Joan Allen
Terry Wolfmeyer, The Upside of Anger
Age: 49
Birthplace: Rochelle, Illinois
Essential Filmography: Peggy Sue Got Married (1986), Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993), Nixon (1995), The Crucible (1996), Face/Off (1997), The Ice Storm (1997), Pleasantville (1998), The Contender (2000), The Bourne Supremacy (2004), Yes (2005)

“It was fun to play a character who’s behaving badly,” says Joan Allen of her role as Terry in The Upside of Anger. “I’ve played so many characters who have behaved really well, you know?” When Terry’s husband disappears, she’s left with four teenage daughters and a sense of bitterness that seemingly only heavy doses of vodka can cure. “We’d be shooting a scene early in the morning and Mike [Binder, the director] would tell props to bring out the vodka, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I didn’t realize she was drinking already,’ ” says Allen. “We played a lot with the degrees of drunkenness. I would try to get the operative verb going for the scene. You know, is she toasted? Hungover? Slightly tipsy? And just work it from there.”

Coming off a series of strong and diverse performances, in Upside, Yes, and The Bourne Supremacy, Allen says she’s just hitting her stride: “I feel I’m always learning. I came from so much theater that film seemed pretty alien to me for quite some time. Now I find myself helping younger actors find their legs in it. I never thought I’d be in that position.” —Ryan Devlin