10 Best Performances In The Star Wars Franchise

Star Wars is one of pop culture's most iconic landmarks, and a lot of that is down to the characters it's responsible for. Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Yoda, Princess Leia and Kylo Ren have all slipped into the realm of cinematic icons, and behind each unforgettable character is a passionate actor working hard to bring them to life.

Some performances in the franchise haven't worked out well for those involved, best seen with the likes of Hayden Christensen (who was actually quite good when it came to playing Evil Anakin), Brian Blessed, and Ahmed Best.

But others, such as Peter Cushing, Donald Glover, and those who make the following list, are nothing if not extraordinary.

Character, after all, is what drives the franchise. It's about good versus evil, and each side needs competent actors to sell the conflict taking place.

So, whether a frightening bad guy with eyes for galactic domination, a Jedi trying to maintain peace in the face of a devastating war, or a droid who constantly finds themselves in trouble, here are the 10 best acting performances in the Star Wars franchise.

Some spoilers follow.

Anthony Daniels doesn't really get enough credit for his commitment to the Star Wars franchise. He's the only actor to have portrayed a character through every major movie in the series (save Solo), and has lent his voice to numerous TV shows along the way.

You may not see the actual actor underneath the costume and his mouth may not be moving, but thanks to Daniels' keen eye for comedic timing and his iconic voice work, C-3P0 is one of the best characters in the entire canon - funny, loyal, cynical and worried.

Not only does Daniels' performance allow you to understand every aspect of the droid, but it also works wonders to help you understand R2-D2, his closest, most mischievous friend, who can't talk at all.

Whenever 3P0 comes on the screen, he's a breath of fresh air. His pessimistic and resigned attitude to R2's misadventures and his helpful, often life-saving language talents makes him one of the most dependable and well-performed characters in Star Wars.