20 More TV Acting Performances That Are Totally Flawless
4. Frances Conroy - Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under was one of HBO's most popular and influential dramas, released during the years of The Wire and The Sopranos and cementing the company as a TV powerhouse.
A lot of the show's brilliance comes down to the story, which follows the Fisher Family as they clash, fall in love, mourn and attempt to keep their funeral home business afloat. This narrative is frequently great, but what makes the show truly pop and brings the whole thing to life is the cast, which includes a pre-Dexter Michael C. Hall, Peter Krause, and the show's MVP, Frances Conroy.
Conroy stars as the family matriarch Ruth, who, after the death of her husband, struggles to come to terms with her life or her children. A deeply troubled soul with a traumatic past and an uncertain future, Ruth's insecurities, emotional outbursts and personal hardships are all handled with deft care and understanding by Conroy, who works wonders every season to peel back the layers of her increasingly complex and vulnerable character.
Ruth was surely a tough role to play, but TV veteran Conroy made it look frighteningly easy.