Ranking The Academy Award For Best Actress Winners' Performances From The Past Decade

When a film comes along that is largely set within the same space, it requires a lead performance of great weight and power to carry it across to the audience. Brie Larson gave just such a performance in Room.

The story of an abducted young woman who's kept in a small room, raped again and again by the same person over a period of years to the point that she now has a young son with him.

None of this screams levity or that it'll even be anything but bleak and hopeless. However, Larson imbues Joy 'Ma' Newsome with such complexity, such strength, that you can't take your eyes off her.

The layers she demonstrates in the films two separate halves are nothing short of a masterclass, merciless yet frightened, strong yet spent. Larson was head, shoulders, knees and toes above her competition that year, which is the reason she took home the Oscar, BAFTA, Golden Globe and SAG Award.

Considering the other performances consisted of Cate Blanchett in Carol and Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn, it goes to show just how phenomenal Larson was in Room.

Verdict: Deserved.