In the Spotlight: Rachel Weisz

Isn’t it inspiring when you watch a film where the acting is so good, you find yourself considering it for a long while afterwards? In my opinion, British Actress Rachel Weisz is one of those so skilled at her craft, she never disappoints. I have been reminded of this in two of her latest movies:The Light Between OceansandDenial.The daughter of Edith Ruth Teich, a psychoanalyst and George Weisz (pronounced Vice), an inventor, Rachel began acting while studying at Cambridge University. She is the recipient of numerous acting awards including: the Guardian Award, Most Promising Newcomer by the London Critics’ Circle, The European Film Production’s Shooting Star Award and an Academy award for her role in The Constant Gardener. (IMDb, 2017).One thing I appreciate most in her work is that she plays very real, imperfect characters that are incredibly relatable. In the film adaptation ofThe Light Between Oceans, she is the mother of a child and German husband who are lost at sea while fleeing persecution from the people in the village. She suspects her child may still be alive but is riddled with the devastation of what has happened and a frenzy to recover what she has lost. And yet, she is redeemed by her humanity and understanding of what the other characters are feeling and suffering with to the extent that she is driven to make decisions for the best of everyone involved.InDenial, Weisz plays American professor Deborah Lipstadt in taking on a Holocaust denier in a UK court case. Based on a true story, she tackles how freedom of speech can be used to distort history unless challenged. This time, her performance is feisty as much as it is authentic."In 2000, Lipstadt made international headlines when she was exonerated in a British court on libel charges brought by Irving over passages in her 1993 book "Denying the Holocaust" that identified him as one of the most dangerous proponents of the denial movement."(Photo: Lipstadt & Weisz. www.emery.edu, 2017).Both movies are available on iTunes and Amazon.comWatch for Weisz in the upcoming period mysteryMy Cousin Rachel, premiering July, 2017. Based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier and adapted by Roger Mitchell, a young Englishman (Sam Claflin) plots revenge against his cousin (Weisz) believing she is responsible for the death of his guardian. That is, until he falls under her spell.