8 Underrated Kristin Scott Thomas Movies Fans Need to See
You've probably seen her in The English Patient, but there are some lesser-known masterpieces starring Kristin Scott Thomas you just can't afford to miss.
1. I've Loved You So Long (2008)
This is a movie that's as straightforward as its title is poetic. Kristin plays Juliette, a woman recently released from prison for murdering her son. She moves in with her younger sister Lea and her family. Juliette is distant and cold, obviously traumatized by her 15-year incarceration. The tension unfolds as Juliette gets a job and tries to integrate back into society, including revealing the real reason behind her son's death.
2. Leaving (2009)
Ready for some sultry French drama? Kristin plays Suzanne, a well-to-do woman who falls head over heels for a Spanish handyman, Ivan. Initially hired to build a studio so Suzanne can restart her physiotherapy career, Ivan becomes the catalyst for her to leave her cushy life and affluent husband. They run away together, trying to build a life, but end up in a downward spiral of financial instability and social alienation. Suzanne's husband doesn't make it any easier, filing lawsuits and seizing assets.
3. The Valet (2006)
In this French comedy, supermodel Elena is dating a wealthy married businessman. When they are caught on camera by a paparazzo, the businessman needs to divert his wife's (played by Kristin) attention. Enter François, a parking lot attendant hired to pose as Elena's boyfriend. The plan gets complicated when François' own crush starts to think he's actually dating Elena.
4. Gosford Park (2001)
Murder mystery, anyone? This British period piece is set in 1932 and centers on a party at a country estate. Kristin's character, Sylvia McCordle, is the wife of the man hosting the party. During the gathering, Sylvia's husband is murdered, and everyone becomes a suspect. There are under-the-table deals, secret relationships, and, of course, that age-old British tension between the upper crust and the working class.
5. Tell No One (2006)
In this French thriller, Kristin plays Hélène, who helps her childhood friend Alexandre Beck, when he becomes the main suspect in his wife's murder—eight years after she was actually killed. New evidence emerges, and Alexandre gets emails that suggest his wife might still be alive. Hélène helps him dig deeper into the mystery, dodging police and danger at every corner. The twist? Hélène is secretly in love with Alexandre but helps him find what could be his still-alive wife.
6. The Woman in the Fifth (2011)
Kristin plays Margit, a mysterious widow who starts an affair with an American writer, Tom, who has come to Paris to reconnect with his estranged daughter. Tom also has a casual fling with a Polish barmaid, but when she's found dead, he becomes the prime suspect. Margit's enigmatic advice and odd behavior only deepen the intrigue. It turns out, she's just a figment of Tom's imagination, a manifestation of his guilt and psychological unraveling.
7. Bel Ami (2012)
Ready for some more period drama? Set in Paris, Kristin is Virginie, one of the many wealthy women that Georges Duroy, a manipulative, social-climbing journalist, seduces to advance his career. As he maneuvers through Parisian high society, each woman becomes a rung on his ladder of ambition. But Virginie, unlike the others, isn't just another trophy; she genuinely believes in him, making her betrayal all the more poignant.
8. Random Hearts (1999)
A political drama that's as intricate as a spider's web. Kristin plays Kay Chandler, a congresswoman who finds out her husband was having an affair when he dies in a plane crash. He was with his mistress, and they were seated together. Harrison Ford plays Dutch, the police sergeant whose wife was the mistress. They team up to unravel the truth behind their spouses' secret lives, and in the process, discover uncomfortable truths about themselves.