10 Best Movie Characters Of 2021 (So Far)

Picking just one character from Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical isn't easy, but is there any single character as charming and relatable as protagonist Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos)?

Though there's an obvious cultural specificity to the movie's storyline and Usnavi's journey in particular, the broader themes of family and chasing one's dreams - which may emerge from unexpected places - speak to audiences universally.

And what a protagonist Usnavi is - adorably awkward whenever he's around love interest Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), a proud champion for the entire neighbourhood of Washington Heights, and in passionate pursuit of a more prosperous future, even while he's not quite sure what the future might be.

Thanks in large part to Anthony Ramos' terrifically charming performance, Usnavi is one of the most luminous, likeable, and stereotype-shattering musical protagonists in recent memory.