Birthday Special: June-born actors and their best movies to watch this month

June is set to be all things joyful as we’ve lined up a host of movies that feature talented actors born this month. Witness some of acting’s finest with the likes of Morgan Freeman, Johnny Depp, Chris Evans, Nicole Kidman, Chris Pratt, and Meryl Streep in this list. You will see them portray characters of a prisoner, a pirate who sets off on his epic voyages, a superhero with a legendary shield, and even one of the most bad-ass bosses we’ve seen on screen.  

Morgan Freeman (June 1)

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

We cannot talk about Freeman without mentioning his performance in a classic, one that remains the highest-ranked movie on IMDb. In this heart-warming tale of two prisoners who befriend each other, Freeman plays a kind-hearted man named Red, who is full of wisdom. He brilliantly narrates the story of how Andy Dufrense (Tim Robbins) dug his way out of jail to find freedom at the other end. “I remember thinking it would take a man six hundred years to tunnel through the wall with it. Old Andy did it in less than twenty,” says Red at the end of his escape, leaving a wide smile on your face. And no matter how many times you may have watched the movie, the scene where the two friends meet each other after 40 years, brings tears to your eyes. 

Se7en (1995)

There are many psychological crime thrillers in cinema, but few have an end as impactful as this one. The film sees Freeman play the role of a cop tracking down a serial killer (Kevin Spacey), who follows the theme of the seven deadly sins from the Bible for his murders. Freeman, as Detective Somerset is kind, soft-spoken, and old-school, perfectly complimenting his erratic and young partner Detective Mills, played by Brad Pitt. The two create a memorable and contrasting partnership as they find themselves sunk amid of a murderer’s killing spree which is unlike anything they’ve seen before.

Johnny Depp (June 9)

Jack Sparrow (Pirates Of The Caribbean)

Johnny Depp is one of the most versatile actors in the industry, and his performance as Captain Jack Sparrow is one of the most memorable ones and is his most standout role to date. It is a character tailor-made for him—a swashbuckling drunk pirate who slurs and stumbles his way through events, giving us moments to admire his wit and courage. The very first film in the franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, earned him universal acclaim and his first Oscar nomination and set the tone for four other fantastic films in the franchise—Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales.

Donnie Brasco (1997)

Until this point, Depp had done a lot of roles that one would consider quirky (think A Nightmare on Elm Street, Edward Scissorhands, and Ed Wood). With Donnie Brasco he showed that change is a good thing and how. He shares screen space with legendary actor Al Pacino and matches up to his persona—a feat not many can boast of. Based on a true story, the film revolves around the life of FBI agent Joe Pistone (Depp) who infiltrates the New York mafia. Working undercover, he soon befriends Lefty Ruggiero (Al Pacino) under the name Donnie Brasco with the two developing a close friendship. With the two heavily involved in operations, things start to take a toll on Brasco as the work becomes a lot more than what he can handle. 

Nicole Kidman (June 20)

Moulin Rouge (2001)

Directed by musical auteur Baz Luhrmann, the film revolves around the romantic relationship between an English poet named Christian (Ewan McGregor) and cabaret actress Satine (Nicole Kidman) at the Moulin Rouge, Paris’ largest cabaret nightclub. Watching the two grounded characters fight for their love, despite their different backgrounds is a delight to watch. The movie was nominated for a total of eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, ultimately winning two for Best Production Design and Best Costume Design. While Kidman didn’t win the award for Best Actress, she won the Golden Globe for the performance, considered by many to be her best to date. 

Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Directed by legendary filmmaker Stanley Kubrick, the film brought together the then-real-life couple Kidman and Tom Cruise in this psychological masterpiece about a doctor’s surreal night wandering through the city after learning about his wife's fantasies. She plays Alice Harford, a woman who gives way to extra-marital fantasies despite never actually giving in to them in real life. On revealing this to her husband, Dr Bill Harford (Cruise), becomes haunted by the thought of his wife cheating on him, to the extent that he starts thinking about countless possibilities of her being disloyal. Despite the limited screen time, Kidman plays the sexy, dark, and powerful character, with her gaze doing all the talking. 

Meryl Streep (June 22)

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Here’s an acting legend whose films and performances have always been loved by audiences across the globe, but none have been more iconic than this 2006 film. As Miranda Priestly, she is the terrifying editor-in-chief of the fashion magazine Runway Magazine. Supposedly inspired by Anna Wintour (the editor of Vogue), Streep's character delivers countless quotes and dialogues that have made their way to memes and pop culture. Such is her acting prowess that even for a single second, you never feel she’s impersonating anyone. You are left in awe of how one can command the screen without saying a word and by just being in the frame.  

The Iron Lady (2011)

While her performance was top-notch in the film, it was Streep’s physical transformation for the film that deserves high praise. To look as authentically close to Margaret Thatcher as possible, Streep’s face was altered with prosthetics, especially the bridge of her nose. She bagged her third Academy Award for this film, and the movie also bagged the Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling. It’s certainly one to watch as Streep gives it her all in a film that covers the rise of Thatcher to her quiet days as an elderly recluse.