Joker: Every Character Ranked Worst To Best

4. Penny Fleck

The true mark of how impressive Frances Conroy's performance as Penny Fleck is is that she COULD have very easily have been something a lot more obvious and a lot less subtle. But because this film genuinely seems to care about its portraits of mental health issues, she appears entirely "normal" in stark contrast to other characters who might typically be considered her narrative siblings.

Penny is at the heart of the film's big twist, which we all thought she would be - even if it's not quite the same one as was suspected - and while she could have been involved a little more, it actually does make sense that her screentime is limited. All Todd Phillips wants us to see at first is how her closeness with Arthur - who she calls "Happy" completely transforms his demeanour.

She's harmless and vulnerable and she represents Arthur's soft centre, and to that end, Conroy does very well.