10 Movie Performances That Got Too Real
8. Kirsten Dunst - Melancholia
Arguably one of the most underappreciated performances of the last decade - despite winning Cannes' Best Actress award - Kirsten Dunst is nothing short of phenomenal in Lars von Trier's 2011 drama Melancholia.
Dunst plays Justine, an unhappy newlywed struggling to make sense of her life on the eve of an apocalyptic event which will see a rogue planet collide with Earth, ending all human existence.
Von Trier conceived the film during a depressive episode and is part of his famed "Depression Trilogy" - also including Antichrist and Nymphomaniac - but the subject matter also proved proximate to Dunst's own life.
In 2008 the actress was treated for depression, and has spoken of bonding with von Trier over their respective mental health battles. She said:
"We met before I did the movie and talked about how the light goes out of your eyes. People don't talk about depression, so for me it was really amazing that this was going to be portrayed."