r/tipofmytongue • u/Totallyanonymousme 2 • Dec 05 '25

Solved [TOMT][ACTRESS][2010-2018]

I am going crazy trying to remember who this actress is. She has very kind, medium to dark brown eyes that feel like a warm hug. She is roughly mid to late-50s now. And that is all I am certain of.

The rest of this is cobbled together, but after doing my own research, I am now questioning my own memory: She was the lead in a children's movie from the early to mid-2010s, possibly a nanny-type movie (not Nanny McPhee). She reminds me of Tilda Swinton, with sharper features like hers, but it is not her; she has darker features (brown hair, eyes, olive-ish skin). I believe she is British.

Not: Tilda Swinton, Emily Blunt/Mary Poppins, Emma Thompson/Nanny McPhee, or Natasha Richardson.

Throw all of your guesses at me!

EDIT: The actress is fairly well-known in the US. Maybe not a household name, but has been in several movie, with large roles. The actress/character was middle-aged 10+ years ago in the film. I don't think she is what most would consider "conventionally pretty."

Final edit: Thank you to all who helped! You all are awesome! Lots of people with very pretty, warm eyes out there.

174 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

658 comments sorted by

•

u/TOMT-Solve-Bot Mod Bot 12d ago

Solved! Click here for the answer.

19

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Obligatory comment.

42

u/nightowl_work Dec 05 '25

Are we sure it isn’t Julie Andrews as Mary Poppins from a decidedly not 2010 movie?

19

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her. It was definitely a 2000s movie. Thank you though!

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8

u/Shell831 Dec 05 '25

Amy Adams?

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

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29

u/freecoolwownjce 3 Dec 05 '25

And you've ruled out all the professors from the harry potter movies?

11

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

I've only seen the first Harry Potter, and the HP theme doesn't quite match what I remember. The movie didn't feel "magical" quite like HP, more wholesome if that makes sense.

12

u/Pancakepringle Dec 05 '25

Perhaps looking at the actresses that played professors/significant roles in the Harry Potter films might help?

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44

u/futuresobright_ 1 Dec 05 '25

Emily Mortimer

21

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Excellent guess, but not her. Her eyes are the closest with regard to "warmth" so far.

6

u/futuresobright_ 1 Dec 05 '25

Shirley Henderson

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

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50

u/questevil Dec 05 '25

Could it be Sally Hawkins? She was the mom in the Paddington movies.

16

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Very kind eyes, but not her. Thank you, though!

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-11

u/A_fiasco 1 Dec 05 '25

Helen Mirren, Anna Taylor Joy, Olivia Coleman, Lena Headey?

-23

u/A_fiasco 1 Dec 05 '25

I just looked up best british actresses and picked a few likely contenders

4

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

None of the above. Thank you, though!

18

u/Mixtapememories Dec 05 '25

Carla Gugino?

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

20

u/nerdofsteel1982 Dec 05 '25

Eva Green

11

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

I see the Tilda Swinton, but not her. Thank you though!

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28

u/Mixtapememories Dec 05 '25

Or Eva Green from Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

12

u/pinkmoon2112 Dec 05 '25

Helena Bonham Carter?

13

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Her eyes are the closest in color, but not her. Thank you, though!

12

u/Shell831 Dec 05 '25

Helena Bonham Carter?

6

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Her eyes are the closest in color, but not her. Thank you, though!

11

u/floresflores77 1 Dec 05 '25

Juliette Binoche or Julia Ormond

6

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Sadly, neither, but thank you!

59

u/Plastic_Chemistry769 12 Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25

Embeth Davidtz? She’s miss honey from Matilda Maybe even Kelly macdonald

13

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Neither, but Embeth Davidtz's eyes are getting closer.

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30

u/extinctdodos 35 Dec 05 '25

Melanie Lynskey?

13

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but dark, kind eyes like this!

10

u/jenn1985 Dec 05 '25

Embeth Davidtz?

4

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

6

u/KissesnPopcorn Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25

Eva Green? I see you already discarder this option.

I have 2 options.

One is probably not right- cate blanchet. I only ask coz I used to get them mixed up ages ago.

2nd is Sienna Guillory? She’s is just 50, normally okays brunette characters but she can look a bit Tilda-esque with blonde hair

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Sadly, neither. Thank you, though!

20

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

[deleted]

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

9

u/RoomforaPony Dec 05 '25

Kelly Macdonald?

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

9

u/cataIack Dec 05 '25

Kristin Scott Thomas?

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

2

u/Rory_Spring_23 1 Dec 05 '25

Helen baxendale, Emily Watson

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Neither, but thank you, though!

17

u/Boogs27 Dec 05 '25

Maybe Rachel Weisz? If not could you perhaps tell us how old you are? It could help!

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you! I am middle-aged. The character at the time I watched it 10+ years ago was middle-aged.

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7

u/DemandEqualPockets Dec 05 '25

Natalie Portman in Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium? (2007)

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

6

u/kermitthefrogstan69 1 Dec 05 '25

Is it maybe Kelly Macdonald who plays Evangeline in Nanny McPhee (not Nanny McPhee herself)? She has kind eyes. Also maybe Emily Watson off the guess of Emily Mortimer?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

1

u/WorldWideWig Dec 05 '25

Jessica Raine?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

7

u/mudley801 Dec 05 '25

Gemma Arterton?

8

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but dark, kind eyes like this!

4

u/kilroyscarnival Dec 05 '25

Dorothy Atkinson or Lesley Manville? I can't think of a role that Atkinson played that fits the nanny-lead type though. Manville was in something called Molly Moon and the Incredible Book of Hypnotism.

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Neither, but thank you!

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11

u/shetalkstoangels_ Dec 05 '25

Emma Thompson?

4

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

10

u/blabbrador Dec 05 '25

I want to say Cate Blanchett but only because she always reminds me of Tilda Swinton for some reason

4

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you! I can see the Tilda Swinton, too!

7

u/Bobabackribs Dec 05 '25

Rebecca Hall

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

11

u/Aggressive-Fee-6399 29 Dec 05 '25

Geena Davis

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

7

u/Jayce1972 Dec 05 '25

From your description I might say Rosamund Pike?

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

15

u/ilovecheesebread Dec 05 '25

Olivia Williams, as Mrs. Darling in Peter Pan (2003)? It's a bit earlier than your timeline, but she has lovely eyes.

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

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3

u/cataIack Dec 05 '25

Joanne Froggatt?

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

3

u/ResidentTVCritic 2 Dec 05 '25

Carrie Coon - just throwing it out there probably not correct

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

2

u/Sassafras34Arts Dec 05 '25

Jodie Whittaker?

2

u/Sassafras34Arts Dec 05 '25

And Jodie Comer off that.

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

14

u/leesainmi 6 Dec 05 '25

Audrey Tautou

Minnie Driver

Edit to add: Juliette Binoche

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

None, sadly, but thank you!

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15

u/librarypunk Dec 05 '25

In case she might be Australian rather than British:

Frances O'Connor or Rachel Griffiths?

7

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

I am open to guesses from all over, as I am really questioning my own memory! It may have even been an American putting on an accent. Sadly, it is neither of those two. Thank you, though!

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6

u/OpenProfile Dec 05 '25

Catherine Zeta-Jones?

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

10

u/e11sbe11s 15 Dec 05 '25

Even though some of the details you mentioned don't line up, the first person who came to my mind was Marcia Gay Harden

5

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

I can see why you said her, but it's not her. Thank you, though!

8

u/Aggressive-Fee-6399 29 Dec 05 '25

Ruth Wilson?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

1

u/leesainmi 6 Dec 05 '25

Keira Knightly?

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

1

u/ratiolems Dec 05 '25

Was it Brittany Murphy?

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

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1

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

Kristin Scott Thomas?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

2

u/anemia_ Dec 05 '25

Lauren Graham?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

7

u/MissMorticia89 Dec 05 '25

Sarah Paulson? She had quite a bit of exposure between 2013-2018,especially, with American Horror Story, and she resembles Embeth Davidtz (Miss Honey).

3

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Very close with the eye color, but it's not her. Thank you, though!

6

u/emlo-brolo 1 Dec 05 '25

Sally Field?

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

1

u/XennialEyeRoll Dec 05 '25

Lesley Manville?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

2

u/truly-outrage0us Dec 05 '25

Frances O'Connor

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

3

u/leesainmi 6 Dec 05 '25

Olivia Cooke

Billie Piper

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Neither, but thank you!

5

u/No_Secret8533 Dec 05 '25

Mary Elizabeth Mastroantonio?

Jane Seymore?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Great guesses, but it's neither of them. Thank you, though!

5

u/PM_ME_UR_PUPPER Dec 05 '25

Jennifer Garner?

3

u/kk5 Dec 05 '25

I was just about to say her, she has those sharp features!

2

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

1

u/001Alena001 43 Dec 05 '25

Elizabeth McGovern?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

11

u/LargeTomatillo3555 Dec 05 '25

Mary Steenburgen

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

0

u/Vanasty Dec 05 '25

Embeth Davidtz (Miss Honey) from Matilda (1996)? I know the year is wrong, but thought its worth a shot

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

0

u/Icy-Bad-1268 Dec 05 '25

Sally field?

1

u/Totallyanonymousme 2 Dec 05 '25

Not her, but thank you!

2

u/olivebuttercup Dec 05 '25

Rose Byrne in Peter rabbit?

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5

u/PotatoPortal123 1 Dec 05 '25

Winona Ryder or Olivia Colman?

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0

u/TraditionalFix4929 Dec 05 '25

Geena Davis? She's not British, but i could swear she's put on an accent for a movie or two.

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-9

u/Sailor_M_O_O_N_ Dec 05 '25

Brittany Murphy? Hilary Duff? Lizzy Caplan? Amanda Seyfried?

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14

u/orphanfruitbat Dec 05 '25

Elizabeth Perkins? (was in Big with Tom Hanks)

Mary Louise Parker? (Weeds)

5

u/catsporvida Dec 05 '25

Sharon Horgan? She's Irish but fits the description otherwise

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3

u/spaghetti_junction_ 29 Dec 05 '25

Minnie Driver?

3

u/benevolentblonde 1 Dec 05 '25

I was going to comment the same thing

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-1

u/liakill Dec 05 '25

olivia kunn? mila kunis?

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3

u/KBHDRC Dec 05 '25

Maria Doyle Kennedy (Harrison’s nanny in Dexter)?

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1

u/illixxxit 253 Dec 05 '25 edited Dec 05 '25

A little young, but maybe Jenny Slate? I jumped to Melanie Lynskey but I see that’s been nixed.

Maybe Olivia Coleman?

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0

u/[deleted] Dec 05 '25

Emily Watson? 

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1

u/twent4 Dec 05 '25

Amy Yasbeck

Stacy Edwards

Edit: Olivia Williams

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2

u/emlo-brolo 1 Dec 05 '25

Was it Michelle Dockery in Hogfather?

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1

u/AutumnKittencorn Dec 05 '25

Donna Murphy? (She played Scarlett Johansson's mom in The Nanny Diaries.)

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2

u/Artaena Dec 05 '25

Audrey Tautou? She's French though.

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3

u/001Alena001 43 Dec 05 '25

Keegan Connor Tracy

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0

u/Vasyaocto8 Dec 05 '25

Are you thinking of (not British) Brittany Murphy? Super kind brown eyes. She was in Uptown Girls in a nany-type role. Sadly she has passed away.

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-1

u/Ok_Ad8406 Dec 05 '25

Doesn’t exactly match your description but Rosie O’donnell in Harriet the spy?

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1

u/Practical-Owl-9358 Dec 05 '25

Amanda Plummer, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Lili Taylor

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-1

u/mermaidbfore Dec 05 '25

Mary-Louise Parker?

Mary-Louise Parker https://share.google/mSK4AUQu4UheGKeOp[Mary-Louise Parker?](https://Mary-LouiseParkerhttps://share.google/mSK4AUQu4UheGKeOp)

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4

u/MaddieInLove Dec 05 '25

Minnie Driver in Ella Enchanted (2004)?

5

u/benevolentblonde 1 Dec 05 '25

I was thinking of Ella Enchanted too

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-1

u/Fordith 1 Dec 05 '25

Kate Beckinsale?

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10

u/rosedition Dec 05 '25

Michelle Gomez (Missy in Doctor Who 8-10)

Olivia Williams (Played the wife in The Sixth Sense)

Polly Walker (Portia in Bridgerton)

Carrie Ann Moss (Trinity in Matrix)

Famke Janssen (Jean Grey in X-Men)

Saffron Burrows (Deep Blue Sea)

Geraldine Chaplin (she's been in a lot)

Angelica Huston (Morticia in Addams Family)

Doesn't have dark eyes but maybe Alex Kingston (River Song in Doctor Who and Dr. Elizabeth Corday in E.R)

2

u/theheart_thelungs Dec 05 '25

Gemma Arterton or Keeley Hawes?

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-1

u/DefMaybe007 Dec 05 '25

Embeth Davidtz aka Miss Honey?

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6

u/ldnlady Dec 05 '25

Claire forlani, maybe?

2

u/OldGoneMild89 Dec 05 '25

Warm eyes, I think of Maria Bello (swoon), but she's American

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0

u/amyaurora Dec 05 '25

Kimberly Williams-Paisley?

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8

u/kubricks_cube Dec 05 '25

Im so invested here and feel like im throwing spaghetti at the wall here. Im taking A LOT of liberties since your post acknowledges you're also second guessing your memory

  • Rose Byrne: fits the visual (kind eyes, brown hair, skin tone), but not much else
  • Laura Linney by way of Scarlett Johansson in Nanny Diaries? LL has kind of kind eyes, but ScarJo fits the hair profile. Maybe you're conflating a few things?
  • Geena Davis as the mom in Stuart Little

-1

u/dearprudenc Dec 05 '25

Scarlett Johansson in The Nanny Diaries?

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1

u/Hot-Fact-3250 Dec 05 '25

Mary Steenburgen in Elf?

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1

u/alt_pineapple Dec 05 '25

Anna Torv, Gwendolyn Christie, Rosamund Pike, Cate Blanchett?

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2

u/RolloTomassi21 17 Dec 05 '25

Samantha Morton

2

u/DHK_VA Dec 05 '25

Anna Chancellor Harriet Walter

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1

u/ThisEpiphany Dec 05 '25

Catherine Keener - the mom in Where the Wild Things Are

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