Golden Opportunities
(Hollywood Reporter - Emmy Watch: Long form June 2, 1999;
page E-6)
Lead Actress in a Movie or
Miniseries
Moira Kelly, of "After the Miracle" (CBS), played one of the
most physically demanding roles of the year to perfection.
Kelly played Helen Keller as a college student and young
adult, adroitly conveying all the emotional content of the
story. All in all, it was a prodigious and memorable display
of energy and feeling.
Tina Majorino, of "Alice in Wonderland" (NBC), was more than
impressive in a role that often had her acting on sets
designed for special effects instead of more realistic
backdrops. The three-hour movie was uneven, but Majorino's
performance was heartfelt,
Leelee Sobieski, of "Joan of Arc" (CBS), was hugely
effective in the demanding and challenging title role.
Sobieski demonstrated extraordinary range in a persuasive
portrayal of the medieval heroine who blindly and
courageously followed the messages from the voices that
spoke to her.
Brittany Murphy, of "Oprah Winfrey Presents: David and Lisa"
(ABC), invested her Lisa with tender vulnerability and
fragile charm, all the while credibly reflecting the demons
that raged within her. It was impossible to watch Murphy's
character without being deeply touched.
Gena Rowlands, of "Grace & Glorie" (CBS), delivered another
bravura performance as an illiterate and terminally ill
widow who returns to her old homestead and befriends a
younger woman tormented by the death of her son. Rowlands
displayed huge emotional range and an uncanny knack for
touching all the right emotional buttons.