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Empire Award for Best Actor

Former annual British film award


Former annual British film award

FieldValue
nameEmpire Award for Best Actor
awarded_forBest performance by an actor in a leading role
presenterEmpire magazine
countryUnited Kingdom
year1996
holderHugh Jackman - Logan (2018)
mainEmpire Awards

The Empire Award for Best Actor was an Empire Award presented annually by the British film magazine Empire to honor an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the film industry. The Empire Award for Best Actor was one of five ongoing awards which were first introduced at the 1st Empire Awards ceremony in 1996 (the others being Best Actress, Best Director, Best Film and Best British Film) with Nigel Hawthorne receiving the award for his role in The Madness of King George. Winners were chosen by the readers of Empire magazine.

Since its inception, the award was given to 18 actors. Johnny Depp and James McAvoy have received the most awards in this category with two awards each. Johnny Depp was nominated on five occasions, more than any other actor. Hugh Jackman was the most recent winner in this category for his role in Logan.

Winners and nominees

In the list below, winners are listed first in the colored row in boldface, followed by the other nominees. The number of the ceremony (1st, 2nd, etc.) appears in parentheses after the awards year, linked to the article (if any) on that ceremony.

KeyDescription
Indicates the winner

1990s

YearActorCharacterFilmRef.
Nigel HawthorneKing George III*The Madness of King George*
Morgan FreemanDet. Lt. William Somerset*Seven*
Kevin SpaceyDet. Sgt. Jack Vincennes*L.A. Confidential*
Tom HanksCaptain John H. Miller*Saving Private Ryan*
Jeff BridgesJeffrey "The Dude" LebowskiThe Big Lebowski
Jim CarreyTruman BurbankThe Truman Show
Matt DamonWill HuntingGood Will Hunting
Samuel L. JacksonOrdell RobbieJackie Brown

2000s

YearActorCharacterFilmRef.
Pierce BrosnanJames Bond*The World Is Not Enough*
Brad PittTyler DurdenFight Club
Bruce WillisMalcolm CroweThe Sixth Sense
Keanu ReevesThomas Anderson / NeoThe Matrix
Tom CruiseDr. William "Bill" HarfordEyes Wide Shut
Russell CroweMaximus Decimus Meridius*Gladiator*
George ClooneyUlysses Everett McGillO Brother, Where Art Thou?
Jim CarreyThe GrinchDr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
John CusackRob GordonHigh Fidelity
Kevin SpaceyLester BurnhamAmerican Beauty
Elijah WoodFrodo Baggins*The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring*
Benicio del ToroJavier RodriguezTraffic
Billy Bob ThorntonEd CraneThe Man Who Wasn't There
Haley Joel OsmentDavidA.I. Artificial Intelligence
Viggo MortensenAragornThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Tom CruiseChief John Anderton*Minority Report*
Colin FarrellDanny WitwerMinority Report
Mike MyersAustin Powers
Dr. EvilAustin Powers in Goldmember
Tom HanksMichael Sullivan, Sr.Road to Perdition
Viggo MortensenAragornThe Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Johnny DeppCaptain Jack Sparrow*Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl*
Daniel Day-LewisWilliam "Bill the Butcher" CuttingGangs of New York
Hugh JackmanLogan / WolverineX2
Sean AstinSamwise "Sam" GamgeeThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Viggo MortensenAragornThe Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Matt DamonDavid Webb / Jason Bourne*The Bourne Supremacy*
Jim CarreyJoel BarishEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Johnny DeppJ. M. BarrieFinding Neverland
Tobey MaguirePeter Parker / Spider-ManSpider-Man 2
Tom CruiseVincentCollateral
Johnny DeppWilly Wonka*Charlie And The Chocolate Factory*
Andy SerkisKongKing Kong
Christian BaleBruce Wayne / BatmanBatman Begins
Matt DillonSgt. John RyanCrash
Viggo MortensenTom Stall / Joey CusackA History of Violence
Daniel CraigJames Bond*Casino Royale*
Christian BaleAlfred Borden (The Professor) / FallonThe Prestige
Johnny DeppCaptain Jack SparrowPirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Leonardo DiCaprioWilliam "Billy" Costigan, Jr.The Departed
Sacha Baron CohenBorat SagdiyevBorat
James McAvoyRobbie Turner*Atonement*
Daniel RadcliffeHarry PotterHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Gerard ButlerLeonidas300
Matt DamonDavid Webb / Jason BourneThe Bourne Ultimatum
Simon PeggSgt. Nicholas "Nick" AngelHot Fuzz
Christian BaleBruce Wayne / Batman*The Dark Knight*
Daniel CraigJames BondQuantum of Solace
Daniel Day-LewisDaniel PlainviewThere Will Be Blood
Johnny DeppBenjamin Barker / Sweeney ToddSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Robert Downey Jr.Tony Stark / Iron ManIron Man

2010s

YearActorCharacterFilmRef.
Christoph WaltzSS Colonel Hans Landa*Inglourious Basterds*
Michael CaineHarold "Harry" BrownHarry Brown
Robert Downey Jr.Sherlock HolmesSherlock Holmes
Robert PattinsonEdward CullenThe Twilight Saga: New Moon
Sam WorthingtonJake SullyAvatar
Colin FirthKing George VI*The King's Speech*
Aaron Taylor-JohnsonDave Lizewski / Kick-AssKick-Ass
James FrancoAron Ralston127 Hours
Jesse EisenbergMark ZuckerbergThe Social Network
Leonardo DiCaprioDom CobbInception
Gary OldmanGeorge Smiley*Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy*
Andy SerkisCaesarRise of the Planet of the Apes
Daniel CraigMikael BlomkvistThe Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Daniel RadcliffeHarry PotterHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
Ryan GoslingDriverDrive
Martin FreemanBilbo Baggins*The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey*
Christoph WaltzDr. King SchultzDjango Unchained
Daniel CraigJames BondSkyfall
Daniel Day-LewisPresident Abraham LincolnLincoln
Robert Downey Jr.Tony Stark / Iron ManThe Avengers
James McAvoyDS / PC Bruce Robertson*Filth*
Chiwetel EjioforSolomon Northup12 Years a Slave
Leonardo DiCaprioJordan BelfortThe Wolf of Wall Street
Martin FreemanBilbo BagginsThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
Tom HanksRichard "Rich" PhillipsCaptain Phillips
Andy SerkisCaesar*Dawn of the Planet of the Apes*
Benedict CumberbatchAlan TuringThe Imitation Game
Bradley CooperChris KyleAmerican Sniper
Eddie RedmayneStephen HawkingThe Theory of Everything
Richard ArmitageThorin OakenshieldThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Matt DamonMark Watney*The Martian*
Leonardo DiCaprioHugh GlassThe Revenant
Michael B. JordanAdonis CreedCreed
Michael FassbenderMacbeth
Steve JobsMacbeth
Steve Jobs
Tom HardyRonald "Ronnie" Kray and Reginald "Reggie" Kray
Max RockatanskyLegend & Mad Max: Fury Road
Eddie RedmayneNewton “Newt” Scamander*Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them*
Benedict CumberbatchStephen StrangeDoctor Strange
Casey AffleckLee ChandlerManchester by the Sea
Ryan GoslingSebastian WilderLa La Land
Ryan ReynoldsWade Wilson / DeadpoolDeadpool
Hugh JackmanJames Howlett / Logan / Wolverine*Logan*
Andy SerkisCaesarWar for the Planet of the Apes
Armie HammerOliverCall Me by Your Name
Gary OldmanWinston ChurchillDarkest Hour
John BoyegaFinnStar Wars: The Last Jedi

Multiple awards and nominations

Multiple awards

, the following individuals received two or more Best Actor awards:

AwardsFilm2
James McAvoy
Johnny Depp
Matt Damon

Multiple nominations

, the following individuals received two or more Best Actor nominations:

NominationsFilm5432
Johnny Depp
Andy Serkis
Daniel Craig
Leonardo DiCaprio
Matt Damon
Viggo Mortensen
Christian Bale
Daniel Day-Lewis
Jim Carrey
Robert Downey Jr.
Tom Cruise
Tom Hanks
Benedict Cumberbatch
Christoph Waltz
Daniel Radcliffe
Eddie Redmayne
Hugh Jackman
James McAvoy
Kevin Spacey
Martin Freeman
Ryan Gosling

Notes

References

References

  1. (2003). "Past Winners - 1996". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  2. (2003). "Past Winners - 1997". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  3. (2003). "Past Winners - 1998". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  4. (2003). "Past Winners - 1999". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  5. (1999). "Best Actor". [[Empireonline.co.uk]].
  6. (2003). "Past Winners - 2000". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  7. . (February 2, 2000). ["Empire 2000 Awards: Nominations Announced. Sixth Sense is an early leader"](http://www.empireonline.com/News/story.asp?nid=14899). *[[Bauer Consumer Media]]*.
  8. (2003). "Past Winners - 2001". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  9. (2001). "Best Actor". [[Empireonline.co.uk]].
  10. (2013). "2002 Awards Winners". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  11. (2001). "Best Actor". [[Empireonline.co.uk]].
  12. . (April 2002). ["Empire Magazine reports on the 2002 Empire Awards: Best Actor/Best Actress"](http://scrapbook.theonering.net/scrapbook/events/awards/view/3693). *[[Bauer Consumer Media]]*.
  13. (2003). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  14. (2004). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  15. (2005). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  16. (2013). "2006 Awards Winners". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  17. (March 13, 2006). "2006 Awards Winners Announced! The Sony Ericsson Empire Awards in full". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  18. (2006). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  19. (2007). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  20. (2008). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  21. (2009). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  22. (2010). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  23. Reynolds, Simon. (February 25, 2010). "In Full: Empire Awards 2010 nominees". [[Hearst Magazines UK]].
  24. (2013). "2011 Awards Winners". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  25. (2011). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  26. (2012). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  27. (2013). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  28. (2014). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  29. (2015). "Best Actor". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  30. Barraclough, Leo. (March 30, 2015). "'Interstellar' wins Film, Director at Empire Awards". [[Penske Business Media]].
  31. Nugent, John. (February 18, 2016). "Jameson Empire Awards 2016: Star Wars and Mad Max lead the nominations". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  32. Dyer, James. (March 15, 2017). "2017 Three Empire Awards Nominations Announced". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
  33. Travis, Ben. (March 18, 2018). "Star Wars: The Last Jedi Wins Big at Rakuten TV Empire Awards 2018". [[Bauer Consumer Media]].
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