she’s on screen. She’s an immensely believable, watchable villain, and stands out among the large cast.
Orphan Black Sequel Series Moves Forward at AMC with Writer Anna Fishko
1 Orphan Black (2013-2017)
BBC Worldwide
Maslany’s performance(s) in Graeme Manson and John Fawcett’s sci-fi show Orphan Black, where she stars as a young woman who learns she’s a clone, brought her critical acclaim and shows just how talented she is. Over the show’s five seasons, Maslany played a dozen different clones, ranging from uptight soccer mom Alison, to scientist Cosima, and made each one feel distinctly different. In scenes where she plays multiple clones interacting with each other, Maslany genuinely makes the viewer think they’re watching a different actress play each character, altering not only her hair and wardrobe, but also her voice, mannerisms, and personality. Her performances on this show alone deserve their own ranking, and prove that she’s one of the best actresses on television.
