19 Great Performances by Women Playing Love Interests
By Amy Woolsey
Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (2000), screenshot courtesy of DreamWorks Pictures
11. Kate Hudson (Almost Famous)
The role: Penny Lane is a groupie for the rock band Stillwater who’s enamored with the lead singer, Billy Crudrup’s Russell Hammond. She befriends William Miller, the young journalist played by Patrick Fugit.
Why she’s memorable: How can you not fall in love with her? From the instant when she struts out of the shadows, flaunting purple sunglasses, a fur-trimmed coat, and an imperious smile, Hudson commands your attention. She radiates confidence, seeming both oblivious to and totally in sync with the world around her, innocent and wise. As easy as it would be to dismiss Penny as a manic pixie dream girl, existing for the sole purpose of showing the awkward male hero how to live, however, the movie little by little dissolves her mystique to expose her fragility. As it turns out, she’s just a girl, as uncertain of her future as any other young person.
Standout moment: The moment when Penny finds out that her beloved band gambled her away in exchange for $50 and a six-pack is a marvel of silent acting. Hudson’s smile vanishes, the tears in her eyes shimmering in the nostalgic golden light, and returns as she runs a hand through her hair, feigning nonchalance. Her eventual response – “What kind of beer?” – is a heartbreaker.