Thompson plays the physicist in Annihilation, a character whose self harm is stated plainly early on and never used as a plot device afterwards. Her arc ends in one of the film's most striking images, and it works because she plays acceptance rather than fear: the character has already decided what she wants from the expedition before it begins.
She came from theatre in Los Angeles and from independent film, and she has since moved between franchise cinema, prestige drama and music, releasing recordings alongside her performing work. She also produces her own projects, and she has been a prominent voice on hiring practices and representation across the industry.
Recurring subjects: self possession, women who have made a decision the plot has not caught up with, and comedy delivered dryly inside genre material. She plays interiority without dialogue and is comfortable letting a character's motives remain partly unstated at the end of a film.
Her independent work, particularly a drama about racial passing and a musical romance, has drawn substantial critical attention, and her franchise roles have reached enormous international audiences. Her advocacy on inclusion in hiring has had practical effect on how productions are staffed.
For viewers who want supporting performances with a complete interior arc. Suited to anyone approaching the expedition film, and to those who should follow it with her independent dramas and her music.
