Carrie Prestongot her start in theater, but her best movies and TV shows prove that Preston is a brilliant character actor. Today, Preston is the star of theThe Good Wifespinoff seriesElsbeth. It took decades for that starring role to happen though, as the actor has long played supporting roles and been able to completely disappear into her characters without the average audience member realizing roles were played by the same actress.
Preston’s best movies and TV shows are the kinds of projects where she does her best character work. Even in small scenes, Preston is able to dig into her roles and make them completely her own. Much of her best work has been done on television where she has a longer chance to play with those characters, but Preston still has quite a few great movie roles as well.
My Best Friend’s Wedding
Cast
Upon hearing of her friend Michael’s engagement, Julianne Potter realizes she loves him and schemes to disrupt his wedding to win his heart.
Carrie Preston has built her career on supporting roles, making her an accomplished character actor. Her role inMy Best Friend’s Weddingis one of the earliest instances of just that, as she plays a supporting role as a member of the wedding party in the romantic comedy.
My Best Friend’s WeddingseesJulia Robertsas a woman who is invited to the wedding of her long-time best friend, but it just so happens she is in love with him and wants to break them up. She finds herself named the maid of honor by the bride-to-be (a bubbly Cameron Diaz), and as she grows to like her, she begins to feel guilty about her plan.
Preston’s role is as one of the bride’s cousins. She plays a very Southern belle who claps and smiles and is very encouraging. It’s one of her best roles, however, becauseher acting choices in the role make the character just shy of uncomfortably comedic, keeping the audience laughing every time she’s on screen, even in the movie’s one big musical number.
Cameron Diaz’s 20 Best Movies, Ranked
Cameron Diaz is a titan in cinema, famous for her roles that range from the deeply serious to the hilarious, and she stars in some incredible movies.
And Then I Go
And Then I Go follows the lives of two marginalized teenagers who struggle with daily hostility at school. Amidst this adversity, they conceive a plan to seek retribution, finding a disturbing sense of liberation in their plot. Released in 2017, the film explores themes of alienation and retribution.
If Carrie Preston’s role as Ms. Arnold was larger inAnd Then I Go, the movie might rank higher among her best. As it is, the drama is a poignant character study of children in pain.
The movie follows two middle school students who experience bullying on a daily basis. Their parents think they’re just getting in fights at school, not realizing that the fights are one-sided, or that the two boys have become targets of nearly everyone around them. The targeting leads to the two of them becoming bitter and wanting retribution against the other students, which is why they plan a violent event at school. When one of the boys gets cold feet, he still helps his friend carry out the plan, barricading exits, even if he does not pull the trigger himself.
In a world where school shootings end up in the news nearly every day, this movie could have been an incredibly controversial one for audiences. It is not, however, a movie about the shooting. Instead, it is a movie about the change and pain that teenagers can go through and how that can become extreme for them in different ways.Preston plays a small role in the school setting, helping to move the plot forward, but the movie belongs to the boys.
Lost
Lost is a mystery drama series created for TV that follows a group of survivors of a plane crash and tells its story between the past, present, and future via flashbacks. When Oceanic Airlines Flight 815 crashes and lands on a mysterious island in the pacific ocean, the castaways discover their new temporary home may have a mind of its own, as strange supernatural events keep them locked to the island. From an unknown black smoke creature to dangerous islanders, the passengers must work together to survive the island’s seemingly deadly intentions.
Carrie Preston is not one of the main cast members of the largeLostensemble. Because the series flashed back to the pasts of the main characters throughout the show, and even into their futures, there are numerous other actors who appeared in the landmark series that were not part of the main cast. Carrie Preston is one of them.
The series follows a group of survivors of a plane crash on a mysterious island. While initially, they hope for rescue, the island proves to hold a long and complicated history that many of them are already connected to. The lore of the island slowly unfolds throughout the series alongside a complicated timeline involving characters on and off the island.
Preston appears in flashbacks to the past of Ben Linus. In fact, she plays his mother, which some fans found amusing, since Michael Emerson, who plays Ben Linus in the present-day timeline of the show, is her real-life husband.She does not have a huge role in the show, appearing to give birth to Ben, and then for her form to haunt him on the island. Preston, however, manages to completely disappear into the role and do so much with so little.
“Not Penny’s Boat” Is Lost’s Biggest Moment (Not “We Have To Go Back”)
Charlie’s message to Desmond, “Not Penny’s Boat”, in the Lost season 3 finale is the critical moment that changed the ABC series forever.
…it’s easily one of Preston’s movies that might have been missed by a lot of audiences.
That Evening Sunis a movie that made its way around the film festival circuit, but did not get a huge theatrical run, so it’s easily one of Preston’s movies that might have been missed by a lot of audiences. Inspired by the short story “I Hate to See That Evening Sun Go Down,” the movie examines a battle over a piece of property, but it’s actually much more than that.
Abner Meecham (Hal Holbrook) breaks out of the nursing home where his son has left him to return to the farm he loved. When he reaches it, however, he finds a new family has been leased the farm, and he takes up residence in a shed at the back with the intention of not leaving his home again. Abner and family patriarch Lonzo (Ray McKinnon) go to battle over the property, especially when Abner disagrees with how Lonzo treats his daughter and wife.
Preston stars as Ludie, Lonzo’s wife in the movie. She is not at the center of the battle between the men, but a supporting character as she struggles with the predicament their battle puts the family in. When Lonzo ends up arrested, it falls to Ludie to bail him out, even though the family does not have the money for bail.Preston paints a convincing portrait of a Southern woman of another era, one who would do anything for her family, even if she might not agree with them.
The movie won 12 awards across different film festivals and critical associations, including a Special Jury Award for Best Ensemble Cast at South by Southwest.
The Holdovers
The Holdovers is a comedy-drama film starring Paul Giamatti as Paul Hunham, a prep academy professor hated by peers and students alike. Stuck at the academy for the holidays with no family or friends to visit, he finds himself in the company of a bright-but-troublemaking young student named Angus and the school’s head cook, Mary. Together, the three will create a makeshift family as they bond during the holiday season.
WhileThe Holdoversis a phenomenal movie, and easilyone of Paul Giamatti’s bestas he plays the lead, Preston has a supporting role here. Preston appears as the assistant to the dean of the boarding school at the center of the movie.
The Holdoversfollows Giamatti’s character as a teacher at a boarding school. He is tasked with watching those students “held over” during the holiday break at the school. Eventually, the number dwindles to just him, one student, and a cafeteria employee. They bond due to their tragic pasts and all learn something during the holidays.
Preston’s Lydia Crane appears when the group runs into her while dining in town. She invites them to her holiday party, and she is played as a genuinely nice person not wanting people to be alone during the holidays. Giamatti’s character, however, reads into their interactions, attempting to flirt with her, and she is already seeing someone else.Preston’s role is a relatively small one as the bulk of the character arcs take place without her, but her character allows the audience a window into the minds of others.
The Holdoverswas nominated for five Oscars, winning one. It was also nominated for three Golden Globes, winning two.
The Good Wife
After being a stay-at-home mother for thirteen years, Alicia Florrick resumes her law career after her husband is imprisoned following a political corruption and sex scandal.
the good fight
The Good Fight was created for the streaming service CBS All Access and was created by Michelle King, Robert King, and Phil Alden Robinson. The series ran for six seasons between 2017 and 2022. As a direct sequel to The Good Wife, the series follows the trials and tribulations of lawyer Maia Rindell.
Though Carrie Preston has built a career on disappearing into roles, recurring inThe Good WifeandThe Good Fightmade her something of a TV star. Her role as Elsbeth Tascioni continued fromThe Good Wifeand into its spinoff series.
Both shows are legal dramas, and Preston’s Elsbeth is a lawyer who makes occasional appearances in both.Despite only appearing in a handful of episodes, she became a fan favorite because of her quirky personality.Elsbeth would frequently see what others missed, but her mind would seemingly be so scattered that she would make her assertions about what was missed at inopportune times for others.Preston played her with an optimism and a sense of fun that the audience loved.
Interest in the character led to a spinoff series with Preston in the lead, continuing the franchise after the first two shows had ended.
true blood
True Blood is a horror/fantasy drama series created by Alan Ball and starring Anna Paquin, Stephen Moyer, and Alexander Skarsgård. The series follows the life of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with telepathic powers that lives in a fictional town in Louisiana. In this town, a new synthetic “drug” has allowed vampires to escape their coffins and roam amongst the living.
True Bloodbecame a huge hit for HBO, ushering in an era of supernatural and genre shows for cable and basic networks alike. Preston played the sassy waitress Arlene, who worked with main character Sookie (Anna Paquin).
The series, set in the Deep South, follows a young woman who appears to have psychic abilities as she becomes embroiled with vampires.True Blooduses vampires as a way to explore community divides and prejudice in addition to giving the audience engrossing love stories and fantasy adventures.
What The Cast Of True Blood Are Doing Now
Eight years after the popular fantasy series True Blood ended the cast has continued their great acting careers. Here’s what they are all doing now.
Arlene is someone who, by her own admission, has terrible taste in men, but she continues to fall in love throughout her time in the show. She also appears to be something of a medium as she experiences visions of ghosts throughout the show.Preston’s take on Arlene is someone who speaks her mind, even if what she says might be prejudiced, and she is one of the most vocal vampire haters in the show. She’s incredibly entertaining, but clearly meant to be a Southerner with racism so built into her background, she does not even notice it.
True Bloodwas nominated for 16 Emmys during its run, winning two.
Ready? OK!
Ready? OK! is a 2008 film directed by James Vasquez, exploring the journey of a 10-year-old boy named Joshua who wishes to join his Catholic school’s cheerleading squad. His single mother, Andy, navigates her challenges in embracing Joshua’s interests with support from their neighbor, Charlie.
This is another project in which Carrie Preston got to appear with her real-life husband Michael Emerson.In addition to acting in the movie, Preston also produced the film. While it did not receive a huge audience reaction, it proves Preston’s dedication to the craft and it’s also a moving story.
The movie follows a young man and his mother as he desires to become a cheerleader, and she struggles with what that might mean for him. It’s an examination of gender and sexuality through a thoughtful lens, and Preston is fantastic in the movie.
Preston stars as the mother of the boy pursuing being a cheerleader.She walks a fine line between worrying about him being accepted by his peers and wanting him to be “normal” while also supporting his individuality and accepting him herself. Preston plays the role perfectly.
The movie won both Best Narrative Feature and Best Actress at FilmOut San Diego in 2008.
Claws
Claws is a television drama series that aired in 2017, focusing on the lives of five manicurists working at a Florida nail salon. Led by Desna Simms, the group becomes entangled in the world of organized crime, navigating various threats and challenges. The show features a diverse cast including Niecy Nash, Carrie Preston, and Judy Reyes, and combines elements of dark comedy with crime and drama.
It is very much as though she pulled elements of the many characters she had played over the years to create Polly and her sister, building on all the work that had come before the show.
Clawsis one of the most creative series Carrie Preston has ever participated in. It’s also one of the few projects in which Preston gets to play more than one role.
Clawsfollows a group of women working at a nail salon who get roped into working with organized crime. Initially, they just want to own the salon free and clear, but they end up laundering money for a clinic that is dealing drugs, and multiple women end up in relationships with criminals. The women end up eventually running their own criminal empire alongside the salon.
Clawsworks because, despite the serious criminal elements of the show, it is a comedy. The most outlandish moments of death and mayhem are punctuated by jokes and perfect line deliveries. Preston is a big part of that as Polly and Polly’s twin sister. While Polly is a career criminal, recently out of prison for social security fraud in the first season, her sister is much more straight-laced. It gives her the chance to play with two very different personalities.
Clawsis the most different of all of Carrie Preston’s TV roles. It is very much as though she pulled elements of the many characters she had played over the years to create Polly and her sister, building on all the work that had come before the show.
Elsbeth
Elsbeth follows Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute attorney with a unique perspective, as she collaborates with the NYPD to tackle elusive criminals after a successful career in Chicago. Released in 2024, this series explores her unconventional methods in solving intricate cases.
The series finally gives Carrie Preston the chance to shine in a leading role, something most of her best movies and TV shows do not give her the chance to do.
Elsbethis a triumph for a character actor like Carrie Preston. The characteroriginated inThe Good Wifebefore appearing inThe Good Fightand ending up with her own show. Here, Elsbeth is no longer just a quirky lawyer though.
Elsbethfollows the titular character as she becomes a consultant and investigator for the police department in New York, moving her from Chicago. She gets to maintain her quirky optimism from the original role, but she also gets to move out of the courtroom since the series is more of a police procedural.
The series also does not follow the usual whodunnit format of procedurals. Instead, it’s more in the vein ofColombo’sformat with the perpetrator revealed at the start of the episode, and the rest of the episode following just how Elsbeth catches them.It’s a break from form for Preston who not only leads the series, but is also an executive producer.
The series finally givesCarrie Prestonthe chance to shine in a leading role, something most of her best movies and TV shows do not give her the chance to do.
