Romance films make audiences feel an array of emotions. Some stories will make them cry, others will make them laugh, and many will make them cheer as two star-crossed lovers overcome every obstacle to achieve their happily ever after. Of course, these stories are only as effective as the actors bringing them to life, some of which go unrecognized for their remarkable performances. Here are the ten most underrated performances in romance movies of all time.
10 Hilary Swank - P.S. I Love You (2007)
P.S. I Love You tells a heartbreaking love story non-linearly, showing the progression of Gerry's illness and the ups and lows of his marriage with Holly. No stranger to powerhouse performances, Hilary Swank gives a nuanced and truly heart-wrenching performance as Holly, showing her deal with the various stages of grief and ultimately learning to embrace life once again without Gerry.
9 James Marsden - The Notebook
From the X-Men franchise to The Notebook, James Marsden took a dramatic shift in genres when he signed up to portray Lon Hammond Jr., Allie's kind-hearted fiancé who serves as her rebound. When Noah comes back to Allie's life, Lon's expendability comes to the surface, with Allie quickly rekindling her affair with Noah despite being days away from marrying Lon.
Lon could have easily been portrayed as a haughty, selfish individual towards Allie following her unfaithfulness, but instead, he proves himself a selfless person who lets Allie choose true happiness. Arguably Marsden's most compelling and likable character.
8 Cameron Diaz - My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
Similarly to James Marsden performance in The Notebook, Cameron Diaz stole the show as Kimberly Wallace in My Best Friend's Wedding. Kimberly is a kind-hearted individual who sees the best in everyone, perhaps to a fault, as Julianne plots to sabotage her engagement to Michael. Nevertheless, Kimberly's reaction when discovering the truth is simply devastating. She trusted Julianne only to be betrayed in an utterly despicable way, and audiences truly sympathize for Kimberly as she deals with the crumbling of her fairy tale romance.
7 Julia Roberts - Runaway Bride (1999)
There's a reason Julia Roberts is considered one of the best actors of her time; she nails every role thrown her way. In Runaway Bride, Roberts portrays Maggie, a perpetual bride that always gets cold feet minutes before tying the knot, leaving her fiancé at the altar at the very last minute. When she meets Ike, it seems Maggie will finally muster the courage to say I do. It's hard to root for a character that spends the majority of their film trivializing others' feelings in place of their own, but Roberts' performance as Maggie captivates audiences as they see a woman simply dealing with a lifetime of trauma and self-discovery. A relatable performance all across the board.
6 Timothée Chalamet - Call Me By Your Name (2017)
Despite his short time working in Hollywood, Timothée Chalamet has quickly cemented himself as one of the greatest actors of his generation, leading major blockbusters and garnering an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Call Me By Your Name. Timothée Chalamet gives a memorable performance as the bold and adventurous Elio, exploring his budding feelings for Oliver during their short-lived summer romance. In a tear-jerking finale, Elio takes one last call from Oliver and cries while staring into his fireplace, processing the end of their relationship.
5 Taylor Russell - Bones And All (2022)
Another Timothée Chalamet romance flick, Bones and All has Chalamet portraying an anti-hero alongside Taylor Russell. Their characters commit downright horrific acts to satiate their cannibalistic appetite, but nonetheless, their backstories make them compelling characters that audiences can't help but sympathize for. Maren has gone her entire life feeling an outcast, emotionally neglected by her father, abandoned by her mother, and longing to forge a genuine connection with someone.
Seeing her find that with Lee, only to lose it as he sacrifices himself to save her, is heartbreaking, and Taylor Russel conveys Maren's heartbreak convincingly.
4 Blake Lively - The Age of Adaline
The Age of Adaline is one of the more creative romance flicks on the list, with Blake Lively portraying Adaline with a sensibility that keeps audiences reaching for the tissue box throughout the entire movie. After being revived from a car accident, Adaline finds herself unable to age, relocating constantly to avoid raising suspicion from the rest of society.
Lively's performance as Adaline conveys the daunting experience of a woman forced to see those she loves age and die, while she remains to repeat the cycle for eternity. From Adaline's loneliness, frustration, and longing to experience romance once again, The Age of Adeline is one of Blake Lively's most touching films.
3 Sally Hawkins - The Shape of Water (2017)
Guillermo del Toro always delivers breathtaking films, and The Shape of Water is no exception, greatly due to Sally Hawkins leading the plot as Elisa Esposito. Elisa manages to see the bright side to life despite her disadvantages, and for that alone, she's a compelling character audiences root for from beginning to end. Seeing her risk her life repeatedly in the name of love, and ultimately, for justice, makes Elisa stand out from other romance heroines. A well-deserved Academy Award nomination for Hawkins.
2 Michelle Williams - Brokeback Mountain (2005)
This Academy Award winner always delivers a spectacular performance, and her performance as Alma in Brokeback Mountain resulted in her very first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. While audiences sympathize for Ennis and Jack's plight as repressed lovers living in an oppressive society, Alma is a in victim her own right. She lives a lifetime of lies alongside Ennis, who leads a secret relationship with Jack unbeknownst to her.
What's even more painful is the emotional abuse Alma withstands as Ennis deflects his frustration onto her. From the anger, humiliation, and heartbreak Alma undergoes throughout her marriage with Ennis, Michelle Williams shined in a romance story where she wasn't even the leading character.
1 Lady Gaga - A Star is Born (2018)
A Star is Born paid homage to its title by setting Lady Gaga on the path to widespread acclaim as a film actor. Gaga gives her own, personal touch to a character that had already been portrayed three times prior, making Ally Maine her unique creation. Gaga's Ally is talented, determined, and above all, a devoted lover to Jackson as he deals with his addiction and declining career as a result.
While Ally achieves recognition for her musical talents, she ends the film on a bittersweet note as Jackson takes his life, forcing her to contend with life without him by her side. Gaga's final musical number embodies all the pain and love she's harbored since first meeting Jackson, and is arguably the strongest finale to any A Star is Born rendition.