In films like The Constant Gardener, The Lobster, and Disobedience, actress Rachel Weisz has certainly made her mark in the industry. Not only is she beautiful and the partner of none other than James Bond (Daniel Craig), but she brings her natural charm, charisma, and poise to each of her roles. While those films are all worthy of a watch, her best role – or better yet, roles – were in the 2023 Prime Video miniseries Dead Ringers.

What Is ‘Dead Ringers’ About?

Inspired by David Cronenberg’s 1988 film of the same name, Dead Ringers is a psychological drama miniseries featuring Weisz in dual roles as Elliot and Beverly Mantle. The identical twins, despite having major differences in personality, are both gynecologists who share everything: their clinic, an apartment, lovers, and a somewhat obsessive desire to revolutionize women’s healthcare. As their relationship fluctuates from deep love and adoration to toxic rivalry, the co-dependent sisters push the boundaries of medical ethics as they pursue radical fertility research.

Alongside Weisz, the one-season series stars Britne Oldford as Beverly’s soft-spoken girlfriend Genevieve, Jennifer Ehle as the cold Rebecca, a billionaire birth clinic investor, Emily Meade, Rebecca’s philanthropic trophy wife Susan, and Poppy Liu as Greta, the twins’ curious yet humorous house manager. Throughout the season, as their barely hidden psychological problems threaten to unravel everything they’ve worked for, the series explores how the Mantle twins use their privilege and intellect to challenge the male-dominated medical system. It is a show unafraid to be graphic, bloody, and provocative in its body horror, political commentary, and the psychological unraveling of the sisters.

Rachel Weisz Delivers Two Breathtaking Performances in ‘Dead Ringers’

This isn’t the first time Weisz has played twins (she first did so in the 2005 superhero horror film Constantine), but this is by far her most successful and effective portrayal of them, let alone of any actor playing twins on TV. With her committed and intentional performances, Elliot and Beverly feel and move like two distinct characters. While Beverly is sharp and poised with the straight-backed posture of a ballerina, Elliot is impulsive and almost animalistic. As Beverly works hard to maintain order and conceal her emotions, Elliot expresses everything openly, sometimes even with a primal scream.

Weisz not only excels at playing twins but does so in a way that never feels caricatured or gimmicky. Beverly and Elliot aren’t polar opposites; they do not act like opposites merely for contrast on screen. Instead, their differences are subtle and natural, like two twins who have grown up admiring one another but are unique in their own right. In each scene, Weisz captures those differences while ensuring viewers know which character she is portraying at every moment. “Dead Ringers proves she’s truly in a league of her own as she creates an electrifying chemistry with the only person who could possibly match her: herself,” wrote Collider‘s Taylor Gates in her review.

Unsurprisingly, Weisz received much-deserved praise after the miniseries’ release. In addition to being nominated for the Satellite and Gotham Awards in 2024, Weisz also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television (the award was won by Ali Wong for <em>Beef</em>). It is certainly one of Weisz’s best performances to date, carrying the whole show.

‘Dead Ringers’ Keeps Viewers Hooked

Apart from Weisz’s powerhouse performance, Dead Ringers‘ showrunner Alice Birch created an endlessly captivating show that pushed boundaries when it came to storytelling. By viewing the 1988 movie through a distinctly feminist lens and making the twins women instead of men, Birch illuminated the all-too-timely topic of reproductive rights and infertility, all while keeping viewers on edge. The show addresses major healthcare issues directly and unapologetically, including how the medical industry has historically failed Black women. Much like Demi Moore‘s Oscar-nominated performance in <em>The Substance</em>, this body horror series uses a seemingly absurd and gory premise as a metaphor for real-life hardships faced by women and mothers worldwide.

The show conveys its message through layered storytelling across its six episodes. Throughout the series, characters and guest stars like the twins’ parents (Suzanne Bertish, Kevin McNally) provide unique insights into their upbringing, while a reporter (Ntare Guma Mbaho Mwine) hired by Rebecca to do a puff piece adds depth without making it repetitive or tiresome. By the end of the series, all episodes and their characters come together like puzzle pieces in the twins’ lives and professional obsession with revolutionizing women’s healthcare.

Overall, while Weisz has received acclaim for her roles in Dead Ringers, this one-season series is undoubtedly a must-watch for all Prime Video subscribers. Since its release, it has won over critics and fans alike with an 85% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have praised its gripping story, Weisz’s performance, and its signature sleek setting. Producing a remake in Hollywood—especially of a beloved film—is no easy task. However, Dead Ringers proved that it can be done successfully by adding depth to the story.

Here you can find the original article; the photos and images used in our article also come from this source. We are not their authors; they have been used solely for informational purposes with proper attribution to their original source.[/nospin]

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