Best Da’Vine Joy Randolph Performances: ‘The Holdovers,’ ‘Dolemite Is My Name,’ and More

Da’Vine Joy Randolph only broke out in 2019, but she’s already one of the most talented actors in the business.

Born in 1986 to a Philadelphia family, Randolph has her roots in the theater; at Temple University, she initially studied classical vocal performance and opera, switching her major to musical theater. After graduation, she attended the Yale School of Drama, graduating in 2011 with a Master’s. Immediately out of school, she was cast in the Broadway musical adaptation of “Ghost: The Musical,” and her performance as medium Oda Mae Brown netted her a Tony Award nomination.

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From there, Randolph became a regular face on TV and film, frequently playing bit roles in films and shows like “The Angriest Man in Brooklyn,” “Office Christmas Party,” “This Is Us,” “Veep,” “On Becoming a God in Central Florida,” and “Empire.” A main part in the short-lived 2014 series “Selfie” aside, none of these parts were particularly meaty. But in 2019, Randolph fully burst onto the scene via a scene-stealing supporting role in “Dolemite Is My Name,” playing opposite Eddie Murphy and Wesley Snipes and fully proving their equal. From there, she’s worked consistently and visibly, with plum parts in Hulu shows “High Fidelity” and “Only Murders in the Building.”

Her latest role, in Best Picture nominee “The Holdovers,” has netted her the most acclaim of her career. Playing a boarding school chef grieving the loss of her son in the Vietnam War, Randolph was widely praised for her work in Alexander Payne’s dramedy, and has become the name to beat in the Supporting Actress race; she’s received Critics Choice, BAFTA, and Golden Globe wins for her work, and is in contention for the Oscar come March 10.

Looking at Randolph’s short list of roles, an obvious pattern emerges. So far in her career, the actor has yet to be given a true lead role; she’s always, at most, the second lead, and more frequently a supporting cast member in the wider ensemble. That’s unfortunate, given the obvious talent she’s shown. Randolph excels at playing women with a complicated history and rough lives, finding lovely shades of sternness, warmth, and sadness in her various characters. To say she deserves a full-fledged leading role is an understatement, and we can only hope it will come soon. At least for now though, we can appreciate the incredible work she’s already done.

In celebration of Randolph’s career first Oscar nomination, IndieWire is taking a look back at her short but fruitful career. We’re including both film and television projects in this ranking of her all-time best work. Projects are ranked according to the quality of Randolph’s performance, rather than the quality of the film or show itself. With that said, read on for IndieWire’s list of Da’Vine Joy Randolph’s eight best performances, ranked.

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