By Constance Rosenblum
December 30, 2010
ANNETTE BENING has portrayed many women in her life. On the big screen she has embodied a conniving widow (in “Valmont”), a giggly con artist (“The Grifters”), a sexy mob moll (“Bugsy”), a feisty environmental activist (“The American President”), an adulterous suburban wife (“American Beauty”) and a fading British actress (“Being Julia”). Off the big screen her portrayals have included a private school headmistress turned convicted murderer (“Mrs. Harris” on HBO) and straight woman to the Cookie Monster on video.