Top 15 Greatest Actors of the Last Decade

When it comes to comeback stories, the past decade has unforgettably included Brendan Fraser and Ke Huy Quan. While Fraser’s Oscar win for “The Whale” brought us to tears, Quan’s reemergence is the one that wins out here. After decades away from acting, he came back with award-winning vengeance in his role as Waymond Wang in “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” He’s since appeared in “Loki”, provided voicework in “Kung Fu Panda 4”, and will give life to an intriguing reptilian villain in Disney’s upcoming “Zootopia 2”. Quan has come a long way from his days as Short Round, and we’re ecstatic to see what he’ll do next!

Thanks to her nuanced performances, Michelle Williams had become one of the most celebrated actresses of her generation. The 2010s and 2020s were especially kind to her, giving her more chances to wow audiences after her transformative work in films like “Blue Valentine.” This includes roles as a compelling grieving mother in “Manchester by the Sea” and a version of Steven Spielberg’s mom in “The Fablemans.” Through it all, the actress has found a way to infuse her characters with a three-dimensional quality. She’s also had success in major hits such as “The Greatest Showman” and the “Venom” franchise.

After catapulting to fame as a heartthrob vampire in “The Twilight Saga,” Robert Pattinson decided to change course, diving into indie roles. This meant working with directors such as the Safdie[b] brothers, Claire Denis, and Robert Eggers. He seized the opportunity to diversify his roles and reshape his career. His role in “Good Time” is just one example of a big risk that paid off. Pattinson’s ability to push himself outside of his comfort zone allowed him to explore parts in everything from “The Lighthouse” to “Tenet.” With “The Batman,” the star provided a new take on Bruce Wayne in a captivating reboot.

Always up for a new challenge, Kate Winslet has been one of the foremost actresses of this century. She collaborated with Aaron Sorkin for the film “Steve Jobs,” earning her yet another Oscar nomination. The star also made a splash on TV in “Mare of Easttown,” showing once again that she could work in multiple mediums. Back on the silver screen, she’s starred in a range of movies, from the “Divergent” franchise to the romance disaster film “The Mountain Between Us” opposite Idris Elba[c]. Winslet has continued showing her range in a number of genres, even joining the “Avatar” franchise. With smaller movies such as “Ammonite” and “Lee,” the actress also lent her star power to enthralling period dramas.

It’s no surprise that Anya Taylor-Joy has quickly become one of the most popular and prolific actresses of her generation. Her role in Robert Eggers’ film “The Witch” played a key part in that. She also starred in M. Night Shyamalan’s film “Split” —and expanded her palette in darker movies such as “Thoroughbreds.” Her career took off even further after starring in the Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit.” Back on the big screen, she delivered strong performances in films like “The Northman” and George Miller’s “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” Her distinctive, intense presence elevates every project from genre pieces to dramas.

With his breakout role in “Get Out,” Daniel Kaluuya graduated from promising actor to movie-star. His ability to draw viewers in with just an expression gives him an edge in a crowded field of contemporaries. He showcases his versatility as both the menacing villain in “Widows” and the unlikely hero in “Nope.” His work in “Black Panther” is also a crucial part of a groundbreaking superhero adventure. For his amazing performance in “Judas and the Black Messiah,” Kaluuya completely inhabits the real-life activist Fred Hampton. The part earned him an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, putting him in contention as one of his generation’s best talents.

Florence Pugh has made a name for herself in everything from dramas to horror films. After notable roles in projects like “Lady Macbeth,” she became even more well known for her magnetic performance in “Midsommar.” That film allowed her to channel her character’s grief into a horrifying tale of a vacation gone awry. She then took the part of Amy in “Little Women” and earned an Oscar nomination for her riveting portrayal of the classic literary figure. Pugh also lent her charismatic presence to “Black Widow,” playing the entertaining Yelena Belova. Her name only grew from there with her great work in incredible ensembles like “Oppenheimer” and “Dune: Part Two.”

Surprisingly enough, Jessica Chastain didn’t become a big movie star until her 30s. This gave her time to hone her craft onstage before exhibiting fantastic performances in films such as “Zero Dark Thirty.” Chastain commands the screen as a lead, showing an ability to convey intensity and moral ambiguity. The mastery of her craft carried over into underrated gems like “Miss Sloane.” Chastain’s moving portrayals stretch from the incisive lead in “Molly’s Game” to the haunted adult in “It Chapter Two.” Her impressive decade also included an Oscar win for “The Eyes of Tammy Faye,” which she also produced, encapsulating her many talents.

This singer and actress got her start on the Disney Channel. She embarked on a successful shift into feature films with vibrant work in the “Spider-Man” franchise and the musical “The Greatest Showman.” Her work as MJ showed off her humor and chemistry opposite Tom Holland. Her award-winning performance as Rue on HBO’s “Euphoria” proved that she could do serious dramas as well. In the “Dune” series, she plays a pivotal role as the Fremen warrior Chani. More recently, she’s turned heads in the film “Challengers,” where her character is involved in a messy romance set in the competitive world of tennis.

Speaking of versatility, Timothée Chalamet is another actor who’s shown off his range in an impressive filmography over the last decade. His superb work in “Call Me by Your Name” earned him something of a cult following. As the teenage Elio[j], the actor demonstrated his ability to portray an introspective and complicated character. This was also the case in movies such as “Beautiful Boy” and “Little Women,” which gave him further opportunities to stand out. Chalamet is equally able to play both reserved introverts and larger-than-life figures, which is readily apparent in the “Dune” movies and the musical “Wonka”.

Viola Davis was underrated in her early film roles, but achieved breakthrough success as a leading actress in the 2010s. Starring opposite Denzel Washington in “Fences”, she delivered a mesmerizing, emotional performance that earned rave reviews along with a well-deserved Academy Award. Around that time, she also impressed audiences with her hit show “How to Get Away with Murder.” Davis then took on powerful historical movies such as “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” and “The Woman King.” Whether you’re watching her in a searing drama or “Suicide Squad,” you’re always captivated by her work.

Each time he takes on a film, Cillian Murphy gives 100% - whether he’s playing a nineteenth century sailor or a hardened survivor in a post-apocalyptic world. Aside from his compelling work in the series “Peaky Blinders,” he’s kept up an extended partnership with Christopher Nolan. This includes his tortured soldier in “Dunkirk” and the troubled genius in “Oppenheimer.” The latter role not only allowed him to command the screen in a major film but also earned him a slew of awards. Murphy’s performance as the title character exemplifies his extraordinary work ethic and ability to portray gripping characters.

He’s been a movie star for decades, but Tom Cruise had an undeniably good run in the 2010s. The 2000s saw scandals and tabloid fodder overshadow his career, but he spent the next two decades mainly focusing on his acting and star power. He reinvigorated the “Mission: Impossible” brand with even more death-defying stunts. Cruise also starred in other franchise entries like “Jack Reacher: Never Go Back” and “Top Gun: Maverick.” The latter helped draw audiences back to theaters in 2022, delivering a successful follow up that reminded people of his cinematic strengths.

It might be hard to believe considering her current pop culture omnipresence, but, like Jennifer Lawrence, this talented actor ended the decade while still in her 20s. Margot Robbie was catapulted into the spotlight with “The Wolf of Wall Street”. And despite it being a supporting role, she proved herself to be an absolute scene-stealer. Since then, she’s further distinguished herself with roles in “Suicide Squad,” “Mary Queen of Scots”, “Bombshell” and “I, Tonya”, with the latter rightfully earning her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She stole our hearts as the titular role in Greta Gerwig’s cinematic phenomenon, “Barbie”. We can’t wait to see what choices she makes next, and what new characters she’ll bring to life.

In 2008, Phoenix announced that he was retiring from acting. Thankfully, it was an elaborate ruse for the 2010 mockumentary “I'm Still Here”. Though the film was divisive, Phoenix promptly recovered with “The Master” and “Her”, and there have been precious few roles in the decade since for which he hasn’t been heaped with praise. This includes indie films like “You Were Never Really Here” and box office smashes like “Joker.” Whatever role Phoenix takes on, he fully inhabits. In 2023 he even stepped into the shoes of French general “Napoleon”. While the follow-up to Joker, “Folie à Deux[m]” wasn’t as acclaimed, Phoenix’s performance was unquestioned. No matter the oddball character, he makes them all feel fully realized, commanding audiences with his versatility and intensity.




Did we forget another movie star that helped define the decade? Let us know in the comments below.

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[b]SAFF-dee https://youtu.be/0nj5WGRFYIs?si=y2Qx076yl92NTHwO
claire duh-NEE https://youtu.be/HrEfYYpF3yA?si=VGdMp_uRC5wy_E1D
Robert EGG-gurz https://youtu.be/ygm_mI5lDqk
[c]ID-driss ELL-buh https://youtu.be/8tbs8tFTHpE
AMMA-night https://youtu.be/ecL8gx_dQFo?si=2hxOyjyBpjahi-Kk&t=16
[d]ANNE-ya Taylor-Joy - not AWN-ya https://youtu.be/FUEdeH7MW3I
[e]daniel kah-LOO-yuh https://youtu.be/-4kicXCKmLk?si=uI8flMhHZhYWVaI1&t=1
[f]pyew https://youtu.be/jGYME7Zdu-o?si=qeS_OjZVxXXY0t6f&t=1
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[g]tchass-TANE https://youtu.be/QFqxMZsfjmY?si=8D2HMe2EIX1dqkIp&t=1
[h]zen-DAY-uh - not zen-DYE-uh https://youtu.be/buMCmzXJUx0?t=10
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[i]Timothy SHALLA-may https://youtu.be/qutB7gkaTt0?si=21w_AKXfgbaqYFW9
[j]ELLY-oh https://youtu.be/JAf68xLG-ww?t=136
[k]VYE-ola Davis - not VEE-ola https://youtu.be/JvKaVLLXa30?t=8s
[l]KILL-ian Murphy - not sill-ian https://youtu.be/bEUHaeqWYjM?t=406
[m]faw-LEE ah deu https://youtu.be/uyAYieh-TIU?si=TAGx_cwORQkLRxCs&t=7