From a vengeful naval commander in 300: Rise of the Empire to Bond girl Vesper Lynd, Green has proven she is a femme fatale for the modern day. Green, who started her career in the play Turcaret and made her big screen debut in Bernardo Bertolucci’s cult classic The Dreamers, prefers to play negative characters.
1. Dark Shadows
From Bond girl to witch to schoolmistress, Eva Green has no trouble switching between roles that keep audiences guessing. She’s a force to be reckoned with in this Bertolucci masterpiece about Paris in 1968.
While the movie is certainly worth a look for fans of the original series, it’s Green’s performance as the vengeful sorceress Morgan le Fay that really stands out. Green’s sexy delivery and sultry looks are sure to have you wanting more.
2. 300: Rise of the Empire
After avenging the loss of his 300 Spartans at Thermopylae, Greek General Themistokles (Sullivan Stapleton) must take on a massive naval force led by the god-king Xerxes in this sequel to Frank Miller’s epic comic. This time, the battles rage at sea as Green delivers a gonzo performance as vengeful Persian Admiral Artemisia.
Although a prequel wrapped in a sequel, 300: Rise of the Empire still feels like the same old sword-and-sandal film — visually identical and loaded with copious slow motion footage. The best thing about it is Eva Green, whose washboard abs and acerbic wit make her an unforgettable villain.
As the ruthless admiral in charge of the Persian navy, French actress Green gives a menacing performance that evokes both scorn and envy. She’s more than just a pretty face, though; she conveys a story with her facial expressions and body language.
3. Dumbo
Disney’s animated classic gets a dark live-action remake, this time from the Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands director. Dumbo is the story of a misfit baby elephant who catches the eye of circus owner Max Medici (Danny DeVito) and his spellbinding trapeze artist Colette Marchant (Eva Green).
The ibomma film contains some sad elements, including children being separated from their parents. The movie also depicts bullying and prejudice, with Mrs Jumbo’s other elephants excluding her son for his big ears. Its also got some outdated racial stereotypes that could be upsetting for kids today. Watching a scene of Mrs Jumbo rearing up to protect her son from taunting children and then cradling him is heartbreaking. The film ends with a touching scene of Dumbo and his mother reuniting. It’s a moving and important message. Despite the sadness, the film still manages to be entertaining.
4. The Dreamers
A love letter to cinema, this Bertolucci-directed film follows a pair of siblings (Green and her twin sister Isabelle) who are obsessed with classic movie scenes. The plot focuses on the collision of sex, politics and cinema in their young lives.
Green’s role in this erotic drama really tested her acting chops. Despite the explicit, sexy content it proved she could handle mature material and escaped being typecast as a skimpy arm candy.
From there, she went on to star in major movies like James Bond and Penny Dreadful before landing a gig on the hit historical TV series Camelot. In this show, she played Morgan Le Fay, a vengeful sorceress with a bloodthirsty grudge. She wore her dark hair and piercings proudly to show off her sultry evil side. This role is definitely one of her best.
5. Casino Royale
With a filmography full of big movies, Green proved she wasn’t just a pretty face. She had serious acting chops too and she demonstrated this in her role as the Bond girl Vesper Lynd in Casino Royale.
It was Green’s most challenging role and one that really showcased her talent. She had a few teasing glimpses of vulnerability but she also played a woman who was not without her faults.
The film also delved into themes like good versus evil and it highlighted the importance of women in the world. It pushed the boundaries of what Bond girls could be as they were no longer just blonde bombshells with limited abilities. The film was a success and helped launch Green’s career in big movies. She would go on to star in the historical drama series Camelot and Showtime horror drama Penny Dreadful.
