Linda Cardellini’sbest movies and TV shows prove how talented of an actor she is, with a variety of roles both in front of the camera and in a number of impressive voice-acting performances. Getting her start in the mid-90s, Linda Cardellini’s first major breakthrough role was in the incredibly underratedseries full of future A-list actors,Freaks and Geeks. AfterFreaks and Geeks, Cardellini’s next major role was inER, as well as Netflix’sBloodlineandDead to Me, which all showcase her immense talent.
Alongside TV shows, Cardellini has had roles in a variety of movies, with one of the most prominent being Velma in the live-actionScooby-Doofilms from the 2000s. AlongsideScooby-Doo, she has been inLegally Blonde,Brokeback Mountain,A Simple Favor, and several movies as Hawkeye’s wife inthe MCU timeline. With several projects upcoming, includingNonnasandWay of the Warrior Kid, Linda Cardellini looks to continue building her impressive filmography.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Cast
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 follows Peter Quill as he grapples with the loss of Gamora while rallying his team to defend the universe. The Guardians face a crucial mission to protect one of their own, with stakes that could alter the fate of the group forever.
The Guardians of the Galaxytrilogyis arguably the strongest in the entire MCU, with James Gunn’s quirks as a writer and director on full display throughout each film. Hilarious and emotionally resonating,Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was the official end of both the initial Guardians team and James Gunn’s swan song as part of the MCU as he moves over to the DCU.Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3was a brilliant trilogy closer, with an even more heart-wrenching story that dives deep into the backstory of Rocket Raccoon.
Guardians of the GalaxyFranchise
Guardians of the Galaxy
2014
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
2017
2022
2023
Linda Cardellini joined the cast forGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, whereshe voices Lylla, an otter that starts a heartbreaking friendship with Rocket, both subject to High Evolutionary’s horrific experiments. Despite finding themselves in tragic circumstances, the two of them (alongside Teefs and Floor) try their best to find joy in each other. Their deaths are incredibly gut-wrenching and when Rocket meets up with Lylla once more towards the end of the movie, the tears continue to flow.
Bloodline
Bloodline is a Netflix original series exploring the dark secrets of the Rayburn family, who operate a beachside hotel in the Florida Keys. Led by Kyle Chandler as John Rayburn, the show delves into themes of betrayal, family loyalty, and the complexities of human relationships as past deeds resurface to haunt the present.
Running for three seasons,Bloodlinefocused on the Rayburns, a contemporary American family that, despite outside appearances, have dark, uncovered secrets locked away from their past. The series explores the paranoia and mistrust within the family and their seemingly normal suburban life in the Florida Keys as their familial relationships begin to deteriorate. Thrilling and narratively complex,Bloodlineis the type of series that thrives in the TV landscapes as it is able to deeply explore its characters.
The cast ofBloodlineis extremely strong, with nearly everyone doing some of their best career work. This is true for Linda Cardellini as well, who plays a major role in the series as Meg Rayburn. She is the youngest sibling of the Rayburn family, is an attorney, and acts as the family’s peacekeeper, which proves to be a difficult job during the course of the series. Cardellini thrives in the role, and fleshes out Meg Rayburn in interesting ways that evolve over the course ofBloodline.
Brokeback Mountainwas an incredibly important milestone for queer cinema in America, as it truly broke out with general audiences, as well as earning a plethora of Academy Award nominations in the process. A heartbreaking love story between two cowboys over the course of two decades,Brokeback Mountainis tender and empathetic. It feels just as important as it was in 2005, with truly breathtaking performances from both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger.
It’s not the biggest role in the film, but Linda Cardellini is incredible as Cassie Cartwright.Cassie is an outgoing waitress who starts a romantic relationship with Ledger’s Ennis Del Marfollowing his divorce.Cassie and Ennis' relationship was never meant to last, as it only showed him that his heart truly belonged with Jack, something that he needed to come to terms with. She is a significant stepping stone for Ennis, and Cardellini is amazing in the role.
One of the best coming-of-age sitcoms ever made,Boy Meets Worldwas a massive success for ABC during its seven-season run. It revolves around Cory Matthews as he grows up alongside his best friend Shawn Hunter and his soulmate Topanga Lawrence, starting in middle school and extending into college. The show often touched upon major social topics with great skill and empathy, while being consistently funny along the way. It also helps Mr. Feeny, played by the delightful William Daniels, is one of the best TV teachers of all time.
Lauren is unlike anyone else Cory has met in his life, and Carellini is undeniably charming in the role.
Linda Cardellini may not have been onBoy Meets Worldfor an extended period of time, but her role on the show is integral to both Corey and Topanga, and would play an influence on their relationship for quite a while. She plays Lauren, a ski lodge worker whom Cory meets on his senior ski trip after he has to stay in the lodge all weekend following an ankle injury upon arrival. Despite loving Topanga, Cory entertains the idea of Lauren, who he has an immediate connection with. Lauren is unlike anyone else Cory has met in his life, and Carellini is undeniably charming in the role.
Mad Men
Mad Men is a drama series set in 1960s New York, focusing on the lives of competitive men and women working in Madison Avenue’s advertising industry. The show explores the social mores and cultural dynamics of the era while delving into the personal and professional challenges faced by its characters.
Mad Menis extremely good television as the series focuses on an advertising agency on Madison Avenue in Manhattan. The series is set in the 1960s and revolves around Jon Hamm’s Don Draper, the creative director and junior partner at the Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency.Mad Men’s attention to period detail while also insistent on exploring the flawed aspects of its characters helps elevate it more than most TV series, making it one of the best shows of all time.
Mad Men: All 18 Of Don Draper’s Mistresses Explained
Don Draper may have had 3 wives in Mad Men, but that didn’t stop Sterling Cooper’s creative director from having affairs with 18 women in the series.
Linda Cardellini doesn’t have a main role in Mad Men, but she does an admirable job in the episodes she is present in.She plays Sylvia Rosen, the wife of Dr. Arnold “Arnie” Rosen, played by Brian Markinson, who is also Don Draper’s mistress.Sylvia is strong-willed and intelligent, and her physical looks play an important role in the psyche of Don.LindaCardellini fits perfectly into the show’s setting and her chemistry with Jon Hamm is remarkable when they are together.
Scooby-Doowas a wild film, and a perfect encapsulation of what made the early 2000s so much fun to see play out on screen. Written by James Gunn,Scooby-Doowas full of silly humor and adult innuendos, while remaining spooky fun that sees the iconic group of characters translated into live-action. It wasn’t very well-received, but it has aged pretty nicely (aside from the CGI) due to nostalgia, and the main characters were all incredibly well-cast, with Matthew Lillard as Shaggy being the obvious standout.
10 Best Sarah Michelle Gellar Performances That Aren’t Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy might be her very best role, but Sarah Michelle Gellar has been in plenty of movies and TV shows that have demonstrated her talents.
Linda Cardellini also shines as Velma, the brains of Mystery Incorporated. She channels Velma’s dorky energy perfectly, and is given some hilarious moments throughout the film to show off her range as an actor.Cardellini’s natural charm is obvious even when she hides it behind a distinct Velma voice that could have become grating with a lesser actor in the role.Scooby-Doo’s spooky atmosphere and incredible cast of characters have helped it remain a staple of the early 2000s.
ER
In Cook County General Hospital’s emergency department, the doctors and nurses tackle every patient’s medical puzzles, all while dealing with the challenges in their personal and professional lives.
A long-running medical drama,ERspanned 15 seasons from the mid-90s through the late 2000s, and focused on a variety of characters and their inner lives, set within the emergency room of Cook County General Hospital in Chicago. The best medical dramas weave complex stories around their characters and their complex relationships, andERexcels at that, as it is the second-longest-running primetime medical drama, only behindGrey’s Anatomy. It’s often considered one of the best medical dramas of all time.
ERis one of the biggest roles of Linda Cardellini’s career, as she plays Samantha Taggart for seasons 10-15. Sam is a nurse and single mother who just wants what is best for her son, and in doing so, has avoided close relationships with men since she had her child when she was still a teenager. The character is often no-nonsense and assertive, and Cardellini proves that she is a tremendous talent as an actress, and develops her character incredibly well over the course of her time on the show.
Following two grieving women who strike up a bond during therapy,Dead to Meis a superb black dramedy that features some great leading performances from Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate. Alongside being consistently funny,Dead to Meis a poignant look at grief and how people still form relationships with others while going through it, even if it might feel difficult to want to do anything. The characters are able to grow and move through their grief over the course of the show’s three seasons.
Linda Cardellini earned her first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role inDead to Me.
Cardellini stars inDead to Meas Judy Hale, a woman who has had five miscarriages over the course of her life, resulting in her fiancé eventually leaving her, whom she pretends is dead when she goes to a grief support group, instead of talking about what she is really going through.Judy is a complicated, complex character that Cardellini gives a lot of depth to. On top of starring inDead to Me, Cardellini also serves as one of the show’s producers.
Gravity Fallsis often considered one of thebest animated shows of all time, and for good reason, as the series excelled at world-building and character progression, as well as being genuinely funny from start to finish. The show focuses on Dipper Pines and his twin sister Mabel, as they are sent to live with their grandpa for the summer in Gravity Falls, Oregon. The town is full of supernatural incidents and the kids help to investigate these mysteries while also lending a hand to their grandpa’s tourist trap, the Mystery Shack.
Linda Cardellini is a very talented voice actor, and her role inGravity Fallscontinues to prove that. She plays Wendy Corduroy, a laid-back teenager who happens to be a part-time worker at the Mystery Shack. Dipper has a crush on Wendy during the series, as he focuses on impressing her, but the attempts ultimately do nothing. She is also strong-willed due to her being her “father’s daughter”, who is one of the town’s lumberjacks.
Freaks and Geeksoften feels underrated within the teen dramedy genre, or just teen shows in general, but it should absolutely be considered one of the best of all time, even if it was unceremoniously cut short after only one season. Honest in its depiction of growing up and not feeling like you fit in,Freaks and Geekshelped launch the careers of numerous major actors, including Busy Philipps, James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel, and an incredibly talented cast all around.
Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, A Simple Favor) was the creator ofFreaks and Geeks, with the show being produced by Judd Apatow (The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up).
Linda Cardellini takes center stage inFreaks and Geeksas Lindsey Weir, an academically gifted “nerdy” girl who begins her rebellious descent by hanging out with the slackers that include Franco’s Daniel Desario, Rogen’s Ken Miller, Segel’s Nick Andopolis and Philipps' Kim Kelly. Like most characters inFreaks and Geeks, Lindsey Weir ends up being much more complex than she initially seemed and, as her personality and insecurities surface,Linda Carellinigives a fantastic, powerhouse performance.
