My god, what a wonderful post. It's perfect, but I'd like to add - Streep or Mirren couldn't do what Jodie does. I, too, think she is mesmerizing. The sheer intelligence and charisma in her eyes.
And though those other actresses are great at "losing themselves" in roles, Jodie succeeds in making the roles she does come alive not just in accuracy, but in sheer force of personality and depth. There is just always something extra and
compelling there. I can't remember all of where, but I've read it before - I think at the time having to do with Bette Davis - the quality some people have where you can't look away from the screen, and are mesmerized. Though there be "better" or more realistic actors.
Quite simply, as Sheryl said about Stevie in her BTM - "She has the entire star package."
Oh, and I sooo wanted to pick LGWLDTL - but I've only seen it once, and fear part of the draw was...Martin Sheen...but I do remember being astonished at her performance. She was a great actress, light years ahead of her age, even when she was small. That speaks to me of the intrinsic genius that really good actors have. Some people are born just knowing and understanding emotions, and being able to reflect them back, and she was one of those people.