The Academy Awards is the most acclaimed and respected award one can receive in the world of cinema. Every year the Academy comes together to recognize individuals with the highest achievement in film that year. From acting, directing, producing, film editing, composing, screenwriting, costume design, and hair and makeup artists, the Academy has a category for almost all areas that make up a great film — curiously, the Academy has yet torecognize voice acting performancesandmovie stunts with their own categories, but those are different conversations. Indeed, as it stands, there are a total of four categories for acting: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. These categories are oftentimes the most anticipated awards of the night.
Millions of viewers from around the world tune in every year to watch the Oscars, and winning one can make an actor’s entire career or, in most cases, take it to the next level. The most recent Academy Award-winning actors have been Anthony Hopkins who won his second Best Actor Oscar forThe Father, Frances McDormand who won her third Best Actress Oscar forNomadland, Daniel Kaluuya who won Best Supporting Actor forJudas and the Black Messiah, and Youn Yuh-jung who received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role inMinari. Over the years there have been so incredibly well deserved Oscar wins for actors, especially in the 2010s. With the2022 Academy Awardsjust weeks away, here’s a look at ten of the best Oscar-winning performances of the 2010s, ranked.
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10Anne Hathaway — Les Misérables
Anne Hathaway gives one of the greatest performances of her career as Fantine in Tom Hooper’s 2012 musical/dramaLes Misérables.The actress, also well known for her roles in films such asThe Devil Wears Prada, The Princess Diaries,andThe Dark Knight Rises, took home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Fantine, the same roleher mother played inLes Misérables’s first U.S. traveling tour. In addition to this win, Hathaway has been previously nominated for one other Oscar for her leading role inRachel Getting Married.
9Mahershala Ali — Moonlight
Overall,Moonlightwas an incredible and widely impactful film. Mahershala Ali shone as Juan in Berry Jenkins' coming-of-age drama, alongside Naomie Harris, Trevante Rhodes, André Holland, Janelle Monáe. In addition to Mahershala’s Best Supporting Actor win,Moonlightalso received the Academy Award for Best Picture after there was a mix-up backstage andLa La Landwas mistakenly announced as the Best Picture winner. This is considered to be one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of the Oscars as it was awkward for everyone involved and everyone watching. In 2019, Mahershala Ali won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor again for his role in the Best Picture winnerGreen Book.
8Sam Rockwell — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Sam Rockwell is such a talented actor and his portrayal of Jason Dixon is so brilliant. He plays an angry, racist, and ridiculous cop who takes out his frustration with himself on others. TheThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouriactor won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor while up against his co-star Woody Harrelson, who was also nominated in the category for his performance as Bill Willoughby. One of the most impressive aspects of this performance is Rockwell’s ability to hold his own next to Frances McDormand, their scenes together are amazing, and their natural chemistry is evident.
7Emma Stone — La La Land
In 2017,Superbad, The Favourite,andBirdmanactress Emma Stone received her first Academy Award win for Best Actress with the filmLa La Land. Stone plays Mia, a struggling actress working to make her dreams come true in Hollywood — a life most artists can relate to. She meets Sebastian, played by Ryan Gosling, a passionate and stubborn musician working towards similar goals. The two are attempting to make their dreams come true while also maintaining their relationship together, but ultimately something has to give. Stone gave her best performance yet and embodied the essences of this character perfectly.
6Jennifer Lawrence — Silver Linings Playbook
At the young age of 22, Jennifer Lawrence won her first Academy Award for her portrayal of Tiffany in the romance/dramaSilver Linings Playbookin which she starred alongside Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, and Jackie Weaver. Lawrence is one of the most talented actresses working in Hollywood and has been praised by critics and colleagues alike for her consistently authentic and exciting performances. Leonardo DiCaprio recently said in an interview, while promoting their filmDon’t Look Up, that Lawrence is the Meryl Streep of her generation, referring to the fact that she’s the best of the best. This may be Lawrence’s first Oscar win, but certainly won’t be her last.
5Olivia Colman — The Favourite
Olivia Colman is definitely a favorite of the Academy. The hilarious and brilliant actress has been nominated for almost every movie she’s been in for the past five years. After Yorgos Lanthimos' dark comedyThe Favourite, for which she won Best Actress in 2019, Colman was nominated for Best Supporting Actress in 2021 forThe Father, and now she is nominated for Best Actress in 2022 for her leading role in Maggie Gyllenhaal’sThe Lost Daughter. Colman is a wonderfully gifted actress, and her performances are deserving of both the nominations and wins.
Related:Every Best Picture Oscar Winner of the 2010s, Ranked
4J.K. Simmons — Whiplash
When you think of J.K. Simmons, you think of his iconic role as the brutally harsh jazz ensemble instructor Terrence Fletcher inWhiplash.Simmons makes this movie so memorable and stars alongside the also very talented Miles Teller and Melissa Benoist. The main theme of the film is what happens to an artist when they give themselves over to their craft completely and let it define their existence. Teller’s character Andrew will do anything possible to succeed and get in the good graces of Fletcher.
3Casey Affleck — Manchester by the Sea
Casey Affleck gives a heartbreaking performance as Lee Chandler, a man who is living in a puddle of deep regret and shame after making the mistake of leaving a fire burning in his house one night and ultimately burning his house to the ground and killing all of his children. He can’t forgive himself for what he’s done, but must assume the responsibility of taking care of his nephew when his brother gets sick and passes away.Manchester by the Seais a beautiful and emotional story of family, regret, and sorrow, and is one of the best films to be released in the past ten years.
2Leonardo DiCaprio — The Revenant
After nearly twenty years and five Oscar nominations, Leonardo DiCaprio finally won his first Academy Award for Best Actor in 2016 for his portrayal of Hugh Glass inThe Revenant. DiCaprio is considered to be one of the greatest actors in Hollywood and his contribution to cinema is so great that this win felt a bit more deserved than most. Alejandro González Iñárritu is an incredible filmmaker, and his and DiCaprio’s collaboration was magic. DiCaprio was previously nominated for Oscars in acting categories for his work in the filmsWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Aviator, Blood Diamond,andThe Wolf of Wall Street.
1Frances McDormand — Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Coming in at number one on the list is the incredibly gifted Frances McDormand. This three-time Academy Award-winning actress is constantly giving authentic, exciting, and nuanced performances no matter what role she is playing. McDormand is a true artist and is one of the most naturally talented actors working in Hollywood today. She won her first Oscar in 1997 for her leading role inFargo, while her second Best Actress win was in 2018 for her portrayal of Mildred Hayes inThree Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and she won for a third time in 2021 for her role inNomadland. McDormand is legendary, and her work will be admired by audiences infinitely.
