Five star turns

Rachel’s riches…

1 The Mummy 1999

After winning numerous One To Watch gongs, Weisz wooed Hollywood with her likeably flustered turn as Egyptologist Eva. More CGI-era Indiana

Jones than horror, it’s a rollicking crowdpleaser. “I love comedy,” said Weisz. “It’s a librarian in an action movie, which was a hilarious concept!” Sequel The Mummy Returns was no fun at all.

2 The Shape Of Things 2003

Neil LaBute turned his 2001 stage play into a movie with the same cast, meaning Weisz’ aloof art student again sculpts her nebbish boyfriend (Paul Rudd) into a new image, with harsh results. “When do you ever get to play a part like that?” asked Weisz. “It was witty, thought-provoking, about morality, about contemporary issues… about psychology.”

3 The Constant Gardener 2005

Fernando Meirelles’ thriller tackles corruption as a pharmaceutical company tests illegal drugs in Africa. Weisz’ activist puts her life on the line to halt the malpractice. “She’s relentless and tenacious; her raison d’etre is to help people,” says the actress of the character that bagged her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar.

4 The Fountain 2006

Weisz and onscreen partner Hugh Jackman played three roles each in Darren Aronofky’s (over) ambitious, centuries-spanning meditation on love and death. “This film is like a wild magic carpet ride and everyone interprets it differently,” Weisz offered.

review praised her, saying, “She has the luminescence of Julia Roberts at her peak.”

5 Oz The Great And Powerful 2013

Sam Raimi’s 3D origin story cast Weisz as cold, conniving sorceress Evanora aka the Wicked Witch of the East (don’t expect green skin – The Wizard Of Oz’s iconic design is copyrighted). “I’d never done fantasy and I felt it would fun,” she says of taking the role. “She’s evil. I thought it would be fun to play a really bad girl.”