10 Greatest Actors Who"ve Starred In MCU Movies

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The Marvel Cinematic Universe boasts an impressive track record in casting remarkably talented and decorated actors as Marvel characters. Since the beginning of the MCU’s movie timeline, the franchise has been adapting the stories and characters of Marvel Comics to the big screen. The MCU later branched out into television, with Disney+ series further exploring the shared universe, introducing yet more heroes and villains with each new entry into the franchise.
As the franchise has continued to grow, the movies of the MCU have been required to enlist an increasing number of actors to bring its comic book stories to life. The huge financial success of the MCU means that it also proves a draw for big-screen talent, with many celebrated and respected actors having appeared or being set to appear in the MCU. With that in mind, here are the 10 greatest actors who have starred in the movies of the MCU.
10 Tilda Swinton As The Ancient One First appearance: Doctor Strange (2016) Close Tilda Swinton first appeared in the MCU in 2016’s Doctor Strange, controversially cast in the role of the Ancient One. In the comics, the Ancient One had always been depicted as an elderly Asian male, meaning that Swinton"s depiction was far removed from a comic-accurate casting. While there was controversy surrounding Swinton’s casting in the franchise itself, she is one of the most prestigious actors to have featured in the MCU.
Swinton won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in legal thriller Michael Clayton in 2007, meaning she is one of a select few MCU actors to have won an Oscar. Swinton also won a BAFTA for the same role, and has also received many other nominations and awards. Furthermore, Swinton has appeared in multiple critically-acclaimed films across an impressive career, establishing her as one of the MCU’s most well-esteemed cast members.
9 Sam Rockwell As Justin Hammer First appearance: Iron Man 2 (2010) Close Sam Rockwell’s MCU tenure might not be the most noteworthy, as his appearances in the franchise can be considered sporadic at best. He first appeared as Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2, later reprising the role in the short one-shot All Hail the King, as well as being heavily rumored to reprise the role in Armor Wars. Rockwell is also an incredibly decorated and versatile actor with an excellent Hollywood reputation.
Rockwell won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 2017’s Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and was nominated for the same award the following year for his role in Vice. He has also won a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and three Screen Actors Guild awards, alongside a long and impressive list of nominations. Rockwell’s acting talent is well-known, and though his character has been largely absent since his introduction, he’s still one of the MCU’s greatest actors.
8 Christian Bale As Gorr The God Butcher First appearance: Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) Close One of the most exciting additions to Thor: Love and Thunder’s cast was Christian Bale, who was announced as having joined the MCU as Gorr the God Butcher. Playing the powerful and dangerous god-killing villain was something that was well within Bale’s broad skillset, as he had long since proven his wide range of acting capabilities throughout his career. He’s one of the most well-respected actors in Hollywood, and his addition to the MCU’s cast marks another key role in the superhero genre, having previously played Batman in the iconic Dark Knight trilogy.
Bale won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dicky Eklund in 2010’s The Fighter, and has earned three more Oscar nominations since. Bale has also won two Golden Globes and two Screen Actors Guild awards, as well as an extensive list of nominations. Bale’s long list of credits has seen him star in many excellent movies, regularly earning him considerable critical acclaim and making him one of the greatest actors to have joined the MCU.
7 Samuel L Jackson As Nick Fury First appearance: Iron Man (2008) Close First appearing in the first of the MCU’s post-credits scenes in 2008’s Iron Man, Samuel L. Jackson’s role in the franchise has been hugely important. In the role of Nick Fury, Jackson provided the context and the foundations for the Avengers to team up within the MCU, making him the backbone of the entire franchise. Having made numerous appearances in the MCU, Jackson has also become one of Marvel"s most storied actors.
Samuel L. Jackson is undeniably one of the MCU’s best actors, though he’s best judged by metrics other than awards won. Though he has won a BAFTA and been nominated for an Oscar, Jackson received the Academy Honorary Award in recognition of his dynamic work across genres. Having appeared in a staggering number of classic movies and having uttered some of cinema’s most iconic lines of dialogue, Samuel L. Jackson is undeniably one of the MCU’s greatest performers.
6 Tommy Lee Jones As Colonel Chester Phillips First appearance: Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) Close Tommy Lee Jones made his MCU debut in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger as Colonel Chester Phillips. The gruff commanding officer who acts as a mentor of sorts for Steve Rogers during World War II, Phillips is an important figure within Captain America’s MCU story, despite only appearing once. In spite of his single appearance in the franchise, Tommy Lee Jones also ranks among the greatest actors to appear in the movies of the MCU.
Across a widely celebrated career, Jones has picked up a number of prestigious awards. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Fugitive alongside Harrison Ford, and has been nominated for Oscars on three other occasions. He has also won a Golden Globe, a Primetime Emmy, and two Screen Actors Guild awards, making him an especially decorated MCU cast member.
5 Forest Whitaker As Zuri First appearance: Black Panther (2018) Close Forest Whitaker had already enjoyed a hugely successful career before he made his MCU debut in 2018’s Black Panther. As Zuri, Whitaker played a relatively small role in the movie’s narrative, but lent his wealth of acting experience and talent to proceedings alongside an incredible cast. Whitaker’s Hollywood profile is outstanding, having earned many awards and accolades throughout an already remarkable career.
Whitaker won the coveted Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland. He has also won a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and two Screen Actors Guild awards, as well as having received numerous nominations. Whitaker’s impressive filmography includes roles in several celebrated and critically acclaimed movies, earning him a reputation as not just an incredible actor, but one of the greatest to ever feature in the MCU.
4 Robert Redford As Alexander Pierce First appearance: Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) Close Robert Redford’s MCU role is perhaps not as memorable as many other characters in the franchise, and it’s hardly one of the most significant in his long career. He appeared in the MCU as Alexander Pierce in Captain America: The Winter Soldier in a casting that amounted to a single appearance. Pierce was revealed to be the movie’s main antagonist in its final act as the leader of the Hydra agents who had infiltrated SHIELD’s ranks before he was killed by Nick Fury.
Considering the long list of awards and honors heaped upon Redford throughout his career, it’s fair to say he’s one of the MCU’s best actors. As well as winning an Oscar for Best Director and an Academy Honorary Award, Redford has been nominated for countless awards during his career. He has also won a BAFTA and two Golden Globes, as well as earning a reputation as one of Hollywood’s all-time greats.
3 Cate Blanchett As Hela First appearance: Thor: Ragnarok (2017) Close Cate Blanchett’s foray in the MCU was relatively short-lived, though she was able to play one of the franchise’s most powerful villains. As Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, Blanchett was able to defeat both Thor and Loki and conquer Asgard before its destruction and her apparent demise. The awards won by Blanchett and the noteworthy titles in her filmography also mark her as one of the MCU’s all-time best actors.
Blanchett won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in The Aviator, before winning another for Best Actress in Blue Jasmine. She also boasts four BAFTAs, four Golden Globes, and three Screen Actors Guild awards, as well as credits in award-winning movies throughout her career. With such an impressive list of accolades to her name, Cate Blanchett is one of the most decorated and respected actors in MCU history.
2 Anthony Hopkins As Odin First appearance: Thor (2011) Close Having made his first MCU appearance early in the franchise’s timeline in 2011’s Thor, Anthony Hopkins has had multiple appearances as Odin across the course of the franchise. His supporting role as Thor and Loki’s father and the king of Asgard marked him as an important secondary figure within the MCU, but this perhaps does little to establish his acting talent. Hopkins is undoubtedly one of the greatest living actors, with both the awards and the reputation to back it up.
Hopkins won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Hannibal Lector in The Silence of the Lambs, and received four more Oscar nominations before winning again for his role in The Father. Hopkins has also won four BAFTAs, 2 Primetime Emmys, a Screen Actors Guild award, and an Olivier award for his work in the theater. Hopkins has also enjoyed a legendary career filled with countless celebrated performances, making him one of the MCU’s best ever actors.
1 Denzel Washington In Black Panther 3 Washington Announced His Upcoming MCU Role Close Though he has yet to appear or be officially announced in the MCU, Denzel Washington revealed that he is set to appear in Black Panther 3’s cast in an as-of-yet undisclosed role. Considering the huge success of Washington’s career so far and the actor’s typically discerning choices in the roles he takes, his appearance in the MCU has already prompted huge anticipation. Even before he has officially appeared, Denzel Washington is one of the best actors to land an MCU role.
Washington has won two Oscars, the first for Best Supporting Actor in 1990’s Glory and the other for Best Actor in Training Day. He has been personally nominated for Academy Awards on seven other occasions, and has taken home a hoard of other prestigious acting awards. As such, Denzel Washington is one of the most well-respected actors alive, and his casting in the Marvel Cinematic Universe makes him an instant franchise great.
Upcoming MCU Movies