Famous for her role in one of the biggest cult comedies of the 1990s, Alicia Silverstone has been all over the place throughout the 2000s. Still, not long before her debut role, she starred in Aerosmith’s infamous music video for their hit single “Cryin.’” These two performances combined to make Silverstone one of the most talked-about performers at the time. Silverstone couldn’t really manage to keep a hold on that title, though. She played Batgirl in 1997’s Batman & Robin, but the film was a total flop. From the mid-90s forward, she tried and failed to remain the icon that she once was. This isn’t as bad as it sounds, though — sometimes, for an actor, making it big and then slipping back into lesser-known roles yields some of the most interesting results. Because of this, Silverstone actually has a number of great performances under her belt.
Clueless
Naturally, her breakout performance deserves the top spot here. It’s a genuinely hilarious film that is carried almost entirely by Silverstone, which is impressive for a newcomer such as herself. She co-stars alongside Paul Rudd and Brittany Murphy, of course, but Silverstone is the one and only actor who seems born for their role in this film.
The Killing of a Sacred Deer
From the delightfully peculiar filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos comes 2017’s The Killing of a Sacred Deer, a movie that stars Colin Farrell and Nicole Kidman but features an all-time great cameo performance from Silverstone. She’s playing the mother of the strange boy who plagues Farrell and Kidman’s family, featured prominently in a dinner scene between her, her son, and Farrell. It’s strange and uncomfortable and completely unexpected, at least coming from her.
Catfight
Onur Tukel’s 2016 dark comedy Catfight stars Silverstone alongside Sandra Oh and Anne Heche. Oh and Heche play two former friends from college, while Silverstone plays the girlfriend to Heche’s character. It’s a movie full of slow and boiling tension, ultimately leading to a sudden burst of violence (as suggested by the title). Silverstone’s along for the ride, willing to play along with the ridiculous concept at hand — it works out well for her.
The Art of Getting By
A minor role in a cute little romantic comedy might seem insignificant to an actor that takes themselves too seriously. Luckily, this isn’t the type of actor Silverstone posits herself to be. She has fun with her roles, and The Art of Getting By is a great example of this. Playing someone named Ms. Herman, Silverstone stays in the background when compared to the stars Freddie Highmore and Emma Roberts. Still, it’s a fun entry in Silverstone’s fun filmography.
Rock My World
Also known as Global Heresy, Rock My World is a 2002 comedy about a rock band that loses its lead and fades into seclusion in the United Kingdom. Silverstone is the replacement, a bassist named Natalie, and she proves to be quite the disruption for this little band. It’s not very well-known at all, but it plays off of a lot of what made Silverstone’s performance in Clueless so great.
