Actresses Who Are the Best On-Screen Criers

The ability to deliver a convincing emotional breakdown is a hallmark of a great performer in the entertainment industry. Many actresses have built their reputations on their capacity to shed authentic tears that resonate deeply with viewers. These moments often become the most memorable scenes in cinema and television history because they bridge the gap between fiction and reality. From silent weeping to guttural outbursts of grief these performances highlight the technical and emotional range required of top tier talent. The following list celebrates the women who have mastered the difficult art of on screen crying.

Viola Davis

Viola Davis is widely recognized for her ability to convey raw and unfiltered emotion in every role she undertakes. Her performance in ‘Fences’ showcases a powerful display of grief that resonated with audiences and critics alike. She often utilizes a physical style of crying that includes visible distress to ground her characters in reality. In the television series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ she frequently portrays a woman struggling with immense personal and professional pressure. Her work remains a benchmark for dramatic excellence in contemporary cinema.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep has spent decades perfecting the art of the emotional breakdown across various genres. In ‘Sophie’s Choice’ she delivers one of the most devastating scenes in film history as a mother forced to make an impossible decision. Her subtle approach in ‘Kramer vs. Kramer’ allowed viewers to feel the quiet desperation of a woman rebuilding her life. Streep is known for her technical precision and her ability to make every tear feel earned by the narrative. She continues to be a gold standard for emotional authenticity in Hollywood.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh quickly became famous for her distinct and visceral crying style in modern horror and drama. Her role in ‘Midsommar’ features a communal wailing scene that captures a unique sense of shared trauma and release. In ‘Little Women’ she portrays Amy March with a vulnerability that makes her character’s frustrations feel deeply personal. Pugh often uses her entire face and body to express sorrow which creates a lasting impact on the viewer. This commitment to emotional honesty has made her one of the most sought after young actresses today.

Claire Danes

Claire Danes gained a reputation for her intense emotional expressions early in her career with ‘My So-Called Life’ and ‘Romeo + Juliet’. She became even more famous for her portrayal of Carrie Mathison in ‘Homeland’ where her character often faced high stakes psychological stress. Her crying scenes are frequently described as brave because she prioritizes the character’s pain over maintaining a traditional aesthetic. This dedication allows for a more immersive experience for the audience during intense plot developments. She remains one of the most effective dramatic performers on television.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson is a master of the restrained and heartbreaking cry that often leaves audiences in tears themselves. Her silent realization of betrayal in ‘Love Actually’ is frequently cited as one of the most moving moments in holiday cinema. In ‘Sense and Sensibility’ she demonstrates how Victorian social constraints can make an emotional outburst feel even more explosive. Thompson uses her eyes and subtle facial shifts to communicate a wealth of unspoken sorrow. Her performances are often characterized by a sophisticated balance of dignity and despair.

Toni Collette

Toni Collette is known for her fearless approach to portraying extreme psychological and emotional states. Her work in ‘Hereditary’ features some of the most haunting depictions of maternal grief ever put on film. In ‘The Sixth Sense’ she provides the emotional core of the movie through her character’s concern for her son. Collette is capable of shifting from quiet weeping to full body hysteria with incredible speed and conviction. This range makes her an essential actress for directors seeking high impact dramatic performances.

Julianne Moore

Julianne Moore often plays characters who are struggling to maintain a facade of normalcy while falling apart internally. In ‘Magnolia’ her breakdown in a pharmacy is a masterclass in portraying shame and regret through tears. Her Academy Award winning performance in ‘Still Alice’ shows the slow and painful emotional toll of a degenerative disease. Moore has a way of making her eyes appear glassy and full of light right before she begins to cry. This technique adds a layer of fragile beauty to her most tragic scenes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has delivered many powerful emotional performances throughout her long and storied career. In ‘The Hours’ she portrayed Virginia Woolf with a brooding melancholy that felt both historical and deeply personal. Her role in ‘Big Little Lies’ required her to navigate the complex emotions of a survivor of domestic abuse. Kidman often uses a soft and shaky voice to accompany her tears which emphasizes the vulnerability of her characters. She is highly regarded for her ability to maintain a sense of grace even during moments of total despair.

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett is an actress of immense range who can deliver everything from regal stoicism to complete emotional collapse. Her performance in ‘Blue Jasmine’ is a detailed study of a woman suffering a nervous breakdown in the wake of financial ruin. In ‘Notes on a Scandal’ she portrays a woman whose life is unraveling with a desperate and tearful intensity. Blanchett often incorporates nervous energy and frantic movements into her crying scenes to heighten the tension. Her ability to inhabit such complex emotional states has earned her numerous accolades.

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway proved her mettle as a dramatic powerhouse with her transformative role in ‘Les Misérables’. Her performance of the song I Dreamed a Dream while crying was a raw and unedited display of human suffering. In ‘Rachel Getting Married’ she played a woman in recovery whose tears were fueled by a mix of anger and self loathing. Hathaway is known for her expressive features which allow her to communicate deep sadness even with minimal dialogue. She consistently brings a high level of sincerity to her most challenging dramatic scenes.

Kate Winslet

Kate Winslet became a global star through her ability to project deep longing and sorrow in ‘Titanic’. Since then she has continued to impress audiences with her grounded and realistic crying scenes in films like ‘Revolutionary Road’. In the miniseries ‘Mare of Easttown’ she portrays a grieving mother with a weary and exhaustion fueled style of crying. Winslet often avoids the polished look of Hollywood drama in favor of a more messy and relatable emotionality. This approach has helped her build a strong connection with audiences over several decades.

Zendaya

Zendaya transitioned from teen stardom to serious dramatic acting with her acclaimed role in ‘Euphoria’. As Rue Bennett she portrays the agonizing cycles of addiction and the emotional fallout it has on her family. Her crying scenes in the show are often frantic and fueled by a sense of hopelessness that feels painfully real. She has the ability to make her character’s physical withdrawal and emotional pain indistinguishable through her performance. This role has solidified her status as one of the most talented dramatic actresses of her generation.

Michelle Williams

Michelle Williams is frequently cast in roles that require a high degree of emotional sensitivity and quiet strength. In ‘Manchester by the Sea’ she delivers a brief but unforgettable scene that is filled with stuttering apologies and tears. Her work in ‘Blue Valentine’ chronicles the slow and tearful dissolution of a marriage with brutal honesty. Williams has a unique way of making her characters seem as though they are trying to hold back tears even when they are flowing. This creates a sense of internal conflict that is highly effective on screen.

Amy Adams

Amy Adams is celebrated for her ability to convey a wide spectrum of emotions with a gentle and soulful touch. In ‘Arrival’ she portrays a mother grappling with the concept of loss and the weight of the future through misty eyes. Her role in the series ‘Sharp Objects’ required her to delve into dark themes of trauma and self harm with a hauntingly sad performance. Adams often uses her breathing to signal the onset of a breakdown which adds a rhythmic quality to her crying. Her performances are consistently marked by a deep sense of empathy for her characters.

Jessica Chastain

Jessica Chastain brings a sharp intelligence and a fiery emotional core to her dramatic roles in film. In ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ her final scene features a quiet and solitary moment of release that summarizes years of suppressed tension. Her performance in ‘The Help’ allows her to show a more vulnerable and socially isolated side of her acting range. Chastain is capable of crying while maintaining a sense of resolve and determination which makes her characters feel formidable. She is a versatile performer who excels at showing the strength within sorrow.

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman has a remarkable ability to flip between comedy and profound tragedy with ease. In ‘The Favourite’ she portrays Queen Anne with a mixture of physical pain and emotional longing that often results in tears. Her role in ‘The Crown’ showcases the burden of duty and the personal grief that must be hidden from the public eye. Colman often allows her voice to crack and break in a way that feels incredibly authentic and unscripted. This naturalistic style has made her a favorite among critics and fellow actors.

Lupita Nyong’o

Lupita Nyong’o made a stunning film debut in ’12 Years a Slave’ where her crying scenes were central to the movie’s emotional weight. She portrays the character of Patsey with a heartbreaking endurance that is punctuated by moments of pure agony. In ‘Us’ she manages to convey fear and sorrow simultaneously through her wide and expressive eyes. Nyong’o uses her facial muscles to show the physical strain of crying which adds to the realism of her work. Her ability to command the screen through silence and tears is exceptional.

Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand is known for her no nonsense approach to acting and her refusal to romanticize her characters. In ‘Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri’ she plays a mother whose grief is channeled into a righteous and tearful fury. Her performance in ‘Nomadland’ is more understated and focuses on the quiet sorrow of a life spent in transition. McDormand often cries in a way that feels like a natural extension of her character’s exhaustion. She brings a unique sense of grit to every emotional scene she performs.

Sarah Paulson

Sarah Paulson has become a staple of the ‘American Horror Story’ franchise where she is frequently called upon to scream and cry. She excels at portraying extreme terror and the emotional breakdown that follows a traumatic event. In ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story’ she gave a nuanced performance as Marcia Clark dealing with public scrutiny and personal frustration. Paulson often uses a shaky hand or a trembling lip to signal the depth of her character’s distress. Her consistency in delivering high stakes emotion is a key part of her success.

Elisabeth Moss

Elisabeth Moss has mastered the art of the close up crying scene during her time on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. She is able to communicate complex political and personal rebellion through nothing more than a tearful stare at the camera. Her work in ‘Mad Men’ showed the gradual emotional hardening of a woman in a male dominated industry. Moss often utilizes a style of crying that feels like it is bubbling up from deep within a character who is trying to remain stoic. This tension makes her emotional outbursts particularly satisfying for the audience.

Saoirse Ronan

Saoirse Ronan has been delivering impressive dramatic performances since she was a child actor in ‘Atonement’. In ‘Lady Bird’ she captures the tearful frustrations of late adolescence and the complicated love between a mother and daughter. Her role in ‘Brooklyn’ focuses on the homesickness and the difficult choices faced by an immigrant in a new land. Ronan has a clear and luminous crying style that highlights her youthful features while conveying mature emotions. She is widely considered one of the most talented actors working today.

Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga proved her dramatic capabilities to the world with her starring role in ‘A Star Is Born’. She delivered several scenes of intense vulnerability and grief as her character watched the man she loved struggle with his demons. Her crying in the film felt spontaneous and was often accompanied by genuine vocal distress. In ‘House of Gucci’ she showed a more calculated and vengeful side of crying that demonstrated her range. Gaga brings a theatrical but deeply sincere energy to her emotional performances.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence is known for her relatable and down to earth personality which translates into her crying scenes on screen. In ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ she portrays a woman dealing with loss and mental health issues with a volatile emotional energy. Her role in ‘The Hunger Games’ series required her to cry for the loss of friends and the weight of a revolution. Lawrence often uses her husky voice to add a sense of weariness to her character’s sorrow. She has a talent for making her tears feel like an honest reaction to the world around her.

Octavia Spencer

Octavia Spencer often serves as the emotional heart of the films she appears in due to her soulful performances. In ‘The Help’ she uses her tears to show the quiet dignity and the private pain of a woman facing systemic injustice. Her work in ‘Hidden Figures’ highlights the frustrations of a brilliant woman being held back by the prejudices of her time. Spencer has a warm and maternal crying style that often evokes a strong empathetic response from viewers. She is an expert at showing the human cost of historical events.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman delivered a career defining performance in ‘Black Swan’ that involved immense physical and emotional strain. Her crying scenes in the film are filled with a sense of mounting paranoia and the pressure of perfectionism. In ‘Jackie’ she portrays the immediate and public grief of a First Lady after the assassination of her husband. Portman uses her delicate features to show the shattering of a character’s composure with great precision. She is known for her ability to maintain a high level of intensity throughout a film.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt has shown a wide range of emotional depth in both genre films and prestigious dramas. In ‘A Quiet Place’ she conveys the terror and sadness of a mother trying to protect her children in a world where sound is deadly. Her performance in ‘The Girl on the Train’ features a messy and alcohol fueled style of crying that captures her character’s instability. Blunt often uses her eyes to tell a story of internal struggle before she ever sheds a tear. She is a highly versatile actress who brings a sense of intelligence to every emotional scene.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley is often associated with period dramas where she portrays women trapped by social expectations. In ‘Atonement’ her tears are a reflection of a life altered by a single lie and a lost love. Her performance in ‘The Imitation Game’ shows the quiet heartbreak of a woman supporting a friend through a tragic legal ordeal. Knightley has a distinct way of clenching her jaw while crying which adds a sense of repressed emotion to her work. She excels at portraying the elegant sadness of historical figures.

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon moved beyond her comedic roots to become a powerhouse dramatic actress and producer. In ‘Wild’ she gives a raw and gritty performance as a woman hiking the Pacific Crest Trail to process her mother’s death and her own past. Her role in ‘Big Little Lies’ allows her to show the tearful cracks in the facade of a perfect suburban life. Witherspoon often uses a fast talking and frantic style of crying that feels very modern and relatable. She has a talent for portraying women who are trying to keep it all together while they fall apart.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie has quickly established herself as an actress who is not afraid to get ugly for a role. Her portrayal of Tonya Harding in ‘I, Tonya’ features a scene of her crying while applying makeup that is both tragic and darkly funny. In ‘Babylon’ she demonstrates her ability to produce tears on command as a silent film star trying to make it in the talkies. Robbie uses her expressive face to show a wide range of emotions from manic joy to deep despair. She is known for her incredible work ethic and her commitment to the physical demands of her characters.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is a legendary performer who is known for her intense and often intimidating presence on screen. In ‘Fatal Attraction’ her character’s tears are fueled by a dangerous mix of obsession and rejection. Her more recent work in ‘The Wife’ shows a woman silently weeping as she reflects on a lifetime of sacrificed ambitions. Close has a piercing gaze that makes her crying scenes feel like they are cutting right through the viewer. She remains one of the most respected and powerful actresses in the history of cinema.

Susan Sarandon

Susan Sarandon has a long history of playing women with strong convictions and deep emotional lives. In ‘Dead Man Walking’ she portrays a nun who offers compassion and tears to a man on death row. Her role in ‘Stepmom’ features a devastating look at a mother preparing her children for a future without her. Sarandon uses her large and expressive eyes to convey a sense of wisdom and empathy even in her saddest moments. She has a way of crying that feels incredibly maternal and comforting to the audience.

Laura Dern

Laura Dern is an actress who is known for her unique and highly expressive facial reactions during dramatic scenes. Her breakdown in ‘Marriage Story’ as a divorce lawyer is a standout moment of frustrated and righteous emotion. In the works of David Lynch such as ‘Blue Velvet’ she portrays a more innocent and shocked style of crying. Dern is often praised for her willingness to let her face contort in ways that feel honest rather than glamorous. This lack of vanity makes her one of the most authentic performers in the industry.

Julia Roberts

Julia Roberts became a superstar through her infectious smile but she is also an incredibly effective on screen crier. In ‘Steel Magnolias’ she delivers a performance that has become a staple of the tearjerker genre. Her Academy Award winning turn in ‘Erin Brockovich’ shows her character crying out of frustration for the families she is trying to help. Roberts has a way of making her eyes well up with tears that feel like they are coming from a place of genuine heart. She remains a beloved figure for her ability to balance charm with heavy drama.

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates is a formidable actress who can move from terrifying to heartbreaking in a single scene. In ‘Misery’ she uses her character’s emotional instability to create a sense of constant dread punctuated by tears. Her role in ‘Dolores Claiborne’ showcases a much more sympathetic and weary side of her crying range. Bates often uses her powerful voice to add a sense of weight to her character’s expressions of grief. She is a master of character acting who brings a sense of reality to even the most extreme situations.

Holly Hunter

Holly Hunter is known for her distinctive voice and her ability to play characters with immense internal fire. In ‘The Piano’ she delivers a stunning performance as a mute woman who must communicate all of her sorrow through her actions and expressions. Her role in ‘Broadcast News’ features a character who schedules a time to cry every morning to manage her stress. Hunter has a quick and sharp way of crying that feels very specific to her high energy acting style. She is an expert at showing the vulnerability beneath a tough exterior.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton is famous for her nervous energy and her ability to blend humor with genuine pathos. In ‘Annie Hall’ she uses her tears to show the confusion and sadness of a relationship that is slowly drifting apart. Her performance in ‘The Godfather’ trilogy shows the tragic transformation of a woman as she realizes the true nature of her family. Keaton often uses hand gestures and hair ruffling to accompany her crying which makes it feel very spontaneous. She has a unique ability to make the audience laugh and cry in the same scene.

Angela Bassett

Angela Bassett is an actress of incredible strength and presence who commands the screen in every role. Her portrayal of Tina Turner in ‘What’s Love Got to Do with It’ features scenes of harrowing physical and emotional abuse. In ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ she delivers a powerful monologue fueled by the grief of a mother who has lost her family. Bassett has a regal and powerful style of crying that never diminishes her character’s authority. She is highly respected for her ability to portray dignity in the face of immense suffering.

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan is an expert at playing women who are much more observant and wounded than they initially appear. In ‘An Education’ she captures the tearful realization of a young woman whose life plans have been derailed by a betrayal. Her performance in ‘Promising Young Woman’ features a cold and calculated style of crying used as a weapon against those who have wronged others. Mulligan has a soft and porcelain like face that makes her tears appear particularly striking on camera. She is known for her precision and her ability to suggest a vast interior life.

Maggie Smith

Maggie Smith is a legendary actress who has mastered the art of the witty remark and the silent tear. In the ‘Downton Abbey’ series she portrays a matriarch who rarely shows emotion but is deeply affected by the loss of her family. Her role in ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ shows a woman whose life’s work and illusions are crumbling around her. Smith uses her expressive eyes and subtle shifts in posture to communicate a lifetime of experience and sorrow. She is a master of the understated emotional moment.

Judi Dench

Judi Dench is often cast in roles of great authority and wisdom but she is equally capable of profound vulnerability. In ‘Notes on a Scandal’ she portrays a woman whose obsession leads to a lonely and tearful downfall. Her Academy Award nominated performance in ‘Philomena’ shows a mother searching for her lost son with a quiet and persistent grief. Dench has a way of making her characters seem as though they are physically shrinking when they are sad. She is one of the most decorated and respected actresses of her generation.

Allison Janney

Allison Janney is a versatile performer who excels in both long running television series and high profile films. In ‘I, Tonya’ she plays a cold and abusive mother whose rare moments of emotion are jarring and effective. Her work on ‘The West Wing’ showed her character navigating the high pressure world of politics with intelligence and occasional tears. Janney is a tall and commanding presence but she is able to make herself seem incredibly small and fragile during a breakdown. She brings a sense of grit and humor to all of her dramatic work.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams became a household name with ‘The Notebook’ where her crying scenes helped define a generation of romantic dramas. She has since moved into more serious dramatic territory with films like ‘Spotlight’ where she plays a journalist dealing with heavy subject matter. McAdams has a very natural and pretty crying style that often makes her characters feel very accessible to the audience. She is able to convey a sense of earnestness and sincerity that is essential for romantic and dramatic storytelling. Her performances are consistently marked by a high level of emotional intelligence.

Taraji P. Henson

Taraji P. Henson is an actress of great energy and emotional range who is never afraid to show her character’s pain. In ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ she provides the warm and tearful heart of the story as a woman who raises a child who ages backwards. Her role as Cookie Lyon in ‘Empire’ features many moments of fierce maternal protection and the tears that come with it. Henson has a powerful and vocal style of crying that reflects the strength of the women she portrays. She is known for her ability to connect with audiences on a deeply personal level.

Sally Field

Sally Field has delivered some of the most iconic emotional moments in American cinema throughout her career. Her breakdown at the funeral in ‘Steel Magnolias’ is a legendary piece of acting that perfectly captures the stages of grief. In ‘Norma Rae’ she uses her tears to show the exhaustion and the triumph of a woman fighting for her rights. Field has a way of making her voice tremble with an authentic sense of urgency that is very moving. She is a two time Academy Award winner who is celebrated for her emotional transparency.

Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter is known for her eccentric roles and her ability to bring a sense of tragedy to unusual characters. In ‘The King’s Speech’ she provides a supportive and quietly emotional presence as Queen Elizabeth during a time of national crisis. Her role as Bellatrix Lestrange in the ‘Harry Potter’ series shows a more manic and twisted side of her emotional range. Bonham Carter often uses dark makeup and messy hair to emphasize the distressed state of her characters. She is a unique performer who brings a Gothic and soulful quality to her crying scenes.

Annette Bening

Annette Bening is a highly skilled actress who specializes in portraying the complexities of modern adulthood. In ‘American Beauty’ her character’s private moments of crying reveal the deep dissatisfaction beneath her polished exterior. Her performance in ‘The Kids Are All Right’ showcases the tearful and difficult work of maintaining a family through conflict. Bening has a sophisticated and intelligent style of crying that feels very true to life. She is known for her ability to show the nuanced ways that adults process their disappointments.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry made history with her Academy Award winning performance in ‘Monster’s Ball’ which featured an incredibly raw breakdown. In that film she portrays a woman dealing with the loss of her husband and son with a visceral and shaking style of crying. Her role in ‘Losing Isaiah’ also required her to delve into the deep pain of a mother fighting for her child. Berry is known for her physical beauty but she is willing to strip it all away for a truly authentic emotional scene. She remains a significant figure in Hollywood for her dramatic bravery.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth Paltrow has delivered several memorable dramatic performances that showcase her ability to be vulnerable on screen. In ‘Shakespeare in Love’ her tears reflect the bittersweet nature of a love that can never truly be realized. Her role in the thriller ‘Seven’ culminates in a moment of intense fear and sorrow that has become a permanent part of film lore. Paltrow has a delicate and luminous style of crying that fits well within her often elegant roles. She is an actress who can communicate a great deal of emotion with a single look.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder was the face of a generation in the 1990s and has seen a major career resurgence with ‘Stranger Things’. In the series she portrays a frantic and grieving mother whose tears are a constant reminder of her love for her missing son. Her earlier work in ‘Girl, Interrupted’ showcased a more internal and troubled style of crying. Ryder has large and expressive eyes that are particularly well suited for showing fear and sadness. She remains a powerful actress who can command the audience’s sympathy with ease.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts is often called upon to lead films that deal with extreme survival and psychological distress. In ‘The Impossible’ she gives a harrowing performance as a mother injured during a tsunami and trying to find her family. Her work in ‘Mulholland Drive’ features a scene of her crying during an audition that is a masterclass in shifting between different emotional layers. Watts is known for her ability to maintain a sense of realism even in the most extraordinary and tragic circumstances. She is a versatile and dedicated performer who brings a high level of conviction to every tear.

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