With the release of Manglehorn, in which Holly Hunter co-stars with Al Pacino, we look back at some of the highlights of the charismatic actor’s long and varied career. Over the years, Hunter has portrayed highly individual and memorable characters.
The Piano (1993)
In Jane Campion’s critically acclaimed drama, Hunter plays Ada McGrath, a mute woman who, along with her young daughter, is sent to New Zealand for an arranged marriage to a wealthy landowner. Hunter played the piano herself, signed, and, according to The Wire, taught on-screen daughter Anna Paquin to sign also. Somewhere among Hunter’s many awards for her performance lies an Oscar for best actress, a Bafta for best actress in a Leading Role, a Golden Globe for best actress, and a Cannes best actress award.
Raising Arizona (1987)
After turning down a role in Blood Simple in 1984, Hunter teamed up with the Coen brothers for Raising Arizona, starring opposite Nicolas Cage in the classic 80s comedy crime drama. In the film, a husband and wife steal another family’s baby, one of a set of quintuplets. The leading role of cop-turned-babynapper was written for Hunter, and was her first starring role in a feature film.
Broadcast News (1987)
James L Brooks’s insightful film about television is great in part thanks to three strong central characters. Hunter made a name for herself in the role of Jane Craig, an intelligent and ambitious producer. The Chicago Reader described the character as possibly “the most intricately layered portrait of a career woman that contemporary Hollywood has given us”. The film received seven Oscar nominations, including a best actress in a leading role nomination for Hunter.
Thirteen (2003)
Hunter plays a key role in this film about a young teen’s disturbing experiences. She is single mother Melanie, who struggles to support her daughter while dealing with issues of her own. Hunter was initially drawn to the script, which she called “extremely raw”. She was nominated for the Academy Award for best actress in a supporting role.
The Firm (1993)
Hunter stars alongside Tom Cruise and Gene Hackman in The Firm where “Power can be murder to resist” as a wacky secretary, who becomes a sidekick to chief character, Mitch McDeere (Cruise). Though hers is not a leading role, Hunter’s performance stands out even among such a celebrated cast. Her utterly convincing performance here, together with her part in The Piano, meant that in 1993, Hunter earned her place in Hollywood history as one of only 11 actors to have been nominated for both a supporting and lead acting Academy Award in the same year.
