2. Heath Ledger - The Joker
The only actor to have won an Oscar for his performance in a Batman movie - Heath Ledger was undeniably brilliant as The Joker. My first reaction to the news of Nolan's casting in 'The Dark Knight' was one of confusion; could the Australian heartthrob - famed for his performances in '10 Things I Hate About You' and 'Brokeback Mountain' really pull off the sinister, psychotically frightening portrayal of The Joker we Batman-fans had so long yearned for? As further images, trailers, and clips from the film were released throughout 2007, the answer to my question was proved as 'yes' - like an amalgamation of Johnny Rotten, Charles Manson and Alex Delarge from Clockwork Orange; motivated by concepts of nihilism and anarchy - Heath's Joker represented chaos in its purest form. Although the character's appearance greatly diverges from the source material; the psychotic clown's treatment in the screenplay is very much in sync with The Joker's first appearance in Batman No.1. With a murderous presence, that looms like a spectre over the film's narrative - utilised sparing and effectively; simply every scene with Heath is a joy to watch. The actor's bravery in tackling such an intense role (having never played a villain before) at such a young age, is truly commendable - as Michael Caine said "you don't really want to follow Jack (Nicholson) into anything unless it's a nightclub". While I enjoy both performances - for me, Heath Ledger has a clear edge over Jack Nicholson; even if he veers further from the classic perception of the character, I found the actor's edgy, grungy, spin on The Joker incredibly creative, refreshing and in perfect matrimony with Nolan's interpretation of Batman's world. There's little more I can say about this performance - it truly speaks for itself. Fantastic.