The woman behind Annie

Annie Wilkes, the horror character of the novel, was played by Kathy Bates who won an Oscar for that role. There's no better actress for Annie. Kathy has all the characteristics that Annie has. 

The fact that she won an Oscar says a lot of the role she played. Her force and precision in the movie was the key. Annie had to be a crazy but clever woman, someone obsessed with Misery. Annie never had a life, a real social life. Kathy knew how to make the combination and how to create a life inside of Misery because that was the key of the movie. Annie lived just for Misery and without Misery her life was over. She was able to cause you fear just with that evil looking, with that feeling of loneliness that makes you think that she'll do anything for get what she wants. Some actresses like Bette Midler turned down the role because they didn't want to be seen as a deranged. In fact, that was the image needed to Annie and obviously the trump card for the Oscar. Kathy took that risk and changed her image just to be Annie in that moment. She knew that Annie will be totally different in all the perspectives. But changes are good, changes are the key for the success and that's what helped Kathy.