17. Viola Davis in Fences (2016)

Viola Davis is tour de force as the emotionally deep and complex Rose Maxson in Fences. This woman, at once fiercely protective of her family and resentful of her husband's infidelity, is acted by Davis with powerful restraint to reveal the many layers of the character. Her performance won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. Her ability to bring raw humanity to every role she inhabits is unmatched by anyone, ever. This can be said in the way she portrayed the role in Fences, one of the most emotionally stirring performances ever in film.
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Edited by Apoorva Jujjavarapu