3. David Stephens - Shallow Grave (1994)
Christopher Eccleston was still something of an unknown when he turned up in Danny Boyle's masterful debut Shallow Grave, playing an obnoxious chartered accountant who, along with flatmates Ewan McGregor and Kerry Fox, finds himself entangled in a turbulent situation: when their new tenant dies of a drug overdose, the friends discover a suitcase filled with cash in his room. Though at first they consider telling the police, the ultimately decide to take it for themselves. Let's just say the whole ordeal doesn't end particularly well for anybody. In one of his first major roles, then, Eccleston thrives: he makes David Stephens, who is originally set on informing the authorities about the death of his tenant, a believable individual. Playing David as something of an asshole and a voice of reason all at once, Eccleston's performance provides a perfect example of an actor bringing weight and authority to an character who might have felt paper thin. Though we don't necessarily like David, with every line of dialogue, Eccleston demands you pay attention. It's an incredibly assured turn - the film's best, perhaps.