Last year Elle named her as a “Hollywood’s Queen of Comedy”, and we share their girl crush on Leslie Mann, no question. 

The ‘This is 40’ star hits the big screen again this week with Bling Ring, where she plays the mother of Emma Watson’s character Nikki, but while all the focus elsewhere is on the younger stars of the summer movie, we’re taking a special look back at some of Leslie’s top roles, and the reasons we think she’s ace.

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She played Robin in The Cable Guy

This 1996 movie starring Jim Carrey and directed by Ben Stiller was Mann’s first real breakout role. Her turn as Robin grabbed the attention of Hollywood bigwigs, including Judd Apatow, who she met during auditions, and who would later become her husband. Aaaw!

 

Her turn as Corinne in George of the Jungle 

Mann played heiress Ursula Stanhope in this Tarzan-inspired 1997 flick, opposite an adorable Brendan Fraser, and proved that love conquers all… even when the love interest comes along in a loincloth.

 

 

She makes for a really good big sister 

One of Mann’s more memorable roles was as the big sister of Katherine Heigl’s character in 2005 smash-hit Knocked Up, but back in 1999 she appeared as the big sister of Joey Lauren Adam’s character in Adam Sandler’s Big Daddy. 

  

She rocked it as a leading lady, opposite Zac Efron

Sort of like a reverse Big, 2009 flick 17 Again say Mann play a blinder opposite High School Musical hottie Zac Efron, and the ‘adult version’, Matthew Perry – proving again why she’s got leading lady cred.

 

She tells it like it is 

Produced and directed  by her husband Judd Apatow, This Is 40 is one of the best roles of Mann’s career. In the Knocked Up spin-off, Mann’s Debbie and Paul Rudd’s Pete give an honest and hilarious account of what life really looks alike at the big 40. Mann and Apatow have admitted that most of the inspiration for the movie came from their own marriage and those of their friends. Brave move! 

 

She keeps it in the family

In three of Mann’s films her real life daughters Maud and Iris have played her onscreen offspring. The family that plays (leading roles) together stays together, eh? 

 

 

Leslie Mann stars in Bling Ring, due in Irish cinemas this Friday, July 5th.