Arnav Srivastav
When you talk about the best young actresses around, Shailene Woodley’s name springs up instantly. Apart from her drop-dead gorgeous looks and her tingly voice, her acting skills are the reasons for her burgeoning popularity. Starting out as a child artist is never easy. But for Woodley, it was a boon in disguise, eventually being some of her best work. In spite of her limited body if work, its top-notch quality reflects her ineffable acting skills. Predominantly featuring in emotional roles, her career has taken pleasant discourses, also touching upon genres such as action and drama. Most of the movies with Shailene Woodley have been coming-of-age or teenage dramas, but with her recent performance in Jean Marc-Valle’s terrific TV mini-series ‘Big Little Lies’, she showed her acting range. Here’s the list of top 10 Shailene Woodley movies and TV Shows.
10. Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005)
She looks almost unrecognizable, doesn’t she? One of her very first roles in the industry came in the form of the biographical adaptation of Felicity Merriman’s early onset into the American Revolution on TV. In a series of stories, Woodley portrayed the brave and inquisitive jewel of Valerie Tripp’s famous children’s books in the early days. Woodley’s melting innocence and intrepid rebellion against the societal norms that girls have to conform to were both inspiring and staunch in essence. The character itself is a role model for young girls across America. In today’s testing times, its importance and Woodley’s association with it is priceless.
9. Final Approach (2007)
I made a promise to myself before starting writing this article: not to fanboy all over it. The threshold of the same is being tested to its limit. Another teenage role, and another example of her abundant talent. Playing the daughter of a rogue and depressed “man with talents”, Woodley was spot on in picking up the character’s fear and distance from her father. The film revolves around a hostage situation on an airplane, which requires the former’s divine intervention. The biggest hurdle for her was the non-availability of surroundings to work with, which she thrives on. In spite of all the restrains, Woodley did a superlative job in her limited screen time.
8. Divergent (2014)
Woodley showed her versatility and mass appeal with the titular role in the film adaption of the very popular Divergent novels. Her able shoulders were trusted with carrying a film with immense potential for a franchise, something which she achieved with effortless ease. She assumed the character of Beatrice Prior, a simpleton girl, set to follow in the footpath of her illustrious father. At the choosing of the faction, however, she gets divergent, literally, and ends up choosing something completely else. The film was a good effort in its entirety, providing wholesome entertainment and commanding a great fan following. Woodley came in for special praise, also making head turns for her well-coordinated action sequences.
7. The Secret Life of The American Teenager (2008-13)
The show, on the whole, wasn’t received well. Critics were skeptical of its success, due to its cliched story-line and more focus on style than substance. But the show stuck a chord with the youth, especially the teenage girls, who connected like a strong wi-fi signal with Shailene’s character. Amy Juergens, a sensitive, intelligent, kind and loving girl in high school faces the problems every teenager faces: life. The TV show encompasses her evolution from a pimple-clad, insecure, and frustrated teenager to a mature, self-assured, self-reliant adult. The movie deals with the day-to-day problems that girls go through puberty and adolescence. Watch it for the emotions, not the logic.
6. Big Little Lies (2017)
I sometimes mistake Jean-Marc Valle for a poet. A romantic hopeless with a peculiar penchant for orchestrating ballads of mellifluous tunes in his movies, Valle is a genius. His newest attempt made all the big headlines, at-least in the TV world. ‘Big Little Lies’ had a strong opening, gradually increasing its numbers to a very respectable amount. The story is narrated through a series of flashbacks and interspersed interrogations between the police and expected witnesses. It revolves around a mysterious murder that has taken place, and in the flashbacks, it involves the main characters, which includes Woodley. Playing a single mother, the darkest secrets buried in the deepest trenches emerge with an unrealistic and majestic moonlight. Impressive work, sir!
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5. Snowden (2016)
It was Joseph Levitt Gordon who stole the show in the biographical-thriller. The engrossing drama is based on the true story of Edward Snowden, a US based technician, who exposed the superpower country’s dirty tactics of surveying its citizens’ personal lives without their knowledge. It came as a huge blow to the Obama administration, with many demanding the leader to resign. Woodley had a small, but refreshing part as Snowden’s beleaguered wife, tired of his late working hours and ignorant behavior towards her. She was succinct and precise in her actions, with a subtle, yet visible sense of insecurity and apprehension.
4. The Spectacular Now (2013)
This is perhaps where her best movies start. ‘Spectacular Now’ is a teen-drama film, about Sutter Keely, the most popular kid in the High School, who gets dumped by her equally famous girlfriend. After the breakup and a night of impassioned drinking, Keely ends up in the front yard of Aimee Fenikcy, a shy and good-hearted simpleton who immediately develops a connection. Friendship blossoms into love, with the two developing a close relationship. One day, Aimee meets with an accident, preceded by an altercation with Keely. Incapable of forgiving himself, he breaks up with Aimee. The two are reunited when they end up at the same college. Woodley commanded total attention with her flawless performance. She perfectly encapsulated the essence of her character and made sure she came across as a banquet of likability and kindness.
3. White Bird in a Blizzard (2014)
This movie is perhaps Woodley’s most underrated and underappreciated film. Released in the year 2014, ‘White Bird in a Blizzard’ is a drama-thriller film, based on the novel of the same name by Laura Kasischke. It centralizes on Katrina Connors, and her incessant search for the true reasons behind her mother’s mysterious disappearance. The narrative weaves back and forth between the past and the present, which is directly co-related. Katrina’s blossoming sexuality is a matter of insatiable jealousy for her mother, who disapproves of her ways and means. The tension builds up in this taut thriller like a mixer about to crash. There were certain scenes in the film, wherein Woodley completely took apart her counterparts, making them seem unimportant and grossly devoid of any plausible talent. A brilliant performance that livened up the screens!
2. The Descendants (2011)
This is the role that got her the most severe and fruitful attention from her peers. Unluckily missing out on an Academy nomination, Woodley managed to get one in almost every other award. The beautifully made film featured her as a frustrated and cantankerous teenager who struggles to identify with herself due to her turbulent relationship with her parents. Eventully, as the film progresses, they reconcile their relationship, sans the mother, who dies a slow and painful death, The seamless transition from anger to maturity is what blows the mind away. Her self-confidence reflects in her performance, dominating the scree despite the presence of a stalwart like George Clooney.
1. The Fault in Our Stars (2014)
‘The Fault in Our Stars’ was a good film in plain-sight. An enviously talented cast, armed with an emotionally eviscerating script, and a director willing to bare it all, had the chance of a lifetime to make it a memorable venture. They almost did, but as they say, almost is never whole. Woodley played the best role of her career as Hazel Grace, a terminally ill, intelligent, and witty teenager who has problems associating with people. On her mother’s encouragement, she joins a support group, where fate plays its game and she ends up meeting Augustus Waters, a jolly free-spirit, also a sufferer of cancer. Friendship blossoms, which eventually leads to love, consummated in Amsterdam, where the two, accompanied by Hazel’s mother, go to meet with Peter Van Houten, Hazel’s favorite author. The end is rather heart-breaking, the whole film actually. But do see this one. Woodley, you beauty.
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