Gugu Mbatha-Raw is one of those actresses that you look at and can't for the life of you figure out why she's not more famous. She's a gorgeous, talented actress with an expressive face and likable screen presence. She's starred in several television shows and had roles in some very high-profile projects (including Doctor Who, where she played Martha's sister Tish), but somehow none of this has translated into large scale success. Hopefully Belle is going to be the movie that changes things for her. In it, she plays a mixed race woman in the 18th century whose precarious position as the daughter of both a black slave and an English gentleman makes her life very difficult. This is, in simple terms, a star-making role. She carries the film, and does so with a level of poise and charisma that must earn the admiration of audiences. Belle received very positive critical attention, helping its star to be seen as a leading lady in the eyes of Hollywood. Mbatha-Raw already has several projects lined up for next year, including the high concept science fiction film Jupiter Ascending by Andy and Lana Wachowski, which also stars Channing Tatum, Eddie Redmayne, and Sean Bean.
Audrey Fox is an ex-film student, which means that she prefers to spend her days in the dark, watching movies and pondering the director's use of diegetic sound. She currently works as an entertainment writer, joyfully rambling about all things film and television related. Add her on Twitter at @audonamission and check out her film blog at 1001moviesandbeyond.com.
