The five best performances from actors who were only in one scene
An actor doesn’t need to be in every scene of a movie to leave an impact. In fact, many stars have only appeared in just one, yet the strength of their performance leaves audiences unable to forget the short time they graced the screen.
The sign of a good actor is their ability to harness a commanding presence, no matter who they’re acting alongside or how long they’re on the screen for. In many instances, it’s easy to forget that an actor only appeared in one scene of a movie because of how iconic and influential their performance becomes, like Dean Stockwell in Blue Velvet – anyone who watches it will always remember that flawless lip-sync.
We’ve picked five performances that demonstrated the abilities of actors to master exactly what was required from them in just one scene. With a limited amount of time to prove themselves, they did just that, and some even won prestigious awards as a result.
So, from Drew Barrymore in Scream to Beatrice Straight in Network, here are five incredible performances from actors who only appear in one scene of the movie.
Five iconic performances from actors in one scene:
Drew Barrymore – <em>Scream</em> (Wes Craven, 1996)
Scream is arguably the greatest horror satire of all time, expertly blending meta-analysis of the genre with genuine scares and comedy. It’s both self-aware and terrifying, and it also has one of the best opening scenes in horror history. We meet Drew Barrymore’s Casey Becker at her home one dark evening, where she cooks popcorn on the stove and settles down for a night in front of the TV.
Yet, she’s soon tormented by Ghostface over the phone, who quizzes her on horror trivia before entering her house, resulting in her gruesome death. Barrymore performs Casey perfectly with the short amount of time she’s given, allowing her to move between arrogance, nonchalance, panic, and fear as she grapples with the fact that she’s actually being pursued by a real killer who has got her boyfriend tied up outside.
Vanessa Redgrave – <em>Atonement</em> (Joe Wright, 2007)
Atonement is easily the most heartbreaking film on this list, charting the doomed romance between Cecelia and Robbie during 1930s and ‘40s-era Britain. Adapted from Ian McEwan’s novel of the same name, the film ends with a (spoilers ahead) shocking plot twist delivered by Vanessa Redgrave playing an older version of Saoirse Ronan’s Briony.
We learn that Briony is now dying from an illness, and the story of Cecilia and Robbie’s relationship that she has immortalised in a novel didn’t actually end with the pair living happily ever after. In a crushing scene, Briony reveals that they both died during the war, never getting to reunite, all because of a mistake Briony made as a child. Full of grief and regret, Redgrave’s performance is truly moving, even if we hardly see her for most of the runtime.
Dean Stockwell – <em>Blue Velvet</em> (David Lynch, 1986)
David Lynch’s Blue Velvet is a psychosexual nightmare where erotic pain and pleasure intersect, and the filmmaker’s love for the ‘women in trouble’ trope first emerges. One of the most compelling villains in cinema history can be found here, too – Dennis Hopper’s gas-huffing Frank Booth – who finds himself strangely moved by a lip-synced performance of ‘In Dreams’ by Roy Orbison courtesy of Dean Stockwell’s Ben.
Holding a light to his face, which is dusted in white powder, he harnesses an eerie quality as he performs the beautiful song, one that epitomises Lynch’s obsession with dream worlds. Stockwell steals the show with this performance, despite it being his only major appearance in the film, and it’s simply bizarre but ultimately unforgettable.
Christopher Walken – <em>Pulp Fiction</em> (Quentin Tarantino, 1994)
It takes a strong actor to deliver a monologue that manages to hold its weight, which is something that Christopher Walken seemingly achieved with ease when he starred in Quentin Tarantino’s hugely popular indie hit Pulp Fiction. The film’s ensemble cast gave way to many great performances from John Travolta and Samuel L Jackson to Tim Roth and Uma Thurman, but Walken still impresses with just one scene.
As Captain Koons, a war veteran, Walken’s character delivers a monologue in the presence of a young Butch, whom he delivers a gold watch to. Telling the kid how his father kept the watch shoved up his arse, it’s comically written and expertly performed, proving Walken’s natural ability for delivering stupid lines with a cool and easy sensibility.
Beatrice Straight – <em>Network</em> (Sidney Lumet, 1976)
We couldn’t leave Beatrice Straight’s performance in Sidney Lumet’s 1976 comedy drama Network off this list, considering that she made Oscar history with it. Appearing in the film for just five minutes, she still managed to bag an Academy Award for ‘Best Supporting Actress’, which is nothing short of impressive. Her scene saw her play Louise Schumacher, the wife of Max, whom she discovers has been cheating on her after 25 years of marriage.
Straight delivers a searing performance as she confronts him with her feelings, moving through a series of intense emotions as she processes the information she’s just learned, her whole world shattering around her. It’s a prime example of how powerful a short and impactful performance can be, and her Oscar was rightly deserved.
