Being a nurse isn’t an easy job. It takes knowledge, understanding, compassion… Well, if we list all the characteristics, we’ll be here all day. Throughout the years, there have been a number of memorable nurses in the movies. They’ve made us cry, they’ve made us cheer, and some have even scared the bejesus out of us. Some performed their duties accurately, and some couldn’t because they were in supernatural realms.
To kickoff our new “Nurses in the Media” series, here are our picks for the top five most memorable nurses portrayed in movies (in no particular order):
- Fictional Character: Annie Wilkes
- Played by: Kathy Bates
- Movie: Misery
Let’s start with a nurse who completely freaks us out, even all these years later. Kathy Bates was absolutely amazing in the role of Annie Wilkes, a nurse who is completely obsessed with her favorite author, Paul Sheldon, played by James Caan. Most nurses don’t include kidnapping and torture on their resume, but Annie was one who could. Shudder…
- Fictional Character: Greg Focker
- Played by: Ben Stiller
- Movie: Meet the Parents (and others in the series)
We really feel for Greg Focker. Imagine having Robert De Niro as a former CIA operative and father-in-law. That’s bad enough. Being put through all those tests? He got the girl, though. And he also brought a positive male nurse in the forefront of the world, while showing the stereotypes that can happen when you’re a guy in a prominently female profession.
- Fictional Character: Nurse Ratched
- Played by: Louise Fletcher
- Movie: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
One word—Eek! This woman is pure evil—and it shows. While Nurse Ratched seems calm—in that she’s not screaming at everyone—that makes her even more scary. Bringing a patient to commit suicide? She would be last on the list for ever winning Nurse of the Year.
- Fictional Character: Madam Pomfrey
- Played by: Gemma Jones
- Movie: the Harry Potter series
Madam Pomfrey is the most unrealistic nurse on our list only because she had no choice—when your patients screw up spells, get attacked by dragons, or get hurt in any way that’s supernatural, you have to use supernatural care to heal. One good point: she’s probably one of the most well-known nurses to millennials (as well as all Harry Potter fans).
- Fictional Character: Nurse Alex
- Played by: Jenny Agutter
- Movie: An American Werewolf in London
What would you do if a patient came to you and said he was turning into a werewolf? Now what would you do if you actually saw it happen? Nurse Alex knows that this is out of her wheelhouse (and her pay grade!), but she tries to help David Kessler (played by David Naughton) anyway.
So, who are some of your favorite/most memorable nurses portrayed in movies? Let us know in the comments!
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