Every Best Actress Oscar Movie Winner Of The 21st Century Ranked
4. Charlize Theron - Monster (2003)
Who should have won: Charlize Theron - Monster.
The first you notice about Charlize Theron's portrayal of serial killer Aileen Wournos is her eyes, and the way they capture every ounce of Wournos's pain, anguish, and violent thoughts with a mere glance.
Theron turned herself inside out for her greatest performance, making Wournos feel like the victim of the cruel, remorseless world she grew up in, but also a killer who took pleasure in giving some pain back to it in an evil act of defiance. Watching her become the monster is tragic and sad; watching her fight back even more so.
Over the years, Theron has suffered from a sometimes irritating lack of consistency in her career, so it's great to look back at Monster and remember that when the right material comes along, she's one of our strongest stars.