From Maine to Japan

Michelle Pfeiffer as Selina Kyle/Catwoman in Batman Returns. Batman Returns came at a time when I was in a not-very-good relationship, and Pfeiffer's depiction of a women who uses her near-death experience to make herself over into a badass fighter who takes no crap from anyone was...inspiring. I loved that she rejected Bruce Wayne at the end despite admitting the appeal of being swept away like a fairy princess. "I'd love to live with you in your castle...but I just couldn't live with myself."

Meryl Streep as Julia Child in Julie & Julia. Fresca writes about Amy Adams in Julie & Julia, but it was Streep that captivated me. I loved her gusto, her passion and warmth, and the openly sexy and mutually-admiring relationship she has with her husband.

Emma Thompson as Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing. Witty and sarcastic, caring and perceptive, Thompson brings so much crackle to this role and her scenes with her then-husband Kenneth Branagh as Benedict, as their battle of wits becomes a cover for more tender feelings.

Michelle Yeoh as Yu Shu-Lien in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. I could just watch Yeoh's face for hours in this movie. She's so contained and restrained, and the death scene with Chow Yun-Fat is heartbreaking as they realize they're out of time to say the things they never said to each other. Plus, she kicks ass and her martial arts scenes are totally believable (well, as believable as any of the fight scenes in this movie that relies heavily on nicely done wire-fu).