Australian actorAngourie Rice’s movie and TV show roles have shown the impressive career she has been building over the years, establishing herself as one of the most promising up-and-coming actors in Hollywood. Despite her young age, Rice has been on many people’s radar for almost a decade, from early roles in which she held her own against big-name stars like Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe (maybe even returning ina possibleThe Nice Guys 2), and Nicole Kidman. From there, she took on high-profile supporting roles while also cementing herself as an actor who can carry a lead role.
Rice has become even more prominent on screen in recent years, starring in some must-watch television shows and headlining some bigger movies. It seems clear that Rice’s career in movies and television is only going to get brighter from here, but there are also a lot of notable projects that fans can explore to get to know more of her work thus far. From the MCU to teen musicals to some underseen gems that more people can discover, these are Angourie Rice’s best movie and TV roles.
The Last Thing He Told Me
Cast
Based on the novel by Laura Dave, The Last Thing He Told Me is a drama mystery series that stars Jennifer Garner as Hannah, a woman whose husband goes missing. Left alone with her stepdaughter, Hannah must forge a true relationship with her stepdaughter and work together to find their missing family member.
One of the most impressive things about Angourie Rice’s career thus far as a young actor is how comfortable she is able to seem even when she is sharing the screen with some very famous and accomplished actors. One of Rice’s most recent projects is a testament to this, as the thrillerThe Last Thing He Told Mehas herstarring alongside Jennifer Garnerwith their relationship being at the center of the story.
Garner plays Hannah, a woman who is in search of her husband who has recently disappeared. In uncovering the mystery, she is forced to work alongside her stepdaughter (Rice), deepening their relationship for the first time. The series is a mixed bag in terms of its mystery, as not everything comes together in a satisfying way. However, the show is largely held together by the performances, with Garner excellent as the grounded hero, whileRice gives a layered performance as the conflicted daughter seeking to know the truth.
Every Day
Every Day (2018) is a romantic drama directed by Michael Sucsy. The film follows Rhiannon, a teenage girl who falls in love with A, a mysterious spirit that inhabits a different body every day. Angourie Rice stars as Rhiannon, navigating the complexities and challenges of such a relationship. The movie explores themes of identity, love, and acceptance in a uniquely compelling narrative.
Every Daymarked Angourie Rice’s first lead role in an American production, quickly showing how confident she is in carrying a project. The inventive teen romance finds Rice playing Rhiannon, a young girl who falls for a traveling soul who wakes up every day in a new body. Rhiannon is then faced with the dilemma of meeting someone new each day who she already shares a deep connection with.
The creative premise is a terrific jumping-off point for the story, even if the movie doesn’t explore the idea to its full potential. However, the message of love transcending looks, gender, and other factors is a worthwhile one, while Rice serves as a grounding centerpiece to the story, sharing chemistry with her various ever-changing co-stars, Justice Smith, Jacob Batalon, and Owen Teague.
Ladies in Black
Ladies in Black is a drama set in 1959 Sydney, revolving around a group of department store employees during the cultural shift of the era. The film primarily follows the journey of Lisa, a bright schoolgirl who takes a summer job and interacts with her diverse co-workers. Directed by Bruce Beresford, the movie explores personal growth and societal change, capturing the essence of an evolving Australian society.
Though Angourie Rice’s star has been steadily on the rise in Hollywood, she has occasionally taken the time to return to her homeland to star in an Australian production. One such movie earned her some of the biggest praise of her career withLadies in Black. Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the film follows a group of women working at a department store in 1950s Sydney, struggling with the various demands for women of the era.
Rice leads the ensemble as Lisa, the new girl hired to help out but who has ambitions to go to university and make her own way in the world of business. The movie is a charming and lighthearted period story that offers romance, humor, and inspiration.Rice won the AACTA award for Best Lead Actress.
Honor Society
Honor Society follows high school student Honor Rose (Angourie Rice), an ambitious teenager vying for a coveted recommendation to Harvard. Navigating competitive classmates and high school politics, Honor formulates a plan to outsmart her top competitors, including charming new student Michael (Gaten Matarazzo). Directed by Oran Zegman, this film offers a sharp look at the lengths one might go to achieve their dreams.
While she is sure to begin moving into older and more mature roles before too long, Angourie Rice has been excelling in the sphere of teen comedies for a number of years. She was given the chance to lead one such movie with the underseen but underratedHonor Society. Rice stars as Honor Rose, a bright young high school student who discovers that she might have competition for placement in her Ivy League school of choice from her equally sharp classmate, played byStranger Things’ Gaten Matarazzo.
In an attempt to get the upper hand, Honor decides to distract him by getting him to fall in love with her. While the scheme of the main character might seem a little meanspirited, that is what makes Rice’s performance in the movie so essential.She plays Honor in a way that her actions are understandable even if they aren’t ethical. She also brings a lot of humor and charm to the role while sharing strong chemistry with Matarazzo.
Mean Girls (2024)
Mean Girls is a reimagining of the 2004 classic comedy film as a musical, directed by Samantha Jayne and Arturo Perez Jr. When Cady Heron and her family move from Africa to the United States; she experiences a culture shock when she enters the public school system for the first time. While trying to fit in, she is roped into the popular but superficial and cruel clique, the Plastics.
Angourie Rice stepped into the lead role in one of the most beloved teen comedies of all time, retelling it with a twist. Following the success ofMean Girls: The Musicalon Broadway, Tina Fey and her collaborators brought the same story back to the big screen with songs and dance sequences.Rice takes over the role of Cady(played by Lindsay Lohan in the original), a young girl new to the high school social structure who finds herself in the inner circle of the popular girls, led by the scheming Regina George (Reneé Rapp).
While there was some pushback from fans of the original movie,2024’sMean Girlsearned strong reviews, with many critics finding it a worthwhile update that is elevated by the catchy music.Rice shows off her song and dance skills in the lead role while continuing to showcase her natural comedic talent.
While Angourie Rice appeared in allthree Spider-Man movies in the MCUso far,Spider-Man: Far From Homegave her the most prominent role as Betty Brandt, one of Peter Parker’s classmates. The film takes place in the aftermath ofAvengers: Endgamewith Peter looking to take some time away from the superhero game to join his class trip to Europe and attempt to ignite his romance with MJ (Zendaya). However, while aboard, Peter is recruited by Nick Fury to help a multiversal hero, Mysterio (Jake Gyllenhaal).
Rice gets more to do in this movie, being brought in as part of the young core ensemble while also getting a funny subplot in which Betty and Ned share an unexpected romance. Though often seen as the weakest of the MCU Spider-Man movies,Far From Homeis still a fun ride with a lot of humor and some great twists that impact the overall MCU.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
Angourie Rice joined the anthology seriesBlack Mirrorin one of its most talked-about episodes as it starred one of the biggest celebrities on the planet. From the fifth season ofBlack Mirror,“Rachel, Jack and Ashley Too” stars Rice as a young teen who buys a doll that is meant to replicate the personality of her favorite pop star (played by Miley Cyrus) but soon finds that part of the pop star herself is trapped inside the doll.
While Cyrus was the big-name draw for the episode,Rice leads the story as the grounded hero who has a kind heartand wants to help her idol. While manyBlack Mirrorepisodesare known for being bleak affairs, this one does include some humor while also commenting on celebrity and how technology can rob them of so much.
The Beguiled
The Beguiled (2017) is a Southern Gothic drama directed by Sofia Coppola. Set during the American Civil War, the narrative unfolds in a Virginia girls' school where the arrival of a wounded Union soldier disrupts the equilibrium of the female inhabitants. The film stars Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, and Colin Farrell, intertwining themes of desire, jealousy, and betrayal in a confined setting.
Angourie Rice stepped into the star-studded ensemble ofThe Beguiled, under the leadership of modernauteur Sofia Coppola. A remake of the Clint Eastwood movie of the same name,The Beguiledstars Nicole Kidman and Kirsten Dunst as women overseeing a boarding school for young women in the South during the Civil War. However, tension and distrust grow throughout the house when a Union soldier (Colin Farrell) shows up, looking for refuge.
Rice plays Jane, one of the young women at the school who is conflicted between helping the soldier and doing their duty to turn him in. The movie is a terrific slow-burn thriller with the intensity increasing throughout the story. It is a very different film than what Coppola has made before but showcases her talents for being versatile with her storytelling and handling a large ensemble story.
The Nice Guys
Directed by Shane Black and starring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, The Nice Guys tells the story of a private investigator and a hired enforcer who team up to investigate the disappearance of a young woman. Set in 1970s Los Angeles, the 2016 comedy thriller puts a modern spin on the noir genre.
The Nice Guyswas the movie that first led to people recognizing Angourie Rice and her talents. Still relatively new to the movie business, Rice was the breakout star of the comedy crime movieThe Nice Guys. Written and directed by Shane Black, the film follows private eye Holland Marsh (Ryan Gosling) and enforcer Jackson Healy (Russell Crowe) in 1970s Los Angeles as they are forced to team up on a missing person’s case.
Rice is funny, charming, and sharp as Holly, Holland’s wise-beyond-her-years daughterwho wants nothing more than to help her hapless father with his case and get him back on track as a PI. The film is a hilarious pulpy throwback with Gosling and Crowe proving to be an ideal onscreen pair. Though it was ultimately a box office bomb, its popularity has only grown over time and there are many calling forThe Nice Guyssequel to finally happen.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a mystery crime-drama that stars Kate Winslet as a detective attempting to solve a murder as her life crumbles around her. Marianne “Mare” Sheehan is assigned to investigate the murder of one girl while trying to tackle a cold case of another missing girl. Having recently lost her son, Mare’s world is steeped in chaos as she attempts to reclaim her life in the eyes of the town - and herself.
Angourie Rice stepped into another high-profile television mystery series withMare of Easttown. The series stars Oscar-winner Kate Winslet as a detective in a small town in Pittsburg who is dealing with her complicated legacy and her troubled family life when the murder of a young woman rocks the small community.
Rice is a standout part of the overall ensemble, playing Siobhan, the teen daughter of Mare. While she does not see eye-to-eye with her mother at most times, the series explores how they are able to find a connection as Mare deals with the trauma of her past. The series makes for a gripping mystery, keeping the audience guessing right untilMare of Easttown’s ending, which is heartbreaking yet satisfying. However, it is elevated above being a simple procedural thanks to interesting characters and nuanced performances.
