The current Golden Age of Television we're all now enjoying might never have existed without HBO. The cable network showed what kinds of stories could be told on television and their willingness to tell challenging stories attracted a lot of top-notch talent.
There have been so many phenomenal HBO shows over the years and many are filled with spectacular performances. Here are the best performances from HBO shows, ranked.
Idris Elba (The Wire)
The Wire was very much an ensemble show filled with terrific performances from its knockout cast. While there are certain characters who stand out, like Omar and Bubbles, one performance seems to always rise above the rest.
Idris Elba got his breakout role as Stringer Bell, the business-minded member of the dug empire in Baltimore. Elba perfectly lets the nuances of Bell shine through, such as his charm, insecurities, and ambitions, while also maintaining Bell's calm and cool demeanor. It's no surprise Elba went on to become a star.
Thandie Newton (Westworld)
Westworld is a show filled with great actors. While the complex plot of the show can sometimes get in the way of the performances, Thandie Newton as Maeve can always be counted on to be the show's most compelling aspect.
Newton exudes grace and swagger in the earlier episodes, but as Maeve begins to question her world more, the layers in Newton's performance begin to show. Maeve is a calculating and brilliant being who is nonetheless searching for answers. She can be intimidating, inspiring and heartbreaking all at once.
Bill Hader (Barry)
When it was first announced that Bill Hader would be making a show about a hitman who wants to be an actor, many assumed it would be a zany comedy. While Barry is definitely funny, few people were prepared for how dark it would be and how awe-inspiring Hader would be in the titular role.
Hader plays a more internal character than we're used to seeing from him, though he's also convincing in the action scenes. But it's when the show deals with Barry's dark side that Hader's unwavering versatility comes out and he proves himself to even more talented.
Matthew McConaughey (True Detective)
True Detective came along just as Matthew McConaughey was in the midst of a huge comeback. While McConaughey's co-star Woody Harrelson gives an outstanding performance as well, McConaughey really steals the show.
His character of Rust Cohle is one of the most fascinating television creations in recent memory. In the hands of a lesser actor, Rust's musings on time and the universe would sound cheesy, but McConaughey makes him a three-dimensional, flawed character who draws the audience into his world.
Ian McShane (Deadwood)
Deadwood was HBO's ambitious western series that also featured a stellar group of talented actors. However, if there was a star of the show, it was most certainly Ian McShane and Al Swearengen.
Al was the violent and vulgar owner of Deadwood's saloon as well as a local crime boss. McShane relished the profanity-laced dialogue and delivered it brilliantly. He made Al vicious and hateful while also growing him into a more complex and sympathetic character. He was also so captivating to watch.
Regina Hall (Watchmen)
Creating a sequel series to the groundbreaking Alan Moore graphic novel seemed like a risky move, but Watchmen actually managed to pull it off. While the limited series was dense with characters and storylines, the heart of the show was Regina Hall as Angela Abar/Sister Night.
Hall pulled off the badass crime-fighter aspect of the character flawlessly but, as it turns out, that was just the beginning of the character. We see Angela go through so much and Hall showcases that incredible emotional journey to perfection. Following Angela's arc makes the series all the more engrossing.
Nicole Kidman (Big Little Lies)
Big Little Lies boasts a magnificent cast of A-list stars all doing remarkable work. But it is Nicole Kidman who makes the show so captivating as she gives perhaps the best performance of her already prolific career.
In the first season of the show especially, so much is required of Kidman to play the survivor of an abusive relationship. She brings so much honesty to the role that we completely understand how someone could trick themselves into staying in such a relationship while also convincing us she has what it takes to finally leave. It is an powerhouse combination of strength and vulnerability.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Veep)
Comedies don't often get the same acting recognition as dramas but Julia Louis-Dreyfus' performance in Veep is a tour-de-force that deserves all of the accolades it has received over the years.
As Selina Meyer, Louis-Dreyfus depicts the worst of politicians. She is self-centered, pandering and insincere, yet she feels totally entitled to power. Watching her bounce from one scandal to the next while becoming a worse person in the process is an astounding and hilarious journey to go on.
Peter Dinklage (Game Of Thrones)
Game of Thrones might not have ended the way some fans wanted, but one thing that seemed to please them right to the end was Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister. From the very first season, Dinklage created one of the most entertaining characters on television.
In a show filled with dragons and zombies, it was also a pleasure to see Tyrion on-screen. Dinklage brought so much to the role, from Tyrion's quick wit to his many tragedies. Dinklage could have us laughing along one minute and heartbroken the next.
James Gandolfini (The Sopranos)
The Sopranos is arguably the series that made HBO what it is today, and it's hard to argue that the show would have become the sensation it was without the commanding lead performance of James Gandolfini as Tony Soprano.
The late actor took on a role that was new for television. Tony was the lead character but he was also a violent, rage-filled and intolerant man. Gandolfini never backed down from showing the ugliness of the character but also managed to bring a lot more depth to Tony, which made him one of the most complex television characters of all time.