Julie Kavner

Marge Simpson sounds tired even when she is being kind. In The Simpsons (1989), Julie Kavner makes that tiredness count: we hear the effort behind the patience, rather than simply accepting Marge as the sensible one. We were moved by her performance because she makes affection feel like a choice that has to be made again. That is a substantial contribution to a comedy whose sharpest jokes do not cancel its tenderness.

That mixture of humour and hurt was already part of Brenda Morgenstern, her breakthrough role in Rhoda (1974–78). Kavner was repeatedly cast as supportive, sympathetic women, parts she came to dislike. We can see the restriction: being good at making a character agreeable is a poor reason to keep asking an actor to do it. Her film work expanded with Woody Allen, including Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Radio Days (1987). In the latter, she plays the mother of the narrator's childhood self.

The animated shorts in The Tracey Ullman Show (1987) brought her to Marge before The Simpsons became a series of its own. She also voices Patty, Selma and Jacqueline Bouvier, so the familiar sound belongs to more than one member of the family. Alongside Dan Castellaneta's Homer, though, her weariness has a particular comic use. He gives a foolish thought the confidence of a worthwhile discovery, while she lets us hear the effort of staying patient. We can laugh at him without forgetting that someone has to put up with him.

This Is My Life (1992) gave her a different opportunity: Dottie Ingels was her first leading film role, written for her by Nora Ephron. We would like more such departures from the sympathetic supporting parts. That is a reservation about the opportunities, not about the value of what she does as Marge. Our recommendation for The Simpsons remains warm, with no obligation to watch every episode. Start there for Kavner alongside Castellaneta, then try This Is My Life to see her given the lead.