10. Diana in Next to Normal: Diana is a mother of two...well...sorta. She hallucinates, belts about her problems, and generally makes everyone's life miserable...in a fun, belted way. Alice Ripley won a Tony for her portrayal of this nutty character, making her likable, despite being the worst.
9. Angela Lansbury in The Manchurian Candidate: Angela Lansbury's character, Eleanor Iselin, in this fabulous movie from the 1960s, not only brainwashes her son, but then forces him to assassinate the president...but without revealing everything, not everything goes according to the plan!
8. Mildred in Mildred Pierce: Mildred Pierce is a book, and more famously, a movie, about a mother who works her ass off for her children...to a fault. Mildred is even willing to take the blame for a crime she didn't commit to protect her daughter. OY!
7. Amanda Wingfiled in Glass Menagerie: Amanda is an aging southern belle who can't seem to let go of the past. She is a phone salesperson and tirelessly tries to get her crippled, awkward daughter married off, while pushing her son further and further away until he has to no choice but to run away from home. What a fabulous play.
6. Margaret White in Carrie: Margaret, the mother of Carrie in Stephen King's novel/book/musical is the religious fanatic to end all religious fanatics. In the movie she is portrayed by the over the top amazing Piper Laurie, and in the Broadway musical by Betty Buckley, who gives one of the most thrilling musical performances of all time.
5. The Golden Girls: I couldn't choose just one. All these ladies are the coolest/cookiest moms on TV. They are a huge reminder that you can be a woman of a certain age, with kids and still be fun, sexy and independent...and really, really funny!
4. Eleanor in The Lion in Winter: Katharine Hepburn plays a few amazing mothers in different movies, but I think Eleanor takes the cake for being the most entertaining/ridiculous. Eleanor of Aquitaine is one of the most fascinating women in history, and when she's played by Katharine Hepburn she's a makes me think this movie/play should be called The Lioness in Winter. Eleanor pits her children against each other, breaks them our of prison, rebels against her husband, etc, etc. She is just over the top.
3. Scarlett in Gone With The Wind: I know Scarlett isn't usually thought of as a mother, but she DOES have a daughter in the movie, and in the BOOK she has two kids before she gets married to Rhett. Scarlett is just one of my favorite characters of all time. She starts as an impossible brat who transforms into a fighter. Scarlett is one tough mama!
2. Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest: Faye Dunaway's camptastic performance in this legendary camp classic is just over the top fun. Even though many questioned whether Christina Crawford's tales of her mothers insane behavior were true, you can't deny they make for wonderful entertainment. From wire hangers, to strangulation, Faye Dunaway as Joan Crawford is one EPIC mommie.
1. Mama Rose in Gypsy: Rose has become theater's stage mother to end all stage mothers. Based on the real mother of Gypsy Rose Lee, she has been portrayed by SO many women: Ethel Merman, Patti LuPone and Angela Lansbury just to name a few. When you think of a difficult, crazy mother in theater, Rose is usually the first one that pops into all our minds. She gets to sing fabulous songs, chew the scenery and she gets the 11 o'clock number to end ALL 11 o'clock numbers. Rose is #1!
