The Ten Best Performances of 2023

By Matt Oakes · December 29, 2023

It has already begun: the long march towards coronating a new quartet of actors whose performances are deemed the finest of 2023. And while the Oscars, Globes, and flurry of other guild awards tend to recognize the same handful of actors over and over again, here at Silver Screen Riot, we have our own version of who offered the best performances of 2023. So now that we’ve already gotten our way through the Ten Best TV Shows of 2023, and the Ten Best Movies of 2023, it’s time to move onto the Ten Best Performances of 2023.

Though it should go without saying, by “best”, I mean entirely my favorites so no need to send over an Excel sheet proving me why my preferences are wrong. From a year teeming with standout performances, several noteworthy ones made the greatest impact, though I could probably double this list and be more happy with it. But time is finite (mine and yours) and so here they are:

Emma Stone – ‘POOR THINGS’

Emma Stone’s portrayal of Bella Baxter in Poor Things is a transformative journey from wobbly innocence to sexed-up self-actualization with Stone delivering a performance that is both whimsically surreal, laugh-out-loud hilarious, and deeply poignant. Her portrayal of Bella is a perfect blend of humor and pathos, mixed up with a healthy dose of sexual verve, coiled and sprung with all the vigor of a, how you say, tour de force. Her ability to balance the film’s comedic and feminist themes, while embodying Bella’s childlike wonder and growth, showcases Stone’s versatility and solidifies her place as one of the most interesting actors working today.

Mark Ruffalo – ‘POOR THINGS’

Mark Ruffalo’s turn as Duncan Wedderburn, a dweeby, petulant, and sex-crazed charlatan, is both one of the funniest performances of the year and his career. Ruffalo brings a unique blend of prissy vocal work and pissy physicality that makes Wedderburn a pathetic caricature of masculinity like few others. His comedic timing is impeccable here, providing many of the film’s most memorable moments, many of which involve a major pout.

Margaret Qualley – ‘SANCTUARY’

In Sanctuary, Margaret Qualley takes the literal reins (and whips) as Rebecca, a dominatrix who’s more than meets the eye. With a magnetic mix of whip-crack command and hidden vulnerabilities, she turns a potentially one-note role into a must-watch declaration of her towering talents. Qualley’s Rebecca is a spellbinding enigma, weaving a web of control while subtly revealing her own intricacies. Her electric chemistry with Christopher Abbott crackles, adding layers of sultry intrigue to her dance of dominance. In a film that’s as kinky as it is complex, Qualley’s performance is a riveting revelation.

Jeffrey Wright – ‘AMERICAN FICTION’

In one of the breakout surprises of the year, Jeffrey Wright delivers a dual performance that ranks among the finest of his career. As a reserved, intellectual Black writer being pressured to adopt a more “urban” (read: stereotypically Black) persona for mainstream appeal, Wright masterfully navigates complex layers of identity and societal expectation and exploitation. His character’s struggle with adopting a fake authorial persona – a convict embodying black stereotypes for a book he internally despises – is portrayed with a remarkable blend of nuance and intensity. Wright’s handling of this tension is exceptional, offering a compelling study in duality and authenticity, that’s often explosively funny.

Sandra Hüller – ‘ANATOMY OF A FALL’ and ‘THE ZONE OF INTEREST’

Hüller showcased her versatility in two distinct roles that each offered a masterclass in nuance and depth. In Anatomy of a Fall, she portrays a wife and mother grappling with the nuances of truth and morality in the aftermath of tragedy, while in The Zone of Interest, her depiction of a wife living in the shadow of Auschwitz is truly haunting. Her performances in both films are understated yet profoundly impactful, with each role offering a different shade of human complexity – one evoking empathy and the other, a slow-building repulsion. Hüller’s ability to bring such contrasting characters to life with subtlety and power cements her as a formidable international talent.

Barry Keoghan – ‘SALTBURN’

Barry Keoghan’s silver-tongued portrayal of Oliver Quick in Saltburn is a testament to the 31-year old Irish actor’s exponential mastery of his craft. Keoghan depicts Oliver’s transformation from a studious loner to a cunning Machiavellian figure with devilish precision – and a massive dose of fun – making for a performance that is as enthralling as it is unnerving. His ability to infuse a twisted humanity into Oliver, even as he delves into the morally unhinged world of the aristocracy, makes for hours of can’t look away moments. Whether it’s his, ahem, encounter with a freshly-dug grave, his peculiar appetite for leftover bathwater, or his hang-dong final moments on screen, Keoghan makes Oliver a rascally demented underdog that you can’t help but root for – despite his many misgivings.

Rosamund Pike – ‘SALTBURN’

As Lady Elsbeth, Pike embodies the ignorant, judgmental high society climber whose eventual undoing becomes a source of glee. Her portrayal skillfully balances the thin line between high comedy and pathos, capturing a character who is both absurdly out of touch and tragically recognizable. Pike’s statuesque presence elevates the film’s satire of privilege and inheritance, making Lady Elsbeth not just a caricature but a reflection of the societal ills at play. Her performance underscores the deliciously dark humor to the film and is amongst the funnier turns of her impressive career.

Paul Giamatti – ‘THE HOLDOVERS’

Who doesn’t love Paul Giamatti? In The Holdovers, the celebrate thespian delivers a masterclass in character transformation as Dr. Paul Hunham, a professor who is initially loathed and ridiculed for his fishy stink and bum eye. Giamatti’s nuanced performance peels back layers of Hunham’s acerbic exterior to reveal a complex, deeply human character. The audience’s journey from disdain to empathy, even affection, for Hunham is a testament to Giamatti’s skill. He brings a mix of sardonic humor and poignant vulnerability, making Hunham’s journey from a bitter recluse to a figure of unexpected understanding and connection one of the most compelling arcs of the year.

Molly Gordon – ‘THEATER CAMP’

Few people broke out harder in 2023 than Molly Gordon. Between her head-turning performance in The Bear and her acclaimed turn in festival charmer Theater Camp, cinephiles suddenly know Gordon’s name. In Theater Camp, Gordon brings to life a character that is unapologetically over-the-top, yet deeply rooted in a genuine love for theater. Her willingness to lampoon herself and the theatrical world she knows so well adds an endearing and relatable quality to the film. Her character’s antics, ranging from the absurdly dramatic to the hilariously heartfelt, are a testament to Gordon’s comedic prowess and understanding of the craft. Her contribution to Theater Camp goes beyond her on-screen performance; it’s her vision and execution behind the scenes that truly elevate the film.

Andrew Scott – ‘ALL OF US STRANGERS’

In All of Us Strangers, Andrew Scott leaves one of the deepest impressions of 2023. His portrayal of a man wrestling with grief and regret is quietly devastating, resonating deeply with the kind of raw emotion that Scott can so masterfully harness. Bringing a subtle intensity to his role, Scott conveys a tumult of unspoken pain and inner turmoil with remarkable restraint. His ability to express profound sorrow and existential angst without any big, loud, “Oscary” moments makes Andrew Haigh’s poignant exploration of human vulnerability leap off the screen that much more.