What would we do without Netflix? We spend countless days and nights bundled up in bed, bingeing the most thrilling, hilarious and dramatic shows the streaming platform has to offer.
But it isn’t just the excellent writing or superb production quality which makes some of the platform’s original series and films into smash hits. Netflix is notorious for hiring some of the best actresses, who transcend their roles and fully embody their respective characters, making the shows that much more addictive.
Below, we listed 10 actresses we are currently obsessed with, and we dish out facts that fans might be surprised to learn about. Scroll on to see if your favourite actresses clinched a spot.
This scream queen needs no introduction. Ortega has become a household name around the world for her magnificent deadpan portrayal of Wednesday Addams in the eponymous series, which has become the third most-watched show on the platform.
Prior to getting the role, Ortega was often compared to Wednesday in her personal life due to their shared proclivity for dark humour. But that isn’t the only thing which caught our attention. Her viral dance moves in the show have been making waves on TikTok and fans were in awe when Ortega revealed that she choreographed the entire number by herself.
Although this English actress is best known for her role in HBO’s Game of Thrones, Christie has shown the true breadth of her craft by taking on completely different roles. Earlier this year, she played a graceful ‘Lucifer Morningstar’ in The Sandman, which garnered praise for her fresh take on this classic horror villain.
Christie’s role as head mistress Larissa Weems in Wednesday was also a home run. Not only is she reportedly a huge fan of the Addams family, this role also allowed her to wear something that none of her other roles called for – makeup.
The South Korean actress won over all of our hearts in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, where she plays the plucky and intelligent lead character Woo Young-woo, a lawyer with Asperger’s Syndrome. Park’s comedic timing was impeccable, without relying on obvious jokes. And an added bonus? Her adorable friendship with Dong Geu-rami, played by Joo Hyun Young, along with their iconic handshake.
Park has tackled many types of roles in various genres ranging from drama to horror, but she has not yet starred in a traditional romantic comedy role. During her recent fan-meet in Singapore, she revealed that it is definitely on her bucket list.
Related article: What Rihanna’s Former Make-up Artist Wants You To Know About Make-up
The breakout star of Netflix’s Stranger Things is much like her character in real life – quirky and hilarious, making her even more lovable. While she comes from a critically-acclaimed and decorated family of actors as the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke, the 24-year-old is making a name for herself in the film and fashion industries.
Maya is a brand ambassador for Prada, with a recent appearance in the House’s fine jewellery campaign. She’s also set to star in Maestro, a biographical film directed by Bradley Cooper, which will debut on Netflix sometime next year.
Coolidge is a scene stealer and we cannot thank her enough for it. In The Watcher, she plays Karen, a real estate agent and college friend of the main lead, portrayed by Naomi Watts. As her name suggests, Karen is uncompromising, unreasonable and unhinged – a perfect part for Coolidge’s comedic chops.
Coolidge was undoubtedly the fan favourite of the series, and we cannot wait for the second season – and many, many more zany Karen-isms.
Related article: 10 Films To Watch For A Hit Of Girl Power
This British actress is a powerhouse with credits in cult-favourite series like Killing Eve, Why Women Kill and, most recently, The Sandman.
Howell-Baptiste’s interpretation of the character Death from the 30-year-old DC comic was perfection. She embodied the character’s soft, caring nature but retained a sense of firmness and pragmatism, which left both new and OG fans completely enamoured.
The Crown is one of Netflix’s best series, and the casting has been eerily spot-on throughout the three eras of Queen Elizabeth’s life portrayed in the show, spanning five seasons. The latest season saw Debicki tackle the drama surrounding an older Princess Diana at the tail-end of her marriage, navigating divorce and managing the press.
The Australian actress was able to capture Princess Diana’s essence to a tee: the way she speaks, the mannerisms and the oddities which have since become public knowledge. Even biographer Andrew Morton was taken aback by the accuracy of Debicki’s portrayal.
This starlet is no stranger to Netflix subscribers, but it’s not Eleven from Stranger Things who impressed us this year. Instead, it was Enola Holmes. Brown once again took up the mantle of Enola, the mischievous detective struggling to set herself apart from her more famous and successful brother, Sherlock, who is played by Henry Cavill. The chemistry between the two is quintessential of a typical brother-sister relationship filled with lots of bickering, laughter and drama.
The singer and actress starred alongside Ahn Hyo-Seop in Netflix’s Business Proposal, which topped the charts in Asia earlier this year. Se-jeong’s character would take on different personas, changing outfits and makeup whenever she goes on another blind date, illustrating her range as an actor and solidifying her place within the industry as a force to be reckoned with.
This hysterical actress is going to make a big splash on the streaming platform with the upcoming release of Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery on 23 December, which has received nothing but praise since its limited theatrical release last month.
Hahn plays a governor plagued with dilemmas characteristic of a midlife crisis, alongside an A-list cast of costars including Daniel Craig, Janelle Monáe, Kate Hudson, Edward Norton and more. Hijinks, shenanigans and tomfoolery ensue as the crew works to find a murderer hiding amongst them, all of which Hahn has experience with as Agatha Harkness in Wandavision.
Related article: 37 Inspiring Women Who Shaped Feminism