Mahershala Ali flew under the radar for years but finally been got his long0-deserved break in 2013’s “The Place Beyond The Pines.” He went on to achieve major commercial success in a handful of popular TV series such as “House of Cards” and most recently “True Detective,” but nothing quite compares to his Oscar-winning performances (two years in a row.)
The actor made waves in the indie cinema world with his breathtaking performance in “Moonlight.” In the film, he portrays a criminal who provides refuge for a runaway named Chiron. The film tackles LGTQ issues, crime, and poverty in a strikingly beautiful way. It’s no surprise that the film was serious Oscar bait.
Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac popped up on our screens over the two decades in relatively insignificant ways, but it was when he appeared in "The Nativity Story" and "Balibo" that the critical acclaim began to grow. It was with his breakout role in "Inside Llewyn Davis" however that to some serious buzz.
The emotional film directed by the Coen Brothers showcases his impressive dramatic skills as well as musical skills, too. These days he has nabbed some impressive block-busting movie credits to his name including "Star Wars, " Ex Machina," and "Dune"
Willem Dafoe
The veteran actor has immersed himself in just about every genre and he just keeps surprising us. And that's with over 130 acting credits to his name, not to mention the four Academy Awards nominations. It's a shame he still hasn't managed to bag one, though we still have hope.
Out of his incredibly versatile career, Dafoe has starred in some remarkable films including "Platoon, "The English Patient," Spiderman," "The Aviator" and "The Florida Project." Just when we thought he couldn't' outdo "The Florida Project," the actor starred in the wild and hallucinatory "The Lighthouse" where he alongside Robert Pattinson, took us on an incredibly bewildering ride.
Gael García Bernal
The native Mexican actor, Gael García Bernal has been in the business since he was a teenager. Both of his parents were actors, and so naturally he followed in their footsteps and appeared in a string of local telenovelas. After some top-quality training at London's Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, it was a relatively short road to success. The actor cut his teeth on some Mexican soap operas but soon ventured into films.
With a long list of films to his name - both critically acclaimed Mexican films and Hollywood films (Amores Perros," "Babel," "Motorcycle Diaries" and "Mozart In the Jungle,"), his most memorable performance was as Julio in "Y Tu Mamá También." This was a highly challenging role loaded with controversial scenes but it cemented Bernal's career earning him a spot among the greats.
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey, Jr. appeared in his first movie at age 5, so it is no surprise that he’s one of the highest-grossing actors in the world. He was born in Manhattan to a filmmaker father and an actress mother, which means he had his road to stardom all cut out for him. Looking as good as he does only boosted him further.
With an acting career that spans five decades, it is hard to just pick one role, however, Marvel Comic's superhero empire made things easier for us. Having played Tony Stark (Iron man) in 9 films since 2008, it's pretty safe to say this is his most memorable role.