It must be just a coincidence but I included four of my favorite actresses on this list: Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain, Keira Knightley, and Emma Stone.  I'm not just playing favorites either, all of these talented, beautiful women gave great performances in their films, some of them gave great performances in multiple films this year. Emily Blunt played a badass soldier in the criminally underrated Edge of Tomorrow, but it was her performance in Into the Woods that I thought really stood out.  Of course, Meryl Streep is the one getting most of the attention for Into the Woods, which is understandable because of the contract she signed with the devil. Make no mistake about it though, Blunt carries most of the film. She's funny, clever and the most easy to relate to character in the film.  Streep better watch out because there's a nice crop of talented young actresses right on her heels.

Is there a harder working actress in Hollywood than Jessica Chastain?  She's averaged 3 films a year since bursting onto the scene in 2011 with The Help.  I really loved Chastain's work in Interstellar, but it's her powerhouse performance in A Most Violent Year that really stood out.  She should have been nominated for an Oscar, but that's something I will take up with them.  In Year, Chastain plays Anna, the wife of Abel Morales, played by Oscar Isaac.  As her husband continues to get bullied by his competitors, it's Anna that urges him to stand up and fight for his business. Anna's father was a mobster, so she doesn't take kindly to her husband's turn-the-other-cheek mentality.  Chastain is perfect as a suburban mother that will do anything to protect her family and her business.  Another great performance by an actress that is solidifying herself as a top 5 actress in the business.

Here's one to keep an eye on for sure.  I'm not a fan of the Twilight films, so I wasn't familiar with Foy before seeing her in Interstellar.  I was blown away by her performance.  That's saying a lot considering the film features the star-studded cast of Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain (who plays the older version of Foy's character) Michael Caine and Casey Affleck. Foy plays McConaughey's daughter, and it's their relationship that really carries the film.  His love for his daughter could literally not be bound by space and time.  I can't wait to see where Foy goes from here, and I doubt it's the last time she will be appearing on this list. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised to see her nominated for an Oscar one of these years.

It seems like Keira Knightley has been around forever, but she doesn't even turn 30 until the end of March.  She's already had a great career, nabbing her second Oscar nomination for The Imitation Game.  She continues to be one of Hollywood's more versatile actresses, appearing in blockbusters and Oscar bait films alike.  In The Imitation Game she plays Joan, a brilliant cryptanalyst that helps crack the Nazi code.  Knightley does a great job of playing a strong women decades ahead of her time.  Most women back then were relegated to being secretaries, but Joan was working alongside men as they set out to change the world.  Not only is she tough and smart, but she's the only one that is kind to Turing.  The two have such great chemistry on screen.  Two of the best performances of the year.

BREAKING NEWS:  I see a lot of movies.  I can honestly say that I have not seen Rene Russo in a film in a long time.  I'm not talking about her small role in the Thor films, I'm talking about a substantial role in a film.  We might be going back to The Thomas Crown Affair from 1999 since I've seen her last.  I'm not even kidding.  This is why her work in Nightcrawler stands out even more.  Nightcrawler must have just been too edgy or something, but it's a shame the film and both performances by Gyllenhaal and Russo were ignored by the Academy.  Gyllenhaal has a lot of competition in the lead acting category, but the Academy loves honoring actresses like Rene Russo. Somebody who used to be all over the place, then disappears only to return and give a really great performance (SEE MICHAEL KEATON). Russo plays a cut-throat producer at a news station that will stop at nothing to boost ratings, including joining forces with the morally challenged Lou Bloom.  Russo really nails the desperate life of a news producer where the success or failure of the job is literally determined by ratings.

Here's another name for you.  If you're already familiar with Sarah Snook, then kudos.  I know a lot of actors and actresses, but I had never heard of Snook before seeing Predestination. Ethan Hawke is the main character of the film and he appears prominently on the DVD cover, as well as in the trailer.  Do not be fooled though, Snook is the star of the film.  She carries most of Predestination by herself, especially the first half.  Her performance is so good on so many different levels that I literally can't go into it here for fear that I will spoil the film for those that might be interested in it.  If you're like me and you love Sci-fi films with a time travel story and a little helping of WTF, then give this one a shot.  If you don't like it, at least you'll be able to say you saw Sarah Snook before she became a mega-star.

Birdman features some really great performances by some really great actors.  Heck, some of the actors in the film have hardly even been mentioned for their work including Naomi Watts and Zach Galifianakis.  Emma Stone has received considerably more attention for her role, nabbing her first Oscar nomination.  Stone plays Sam, the daughter of Riggan, and she also happens to be his manager.  Sam seems to have a troubled past, but appears to be on the right path.  Stone's performance is all over the place.  Sometimes she's tearing into her father about his life and the father he was while she was growing up, and the next minute she's cozying up with one of the actor's in the play.  You get the sense that Sam is on the edge and that her life can go in one of two directions.  I've liked Emma Stone since seeing her in Superbad.  She has great comedic timing, but she really gets a chance for the first time to stretch our her acting chops and she doesn't disappoint.

Yes, that's Tilda Swinton.  She plays Mason, the tyrannical ruler of the Snowpiercer, a non-stop train carrying the last of humanity. Snowpiercer is my favorite film of the year and Swinton's character is probably my favorite villain of the year.  She's so creepy and vile you just want to go through the screen.  Like many villains, she's just doing her job, a job she believes is for the good of all that live on the train.  There are so many memorable things about Snowpiercer, but Swinton's performance might just top the list.  It's a shame the Academy can't think outside the box when it comes to roles like this. Bringing attention to a performance like this is why I wanted to make my own lists.  Somebody has to do it.