Cheers to Ms. Farmiga for not only grabbing my attention, but leaving me speechless with so many of her amazing performances.

I first "discovered" her when Bates Motel premiered, around the same time The Conjuring was wowing audiences as well, if memory serves. I was blown away by her natural beauty and versatility. In one role she's playing up, down, manic, subdued, smothering, cutting, wicked, and loving. In the movies as Lorraine Warren, she shows Lorraine's calm demeanor, sweetness, and basically as I've said to friends, Vera shows "restraint," for lack of a better word. Basically, it's obvious she puts serious research, consideration and authenticity into the women she portrays, real or otherwise, and it shows/is not lost on the audience.

My favorite actress of all-time, Jessica Lange, is whom I feel I sets the bar in portraying raw, unabashed emotion. Lange has moved me to tears in more than a dozen performances, and Ms. Farmiga is (in my book) one of few actresses with similar range and ability. I'm only sorry I've only taken notice of her in the past few years. I saw Autumn In New York the other day (or at least the first 20 minutes, until I turned it off from boredom...eek! What horrible casting of leads! Talent, yes, chemistry, NO!), and was surprised to see she's been acting as long as she has, without the notoriety she's finally (deservedly) receiving. Here's to Ms. Farmiga continuing her path to even more honors and success. The goal of every actor should be to have achieved this type praise, not simply stardom and fame. Vera Farmiga has achieved both, but you can see her goal wasn't simply global recognition (if it were ever at all). Obviously moving the viewer with her realness, emotion and hard work is her goal, and it's evident in the women she portrays. I'm looking forward to her future projects, and have no doubt she will go down as one of the all-time greats...right up there with the best of the best in female actors. Lange, Davis, Tandy, MacLaine, Taylor, Hunter, Ladd, Dame Maggie Smith, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Winslet, Burstyn, Roberts, Wiest, Winger, Spacek, Foster, Bassett and (Kathy) Bates are my favorites. Vera Farmiga has moved closer to the top with every role she plays. Amazing work, Vera! Thanks especially for Bates Motel. Just as Lynda Carter will always be Wonder Woman, Barbara Eden will always be Jeannie, Lindsay Wagner will always be Jaime Sommers, Polly Holliday will always be "Flo" (no disrespect to Diane Ladd!), Kathy Bates will always be Dolores Claiborne, Bette Davis will always be Margot Channing, Ellen Burstyn will always be Chris MacNeil, and on and on...these ladies were and are irreplaceable in those roles. Vera, you own Norma Bates. You're absolutely mesmerizing.