I’m sure we can all agree, 2015 has been a great year for films, and with only a few weeks to go, I’ve been thinking – which actor’s had the best year? I’m not talking about paychecks, I’m not talking about awards, I’m talking about whose complete body of work, and their performances within them, have been the best overall. There are no real rules, but the more big roles they’ve had, the better chance they have, and if any roles this year have had an impact on the future of their career, that will help too! So without any further ado… Let’s meet the nominees!
Alicia Vikander
This time last year, I, and most people, had never heard of Swedish actress Alicia Vikander. Then, a few weeks into January, we got to see?Ex Machina,?a film that is without question one of the best this year, and her performance was what many believed to be the highlight – myself included. Since then, she’s barely spent any time off our screens, appearing in no less than five wide releases, including Testament of Youth,?the hugely underrated?The Man From U.N.C.L.E,?the fantastic?Burnt,?and the one she won’t want me to mention,?Seventh Son.?She’s also an early tip for next years awards season, with her role in?The Danish Girl,?and she has five more films lined up for next year, including the as yet untitled?Bourne 5.?
Jeff Daniels
Without exaggeration, Jeff Daniels could be considered for two best supporting actor awards nominations this year. One of those nominations being Teddy Sanders in?The Martian,?and the other being?John Sculley?in?Steve Jobs.?Even though they were his only films this year, the fact that both of them were such significant characters and stellar performances means that he thoroughly deserves consideration. He’s also been cast in parts 3 and 4 of the?Divergent?series, but we’re yet to see if that’s a blessing or a curse.
Ryan Reynolds
Who would’ve seen this coming? Once the butt of many jokes,?Ryan Reynolds?is quickly becoming an actor that can be counted on for delivering in every role. The performance that most stands out would be his triple role in?The Voices,?but he also proved himself to a lot of people in?Woman in Gold, Mississippi Grind,?and the highly underrated?Self/less.?He’s also got a little project on the on way by the name of?Deadpool…
Michael P?na
P?na’s year got a real kick-start when he pretty much stole the show in?Ant-Man,?as the fast talking, slightly dense, but ultra lovable Luis, a character many people hope returns. He also showed audiences what he could do in?Vacation, The Vatican Tapes?and perhaps best of all,?The Martian. Anyone?can see the diversity he’s capable of, and that’s all in the space of one year.
Jesse Plemons
Known to most people as Todd from?Breaking Bad,?Jesse Plemons is starting to make a niche for himself as a solid character actor. He hasn’t been the star of any films this year, but he has appeared in three critically acclaimed films, and played major roles in two of them. His most notable role was as Kevin Weeks in?Black Mass,?but he was also great in?The Program,?and had a small role in?Bridge of Spies. In the TV world, he’s landed a role in season 2 of?Fargo,?although there are no other big projects on the horizon.
Lake Bell
Some people reading this still may not know who Lake Bell is, but she’s been very busy this year. Two of her roles this year have shown just how much range she has, those being?Man Up,?where she played the slightly manic lead in a romantic comedy, and?No Escape,?a very serious action thriller. She also appeared in Netflix series?Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of camp, BoJack Horseman?and Axe Cop.?She’s also playing an obese cat in 2016’s?The Secret Life of Pets,?so that’s a thing…
Chris Hemsworth
One of the biggest stars on the planet (just look at those guns), 2015 might have been his best year yet. Let’s get the obvious one out-of-the-way, Avengers: Age of Ultron,?it’s one of the biggest films of all time, and it had plenty of great Thor action. On top of that, He’s playing the lead in the upcoming?In the Heart of the Sea,?had a hilarious (if brief) role in?Vacation,?and starred in a film I liked, but most people didn’t,?Blackhat.?He also has possibly the biggest upcoming slate of anybody on this list, with?The Huntsman: Winter’s War?(a franchise that’s now named after him),?the upcoming?Ghostbusters?reboot, and of course?Thor: Ragnarok.?
Paul Bettany
Bettany has been acting for years, but 2015?could prove to be?a bit of a game changer for his career. He appeared on-screen in a Marvel film for the first time in?Avengers: Age of Ultron,?had a small?but funny role in?Legend,?and was the comedic stand out in an otherwise not great film,?Mortdecai.?This year also sees him making his directorial d?but, in the form of Shelter.
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet has had a very varied year. She started with possibly her weakest film,?Insurgent,?a film she still managed to be good in, and a film that’s still part of a fairly big franchise, no matter what you think of it. Things only went up from there, with her excellent supporting performance in?Steve Jobs,?and what is possibly her best performance this year, playing Tilly Dunnage in?The Dressmaker,?two of our favourite films of the year!
Oscar Isaac
Another actor a lot of people hadn’t heard of before this year, and another actor that appeared in Ex Machina, Oscar Isaac is going to end 2015 with a much bigger fan base than when he started it. He also appeared in?A Most Violent Year,?a film that got him some awards buzz, starred in TV series?Show Me a Hero,?and he’s appearing in a little upcoming film called?Star Wars – The Force Awakens.?As well as more than likely appearing in a few sequels to?Episode VII,?he’ll be appearing in X-Men: Apocalypse?next year, playing the big bad guy.
Which actor do you think has had the best year in 2015? Are there any actors you think we missed that should have been on this list? Share any thoughts in the comments.
