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Sienna Miller’s best roles, from American Sniper to Anatomy of a Scandal
On Friday 6 June 2025, Canal+ is broadcasting Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1. In this Western trilogy directed by Kevin Costner, the American-British actress Sienna Miller delivers a compelling performance as a mother who survives an attack on her native village. A perfect opportunity for Numéro to revisit five standout roles of an actress who waited a long time before finally being recognized as more than a simple it-girl.
By Violaine Schütz.
Sienna Miller as a betrayed wife in Anatomy of a Scandal
In the Netflix miniseries Anatomy of a Scandal (2022-), Sienna Miller embodies Sophie Whitehouse, the wife of British Conservative MP James Whitehouse. Her world collapses when she finds out that his husband has cheated on her with his parliamentary assistant. The affair takes a darker turn when the assistant accuses the MP of rape.
Speaking about the role, Sienna Miller told Vanity Fair that it brought up personal memories – the latter witnessed Jude Law’s infidelity make the headlines of tabloids when they used to date. She explained: “In some ways, I was reserved about playing this role because some of the content felt similar to moments I’ve experienced in my own life, and why would I want to put myself back into those feelings?”
She then added: “But at the same time, her reactions to the scenarios, some of which were familiar to me, were so different that I found that kind of psychologically quite interesting.” A cathartic experience, then, and one of the most convincing performances by this discreet star, who will soon appear alongside Nicolas Cage in the biopic Madden.
Anatomy of a Scandal (2022), created by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, available on Netflix.
Sienna Miller as the wife of an explorer in The Lost City of Z
The Lost City of Z (2016) may not be the finest film by acclaimed filmmaker James Gray (Two Lovers, The Yards, We Own the Night), but it boasts an impressive cast. Alongside Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland, Sienna Miller stars in this epic tale taking place in 1906 and takes viewers deep into the Amazon rainforest.
Sienna Miller portrays Nina Fawcett, the wife of a British army major who travels to South America to map the border between Brazil and Bolivia. He becomes obsessed with a mythical lost city. With subtlety and grace, Sienna Miller offers a moving performance as the wife suffering from the long absence of her adventurer husband.
The Lost City of Z (2016), directed by James Gray, available on Max.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99k3u9ay1gsThe trailer of American Sniper (2015).
Sienna Miller as the wife of a soldier in American Sniper
In Clint Eastwood’s poignant war drama American Sniper (2015), Sienna Miller embodies the anxious, loving, and fiercely protective wife of a soldier. The film tells the story of Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle (portrayed by Bradley Cooper), who fought in Iraq and struggles to readjust to civilian life after returning home.
Thanks to her accurate, emotionally charged performance – she breaks down in tears in several scenes – Sienna Miller has proved that she is more than just a fashion icon. The actress has a knack for playing the wives of charismatic men, as she also portrays the spouse of a famous wrestler in the gripping and tragic Foxcatcher (2014).
American Sniper (2015) by Clint Eastwood, available on Netflix and Max.
The actress as Edie Sedgwick in Factory Girl
In real life, Jude Law’s former fiancée was often seen as an it-girl and started out her career as a model. So it made perfect sense to cast her as one of the very first it-girls, model Edie Sedgwick. As a fashionista and captivating muse of Andy Warhol, Edie Sedgwick was the heiress of a wealthy family and became a prominent figure of the New York art scene, a regular at the Factory and its parties in the 1960s. With her grace and flawless features, Sienna Miller brings this fashion icon back to life, while also revealing her darker sides, such as her addictions and anorexia.
Factory Girl (2006) directed by George Hickenlooper, available on DVD.
Sienna Miller in one of her best roles as a starlet in Interview
In the underrated film Interview, directed by the brilliant Steve Buscemi (Reservoir Dogs, Boardwalk Empire, Fargo), who also plays in it, Sienna Miller unveils another side of her talent in one of her finest performances. She plays a TV starlet, mostly known for her roles in series, who is reluctantly interviewed by a political journalist initially uninterested in her.
The actress is playing with her public image by embodying a character who, beneath a seemingly shallow surface, turns out to be far more complex than one would expect. The film features an intense exchange, where the protagonist even engages in a deep discussion about her fear of death with the journalist.
Interview (2007) by Steve Buscemi, available on DVD.
Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 (2024) by Kevin Costner, airing on June 6th, 2025, on Canal+.
