Why Leonard's Mom From The Big Bang Theory Looks So Familiar

The actors most associated with 1999's "Cruel Intentions" may be its teen cast, but the adults played vital roles as well — Baranski's Bunny Caldwell included. The film introduces Annette (Reese Witherspoon), who writes an article for Seventeen Magazine about her intentions to remain a virgin until marriage. After the article circulates, step-siblings Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) and Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar) make a bet to see if Sebastian can successfully seduce Annette into sleeping with him. The other main teen character is Cecile (Selma Blair), who has recently moved to town and, being shy and naive, is drawn to the mature-seeming Kathryn. Baranski plays Bunny Caldwell, Cecile's mother, who can be seen in an early scene with Kathryn when she promises Mrs. Caldwell she'll look over Cecile. Later, Mrs. Caldwell — wary of Sebastian — warns Annette about him. This, in turn, only makes Sebastian more determined to go after Annette, which he continues to do and, eventually, succeeds in.

In a switch of genres, Baranski had a key role in the family comedy film, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas," in 2000. In this live-action adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book of the same name, Jim Carrey takes on the role of the Grinch, the reclusive green creature of Whoville who hates Christmas. Baranski plays Martha May Whovier, who the Grinch has had a crush on since childhood when she was the only one of his classmates to show him any sort of kindness or compassion. Years later, as adults, Martha becomes engaged to Mayor Augustus MayWho (Jeffrey Tambor), enraging the Grinch. However, Martha eventually returns the engagement ring to Augustus and declares the Grinch as her true love.