Kirsten Dunst is not only a millennial icon, she’s one of those unusual actors who’ve grown up before our eyes and remained endlessly captivating. From acting as a vampire before puberty to redefining what it means to be a modern-day leading lady, Dunst has done it all. She’s funny and vulnerable, magnetic and always completely believable. Let’s take a countdown of nine of her greatest movie roles, the performances that indicate how far her range actually stretches.
9. Melancholia (2011)
Despair would be its origin story if despair were a superpower. In Lars von Trier’s unsettling apocalypse drama, Dunst is Justine, a woman whose depression assumes a weird, otherworldly calm as the world ends for her. It’s a bold, inwardly focused performance that won her the Best Actress award at Cannes. Dunst doesn’t act sadness, she makes it cosmic.
8. Marie Antoinette (2006)
Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette might have split critics on first release, but it’s now a cult classic of pastel visions and emotional integrity. As the doomed young queen, Dunst presents us with a picture of adolescence under intolerable strain, playful, isolated, and confined to a gilded cage. She gives Marie heart and humanity, making her out of a piece of history into a sympathetic, misunderstood girl.
7. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
Even in a movie loaded with stars like Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, Dunst makes her presence felt. As Mary, the receptionist at the memory-erasure clinic, she’s poignantly human—a romantic who’s in her own emotional trap. When her hidden link to the experiment is uncovered, Dunst’s reserved despair revamps the whole emotional center of the film. It’s one of those supporting roles that hovers in the mind long after the credits.
6. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
Few people do dark comedy better than Kirsten Dunst. As Amber Atkins, a gangly, charming teen with big ambitions and an even bigger sense of humor in this cult mockumentary about beauty pageants run amok in small-town America, she’s surrounded by a supporting cast of scene-stealing comedians but still manages to keep the absurdity grounded. Her own sincerity and satire blend make this one of the most sidesplitting roles of her early life.
5. The Virgin Suicides (1999)
Sofia Coppola’s first feature made Dunst a full-blown star. As Lux Lisbon, the most mysterious of the doomed Lisbon sisters, she conveys teen yearning and rebellion with subtle strength. Her performance exudes both sensuality and sorrow, with the mystery of youth and the pain of growing up. It’s a role that only Dunst could make indelible.
4. Spider-Man Trilogy (2002–2007)
There’s no way to talk about Kirsten Dunst’s career without mentioning Mary Jane Watson. Across Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Dunst made MJ more than a damsel in distress; she gave her heart, humor, and agency. Whether she’s belting out “I’m Through with Love” or sharing that iconic upside-down kiss with Tobey Maguire, Dunst grounds the superhero spectacle in genuine emotion. Her chemistry with Maguire is what makes those movies soar.
3. Little Women (1994)
Before Florence Pugh redefined Amy March, Kirsten Dunst made her unforgettable. As the younger version of Amy, she’s mischievous, self-assured, and delightfully vain yet full of heart. At just 12 years old, Dunst outshines much of the adult cast, showing an instinct for timing and nuance that hinted at the stellar career to come.
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service (1989 / 1997 English Dub)
In the English dub of Hayao Miyazaki’s classic, Dunst voices Kiki, a young witch striking out on her own. Even with just her voice, she captures Kiki’s courage, insecurity, and warmth perfectly. The result is one of the most endearing portrayals in Studio Ghibli’s catalog and proof that Dunst’s charm was already undeniable long before her live-action breakout.
1. Roofman (2025)
Dunst’s newest role might also be one of her most crowd-pleasing. In Roofman, she is Leigh Wainscott, a single mother who meets a considerate, soft-spoken burglar (Channing Tatum). Directed by Derek Cianfrance, Dunst introduces humor, realism, and emotional depth into a tale of romance, redemption, and a little mayhem. Her performance has been described as “luminous” by critics, and even Tatum himself conceded he had to “up his game” to match her. It’s the type of role that reminds everyone why she remains one of the best in the business.
Kirsten Dunst’s career is a testament to wonderful actors developing but never losing their flair. From Interview with the Vampire to Roofman, she’s accumulated a filmography packed with complexity, warmth, and effortless cool. Whatever genre, Dunst doesn’t merely play her roles; she becomes them. And after decades in Hollywood, she’s still got that special magic that keeps us glued to the screen.