10 Best Performances In The Star Wars Franchise
3. Ian McDiarmid - Palpatine
One of the very few actors to appear in all three Star Wars trilogies, Ian McDiarmid makes for a petrifying, manipulative villain. Master of Darth Vader and leader of the Empire, his deceptively weak appearance not only made him a formidable threat, but a terrifying sight.
Palpatine was the embodiment of evil in the Star Wars franchise. With his bone chilling voice, shrouded face and heavy prosthetics, McDiarmid first appearance in Return of the Jedi would be enough to secure himself a spot on this list.
But fast forward a few years, and McDiarmid returned for the Prequel Trilogy, this time playing Palpatine as an eager Senator turned Chancellor of the Republic. His interactions with Anakin make for a series of chilling scenes, and watching him toss aside his respectable demeanor to reveal himself as the Lord of the Sith is a startling revelation easily sold by the veteran actor.
His return in Rise of Skywalker (whilst a questionable narrative choice) was equally as compelling to watch, and only served as a reminder that McDiarmid offers the best the antagonist performance the franchise has to offer.