Elizabeth Debicki‘s Ayesha, the High Priestess of the alien race known as the Sovereign, returns in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which has been the subject of much media attention lately. Debicki, who received critical acclaim for her performance in Steve McQueen’s heist thriller Widows in 2018 before winning the Trophée Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival the following year, has been on a roll since starring in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. The 32-year-old Paris-born Australian actress has quickly become a popular commodity.
Per The Guardian, Debicki first caught attention in A Few Best Men, an Australian comedy released in 2011, thanks to her towering height, steely blue eyes, and irresistible charisma. Since then, she has portrayed many intriguing characters, from a mysterious nemesis with excellent taste in clothing to Lady Diana Spencer. So, without further ado, here are Elizabeth Debicki’s top ten best movies and television shows, listed in no particular order.
The Night Manager (2016)
Debicki had a standout performance in the critically acclaimed BBC miniseries The Night Manager. Based on John le Carré’s 1993 novel of the same name, Susanne Bier’s British television series also starred Tom Hiddleston, Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman, and Tom Hollander.
Tom Hiddleston played the mysterious Jonathan Pine, with Debicki as Jed Marshall, an affluent socialite who fell in love with him. Debicki received a Golden Globe nomination for portraying the nuanced and emotional Jed. The Night Manager was nominated for 36 awards, winning eleven – including two Primetime Emmys and three Golden Globes.
The Cloverfield Paradox (2018)
Elizabeth Debicki appears in The Cloverfield Paradox in a supporting role as Mina Jensen, a member of the international crew of the Cloverfield space station. It’s the follow-up to 2008’s Cloverfield and 2016’s 10 Cloverfield Lane in the Cloverfield series.
The film centers on the astronauts who — after utilizing a particle accelerator to solve Earth’s energy issue — must find a way home when the planet mysteriously disappears. The cast also features Daniel Brühl, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and David Oyelowo. Mina, played by Debicki, is a British engineer who helps save the world from an imminent energy crisis with the rest of the crew.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Victoria Vinciguerra, portrayed by Elizabeth Debicki, is a wealthy and sophisticated criminal mastermind in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. attempting to acquire nuclear weapons for her evil goals. Debicki’s portrayal of Victoria is riveting and authoritative, thanks to the intelligence and ruthless quality she brings to the role.
The film’s two protagonists — CIA agent Napoleon Solo (Henry Cavill) and KGB agent Illya Kuryakin (Armie Hammer) — face off against Victoria. The ensuing tension makes for some of the film’s most memorable moments. Directed by Guy Ritchie and inspired by the 1960s TV series of the same name, this spy thriller from 2015 also stars Alicia Vikander.
Widows (2018)
Widows is a 2018 neo-noir heist thriller directed by Steve McQueen and starring some of Hollywood’s most gifted women, including Viola Davis and Michelle Rodriguez, based on the British television series same name from 1983. To repay a crime boss from whom their husbands stole $2,000,000 before being slain in a failed getaway, four women in Chicago attempt to rob the mansion of a famous local politician of $5,000,000.
Widows starred Elizabeth Debicki as Alice Gunner, a young woman whose criminal husband’s untimely death draws her into the above mentioned heist. Debicki received high appreciation for her complex portrayal of Alice, who goes from being a helpless victim to a resilient survivor.
Tenet (2020)
Tenet is a science fiction action thriller written and directed by Christopher Nolan. In addition to Elizabeth Debicki and John David Washington, the film stars Robert Pattinson, Michael Caine, and Kenneth Branagh.
In Tenet, Elizabeth Debicki plays Kat, the jilted wife of arms trader Andrei Sator (Kenneth Branagh). Kat provides the emotional anchor for the story. The film chronicles her character’s journey of empowerment and self-discovery as she escapes from an abusive and controlling relationship with Sator.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
Elizabeth Debicki played professional golfer Jordan Baker in Baz Luhrmann’s 2013 film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby. Baker is a friend of Daisy Buchanan (Carey Mulligan) and develops feelings for Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire).
Debicki’s portrayal of Jordan, a multifaceted character in the novel, is spot on. She brings cool sophistication to the role while also conveying emotional depth and yearning. Jordan is a woman who knows what she wants and is unapologetic in her pursuit of it, but she also grapples with her own sense of identity and position in the world.
Macbeth (2015)
Macbeth, directed by Justin Kurzel, stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, with Paddy Considine, Sean Harris, Jack Reynor, Elizabeth Debicki, and David Thewlis in supporting parts. The protagonist, a Scottish lord, learns from three witches that they have predicted his eventual ascension to the throne of Scotland.
Like the adapted play, the film dramatizes political ambition’s physical and psychological toll on those who pursue it. Debicki’s portrayal of Lady Macduff in the film gained critical acclaim, with many appreciating her complex and passionate performance. While Lady Macduff receives little screen time, she is a significant emblem of the catastrophic repercussions of Macbeth’s insatiable quest for power.
The Crown (2022)
Seasons 5 and 6 of Netflix’s critically acclaimed series The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki as Princess Diana, and the actress’s portrayal of the late royal’s courtship, marriage, and eventual divorce from Prince Charles and the royal family has wowed viewers.
Debicki does a beautiful job of bringing depth to the character by emphasizing the aspects that made her one of the most influential women in history. As a result of her work in the fifth season, Debicki was nominated for both the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
Elizabeth Debicki’s Ayesha in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was a standout performance. Ayesha, the chief priestess of the Sovereign race, contracts the Guardians to save her planet from a monster in exchange for Gamora’s sister Nebula.
As a leader, Ayesha comes across as strong and capable, yet she is also quick to anger and resort to violent acts. She has a pathological need for perfection and believes that her race is inherently better than all others. Debicki’s portrayal of the arrogant and strong Ayesha won rave reviews.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
In Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Elizabeth Debicki reprises her role as Ayesha. Adam Warlock’s relationship with Ayesha is pivotal to the plot of the popular new film. Ayesha is seen in the trailer plotting her vengeance against the Guardians for abandoning her in the past. She intends to get even with the Sovereign using his most potent weapon.
It’s not apparent in the trailer if Ayesha is speaking to Adam Warlock or Chukwudi Iwuji’s High Evolutionary, but they’re both potential antagonists, given the film’s premise. Debicki’s portrayal of the vain Golden High Priestess in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 has garnered much attention. As a result, the bar has been set relatively high for her performance in the new third installment.
