2 Superhero Performances Steal the Spotlight in the 100 Greatest TV Performances of the 21st Century

100 greatest TV performances of the 21st century, were recently chosen by Variety staff. It includes actors from dramas and comedies, spanning different genres and styles. The selection was limited to scripted shows that premiered after January 1, 2000, meaning some iconic performances from earlier series weren’t included.

To make room for more shows, only one performance per series was allowed. Rather than just a ranking, this list is a celebration of incredible acting and a reminder of the great TV moments we’ve had—and the ones still to come.

What’s intriguing about this list is that it features two performances from superhero shows—a genre often overlooked or considered inferior to more traditional dramas.

On number 71 we have Antony Starr as the Homelander from the notable Amazon show ‘The Boys.’ Starr’s performance is widely praised because he makes the character both terrifying and fascinating. He plays a superhero who looks perfect on the outside but is deeply evil and unstable, making him unpredictable and scary.

His acting shows many emotions at once—charm, rage, insecurity, and cruelty—all in a single scene. This makes Homelander one of the most complex and unforgettable TV villains of the 21st century and his spot is rightfully earned.

A bit higher, on the spot 64 you can find Elizabeth Olsen for her performance in ‘WandaVision.’ She took Wanda from a happy sitcom wife to a grieving, powerful hero struggling with loss. Her ability to switch between comedy, drama, and intense magic-filled moments makes her performance special. Olsen makes Wanda feel real and heartbreaking, and fans have a love-hate relationship with the plot twist that eventually turns her grief into a reason to become a villain.

The list is quite long taking into account that it contains 100 titles, but some truly special performances made it to the top 10:

• 10. Sandra Oh as Dr. Cristina Yang, “Grey’s Anatomy”
• 9. Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, “Better Call Saul” 
• 8. Andre Braugher as Capt. Raymond Holt, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” 
• 7. Carrie Coon as Nora Durst, “The Leftovers” 
• 6. Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar Little, “The Wire” 
• 5. Bryan Cranston as Walter White, “Breaking Bad”  
• 4. Lisa Kudrow as Valerie Cherish, “The Comeback” 
• 3. Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, “Mad Men” 
• 2. Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy, “Succession” 
• 1. Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selina Meyer, “Veep” 

What do you think about the list? Let us know in the comments below!