Summary

• Lanthimos' dynamic filmmaking complements actresses open to experimenting within fantastical yet brutal worlds of hidden human experiences.
• Actress Anya-Taylor Joy would benefit from Lanthimos' unorthodox style and bring in a wider audience for his project.
• Rachel Sennot's potential to capture comedy and drama makes her a perfect fit for Lanthimos' films, providing vital moments of levity.

Yorgos Lanthimos is rumored to have another movie in the works, and for his project, many talented actresses deserve the chance to work with him. Two of the Best Actress winners at the Oscars in recent years have won for their portrayal of characters in a film directed by Lanthimos. Although no one director's movie is a path to accolades, his brand of filmmaking meshes well with actresses who aren't afraid of experimenting and exploring hidden worlds.

Within the fantastical yet brutal worlds he creates, there is a deep understanding of the human experience.

It's no secret that Poor Things, he collaborated with star Emma Stone in more ways than just as an actor and director. Stone also served as a producer on the movie, opening the door for further input from the actresses he works with in the future.

10 Daisy Edgar Jones

Normal People (2020), Under The Banner Of Heaven (2022), Where The Crawdads Sing (2022)

Daisy Edgar Jones first rose to prominence for her role in Normal People, the Hulu miniseries adapted from Sally Rooney's novel of the same name. In the show, her actions, not words, illustrated her feelings and motivations, which elevated the viewer’s experience. Throughout her work, she’s shown the ability to communicate subtle shifts in her character's experience without telegraphing every change to the audience. Lanthimos' movies are thought of as over-the-top in some ways, but that's always in the premise and production design. The characters themselves require a nuance that Edgar Jones has demonstrated many times.

9 Anya-Taylor Joy

The Witch (2015), The Queen's Gambit (2020), The Northman (2022)

After being in the public eye for so long, Anya Taylor-Joy has evolved as an actress, and so have the roles she's taken on. However, her early work in The Witch highlights the kind of project she's always apt to take on: one that's a little strange and out of the mainstream. Recently, she's dipped a toe into sci-fi with Taylor-Joy's Dune 2 role, as well as her project, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.

She's a well-known actress and would bring in a wider audience for Lanthimos' next movie, as her recent projects have so much attention. Additionally, Taylor-Joy would benefit from working with a director who's unafraid to let her get weird. Together, they would help each other navigate the next phase of their careers, and Taylor-Joy would have another more exciting role under her belt.

8 Rachel Sennot

Shiva Baby (2020), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Bottoms (2023)

Right now, Rachel Sennot is associated most closely with comedy and satire, and for good reason. She's a hilarious actress who made her mark on the comedy world, but that doesn't mean she lacks the chops for more serious dramatic roles. Director Emma Seligman has been a frequent collaborator with Sennot, but she should diversify the filmmakers she partners with to get all the experience she possibly can. Lanthimos is known for imbuing comedy into his films to provide moments of levity amid the difficult subjects he tackles. Sennot would be the perfect performer to capture these vital scenes.

7 Cynthia Erivo

Harriet (2019), Drift (2023), Wicked (2024)

The past few years have seen a major shift for Cynthia Erivo as she transitions from stage acting to high-profile roles in films. She got her start in the Broadway revival of The Color Purple, for which she won the Tony for Best Actress. Her next project in the movie adaptation of Wicked faces challenges, but Erivo's performance and musical abilities are not one of them.

Additionally, she has already demonstrated her ability to act for the screen in her performance in Harriet. Moving forward, if Erivo wants to stick with film acting, she should continue to take on a myriad of roles and find a balance between musicals and straight movies so that audiences can see how broad her range is. However, it would be interesting to see how Lanthimos would take on directing a musical, especially if a talent like Erivo took part in it.

6 Amy Adams

Her (2013), Arrival (2016), Sharp Objects (2018)

Many audience and critics alike would love to see Amy Adams finally win an Oscar, as the star has been nominated many times but hasn't won. Of course, winning is not the defining moment of an actor's career, but it is a prominent form of recognition that carries weight in the industry. Working with Lanthimos would not guarantee that Adams would achieve this recognition, but regardless, it would be an intriguing challenge. Her standout performance in the sci-fi film Arrival, directed by Denis Villeneuve, proves she can take on complex narratives while elevating her character development within the story.

5 Florence Pugh

Midsommar (2019), Little Women (2019), Dune: Part Two (2024)

Some were disappointed with Florence Pugh's role in Dune 2 due to how limited her screen time was. However, it's only the beginning of her work in the franchise, and Pugh's star has only just begun to rise. Since her breakout role in Ari Aster's Midsommar, she has worked with prolific directors, including Greta Gerwig, Christopher Nolan, and Denis Villeneuve. Pugh is no stranger to arthouse movies, and while her latest roles have been in larger blockbusters, returning to her roots in an off-the-beaten-path film by Lanthimos would cement her as a movie star who will define the coming decades.

4 Lupita Nyong'o

12 Years A Slave (2013), Black Panther (2018), Us (2019)

Lupita Nyong'o is one of the best actresses of the 21st century, and though she is a well-known figure in Hollywood, she deserves far more recognition for her excellent work. Her new movie, A Quiet Place: Day One, is part of the famous monster franchise and will provide her with another opportunity to show her skills in horror, as she did in Jordan Peele's Us. Horror is a difficult genre, as actors must create their characters quickly in a plot-driven story. If Nyong'o partnered with Lanthimos, she could flex her horror muscles while portraying a character with plenty of development.

Watch Us on Tubi.

3 Lily Gladstone

Certain Women (2016), The Unknown Country (2022), Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023)

One of the biggest critiques of Killer of the Flower Moon is that Lily Gladstone didn't have enough screen time, but with an actress like Gladstone, it's hard to imagine if there could ever be enough. The movie was her first major role in a film with a high-profile release, but in the smaller indie projects she's been part of, Gladstone captured the hearts of viewers. Due to this, many directors are clamoring to work with Gladstone and have her collaborate with them on work. Working with Lanthimos would allow audiences to see another side of her performances.

2 Rebecca Ferguson

Mission: Impossible (2015 - ), Dune: Parts One & 2 (2021 - 2024), Silo (2023 - )

As Lady Jessica in Dune 2, Rebecca Ferguson is a fearsome sight to behold, and her forays into action and adventure movies, as well as sci-fi, illustrate her range and the types of roles she excels in. The Misson: Impossible movies put her opposite Tom Cruise, but she never fades into the background or is eclipsed by his performance in any of their scenes. No matter who she's opposite, Ferguson distinguishes herself as a capable performer and exudes confidence in all her performances. Films by Lanthimos are no stranger to powerful female characters, and Ferguson could easily handle the challenge.

1 Greta Lee

Russian Doll (2019 - 2022), The Morning Show (2019 -), Past Lives (2023)

As Greta Lee gains traction from her role in Past Lives, audiences have realized that she's a significant talent and are ready to see her all over Hollywood. Outside her role in Russian Doll, Lee's roles have been rooted deeply in reality, and she hasn't broken into many genres. Lanthimos has directed movies of all genres, and he and Lee would make a great creative team. The next few years will be critical for Lee as she capitalizes on the momentum from Past Lives, and collaborating with Lanthimos would be an effective next move for her career.