10 Best TV Performances Of 2016

1. Sarah Paulson - The People V O.J. Simpson

Best TV Performances 2016
FX

Again, so many actors did great work on Ryan Murphy's anthology American Crime Story: The People V O.J. Simpson. Sterling K. Brown, Courtney B. Vance, David 'Juice' Schwimmer, and John 'Does He Really Look Like That?!' Travolta all deserve a mention.

The star of the show, though, is undoubtedly Sarah Paulson, whose Marcia Clark anchors the entire drama.

On one hand, Marcia Clark isn't a character, she's a real person. However, the O.J. trial - and the media coverage - turned her into one. Paulson, then, humanises Clark, and turns her into a deservedly empathetic person.

She comes to really understand the person she's playing - her passion, the obstacles she faces in terms of misogyny and the system, and her flaws - and uses them to give a nuanced portrayal of the attorney.

She was the obvious choice for her Emmy award, and the obvious pick for the number one spot here. As Marcia Clark, Paulson gives the strongest, deepest, and most human performance of the year.

Who do you think gave the best TV performance of 2016? Let us know down in the comments.

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.