Films To Watch: Tilda Swinton’s Best Movie Performances

Directed by Lynne Ramsay and based on the bestselling novel by Lionel Shriver, this storyline follows Eva Khatchadourian (played by Swinton); a travel writer/publisher who gives up her bohemian lifestyle to have a child with her husband. Pregnancy does not seem to agree with Eva, but what’s worse is when she does give birth to a boy named Kevin, she can’t bond with him. When Kevin grows from a demanding toddler into a sociopathic teen, Eva is forced to deal with the aftermath of his horrific act. Swinton’s character is almost too complicated to pity, but the performance is showstopping, bringing a blend of cold poise and intense vulnerability to the screen.

This is an action-packed fantasy about a girl and the giant hippo-esque pig, Okja, who she has come to love like a family member. The director Bong Joon-ho contrasts the South Korean hills with the claustrophobic fast-paced New York streets and Swinton’s character Lucy Mirando is a company chief burdened with feelings of liberal guilt, which she channels into the development of a strain of super-pigs. Swinton portrays her with a wide range of characteristics, from empathy to rapacity – and gets to display even more in the role of Miranda’s twin, Nancy.

In I Am Love Swinton takes on the role of Emma Recchi, the beautiful and elegant wife of a wealthy Italian executive, in an emotionally charged and stimulating performance. Set in Milan in and around the stately home of the wealthy Italian family, the film follows an adulterous relationship between Emma Recchi and Antonio, a talented young chef – this is an affair that sends the family into serious upheaval. Fashion plays a pivotal role in Luca Guadagnino’s direction too, with an evocative wardrobe created by Raf Simons for Jil Sander that will inspire.

In a stylish remake of Jacques Deray’s 1969 psychological thriller La Piscine (The Swimming Pool), A Bigger Splash brings us an emotional thriller exploring jealousy and desire. The storyline follows a recuperating rock star Marianne (played by Swinton) and her boyfriend Paul (Matthias Schoenaerts), who are holed up on a romantic holiday until the peace is shattered by the arrival of record producer and old flame Harry (Ralph Fiennes) and his daughter Penelope (Dakota Johnson). The action takes place in a gorgeous villa with a swimming pool, way up in the hills and far from the harbour where increasing numbers of migrants are being held. Swinton’s effortless charisma underpins everything she does in A Bigger Splash.

In a short but captivating role, Tilda Swinton played a pivotal part in Wes Anderson’s film The Grand Budapest Hotel back in 2014. She takes on the character of the ancient Madame D, hotel owner, whose death sets the film’s events rolling and drives the whole plot. The actress took on five hours of make-up to embrace this look and perfectly embraces one of her most dramatic on screen transformations to date.