Paul Thomas Anderson’sPhantom Threadwas reportedly the swan song for three-time Oscar-winnerDaniel Day-Lewis. He was recentlyspotted on crutches, making it six years since his rumored retirement. Rumors are true sometimes, so we better get ready to replace theThere Will Be Bloodmethod actor with a new “best working male actor” contender.
When thinking about the best working actor today, there are lots that come to mind, from younger Academy Award winners to the older generation that is still active in Hollywood these days. Here’s a closer look, with the leading men listed in no particular order.
Joaquin Phoenix
He achieved Oscar gold withJoker(2019), but previously received Academy Award nods for his unforgettable turns inGladiatorandWalk the Line.Joaquin Phoenixis a force to be reckoned with, and we can’t wait to see what’s to come with theJoker: Folie a Deuxmusical. Phoenix seems to completely lose himself to every role, so it should come as no surprise that he made our list.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCapriofinally took home a Best Actor Oscar thanks to his heart-wrenching turn in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’sThe Revenant. His upcoming filmKillers of the Flower Moonis undoubtedly a shoo-in for the upcoming Oscar race. In the meantime, it’s easy enough to add DiCaprio to our list here, as he’s churned a wild variety of roles over the decades. No longer just that lovable face fromTitanic, he’s worked with the best directors out there: Scorsese, Cameron, Tarantino, and the list goes on.
Related:The 30 Greatest Actors of Our Time
Denzel Washington
Denzel Washingtonis getting up there in age, but is still active in Hollywood today — which is why he easily makes our list. He won the coveted Best Actor SAG Award not too long ago withFences, which he also directed. His well-deserved Oscar was a unique feat, given how he was playing “the bad guy” in Antoine Fuqua’s masterpiece that isTraining Day. And let’s not forget his range as an actor, as recently showcased with his Academy Award-nominated turn in the titular role ofRoman J. Israel, Esq.
Let’s not forget that Mr. Nice Guy himself won back-to-back Academy Awards in the ’90s withPhiladelphiaand thenForrest Gump.Tom Hankswas a hoot in Wes Anderson’s latest filmAsteroid City, and his underratedA Man Called Ottois currently available on Netflix. Hanks doesn’t show any signs of slowing down, despite his veteran Hollywood status, so his name quickly came to mind when thinking about the best male actors working today.
Javier Bardem
Javier Bardemhas been the acting game for decades now — and finally took the Hollywood spotlight for his Oscar-winning performance in the Coen brothers’No Country for Old Menfilm adaptation. For the record, that was the same year Day-Lewis won for Best Lead Actor inThere Will Be Blood— so it was quite the year on the performance front. Bardem recently shined in the coveted Desi Arnaz role in Aaron Sorkin’sBeing the Ricardos, and we can’t wait to see what’s next for the dynamic Spanish actor.
Samuel L. Jackson
Quentin Tarantino-regular,Samuel L. Jacksoncan do comedy, drama, and Marvel. His leading turn in Disney+’s new seriesSecret Invasionis worth a tune-in alone. Jackson’s iconic voice is instantly recognizable, even if you’re not a film buff. Everyone knows him, and film schools will be talking about his committed performances for generations. His turn as Julius inPulp Fictiongot him an Oscar nod, and it’s no surprise the Academy gave Jackson an honorary award last year.
Hugh Jackman
Going from playing one version of Wolverine to the next with ease, and then tackling a completely different role with the acclaimedBad Education,Hugh Jackmanis evidently a master-class in acting. And he’s super nice in real life — bonus points! Folks say Jackman should have gotten Oscar cred with his gruff, haggered turn inLogan. Plus, let’s not forgettable his heartbreaking turn as a dad in utter distress for Denis Villaneuve’sPrisoners. And his continuously flawless American accent will leave some fans surprised that he’s actually Australian!
Related:Greatest Actors of All Time, According to the American Film Institute
Christian Bale
He was skin and bones for his emotional turn inThe Fighter— which gotChristian Balehis first Oscar. Then he turned pudgy for Dick Cheney in Adam McKay’sVice. That also got him multiple trophies during award season. What’s next for theDark Knightactor? Bale can do it all, including the MCU, as evidenced in Taika Waikiki’sThor: Love and Thunder. Ever since early roles likeAmerican Psycho, we’ve known Bale is a true star in the making. Then, there was his dual performance in Christopher Nolan’sThe Prestige, whose twist left us jaw-dropped at the end.
Gary Oldman
Put it this way: There have beenmemes created on social mediato attest toGary Oldman’s talents. The Oscar-winner finally won his long-awaited trophy forDarkest Hourback in 2018 for his unforgettable and often hilarious turn as Winston Churchill. More recently, he was nominated for his performance as theCitizen Kaneco-writer inMank. But beyond that, we loved his good-guy cop role in Christopher Nolan’sDark Knighttrilogy, especially since he was formerly known to play more villainous characters — such as Lee Harvey Oswalt in Oliver Stone’sJFK. He may be getting up there in age, but he’s still quite active on the big and small screen. For now, he’ll make you laugh as a haggered MI6 chief in the Apple TV+ seriesSlow Horses.
Russell Crowe
Please stop askingRussell CroweaboutGladiator 2! Even though he’s not in the sequel, Crowe will be remembered for his heroic, Oscar-winning performance in Ridley Scott’s first film. Then he won Best Actor again a year later forA Beautiful Mind, joining Tom Hanks on the Oscars “back to back” list. More recently, he was hilarious in Shane Black’sThe Nice Guysalongside Ryan Gosling. And on the small screen, his villainous portrayal of Roger Ailes inThe Loudest Voice. He’s certainly keeping busy in Tinseltown, which is why Crowe easily made our list.
