The beginning of the new year brings excitement and anticipation for awards season. A time when movie lovers can come together to celebrate all the achievements made in film over the course of the past year. One of the most prestigious and acclaimed categories in any awards ceremony is that of Best Actor. Actors bring characters and stories to life, turning the words on the page into living, breathing, truths. 2022 was a year full of great performances that deserve recognition for being a Golden Globe nominee. On Tuesday, January 10, we will get to see which performance will take home the award in its respected Best Actor category (via Golden Globes website).

Austin Butler is one of the nominees in the Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama category. His portrayal of Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s 2022 musical drama Elvis was as genuine as possible. His tribute to The King is a performance that will be talked about for years to come. Another incredible performance comes from Diego Calva as Manny in Academy Award-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle’s Babylon. He stars as a young man with dreams of working in the film industry. His love for cinema drives him to withstand terrible jobs until, eventually, fate steps in, giving him his big break on a film set. His rise and fall in the film industry, during a transitional period from silent pictures to talkies, keep audiences grounded throughout all the chaos that comes with 1920s Hollywood. Some other brilliant nominated actors include Daniel Craig, Adam Driver, Brendan Fraser, and Ralph Fiennes. Here are all the Golden Globe 2023 Best Actor nominees, ranked.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

10 Billy Nighy — Living

     Lionsgate UK

Acclaimed actor Bill Nighy, who has played instrumental roles in About Time, Pirates of the Caribbean, Love Actually, and even made a cameo in the Harry Potter franchise, received a Golden Globe nomination this year for his leading role in Living. This feel-good movie follows a man whose perspective on life shifts after he receives a troubling medical diagnosis and decides to leave his mundane life and find a little more joy and fun in what remains of his day-to-day existence. A young woman who personifies the energy he needs becomes the perfect companion on his journey to a more exciting existence.

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY

9 Jeremy Pope — The Inspection

     A24

Jeremy Pope has received a number of impressive nominations throughout his career, including Primetime Emmy and Tony Award nominations for his past performances. This year, the actor received his first Golden Globe nomination for his role of Ellis French in the drama The Inspection. He portrays a gay Black man who joins the Marines after questioning what he should do next with his life. The story shows how, even when facing adversity in an environment that is notoriously known for labeling him as an outcast, Ellis is able to find camaraderie and support within his community.

8 Hugh Jackman — The Son

     Film4

Although The Son may not have been a hit with critics, people everywhere were definitely impressed with Hugh Jackman’s performance in the film. The actor plays Peter, a man who is already struggling to make his work and life balance equal, and is completely thrown off when his ex-wife comes back into the picture, introducing their teenage son. Jackman is an astounding actor, and his performance is not only the highlight of the film, but deserving of his Golden Globe nomination.

7 Colin Farrell — The Banshees of Inisherin

     Film4 Productions

Collin Farrell stars as Pádraic in The Banshees of Inisherin, a distraught man living off the coast of Ireland, who is grappling with the fact that one of his lifelong friends just ended their relationship. Pádraic, who is completely devastated, goes on a journey to repair the friendship and get back what once was. Filmmaker Martin McDonagh, who directed and wrote the film, did an incredible job capturing the essence of the story and really bringing us inside the world of Pádraic. Farrell has been named Ireland’s fifth-greatest film actor and has received numerous Golden Globe nominations in the past. The Banshees of Inisherin is currently available to stream on HBO Max.

6 Adam Driver — White Noise

     Netflix

White Noise is the story of an extremely intelligent family who experiences a series of strange events, from secret pills being taken to philosophy seminars that seem more like battles, and ultimately a toxic explosion that poisons their community and exposes them to harmful chemicals. Adam Driver is always compelling on screen, but his performance in White Noise is what carries us throughout the story. Driver has worked on a wide range of projects in his career, but the one constant is the incredible performance he always seems to give.

5 Daniel Craig — Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

Daniel Craig stars as Detective Benoit Blanc in the 2022 mystery/crime Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery. His character is the glue that holds the story together. As the outsider attending a vacation with a group of close-knit friends with dirty secrets, Blanc must find out which one of the guests at the Glass Onion is actually a murderer. Rian Johnson did an incredible job creating a sequel to the original Knives Out, released in 2019, which Craig also starred in. In addition to his brilliant performance, Edward Norton, Madelyn Cline, Kate Hudson, Jessica Henwick, Kathryn Hahn, Janelle Monáe, Dave Bautista, and Leslie Odom Jr. all shine in the film.

4 Ralph Fiennes — The Menu

     Searchlight Pictures

The Menu follows a group of extreme wealth and elite social status, who were carefully selected to attend a five-star meal designed by one of the most renowned and exclusive chefs in the world. The evening takes a dark turn when the head chef begins to act strange, and it becomes clear that the lives of all the guests are in danger. Ralph Fiennes stars as Chef Slowik, alongside Anna Taylor-Joy who plays Margot, a last-minute replacement who was not originally on the guest list. The two actors give incredible performances and carry the audience through the film.

3 Brendan Fraser — The Whale

One of the darkest films to be released this year was Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. Brendan Fraser gives the performance of his career as Charlie, an obese English teacher who let his health go after the love of his life passed away unexpectedly. Charlie has completely given up on himself and has disregarded his health so much so that he is on the verge of death. Before he goes, it is Charlie’s last wish to reunite with his daughter Ellie, portrayed by Sadie Sink, and know that she is a good person and will be OK. Charlie is bleeding with guilt for leaving his family behind to be with the man he loved.

2 Diego Calva — Babylon

     Paramount Pictures

The biggest spectacle of the year was without a doubt Academy Award-winning filmmaker Damien Chazelle’s Babylon. While Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie give brilliant performances it is Diego Calva’s portrayal of Manny Torres that is the true heart of the film. Manny is a young man with big dreams of working in movies. He does small jobs for big men during the 1920s, when Hollywood was transitioning from silent pictures to talkies. During this wild period of time in film history, Manny, among other young artists, experiences an extreme rise and fall of success. The overwhelming sets, elephants, and elaborate party scenes are a huge part of Babylon, but at its core, the film is a love letter to cinema.

1 Austin Butler — Elvis

     Warner Bros. Pictures

Austin Butler shined as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s tribute to the king of rock n’ roll. There is nobody else who could have embodied the spirit and essence of what Elvis Presley represented quite as well as Butler did. The film takes us through Elvis’s life, showing us how this small boy from Memphis, Tennessee became the most famous man in the world and the most successful solo recording artist of all time. The legacy of Elvis Presley and the lives he touched with his music will live on forever. Elvis is a beautiful encapsulation of his memory thanks to the incredible performance given by Butler.