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The American actress has been in the industry since a very young age, however, she began to receive recognition for her work at the age of 16. After which she has starred in many popular mainstream movies and TV shows. She has even worked alongside some of the big names in the industry like Meryl Streep and Nicole Kidman. Since then she has gained quite an audience who recognize just the vast amount of talent that the actress has. And today we are here with a list of some of the best Shailene Woodley movies and tv shows list.
Not to mention, she has also managed to gain herself two Golden Globe nominations. Shailene Woodley has impressed many with her portrayals of various characters, here are just a few of the best performances yet.
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1. The Divergent Series
The Divergent Series is a trilogy consisting of Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant. This trilogy is an adaptation of the trilogy book of the same name by Veronica Roth. The series follows a futuristic world where society is divided into groups. People who are kind go in one group, those intelligent are categorized in another, and so on. In such a situation, the misfits or the ‘troublemakers’ are categorized as the ‘Divergents’. Shailene Woodley plays the role of Beatrice Prior.
A girl who has to hide her identity of being divergent from the world. If her secret is revealed, it could lead to her life being endangered. Woodley’s portrayal of Beatrice was appreciated highly by the audiences and her performance was said to bring life into the series. The film itself managed to become a box office success as well. The movie also includes Miles Teller, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Zoë Kravitz, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, and Daniel Dae Kim. And this series is among our best Shailene Woodley movies.
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2. Big Little Lies
A powerhouse of talent for a cast and an excellent story, Big Little Lies is all that and much more. Said to be Shailene Woodley’s most acclaimed performance to date, the Big Little Lies TV series follows a trio of wealthy women in Monterey, California. However, their lives are turned upside down when a murder takes place in their vicinity. Woodley portrays Jane Chapman, a single mother dealing with her own set of trauma. Woodley’s performance and the emotions she brought to the character of Jane, be it her sadness or the loneliness she felt, were greatly admired by the audience. As a result, she also acquired an Emmy nomination for her performance.
Even though she acted alongside the most talented actors like Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, she managed to be seen by the audience with her performance. The show went on for two seasons but was later on canceled. But it still has a spot on our Shailene Woodley tv shows list.
3. The Fault In Our Stars
The performance Shailene Woodley is most known for is her portrayal of Hazel Grace Lancaster in this adaptation of the John Green novel of the same name. The film was a big hit back in the day and everyone was talking about it. Let’s also not forget the number of tears that were shed during the course of this film because it is one hell of a sad movie.
The story follows Hazel and Augustus, two teenagers affected by cancer who meet at a cancer support group. However, the two hit it off and set out on a journey to Amsterdam in order to meet a reclusive author. While the actress’s performance was appreciated, the highlight of the film was the chemistry between the two lead actors. Their chemistry was the most talked about after the film was released for the longest time. And hence, The Fault In Our Stars is one of the best Shailene Woodley movies.
4. The Spectacular Now
Based on the novel of the same name by Tim Tharp, The Spectacular Now is a story about young love. It follows Aimee Finicky (played by Shailene Woodley), a studious girl, and her classmate, Sutter Keely, a spoilt boy. He also happens to be an alcoholic. The story then follows how the two of them develop a bond and eventually fall for each other. However, in order to make things work for each other, they must overcome the obstacles life throws their way.
This was another one of Woodley’s highly acclaimed performances. She also received many praises for her amazing chemistry with her co-star, Miles Teller. While Teller’s Sutter brought all the charisma and charm to the film, it was Woodley’s Aimee that brought the rawness and complexity of a person who is trying to define themself. And this movie is on the list of the best Shailene Woodley movies.
5. The Descendants
This 2011 comedy-drama was nominated for five Oscars. The Descendants was nothing short of excellence, and the actor’s performance just added to it. The story follows Matt (played by George Clooney) who tries to fix his estranged relationship with his two daughters after his wife falls into a coma.
While doing so, all three of them go on a mission to find the man she was seeing before the accident. Most people only knew the actor from her first popular show on ABC Family. However, her role in the Descendants really showcased her talent. It also acted as a vessel for her to reach the critics. Shailene Woodley also received a Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Alexandra King. And it is one of the best Shailene Woodley movies.
6. The Secret Life of The American Teenager
Woodley’s first-ever project that received quite a bit of recognition, ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager really paved the way for the actress. The series shows Amy (Shailene), a teenager, whose life is changed after a one-night stand at a band camp which results in her getting pregnant. Consequently, she has to deal with the possibility of being a teen mom, the pregnancy itself, and the father of her child all at once.
The series ran for five seasons and while it was not a ground-breaking hit series, it did bring the actress into the spotlight. The series provided a way for Shailene Woodley to proclaim her talent as her character developed over the seasons and the audience really saw how much the actress can grow with her portrayal.
7. Adrift
A project that the actress carried all by herself (literally), as her co-star’s character is an injured man, most of the work is done by Woodley herself. This again made way for her to show her talent to the audience. The story follows a couple who are on a sailing trip. However, things get dangerous when they face a hurricane and get stuck in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
An interesting fact about this movie is that it is based on a true story about a couple who got stranded during Hurricane Raymond. The role was probably one of the most challenging roles she had acquired nevertheless she portrayed it effortlessly. That’s why it’s on our best Shailene Woodley movies list.
8. The Mauritian
One of Shailene Woodley’s more recent projects, The Mauritian is a legal drama that is rather raw and devasting at its core. The story follows a man who has been wrongfully detained at Guantanamo Bay in connection to the 9/11 attacks. He then along with a defense attorney and her associate fights for his freedom. Woodley plays Teri Duncan, an ambitious young lawyer. Teri is shown to be a person who fights for what is right and the actress portrays this very well.
The complexities and insecurities of the character are transferred well onto the screen by Woodley. Alongside Woodley, star actors like Jodie Foster and Benedict Cumberbatch give equal amounts of justice to their characters and the whole storyline as well. And that’s how this movie earned the spot on our best Shailene Woodley movies/films.
