On December 26, 2018, I published my list of best (and worst) films of the year, and now here is my list of best actors of the year. As always, there is no need to publish a separate “best directors” list since, if the film is good, I credit the director for much of that quality. A few actors and actresses in films which I did not put among my highest choices still made it onto the list, below, since they were so magnetic (to me), even if the film they were in was less so. All movie titles are hyperlinked to my review, if such a review exists, or to the movie’s Rotten Tomatoes page, if there is no review. While last year I listed more than 5 actors per category, this year I go back to the traditional five-per-category model. In alphabetical order, by last name within each category, I give you:
BEST ACTRESS:
- Yalitza Aparicio, Roma
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Elsie Fisher, Eighth Grade
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Kiki Layne, If Beale Street Could Talk
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Julia Roberts, Ben Is Back
- Amanda Stenberg, The Hate U Give
BEST ACTOR:
- Daveed Diggs, Blindspotting
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Ethan Hawke, First Reformed
- Lucas Hedges, Ben Is Back
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Stephan James, If Beale Street Could Talk
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Joaquin Phoenix, You Were Never Really Here
- Nina Arianda, Stan & Ollie
- Cynthia Erivo, Widows
- Regina Hall, The Hate U Give
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Regina King, If Beale Street Could Talk
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Amanda Seyfried, First Reformed
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Josh Hamilton, Eighth Grade
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Russell Hornsby, The Hate U Give
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Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther
- Cedric the Entertainer (as Cedric Antonio Kyles), First Reformed
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Steven Yeun, Burning
