Joan Cusack is one of the greatest talents to ever blow minds in movies and TV series. Having been in the business for over four decades, she has won many hearts with her peculiar charm and brilliant acting prowess. Here’s a close look at some of the most memorable Joan Cusack movies and TV shows.
Movies
- Working Girl (1988) Playing the role of the protagonist of the film, Tess McGill’s witty best friend, the classic comedy-drama Working Girl had Joan Cusack inch out the character of Cyn. Sassiness within one-liners and faultless sense of comedy timing, this lady was a beauty in the movie. Such was her portrayal of the character of Cyn, adding a load of humor within her and great depth to a character which probably was so highly regarded for Joan.
- Chemistry between Cusack and Melanie Griffith’s character added to positive on-screen friendship, making their characters seem more real with one another.
- Her character of Cyn was well-received, thus making her a memorable character in the movie.
- The film Working Girl further cemented Cusack as an actress capable of handling a comic or dramatic role in the film industry.
2. In & Out (1997)
In the comedy In & Out, Joan Cusack was hilarious as Emily Montgomery, the sister of a school teacher who, in an Academy Award acceptance speech, outs him as gay. Playing Emily, the critical notice bestowed upon Cusack showed how especially adept she had become with comedies and just how versatile an actress she was. She injected humor and heart into the character that added an extra layer to the storyline.
- Cusack’s comic timing and delivery lightened up the movie, balancing those heavier moments of the movie with some comic relief.
- She played the perfect eccentric yet caring girlfriend as Emily Montgomery, which got her appreciation among viewers.
- In & Out mentioned Cusack for comic timing and her ability to hold her own in such roles, adding to the versatility of an actress in the industry.
3. High Fidelity (2000)
In the cult classic film High Fidelity, Joan Cusack played Liz, the ex-girlfriend of the protagonist Rob Gordon, played by John Cusack. Her contribution to the storyline was immense, as it seemed she played the character to perfection. She played Liz with great sincerity in the film High Fidelity, adding to the realism in the relationship which the characters were living through.
Apart from this was added to the chemistry between Cusack and the character of John Cusack, thereby their relationship too became quite relatable and likable.
- As Liz, she proved she was talented enough to add gravity with a lot of emotions and subtlety in acting. -High Fidelity marked Cusack as a highly talented actress who could add gravity and substance to the characterization.
- Toy Story Franchisee 1995-2019 For the Toy Story franchise, Joan Cusack voiced the spunky cowgirl doll named Jessie. Her voice made that character alive, which is also considered Jessie to be the love of all of her viewers apart from age issues. While on the screen performing the voice of Jessie, much spunkiness and charm had been added to it by Cusack herself, securing her place in fans’ hearts globally.
Cusack just made Jessie so quirky with her voice acting that she instantly became one of the most memorable characters in the franchise. She brought such layer and emotion into the character as a feisty cowgirl that people literally fell in love with her at an emotional level. The work in the Toy Story franchise really gave an idea of how differential an actress Cusack could get concerning animated characters.
- School of Rock (2003) But as uptight principal Rosalie Mullins in the musical comedy School of Rock, Joan Cusack reached comic perfection again. Her interactions with Dewey Finn, played by Jack Black, gave the storyline some comedic relief; she is an outstanding versatile actress. With Cusack bringing in humor and warmth into the character of Rosalie Mullins, she made the movie quite comical.
The chemistry on screen between Cusack and Jack Black added that extra level of humor into this film and helped in having them remembered as phenomenal together. Her acting portrayed that quirky ability to bring gravitas with humor in her roles, witnessed and appreciated by every audience member. Following her movie School of Rock, her status as one of the funniest actresses who came from Second City was clearly well established.
- Shameless (2011-2021) In the eighth season of the hit series Shameless, it was decided to include Joan Cusack as Sheila Jackson in the cast. Right away, she charmed critics and audiences with her comic, eccentric portrayal of this lovable neighbor, proving once again that this versatile actress can shine in everything from a cable series. With Cusack, the role of Sheila Jackson had humor and heart written into a really compelling character.
Where Cusack’s Sheila Jackson was another kind of kookiness that strangely clicked with the audience and won her critical acclaim. In Shameless, she proved able to give weight to a TV role and made it as natural as possible, which makes her an outstanding actress even in this format.
- The character of Sheila Jackson in Shameless by Cusack was an acting powerhouse that showed the gamut she has in playing characters of various dimensions.
2. A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018-2019)
In the Netflix original series A Series of Unfortunate Events, Joan Cusack took on the role of warm-hearted Justice Strauss, who befriends orphans Baudelaire. She brought a lot of heart and character to the part she played, to say the least-receiving brilliant reviews for her part in this dark comedy-drama. The way she portrayed Justice Strauss to perfection showed just how brilliant she was at bringing layers and nuances to her acting.
- Justice Strauss immediately took on-screen presence by the nature with which Cusack imbues her: gentle, kind lines.
- Immediately notable is just how emotionally strong she is while watching her in A Series of Unfortunate Events, with depth in delivery that earns great regard for such nuance.
- Justice Strauss’s character brought so much warmth and humanity to the series, further sealing her reputation as one of the most talented actresses on television. She was portrayed by Cusack.
3. Homecoming (2018-2019)
The lead in the mysterious and enigmatic Francine Bunda in this series, Homecoming, by Amazon Prime Video, is Joan Cusack. She added intrigue to this psychological thriller series with her acting and showed just how she could add depth and nuance to any character she portrays. Cusack instills mystery and suspense into Francine Bunda in her portrayal, making her a compelling presence in the series.
The performance that Cusack gave as Francine Bunda really made a multi-layered character in which tension and suspense were always up for grabs, and her display in Homecoming told how beautiful she is while expressing herself. What was very attractive in Homecoming was that one could find dimensionality in her play, for which she got acclaimed for. In Francine Bunda’s role, one finds that variegated facets have been brought into Cusack’s acting career.
She has carved a niche for herself as a multi-faceted and talented actress, with numerous movie and television roles to her credit. Her iconic performances have kept her in the hearts of people right from all parts of the world and have made her a household name in the entertainment industry. Frequently Asked Questions
- Some of the most memorable movie roles played by Joan Cusack are? Some of the memorable movie roles of Joan Cusack have been those of Cyn in Working Girl from 1988, Emily Montgomery in In & Out in 1997, Liz in High Fidelity in 2000, and voicing Jessie in the Toy Story film series.
2. Which were some TV appearances of Joan Cusack?
She has appeared in several hit series such as, but not limited to, Shameless (2011-2021), A Series of Unfortunate Events (2018-2019), and Homecoming (2018-2019).
- What kind of role does Joan Cusack always do in movies and television? Joan Cusack does comedy and mainly quirky roles in movies and television, which showcases her range as a performer.
4. What is one of Joan Cusack’s most iconic voice roles?
Among the most memorable voice roles of Joan Cusack is Jessie, the cowgirl doll from the popular Toy Story franchise.