From very early on in her life, the British actress Rosamund Pike was immersed in the art of performance. Both of her parents were involved in the arts, her mother as an Opera singer, and her father a professor of music and operatic studies at the acclaimed Birmingham Conservatory. Due to this, Pike’s performance-based career seems as though it was destined to be. The actress made her film debut in the 2002 James Bond film Die Another Day, where she played Bond girl Miranda Frost alongside Halle Berry who played Jinx and Pierce Brosnan who starred as James Bond himself. This role was a huge stepping stone in Pike’s career that led her to create some of the iconic work she’s done since.
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8 Die Another Day
MGM
James Bond is one of the most iconic characters in all of cinema and Pierce Brosnan’s portrayal of 007 is legendary. In 2002, Die Another Day, the final movie Brosnan would star in as James Bond, was released. In addition to the film’s lead, Halle Berry and Rosamund Pike give great performances as Jinx and Miranda Frost, respectively. This role was a huge milestone in Pike’s career, as it was the first feature film the British actress ever appeared in at the age of 21. During the audition for the film, Pike stood her ground and decided not to drop her dress despite the fact that the scene originally called for it — and still managed to land the role.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 Radioactive
One of Pike’s more recent roles is that of Marie Curie in the 2019 drama/romance Radioactive. Directed by Marjane Satrapi and adapted from Lauren Redniss’s 2010 novel, this film follows the true story of Marie Curie, the death of her husband, her research partner, and her devotion to science. In addition to Pike, Sam Riley, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Aneurin Barnard star in the film. What keeps the audience engaged throughout the course of the movie is how severe the information Marie Curie discovers is. Her innovations in science could either help or kill a countless number of people.
6 A Private War
Aviron Pictures
Another very recent work from Rosamund Pike is A Private War. The 2018 drama directed by Matthew Heineman shows the actress as a strong successful woman, Marie Colvin, who’s best known for her achievements as a war correspondent. Her fierce nature and desire to help others are constantly leading Marie into dangerous situations. Pike, Stanley Tucci, Jamie Dornan, and Tom Hollander all give great performances, but what makes the film so impressive is the fact that it’s based on the true story of Marie Colvin, who was killed in Syria while covering the siege of Homs. Pike was nominated for a Golden Globe in 2019 for her portrayal.
5 I Care a Lot
Netflix
The Netflix thriller/comedy I Care a Lot was released in February 2021 and received great reviews, earning a 78% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. Although the dramas and period pieces we often see Pike in are brilliant, it’s refreshing to see her in a much more light-hearted role like this. It further proves her strength and versatility as an actress. Eiza González, Peter Dinklage, Dianne Wiest, Chris Messina, and Alicia Witt are amongst the talented cast that brought I Care a Lot to life.
4 Hostiles
Waypoint Entertainment
This film is filled with such a talented and impressive cast: Rosamund Pike, Christian Bale, Wes Studi, Ben Foster, Jesse Plemons, and Adam Beach — at least half of the cast is an Oscar-nominated actor. Hostiles, directed by Scott Cooper, is an intense and dramatic movie that follows an army captain who is fulfilling a mission to return a dying Cheyenne War Chief to his tribal land and runs into obstacles along the way that make the harsh conditions he is entering even more treacherous.
3 Fracture
Warner Bros.
Another great film starring Rosamund Pike with an extremely high-profile cast is the 2007 crime/thriller, Fracture. Anthony Hopkins, Pike, Ryan Gosling, Elizabeth Davidtz, David Strathairn, and Billy Burke star in the film directed by Gregory Hoblit. Gosling’s character is an accomplished lawyer who finds himself in a courtroom with Hopkins’ character, who is being tried for the attempted murder of his wife. Psychological thrillers are always interesting, and this one is a must-watch.
2 Pride & Prejudice
Universal Pictures
The film Pride & Prejudice adapted from the classic 1813 Jane Austen novel is one of the most iconic and beloved movies to come out of the 2000s. Keira Knightley, Matthew Macfadyen, Rosamund Pike, Simon Woods, and Carey Mulligan star in the film, which is centered around the relationship between Knightley’s character Elizabeth Bennet and Macfayden’s character Mr. Darcy. Pride & Prejudice was nominated for four Oscars, including Best Actress, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design.
1 Gone Girl
TSG Entertainment
Coming in at number one on our list of Rosamund Pike’s best performances is her portrayal of Amy Dunne in David Fincher’s Gone Girl. This thriller/mystery starring Rosamund Pike and Ben Affleck is a fan-favorite, and Pike’s performance is beyond brilliant. She plays one of the most convincing, scary, and evil characters we’ve seen in a long time. The actress was so captivating, the role earned her, her first Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in 2015. The film as a whole was a huge success and one of director David Fincher’s most beloved works.
