Sometimes when you watch a film, you see a character and think “that’s literally me.” And as creatives, we’ve all been there, especially when the movie revolves around life as an artist. Navigating the highs and lows of the creative path is tough, and most of the time we just need to see and experience it on screen.

In this round of CLAVEL Picks, we’re giving you female characters that personify different creative struggles and their respective movies we recommend you to check out as well.

First up, from Reality Bites (1994) we have Lelaina (Winona Ryder), a fresh college graduate figuring out her next step in life. In the movie, we see her filming a lot with her camera, as she documents her life and her friend’s life as they navigate their early 20s together. From the get-go, Lelaina is ambitious and just like any creative starting out, she’s a bit naive and idealistic. We see her go from job to job, trying to land one that’ll help her advance her career. But when she finally does, she realizes there’s so much more to learn on how to play the game.

Up next, we have Frances (Greta Gerwig) from Frances Ha (2012). Set in New York City, Frances is a struggling dancer figuring out how to make ends meet as she moves in and out of different apartments. In the movie, we see Frances tiptoe the line of responsibility and her dreams. At one point, she even debates if she actually wants to be a dancer, which we can relate to as creatives.

On that note of figuring out what you want out of life, we’ve got characters like Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) from Lost In Translation (2003) and Julie (Renata Reinsve) from The Worst Person In The World (2021). We see these two ladies at a crossroads in their life, trying to see what’s out there for them to do next. Something all creatives experienced at some point, what’s next to experience, make, and learn?

Lastly we have these two characters, Penny (Kate Hudson) from Almost Famous (2000) and Raphina (Lucy Boynton) from Sing Street (2016). They aren’t necessarily artists themselves, in fact they are both supporting acts in the film, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that their roles are unimportant. While both films revolve around musicians finding their footing in the scene, Penny and Raphina bring a sense of community and support to the table. Especially when they show support for their creative counterpart. Making them just as vital as the artists, noting that creating is a two way street and a chance to connect with others.