Ben Whishaw may be one of the most recognized actors today, even if many audience members cannot recall his name off the top of their heads. Having grown up in youth theater, and eventually moving on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Whishaw may be best known for appearing as Q in the James Bond series (as outliend by BuzzFeed). However, outside his appearances in the James Bond franchise, he has established a prolific career that has landed him nominations, awards, and acclaim. He had a string of successful television roles in the mid-2000s, including Nathan Barley, Criminal Justice, and The Hour. He then voiced Paddington Bear in Paddington and Paddington 2, adding a voice acting role to his resume.
In the 2010s, Whishaw also appeared in blockbusters like Cloud Atlas and indie movies like The Lobster. Continuing his role in the James Bond universe, he most recently appeared in No Time to Die to conclude Daniel Craig’s chapter as the titular protagonist. His newest film, Women Talking, will have its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival 2022, which will also star Claire Foy, Frances McDormand, and Rooney Mara. Per Variety, Whishaw is also currently filming Limonov, the Ballad of Eddie, where he will portray the Russian political activist and writer Eduard Limonov. These are his best performances in television and film, ranked.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
7 A Very English Scandal
Blueprint Pictures
A Very English Scandal aired in 2018 and only consisted of three episodes, but it packed a punch. Adapted from John Preston’s book of the same name, the series tackles what led up to the Jeremy Thorpe scandal in the late-70s, with Hugh Grant starring as Thorpe. Whishaw stars as Norman Scott, the ex-boyfriend of Thorpe. Thorpe, as outlined in the Thorpe Affair, tried to have Scott killed off when Scott said he would reveal their relationship to the media, leading to a sticky situation overall.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
6 Paddington
Netflix
Whishaw’s voice stars in the titular role of Paddington, who is a rare bear from the Darkest Peru. Paddington Bear ventures from his home in the jungle after an earthquake kills his uncle, heading to London in search of a better life than what he left behind. The Brown family takes in the young bear, and while the patriarch is skeptical of why the bear is here, they help Paddington try to track down the explorer who discovered this species of bear in Peru. At the same time, a local taxidermist catches wind of Paddington’s arrival in London and seeks to add him to her collection.
5 This is Going to Hurt
AMC Studios
2022’s This is Going to Hurt is based on a memoir by Adam Kay, tracking the lives of a series of junior doctors inside a hospital. Working as a doctor is known to be one of the most stressful professions, and there is a lot of hierarchy to weed through for the most mundane tasks. Whishaw and Ambika Mod lead the cast as Adam Kay and Shruti Acharya, consistently breaking the fourth wall to communicate with the audience. When the pressure cranks up and the stress gradually begins to boil over, viewers will find the mental impacts of working in such an environment spelled out on the screen.
4 The Lobster
Element Pictures
Colin Farrell stars in The Lobster, Yorgos Lanthimos’ 2015 film. In a world where single people must find a partner within 45 days or be turned into an animal, David (Farrell) finds himself in a scenario where his wife leaves him for another man. The timer and the hunt for someone new in time begin, but David does not seem to have a penchant for anyone in the hotel he stays at. He escapes before his time is up, ending up with a group of loners that do not believe in any sort of romantic relations, but finds love inside of this group. Whishaw stars as John, one of the men that David befriends while in the hotel.
3 Fargo
MGM Television
Noah Hawley’s television adaptation of Fargo is one of Whishaw’s most remarkable roles to date, even with accolades and mainstream cinema roles. Each season of the show takes on a new location and cast, and Whishaw appears in season four. In this season, the setting is 1950s Kansas City, where two different crime organizations are trying to take over the city. Whishaw is Patrick Mulligan, an Irish-American crime member a part of the Fadda Family. He was nominated for a Satellite Award for his appearance in the show.
2 Criminal Justice
BBC Productions
For his role in Criminal Justice, Whishaw landed his first BAFTA nomination. He is Ben Coulter, a young adult who, after having a wild night out consisting of drugs and alcohol, finds himself accused of murder. Unable to remember anything about that night, Coulter becomes the prime suspect in the case. Now stuck in prison and incapable of defending himself, he acquires a barrister that believes in him, and that ultimately pays off in the long run. Although there may be some inaccuracies in how some professions are depicted, Whishaw provides one of the most exciting elements of a great show.
1 The Hollow Crown
Neal Street Productions
Adapted from Shakespeare’s historical plays, The Hollow Crown borrows from the Henriad to produce a series of television films. Each segment in the series is a film based on a singular play, so episode one is Richard II and so on. Whishaw co-stars with Jeremy Irons and Tom Hiddleston, creating a trio that is just as magnetic as the source material. He took home a BAFTA Award for his appearance as King Richard II in Richard II.
