Having given brilliant performances in the likes of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Heavenly Creatures and Revolutionary Road, Academy Award-winner Kate Winslet is undoubtedly one of the best actresses that's working today.
However, in a career that has spanned some memorable films and roles, her latest performance in Sky Atlantic and NOW's new drama, Mare of Easttown, is being praised as one of the best in her impressive career.
The mysterious seven-part crime drama follows the small-town Pennsylvania detective Mare Sheehan (Winslet) as she investigates a local murder at a time when her own life is crumbling around her.
Stricken with grief following her son’s suicide, Sheehan is trying to find normalcy in her own life, but her pain leads her to develop an obsession with various cases of missing and murdered girls in Easttown. With everyone fully aware of her situation and the rumours swirling around her, how will this affect her dogged pursuit of the killer?
After critics gained an early look at the series, the HBO drama has really resonated and it currently holds a score of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes and 78% on the more reputable Metacritic.
Aside from covering the familiar beats of the crime genre, critics said that Mare of Easttown stands out from similar shows due to Winslet's wonderful performance.
Variety hailed the English actress in their review by saying: "The achievement of Winslet’s performance is that for as much as Mare may seem like a victim, we come to believe she has it in her, perhaps more than ever before in her life, to be great."
Elsewhere, The Age believe that the star of Titanic and Steve Jobs will be in awards contention for her work in the drama.
"If Winslet doesn't likewise figure in awards contention for this role I'll be astonished. She is absolutely superb - by turns funny, fierce and infuriating -- in what surely counts as an acting masterclass," their review stated.
While Winslet is undoubtedly the star attraction, Brad Ingelsby's show has also impressed plenty of people with its gripping story and narrative approach.
In their review, Decider said: "As the show progresses, it only gifts viewers more brilliant character moments, shocking reveals, and haunting performances. Clear your Sundays this spring for Mare of Easttown because it’s that damn addicting" while TV Guide remarked: "Like a blue-collar version of The Undoing, the red herrings and shocking twists pile on relentlessly. ... By the fifth hour, I was left as breathless as Mare."
Mare of Easttown airs on Monday, April 19 at 03.00 and 21.00pm on Sky Atlantic. The series is also available to watch and stream on NOW.
.png?w=600)
