Are you finding the reason why Shailene Woodley is everyone’s favorite? What did she do in her life that she has been a part of everyone’s heart for decades? Shailene Diann Woodley did modeling, acting, and activism for the environment. In addition, she has also been a part of a political party. Woodley’s trajectory is remarkable, from her humble beginnings as a young actress to her emergence as a prominent figure in Hollywood.
Moreover, she can inhabit an impressive range of roles and leave an unforgettable mark on audiences worldwide. Her winning movies include The Descendents, The Spectacular Now, The Fault in Our Stars, and many more. Let’s Trace the evolution of Shailene Woodley through the lens of her unforgettable performances on the silver screen.
Success Story of Shailene Woodley
Shailene Diann Woodley was born on 15th November 1991, in San Bernardino – California. She grew up in Simi Valley. She is an American actress who started modeling at the age of four years and soon started acting in minor TV roles. The reason behind her popularity is her best acting as the leading role in a TV serial, The Secret Life of an American Teenager (2008 to 2013). Since then, she has become famous, and side by side, she also started working in movies like “The Descendents (2011)” and “The Spectacular Now (2013).” Also, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her best acting in “The Descendents.”
Shailene Woodley became more famous for her lead role as a teenage Cancer patient in a romantic movie – “The Fault in Our Stars (2014).” She also starred as Beatrice Prior in the science fiction series – “The Divergent Series (2014 to 2016).” Moreover, she played a character who survived a sexual assault in the TV show “Big Little Lies (2017 to 2019).” for these roles, she was nominated for awards. Other movies that took her to the mountains of success are the following:
- Snowden – 2016
- Adrift – 2018
- The Mauritanian – 2021
- The Fallout – 2021
In addition to being a top-notch actress, Shailene Woodley participates in Environmental advocacy and is a board member of a political action organization – Our Revolution.
10 Best Movies of Shailene Woodley
Shailene began to stand out with her superb acting in independent movies. Then, she got the lead role in a famous series of films for adults. She got two Globe nominations for her powerful emotional acting, and it’s easy to see why many people admire her talent. Let’s discuss her top 10 best movies so far:
1. The Descendents
It was released in 2011 in which Matt King is a father of two daughters, among which Shailene Woodley plays the role of the older daughter – Alexandra. The father has to look after both his daughters when his wife ends up in a coma after an accident. Alexandra struggles to deal with the situation and rebels against her dad. Woodley doesn’t play the central character role in this movie, but she still won nominations for this fantastic role
2. The Spectacular Now
In 2013, Shailene Woodley got a chance to play a lead role in a romantic movie – The Spectacular Now. Her character name is Aimee Finicky, and she is a High School student. On the other hand, Miles Teller plays the role of Sutter Keely, with whom Aimee has a friendship. As their friendship grows, they know more about themselves and confront their struggles together.
3. The Fault in Our Stars
In 2014, she made this movie and became famous, winning many awards and nominations for this masterpiece. This movie is based on John Ggreen’s renowned book, which tells the story through two main characters:
- Hazel Grace Lancaster – played by Woodley
- Augustus Waters – played by Ansel Elgort
In this story, Hazel is a cancer patient who falls in love with Augustus. Even though she is sick, both find comfort in each other and try to live their lives to the full. Woodley’s acting in this movie is very emotional and intense, showing Hazel’s strength and determination when facing challenges.
4. White Bird in a Blizzard
It is a mystery drama released in 2014 in which Shailene Woodley plays the role of a teenager, Kat Connors. Her mom suddenly disappears, and soon, with the help of her neighbors, she comes up with the reason for her mom’s disappearance. Along the way, she also feels being left alone and lost. Woodley conveys her inner battle during this situation very nicely.
5. Divergent
This movie was also released in 2014, in which Woodley played the role of Tris Prior. It is a sci-fi movie that comes out with a lot of excitement and meets all of Woodley’s fans’ expectations. She portrays a young, courageous woman who wants to escape from a government that separates people based on their skills. Its exciting action, gripping story, and decisive female lead made this movie a popular adaptation of young adult books.
6. Snowden
In 2016, Oliver Stone directed a movie about the NSA whistleblower – Edward Snowden. The director cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt to play the character of Snowden, and Shailene Woodley is his girlfriend, Lindsay Mills, who supports him despite the risks to her safety. Even though her role in this movie is for little time, she adds depth and emotion to Mill’s character, showing her versatility in this serious role.
7. The Divergent Series: Allegiant
In the 2016 finale of this sci-fi series based on Veronica Roth’s famous trilogy, Shailene Woodley returned as Tris Prior for the last time. This movie gains mixed reviews, showing that the fans like the former part the most, but 90% of the fans like this part, too. The film has exciting action scenes and shows Tris exploring a new world outside Chicago, wrapping up her story nicely.
8. Big Little Lies
In 2017, Big Little Lies became a big success by winning an Emmy. It featured famous actors like Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, Nicole Kidman, and Laura Dern. Woodley played the role of a single mother, Jane Chapman. The mysteries behind her character were revealed gradually through the entire seven episodes of this series. The actors played well, and the series captivated many viewers with its exciting characters and beautiful stories.
9. Adrift
Adrift – a romantic drama-based movie, was released in 2018. It depicts a true story through Shailene Woodley, who plays Tami Oldham in this movie. Tami is a sailor who gets stuck at sea after a hurricane hits. Moreover, Sam Claflin plays the role of her fiance, who is also stuck with her for 41 days. In these 41 days, there has been no communication or navigation. They have flashbacks of their relationship during this period, which adds more emotion to the story. Even when you guess what will happen next, you will watch the movie until the end to see Tami’s bravery during her ordeal.
10. Endings, Beginnings
This romantic movie was released in 2020, and Shailene Woodley plays the role of Daphne, who is in her thirties and trying to figure out what she wants. Moreover, Daphne meets two types of men with different views on relationships and love. Even though it’s not your usual romantic comedy, you’ll still cheer for Daphne as she faces this new chapter in her life.
In general, Shailene has achieved a lot since her childhood and is a well-known Hollywood actor today. She is the most skilled and adaptable actress in the industry. From romantic movies to sci-fi movies, she has expressed herself uniquely. She has presented herself according to the demand of character. All these top 10 movies are the root of her peak career, and she isn’t stopping and is on her way.
