For this year’s Time magazine’s Annual Great Performances portfolio, eleven selected actors — whom delivered the best cinematic performances of 2012, according to the publication — pose for the black and white studio shots of photographer Paola Kudacki. Check them out below:
John Goodman – Argo.
John Hawkes – The Sessions.
Philip Seymour Hoffman – The Master.
The Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA) handed out their picks for top cinematic excellence this season on Thursday night (10 January), at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California. Following his Oscar snub in the morning, actor-turned-director Ben Affleck took top honours at the 18th Critics’ Choice Awards, scooping ‘Best Director’ for his efforts on ‘Argo‘, and ultimately ‘Best Picture’ for the Iranian hostage-crisis thriller. Other winners included Daniel Day Lewis (Best Actor), Jessica Chastain ( Best Actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman (Best Supporting Actor) and Anne Hathaway (Best Supporting Actress).
Head below for all the red carpet action:
‘Les Miserables‘ starlet Amanda Seyfried rocked a topknot, a Marios Schwab frock and Roger Vivier strappy sandals.
Anne Hathaway donned a beaded floor-length Oscar de la Renta gown.
‘Rust and Bone‘ leading lady Marion Cotillard stole the show in a floral Zuhair Murad dress. She completed her look with nude Jimmy Choo sandals.
‘Silver Linings Playbook‘ star Jennifer Lawrence was stunning in a black Prabal Gurung draped gown.
Sporting side-swept curly hair, ‘Zero Dark Thirty‘ heroine Jessica Chastain matched the red carpet in a Prada dress.
‘The Master‘ actress Amy Adams opted for a draped white and blue Vionnet gown.
‘The Vampire Diaries‘ sweetheart Nina Dobrev showed some sexy legs and cleavage in a Monique Lhuillier dress, paired with Brian Atwood shoes.
Emily Blunt went for a clean and fresh look in this white Miu Miu dress, with a crystal-studded neckline.
‘Ginger & Rosa‘ cutie Elle Fanning pulled off a daring head-to-toe Chanel ensemble, that included a strapless column dress with floral appliqués.
Emmy Rossum looked breathtaking in an embellished Carolina Herrera gown.
‘The Impossible‘ actress Naomi Watts looked elegant in a strapless Pucci gown, with a sheer neckline.
Viola Davis showed that she meant serious business when she stole a win at the Critics’ Choice Awards from Meryl Streep, and a few weeks later infamously did the same at the SAG Awards, delivering a stirring acceptance speech in the process, that included the powerful mantra ‘Dream big and dream fierce’. Now the multiple Tony Award-winning actress has ensured her place as the clear favourite to win ‘Best Actress’ at this year’s Oscars for her heart-wrenching performance in ‘The Help‘, which would make her only the second African-American actress to do so in the 83-year history of the awards.
The 46-year-old celebrates black beauty, with her natural short nappy hair and sensual dark complexion, on the cover of the February issue of the LA Times magazine. Photographed by Ruven Afanador, Viola dons a Marchesa longsleeve high-neck re-embroidered lace dress with organza flower shoulder detail.
Viola discusses with the magazine how it is like to be an actress of colour in Hollywood.
“That really is our plight, especially as women of color. You can have all the training in the world, come from a respectable background and yet never get that big opportunity that breaks you out — Never… You can be in the business for 23 years, which I have been, and suddenly something happens that wakes people up. For me, that was being in a movie [Doubt] with Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Philip Seymour Hoffman. It makes people realize you’re there. Otherwise you’re that black girl who had a guest or costar role in a TV show here or there”, Viola points out to the LA Times.
Head below for a look at Viola striking some supermodel-worthy poses in her gorgeous editorial.
Viola is chic in a Jason Wu sculpted dress and Guiseppe Zanotti black suede cut-out booties.
Viola looks beautiful in a Thierry Mugler lace with velvet trim suit.
Viola strikes a pose in Jason Wu and wears Tom Ford sunglasses.
