Best Actor Performances of 2015

I understand that 2015 is not over yet and we are still yet to see the biggest movies of the year such as Star Wars : The Force Awakens and The Hateful Eight these are my favorite performances by actors this year that might have gone unnoticed.

Ian McKellen in Mr Holmes

Portraying a literature character is difficult enough, but playing a newly constructed aged and weathered Sherlock Holmes so well should be near impossible, unless you're Sir Ian McKellen that is. He brings a warmth to the character that's almost grandfather like, but you understand the lengths that the old man has went through in his previous career as the famous fictional Victorian detective.
The performance from Sir McKellen is outstanding and he brings an emotional warmth that only he could bring. After years in the acting industry and sadly not long left. I really think that Ian McKellen really deserves an Academy Award for his long and incredible career and I think that he is definitely in the running for winning one in the 2016 Oscars.

Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation


Disguising your native accent is difficult enough but when you do it as well as Idris Elba you have some serious talent. Portraying a twisted captain of a child army he brings a fatherly figure to the movie for the boy Agu, but at the same time you love to hate him.

Johnny Depp in Black Mass

Johnny Depp is known for being the man of many faces, portraying a crazy variation of characters. Acting as the notorious Boston gangster Whitey Bulger this is definitely one of the actors more ugly roles, the transformation from nice guy Johnny Depp into the ugly and ruthless Whitey Bulgar is actually incredible and is definitely Oscar worthy.