THE LADIES:
Why: Anyone who says that the success of Showtime’s sexy period drama Masters of Sex can be attributed solely to lead actor Michael Sheen is lying to themselves. As sexual pioneer Virginia Johnson, Caplan’s thrilling portrayal is only getting better with each episode.
Fearless, charismatic and stunningly emotive, Caplan deserves every ounce of the praise she’s received for the role. Masters of Sex could have been a simple Mad Men rip-off (see also: The Playboy Club), but Caplan’s powerhouse performance has quickly succeeded in elevating the show to a level of quality currently unmatched on any other network.
What’s Next: A second season of Masters of Sex, as well as an upcoming James Franco comedy called The Interview, about a TV show host (Franco) and his producer (Caplan) who inadvertently stumble across an assassination plot.
[h2]Adele Exarchopoulos – Blue is the Warmest Color[/h2]
Why: It takes a particular type of acting brilliance to make shockingly explicit sex scenes feel natural, beautiful and intimate. As the innocent Adele, who enters into a passionate relationship with the independent, blue-haired Emma (Léa Seydoux), Exarchopoulos turns in a supremely forceful and believable performance.
The film courted controversy at the time of its release, but even Blue is the Warmest Color‘s detractors couldn’t take umbrage the actress’s star-making performance. Seydoux doesn’t make this list because of her prior status as a French film star, but the chemistry between both actresses is so potent that Blue is the Warmest Color excels as one of the sweetest love stories of the year, despite its dare-you-to-look-away nature.
What’s Next: Exarchopoulos will appear in two French films next year: Qui vive and Voyage vers la mère.