I’ve only just met Virginia so my opinion is not fully informed. That said, I wasn’t aware of Ms Connelly as an actor. She’s one of those young pretty things in whom I have very little interest. My opinion of female actors tends to cover the more mature ones. Therefore, Sigourney Weaver (when much younger) would seem a great casting for Virginia. She has the legs for a start; moreover she can project her characters with some assertiveness which Virginia does. Now, Beverly. Only one choice for me and that would be a much younger Emma Thompson. Utterly made for the part. She can do anything from Shakespeare to ridiculous light comedy.
If you want to see the delicate but strong vulnerability, with an edge, then I recommend Wit with her in the lead. It was directed by Mike Nichols and is, I think, one of his best. It is more involving than The Graduate and as challenging as Catch 22. Be warned though, it is not for everybody; concerning, as it does, a woman (Thompson) who is dying of cancer. Not normally my sort of thing but I’ll watch anything directed by Nichols and this hooked me within a few minutes.