Growing up in front of tens of millions of television viewers every week, Ariel Winter evolved from one of Hollywood’s most talented child actors into a razor-sharp comedic performer and prolific voice-acting powerhouse.
For eleven seasons and 250 episodes on ABC’s historic mockumentary Modern Family, Winter portrayed Alex Dunphy—the hyper-intellectual, deadpan middle child of the delightfully chaotic Dunphy household. Armed with sarcastic one-liners, exasperated eye rolls, and a fierce, relatable depiction of adolescent academic burnout, Winter served as the grounded reality check of the series. Her performance helped propel Modern Family to five consecutive Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series and four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Yet Winter’s screen achievements extend far beyond the Dunphy home. As the title voice of Disney’s multi-billion-dollar franchise Sofia the First, she anchored one of the most successful children’s animated properties of the 21st century. Simultaneously, she demonstrated striking dramatic maturity in indie cinema, delivering a luminous, poignant performance opposite screen legend Burt Reynolds in The Last Movie Star (2017).
Much like the ensemble balance explored in our retrospective of The Office cast ranked and our deep dive into the satirical dynamics of the Community cast ranked, Winter understood that an ensemble comedy thrives when the deadpan skeptic refuses to let the eccentric characters off the hook.
Here is the definitive critical ranking of the 10 best Ariel Winter movies and TV shows, celebrating her remarkable career across screen and animation.
The 10 Best Ariel Winter Movies and TV Shows, Ranked
★ 1. Modern Family (2009–2020) — Alex Dunphy
★ 2. Sofia the First (2012–2018) — Princess Sofia (Voice)
★ 3. The Last Movie Star (2017) — Lil
★ 4. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) — Penny Peterson (Voice)
★ 5. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) — Young Harmony Faith Lane
★ 6. Speed Racer (2008) — Young Trixie
★ 7. Phineas and Ferb (2007–2015) — Gretchen (Voice)
★ 8. Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017) — SmurfLily (Voice)
★ 9. Safelight (2015) — Lola
★ 10. The Chaperone (2011) — Sally
1. Modern Family (2009–2020)
- Role: Alex Dunphy
- Format: ABC Television Series (250 Episodes)
- Creators: Steven Levitan, Christopher Lloyd
- Accolades: 4 Screen Actors Guild Awards (Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series)
For more than a decade, Ariel Winter’s portrayal of Alex Dunphy was the intellectual and comedic ballast of Modern Family. Surrounded by well-meaning but hopelessly scatterbrained parents (Ty Burrell and Julie Bowen), a superficial older sister (Sarah Hyland), and an eccentric younger brother (Nolan Gould), Alex was the family’s resident genius—armed with lethal sarcasm and zero patience for nonsense.
Winter’s performance was a masterclass in deadpan comedic timing. She could deflate an entire room’s chaotic scheme with a single dry remark or a devastatingly timed glance directly into the documentary camera.
Yet as the series progressed, Winter brought heartbreaking vulnerability to Alex’s struggle with perfectionism. Episodes like Season 5’s “Under Pressure”—where Alex suffers an emotional breakdown from academic stress and attends therapy—showcased Winter’s dramatic depth, providing one of the most honest and moving depictions of teenage burnout in modern television history.
2. Sofia the First (2012–2018)
- Role: Princess Sofia (Voice)
- Format: Disney Junior Animated Series (109 Episodes & Specials)
- Creator: Craig Gerber
- Accolades: Annie Award Nomination
In 2012, Winter became the voice and emotional soul of Disney’s flagship preschool animation franchise Sofia the First. Playing Sofia, a compassionate village girl who becomes royalty after her mother marries King Roland II, Winter carried the franchise across 109 episodes, multiple television movies, and albums.
Unlike traditional passive fairy-tale heroines, Winter’s Sofia was adventurous, thoughtful, and determined to define royalty through kindness and integrity rather than privilege. Winter contributed her genuine singing voice to dozens of original musical numbers across the series, working alongside guest voice legends from the Disney canon including Julie Andrews, Jodi Benson, and Lea Salonga. It remains one of the most commercially and culturally impactful animated voice performances of the decade.
3. The Last Movie Star (2017)
- Role: Lil
- Format: Feature Film
- Director: Adam Rifkin
- Co-Star: Burt Reynolds
In Adam Rifkin’s bittersweet, acclaimed indie drama The Last Movie Star, Ariel Winter delivered the finest dramatic feature performance of her career opposite Hollywood icon Burt Reynolds in one of his final film roles.
Reynolds plays Vic Edwards, an aging, forgotten cinema star who travels to an amateur film festival in Nashville to accept a lifetime achievement award, only to discover it is a ramshackle event in a local bar. Winter stars as Lil, his sullen, tattooed, and rebellious Goth driver who is dealing with her own toxic relationship.
The intergenerational chemistry between Winter and Reynolds is extraordinary. As the pair embark on an impromptu road trip across Knoxville revisiting Vic’s youth, Lil evolves from an abrasive millennial into a compassionate, protective confidante. Winter matched Reynolds’ weathered gravitas with raw, emotional honesty, earning glowing reviews from critics.
4. Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014)
- Role: Penny Peterson (Voice)
- Format: DreamWorks Animated Feature
- Director: Rob Minkoff
- Co-Stars: Ty Burrell, Max Charles
Reuniting with her Modern Family television father Ty Burrell (who voiced the hyper-intelligent canine Mr. Peabody), Winter lent her voice to DreamWorks Animation’s hit adaptation of Mr. Peabody & Sherman.
Winter voiced Penny Peterson, Sherman’s bossy, competitive elementary school classmate. When Sherman secretly takes Penny on a joyride in the WABAC time machine to impress her, they trigger a catastrophic tear in the space-time continuum spanning Ancient Egypt, the French Revolution, and the Trojan War. Winter brought playful feistiness and charm to Penny, helping the film gross over $275 million worldwide.
5. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
- Role: Young Harmony Faith Lane
- Format: Feature Film
- Director: Shane Black
- Stars: Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer, Michelle Monaghan
At just seven years old, Ariel Winter appeared in Shane Black’s neo-noir dark comedy masterpiece Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Playing the younger version of female lead Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan), Winter appeared in the pivotal Midwest childhood flashbacks that establish the romantic and tragic backstory between Harmony and Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.).
Even at an early age, Winter exhibited natural screen presence and poise, appearing in one of the most revered cult detective satires of the 2000s.
6. Speed Racer (2008)
- Role: Young Trixie
- Format: Feature Film
- Directors: The Wachowskis
- Stars: Emile Hirsch, Christina Ricci, John Goodman
In the Wachowskis’ visually revolutionary cult racing epic Speed Racer, Winter portrayed the childhood version of Trixie (played as an adult by Christina Ricci).
Dressed in vibrant anime-inspired outfits and sporting pink bangs, Winter captured the bubbly, fierce loyalty of Speed Racer’s childhood friend and co-pilot during the film’s nostalgic opening montage. In the years since its release, the film has undergone a massive critical reappraisal as a pop-art masterpiece.
7. Phineas and Ferb (2007–2015)
- Role: Gretchen (Voice)
- Format: Disney Channel Animated Series (Recurring)
- Creators: Dan Povenmire, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh
Across multiple seasons of Disney’s Emmy-winning animated phenomenon Phineas and Ferb, Winter voiced Gretchen, one of the dedicated Fireside Girls in Troop 46231 led by Isabella Garcia-Shapiro.
Equipped with a cheerful sash and endless survival manuals, Gretchen assisted Phineas and Ferb in constructing roller coasters, tree houses, and time machines. Winter’s crisp comic timing made her a standout among the animated ensemble.
8. Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017)
- Role: SmurfLily (Voice)
- Format: Sony Pictures Animation Feature
- Director: Kelly Asbury
- Co-Stars: Demi Lovato, Rainn Wilson, Julia Roberts
In Sony Pictures Animation’s fully animated reboot Smurfs: The Lost Village, Winter joined a star-studded voice cast including Demi Lovato, Julia Roberts, and Rainn Wilson.
Winter voiced SmurfLily, an energetic, curious, and archery-loving Smurf living in the hidden female Smurf village of Smurfy Grove. Winter brought buoyant, adventurous energy to the family film, which grossed nearly $200 million globally.
9. Safelight (2015)
- Role: Lola
- Format: Feature Film
- Director: Tony Aloupis
- Co-Stars: Evan Peters, Juno Temple
In the independent coming-of-age drama Safelight, Winter starred opposite Evan Peters. Winter plays Lola, a vulnerable young runaway caught in a dangerous domestic situation in a small desert town.
When she befriends Charles (Peters), a high school student with cerebral palsy pursuing a photography contest, the two set off on a road trip along the California coastline to photograph historical lighthouses. Winter gave an emotionally raw, grounded performance that highlighted her ambition in independent drama.
10. The Chaperone (2011)
- Role: Sally
- Format: Feature Film
- Director: Stephen Herek
- Co-Star: Triple H (Paul Levesque)
In this family road-trip comedy, Winter starred opposite WWE superstar Triple H (Paul Levesque). Playing Sally, an estranged and rebellious teenage daughter whose high school field trip to New Orleans is chaperoned by her ex-convict father, Winter anchored the film with comedic exasperation and genuine adolescent heart.
Comprehensive Ariel Winter Career Filmography Table
| Year | Title | Role | Format / Genre | Cultural & Box Office Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Young Harmony | Neo-Noir Comedy | Cult classic directed by Shane Black |
| 2008 | Speed Racer | Young Trixie | Sci-Fi / Action | Cult Wachowskis pop-art masterpiece |
| 2009–20 | Modern Family | Alex Dunphy | ABC Sitcom (250 Eps) | 5-time Emmy Winning Comedy; 4 SAG Awards |
| 2011 | The Chaperone | Sally | Family Comedy | Co-starred opposite WWE’s Triple H |
| 2012–18 | Sofia the First | Princess Sofia (Voice) | Disney Animation | Multi-billion-dollar franchise title lead |
| 2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Penny Peterson (Voice) | Animated Feature | DreamWorks box-office hit ($275M worldwide) |
| 2015 | Safelight | Lola | Indie Drama | Dramatic road-trip indie opposite Evan Peters |
| 2017 | The Last Movie Star | Lil | Indie Drama | Acclaimed dramatic lead opposite Burt Reynolds |
| 2017 | Smurfs: The Lost Village | SmurfLily (Voice) | Animated Feature | Sony Animation hit grossing nearly $200M |
| 2022 | The Quarry | Abigail Blyg | Interactive Horror | Acclaimed motion-capture voice performance |
Frequently Asked Questions About Ariel Winter
What is Ariel Winter’s most famous television role?
Ariel Winter is most famous for playing Alex Dunphy on the critically acclaimed ABC sitcom Modern Family (2009–2020) across all 11 seasons and 250 episodes. In animation, she is world-famous as the voice of Princess Sofia in Disney’s Sofia the First.
How many awards did Modern Family win during Ariel Winter’s tenure?
During Ariel Winter’s run on Modern Family, the series won 22 Primetime Emmy Awards, including five consecutive wins for Outstanding Comedy Series, and Winter personally shared in four Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series.
Who did Ariel Winter star opposite in The Last Movie Star?
In the 2017 drama The Last Movie Star, Ariel Winter starred opposite legendary Hollywood actor Burt Reynolds. Winter played Lil, an edgy, tattooed driver who forms an unexpected emotional bond with Reynolds’ fading Hollywood icon on a nostalgic journey across Tennessee.