The many face of Michelle Forbes

                                                                                                … and what Nan think's of them

10. Susan Metcalfe (Messiah)

Why did Susan only reach number 10 you may wonder!

Was there something wrong with this character? Nope, nothing at all. Susan is VERY awesome and the way Michelle portrayed her was even more great. I was very impressed with her signing and have the utmost respect for Michelle for learning this in such a short period. My problem with the character is that she has no back bone. Her husband Red Metcalfe (the leading detective in the series) is being a total jackass to her. And she keeps forgiving him, 3 movies long! By the last movie he’s totally crossing EVERY line possible and I would just have kicked his ass. Susan however did not. And this is why she ends up at the number 10 in our list. Susan, you’re great but you would be higher in the list if you just would have kicked him out….

9. Rinda Woolley (Black day Blue Night)

How can we not love Rinda. Shes young, spontaious, adventurous, okay true she might be a little simple. Falling for the bad boys, getting herself into trouble. Yeah Rinda is perhaps not the brightest crayon in the box but man, the way she man handles her car, totally epic.  Of course, also this character of Michelle gets paid for doing a good job with a deadly gunshot wound. Rinda, if only you and Hallie would have stolen the money and ran away.. now THAT would have been a good movie!

8. Dawn Lockard (Swimming with Sharks)

This was my first Michelle Forbes movie so it will always be a little special. I just love the way she handles Buddy and I wished Michelle and Kevin Spacey would have more scenes together. Of course Dawn ended up falling for the biggest fly trap in the world: Love. Which in the end, as usual, got her killed.  Dawn, you were a tough chick in a man’s world. But do TRY to keep work and love separate, might save your life…

7. Madge Grubb (American Girl)

How DOES she do it, living in a trailer, husband in jail for murder and trying to raise three children. You THINK Madge has got enough on her plate, nope things are just starting for her. Wait until she finds out her youngest daughter is PREGNANT, her son is GAY AND her oldest daughter is sleeping with her HUSBAND! Jup, the fact that Madge is still keeping it together is a miracle! So a big bow for her. And ... of course you can't help but notice that no one can pull of that cherry dress the way she does...

I just hope she made it to Disneyworld….

6. Julianna Cox (Homicide: Life on the Street)

I actually couldn’t really decide on Lyla or Julianna, both characters have great depth and just are completely awesome in their own respect. I think for some reason I totally dig Michelle as a doctor (there’s three of them in this top 10…) So yeah Julianna, again working in a male dominated environment but she knows how to hold her own. Deals with some SERIOUS personality changes through the 6^th season but always remains the same ass kicking forensic medical examiner.

On number 6 Julianna Cox, who makes you want to die just so you can end up on her autopsy table

5. Lyla Garrity (Wonderland)

This is for sure one of my favourite Michelle Forbes characters. It’s só not her usual cup of tea. Instead of this tough or slightly psychotic character who SHOULD see some professional help, Lyla IS the professional help. A psychiatrist working at an emergency psychiatric ward. She does her job and is GOOD at it, and when people threatn her job she puts them right back int he place they belong. Meanwhile she is pregnant with her first child and to top it all off, all hell breaks loose. Though she may be a little emotional and naive from time to time, she sure is admirable as spoken-out character. Once again, she proves the rule that pregnancy will lead to her ultimate demise.

4. Ensign Ro Laren (Star Trek: The Next Generation)

Uh-oh I hear discontent from the Trekkies already. Why isn’t Ro Laren the number 1 in your list… well… because Michelle has played better characters. No offence but it is true. Ro is one awesome character. A rebel with a cause and I completely relate to that and admire that. Come on, who can piss off Picard with such style! Only Ro Laren can! Sometimes I do wish there were more episodes with her. But then I look at a list like this and know that if that were the case, some of these characters would not be on Michelle’s filmo.

3. Maryann Forrester (True Blood)

Can I be totally insane and say I first forgot about her?

For some reason Maryann is not in my regular ‘Michelle character list’ and I don’t know why.

Well Maryann, what can we say? I know we’d all want to join a party she is hosting! Shes scary, freaky, gorgeous and completely psychotic. I was sad to see her go at the end of season 2. I know all good things must come to an end. But Maryann’s type of goodness was one I could have enjoyed for a long time.

2. Pen Verrity (Durham County)

Wow, okay… Pen … is … scary ….

Me and Kore talked about how Michelle makes it possible to have some sympathy for the devil. This is true for many of her characters but especially for Pen Verrity. You can totally feel for her and that is the scariest thing about her. She’s a damaged woman who has a very intense family history leading to her personality disorder as an adult. I’m sure some is true of what Michelle Forbes says herself and that its all ‘good writing’, but her acting gives Pen such an edge and intensity. I am NOT surprised she won the Golden Nymph for this part. Her acting is superb.

*Drum roll please*

Oh well not really, Im pretty sure you know who’s going to be on number one since you’ve been missing her in this top 10.

1.  Admiral Helena Cain

Jup our ‘sugar’ Cain (Michelle’s words, not mine), is still the number one in my book. Sometimes its so hard to believe she was only with us for such few episodes. And I still thank Ron and David on my knees for making the Razor movie and bringing Cain back.  I mean in general they are SO good in creating this well rounded characters but I really think they did an even more superb job with Cain. And Michelle, well she gives Cain this intensity that is so unbelievable.  I could write a whole thesis on how Cain’s character brings out this whole discussion on morals, right and wrong, dark and light. But I will not, not here at least. I will just say that Cain is such a dark and deep character that even after these years she continues to fascinate me.