Hope Davis

A dramatic actress of film and stage whose quiet exterior belied her intensity, Hope Davis excelled in both supporting and leading roles, bringing strength to numerous independent films like "The Daytrippers" (1996), "Next Stop Wonderland" (1998), "About Schmidt" (2002) and "American Splendor" (2003). A veteran of the Chicago theater scene, she made her feature debut in "Flatliners" (1990) and slowly worked her way up the ranks to major roles, wowing audiences and critics alike with her versatility. In "The Daytrippers," she was cast as an embittered housewife who sets out on an interstate journey with her family to discover if her husband is cheating on her, while "Wonderland" showed her skill with gentle romantic comedy. Meanwhile, her Hollywood efforts, including "Arlington Road" (1999) and "The Weather Man" (2005), tended to shoehorn her into sad-eyed spousal roles. But she quickly dispelled such projects with marvelously uncharacteristic turns in "American Splendor," "Infamous" (2005) and "Synechdoche, New York" (2008). Her devotion to mature, uncompromising features, as well as to the theater world - where she earned acclaim and recognition for "God of Carnage" (2009) - helped to establish her as a respected and committed performer with whom many wanted to work.