Cher

Moonstruck is the clearest starting point for Cher's ability to make a larger-than-life story feel emotionally grounded. As Loretta, she combines brisk comic timing with the guardedness of someone whose sensible plans are beginning to collapse. The scenes with her family matter as much as the romance: she responds, interrupts and holds her place in a formidable ensemble. Her musical fame supplies no shortcut to that work. Watch for the small shifts between certainty, irritation and the surprise of wanting something again.