Woman of the Week

Whose performance wowed us this past week and why? Read on to find out!

Nominated by Melissa: Geraldine James as Marilla Cuthbert in ‘Anne with an E’

Geraldine did some lovely character work in season 2 of Anne with an E. One of the benefits of binge watching a show is that it’s easier to see character growth that’s normally stretched over weeks or months during a regular viewing schedule. Of course Anne is the showier role – she’s vibrant, loud, imaginative, loving, greets the world with open arms – but in Marilla we see the effect of having someone like Anne in your life. This season Geraldine gradually moved Marilla from a stern, fearful, closed-off woman to a softer, openly affectionate, even occasionally vulnerable woman who stands up for herself and those she loves. And the circle of people she loves, or at least cares about, has expanded this season as well. In addition to Matthew, Anne, and Rachel – all of whom she experienced some conflict with but came through the other side with stronger relationships – Marilla opened her heart to include Gilbert Blythe, Sebastian, Miss Stacey, and Cole, even though three of those people caused something of a paradigm shift in her worldview. To love someone like Anne the way she needs, one must be willing to shift paradigms and welcome otherness; Geraldine moved Marilla Cuthbert in the right direction this season without losing the essence of the character. Kudos.