Seventh Row editors Alex Heeney and Orla Smith pick the 50 best performances of the decade, from Claire Foy to Jada Pinkett Smith. Read more best of the decade coverage.
![Best performances of the decade](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Best-performances-of-the-decade-1000x700.jpg)
As we approach the final month of the 2010s, it’s time to look back on the best that this decade’s films have offered us. After we asked our critic and filmmaker friends to weigh in and picked our favourite films of the decade last week, we’ve decided to put together our own list of the decade’s best film performances. Below is the top 50 performances of the decade, as curated through discussions between Seventh Row editors Alex Heeney and Orla Smith. Our aim was to create a list that represents the decade as we see it, our own personal tastes, and the sensibilities of our publication. In other words, if you like these performances, we think you’ll like what we do at Seventh Row.
Riz Ahmed in The Reluctant Fundamentalist (2012, dir. Mira Nair)
![Riz Ahmed, The Reluctant Fundamentalist](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Riz-Ahmed-Reluctant-Fundamentalist.jpg)
Gemma Arterton in Their Finest (2016, dir. Lone Scherfig)
![Gemma Arterton, Their Finest](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gemma-Arterton-Their-Finest.jpg)
Kate Beckinsale in Love & Friendship (2016, dir. Whit Stillman)
![Kate Beckinsale, Love and Friendship](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kate-Beckinsale-Love-and-Friendship_.jpg)
Gael García Bernal in Neruda (2016, dir. Pablo Larraín)
![Gael Garcia Bernal, Neruda](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gael-Garcia-Bernal-Neruda.jpg)
Cate Blanchett & Rooney Mara in Carol (2015, dir. Todd Haynes)
![Rooney Mara, Cate Blanchett, Carol](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mara-Blanchett-Carol.jpg)
Sonia Braga in Aquarius (2016, dir. Kleber Mendonça Filho)
![Sonia Braga, Aquarius](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Sonia-Braga-Aquarius.jpg)
Timothée Chalamet & Armie Hammer in Call Me by Your Name (2017, dir. Luca Guadagnino)
![Timothee Chalamet, Armie Hammer, Call Me by Your Name](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chalamet-Hammer-Call-Me-by-Your-Name.jpg)
Jessica Chastain & Mia Wasikowska in Crimson Peak (2015, dir. Guillermo del Toro)
![Jessica Chastain, Mia Wasikowska, Crimson Peak](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Chastain-Wasikowksa-Crimson-Peak.jpg)
Tom Courtenay & Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years (2015, dir. Andrew Haigh)
![Tom Courtenay, Charlotte Rampling, 45 Years](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Courtenay-Rampling-45-Years.jpg)
Tom Cullen & Chris New in Weekend (2011, dir. Andrew Haigh)
![Tom Cullen, Chris New, Weekend](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Cullen-New-Weekend.jpg)
Essie Davis in The Babadook (2014, dir. Jennifer Kent)
![Essie Davis, The Babadook](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Essie-Davis-Babadook.jpg)
Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone, Kristen Stewart, & Michelle Williams in Certain Women (2016, dir. Kelly Reichardt)
![Laura Dern, Lily Gladstone, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, Certain Women](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Dern-Gladstone-Stewart-Williams-Certain-Women.jpg)
Elizabeth Debicki in The Tale (2018, dir. Jennifer Fox) & Vita & Virginia (2018, dir. Chanya Button)
![Elizabeth Debicki, Vita and Virginia, The Tale](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Debicki-Vita-and-Virginia-The-Tale.jpg)
Ralph Fiennes in Coriolanus (2011, dir. Ralph Fiennes)
![Ralph Fiennes, Coriolanus](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fiennes-Coriolanus.jpg)
Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, & Tilda Swinton in A Bigger Splash (2015, dir. Luca Guadagnino)
![Ralph Fiennes, Dakota Johnson, Matthias Schoenaerts, Tilda Swinton, A Bigger Splash](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Fiennes-Johnson-Schoenaerts-Swinton-A-Bigger-Splash.jpg)
Ben Foster & Thomasin McKenzie in Leave No Trace (2018, dir. Debra Granik)
![Ben Foster, Thomasin McKenzie, Leave No Trace](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Foster-McKenzie-Leave-No-Trace.jpg)
Claire Foy in Unsane (2018, dir. Steven Soderbergh)
![Claire Foy, Unsane](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Claire-Foy-Unsane.jpg)
Greta Gerwig in Frances Ha (2012, dir. Greta Gerwig)
![Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gerwig-Frances-Ha.jpg)
Hugh Grant in Paddington 2 (2017, dir. Paul King)
![Hugh Grant, Paddington 2](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Grant-Paddington-2.jpg)
Eva Green in Proxima (2019, dir. Alice Winocour)
![Eva Green, Proxima](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Green-Proxima.jpg)
David Gulpilil in Charlie’s Country (2013, dir. Rolf de Heer)
![David Gulpilil, Charlie's Country](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Gulpilil-Charlies-Country.jpg)
Adèle Haenel & Noémie Merlant in Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019, dir. Céline Sciamma)
![Adele Haenel, Noemi Merlant, Portrait of a Lady on Fire](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Haenel-Merlant-Portrait-of-a-Lady-on-Fire.jpg)
Rebecca Hall in Christine (2016, dir. Antonio Campos)
![Rebecca Hall, Christine](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Rebecca-Hall-Christine.jpg)
Regina Hall in Support the Girls (2018, dir. Andrew Bujalski)
![Regina Hall, Support the Girls](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Regina-Hall-Support-the-Girls.jpg)
Eili Harboe in Thelma (2017, dir. Joachim Trier)
![Eili Harboe, Thelma](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Eili-Harboe-Thelma.jpg)
Anne Heche & Sandra Oh in Catfight (2016, dir. Onur Tukel)
![Anne Heche, Sandra Oh, Catfight](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Oh-Heche-Catfight.jpg)
André Holland in Moonlight (2016, dir. Barry Jenkins)
![Andre Holland, Moonlight](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Holland-Moonlight.jpg)
Nina Hoss in Phoenix (2014, dir. Christian Petzold)
![Nina Hoss, Phoenix](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nina-Hoss-Phoenix.jpg)
Anders Danielsen Lie in Oslo, August 31st (2011, dir. Joachim Trier)
![Anders Danielsen Lie, Oslo August 31st](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Anders-Oslo-August-31st.jpg)
Ellie Kendrick in The Levelling (2016, dir. Hope Dickson Leach)
![Ellie Kendrick, The Levelling](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Kendrick-The-Levelling.jpg)
Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games (2012, dir. Gary Ross)
![Jennifer Lawrence, The Hunger Games](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Lawrence-Hunger-Games.jpg)
Garance Marillier & Ella Rumpf in Raw (2016, dir. Julia Ducournau)
![Ella Rumpf, Garance Marillier, Raw](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Marillier-Rumpf-Raw.jpg)
Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Belle (2013, dir. Amma Asante)
![Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Belle](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mbatha-Raw-Belle.jpg)
Samantha Mugatsia in Rafiki (2018, dir. Wanuri Kahiu)
![Samantha Mugatsia, Rafiki](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Mugatsia-Rafiki.jpg)
Lupita Nyong’o in Us (2019, dir. Jordan Peele)
![Lupita Nyong'o, Us](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Nyongo-Us.jpg)
Jack O’Connell in ‘71 (2014, dir. Yann Demange)
![Jack O'Connell, '71](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/OConnell-71.jpg)
Josh O’Connor in God’s Own Country (2017, dir. Francis Lee)
![Josh O'Connor, God's Own Country](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/OConnor-Gods-Own-Country.jpg)
Théodore Pellerin in Genèse (2018, dir. Philippe Lesage)
![Theodore Pellerin, Genese](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Pellerin-Genese.jpg)
Jada Pinkett Smith in Magic Mike XXL (2015, dir. Gregory Jacobs)
![Jada Pinkett Smith, Magic Mike XXL](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Pinkett-Smith-Magic-Mike-XXL.jpg)
Rosamund Pike in Gone Girl (2014, dir. David Fincher)
![Rosamund Pike, Gone Girl](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Pike-Gone-Girl.jpg)
Jack Reynor in What Richard Did (2012, dir. Lenny Abrahmson)
![Jack Reynor, What Richard Did](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Reynor-What-Richard-Did.jpg)
Haley Lu Richardson & John Cho in Columbus (2017, dir. Kogonada)
![Haley Lu Richardson, John Cho, Columbus](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Lu-Richardson-Cho-Columbus.jpg)
Saoirse Ronan in Brooklyn (2015, dir. Saoirse Ronan) & Lady Bird (2017, dir. Greta Gerwig)
![Saoirse Ronan, Brooklyn, Lady Bird](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Ronan-Brooklyn-Lady-Bird.jpg)
Andrew Scott in Pride (2014, dir. Matthew Warchus)
![Andrew Scott, Pride](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Andrew-Scott-Pride.jpg)
Kristen Stewart in Personal Shopper (2016, dir. Olivier Assayas)
![Kristen Stewart, Personal Shopper](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Stewart-Personal-Shopper.jpg)
Devon Terrell in Barry (2016, dir. Vikram Gandhi)
![Devon Terrell, Barry](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Terrell-Barry.jpg)
Tessa Thompson in Dear White People (2014, dir. Justin Simien)
![Tessa Thompson, Dear White People](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Thompson-Dear-White-People.jpg)
Karidja Touré in Girlhood (2014, dir. Céline Sciamma)
![Karidja Toure, Girlhood](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Toure-Girlhood.jpg)
Rachel Weisz in The Deep Blue Sea (2011, dir. Terence Davies)
![Rachel Weisz, The Deep Blue Sea](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Weisz-Deep-Blue-Sea.jpg)
Zhao Tao in Mountains May Depart (2015, dir. Jia Zhang-ke)
![Zhao Tao, Mountains May Depart](https://seventh-row.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Zhao-Tao-Mountains-May-Depart.jpg)