Christopher Nolanoften gets mischaracterized as a filmmaker who doesn’t understand emotion, which feels like an inaccurate representation of his talents and ambitions as a filmmaker. Not only has Nolan written some truly fantastic characters, but he’s also frequently worked with some of the industry’s best and brightest stars. He’s even directed an Oscar-winning performance withHeath Ledger’s iconic turn as the Joker inThe Dark Knight.
Like any great director, Nolan has his favorite actors that tend to pop up in many of his films. Fans of the director’s work will easily recognize the top ten best Christopher Nolan acting collaborators.
10Ken Watanabe
The great Japanese actorKen Watanabegenerally gets to be the MVP supporting character in whichever project he is in, and the same is true of both of his collaborations with Nolan.
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Watanabe first stole the screen in 2005’sBatman Beginsas the man initially thought to be Ra’s Al Ghul, the leader of the League of Shadows who is responsible for training Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) to be a warrior and instrument of justice. Watanabe also worked with Nolan again as the mysterious investor who sets off the central heist inInception.
9Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathawayhad the unenviable task of playing Selina Kyle inThe Dark Knight Risesthree decades afterMichelle Pfeifferhad made the role so iconic inTim Burton’s 1992 classicBatman Returns. Hathaway managed to silence the doubters with a domineering, surprisingly humorous performance that served as one of the best female characters that Nolan has ever written.
Nolan’s affinity for Hathaway’s talents is evident thanks to the emotional role she played as Cooper’s (Matthew McConaughey) fellow astronaut inInterstellar. She is able to put into words Nolan’s understanding of love.
8Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s comic sharp and pure force of charisma adds a dash of humor toInception, a film where it is very easy to get lost in complex worldbuilding. Not only does Gordon-Levitt’s personality make the exposition more compelling, but his comedic interactions withTom Hardyadd a touch of humor to the action-heavy opening of the film.
Gordon-Levitt worked again on Nolan’sThe Dark Knight Risesas Batman’s newest ally Detective John Blake, a characterdeserving of his own spinoff franchise. Whether or not he is in fact Robin is a matter for debate.
7Marion Cotillard
While the reputation that Nolan has for overusing the “dead wife” cliche has unfortunately become more and more true over time,Marion Cotillard’s performance as Mal inInceptionisn’t quite the standard tragic femme fatale. The version of Mal that is present for a majority ofInceptionis a creation of Cobb’s (Leonardo DiCaprio) imagination that he has willed into existence to cope with her passing. It’s a haunting, and genuinely menacing performance.
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Cotillard brought a similar sense of danger with her performance as Talia Al Ghul, the true mastermind behind the League of Shadows, inThe Dark Knight Rises.
6Gary Oldman
The greatGary Oldmanmay be best known forplaying over-the-top villains, but he added a surprising softness to the character of Commissioner James Gordon inThe Dark Knighttrilogy. While previous versions of the character were more straightforward and serious, Oldman turned Batman’s closest ally into a paternal figure who helps a young Bruce cope with his parents’ death inBatman Begins.
While Oldman has played a lot of villains, nothing he’s done has been quite as chilling as the pro-nuclear speech he delivers as President Harry Truman in Nolan’s latest masterwork,Oppenheimer.
5Kenneth Branagh
It says a lot about Nolan’s unique abilities as a director that he doesn’t just work with great actors; he’s also the type of director that fellow filmmakers want to work with.Sir Kenneth Branaghis an Oscar-winning director in his own right, but he’s managed to step outside the directorial chair for three collaborations with Nolan thus far.
While Branagh never fails to bring authenticity to his historical characters, as he does in bothDunkirkandOppenheimer, his ludicrously over-the-top villain performance inTenetis simply a delight to behold.
4Christian Bale
Christian Bale is the definitive Batman for a certain generation, and his performance is arguably more emotionally fleshed out thanGeorge Clooney, Val Kilmer,Adam West,or even the greatMichael Keatonever got.
RELATED:The Best Christian Bale Performances
Nolan and Bale helped depict a complete arc to the story of Gotham’s silent protector; they showed his origins inBatman Begins, his greatest failures inThe Dark Knight, and the end of his legacy inThe Dark Knight Rises. Bale also worked oppositeHugh Jackmanas dueling magicians in one of Nolan’s most underrated films,The Prestige.
3Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy’s performance as EamesinInceptionis virtually unlike the roles he’s best known for; instead of hiding behind a facemask and making a weird voice, Hardy managed to add some comedic riffs with his performance.
Of course, Nolan did end up making Hardy put on the facemask once more for his performances as Bane inThe Dark Knight Risesand a World War II pilot inDunkirk. Neither role gets enough credit; Bane has a surprisingly tragic backstory that is well-explored, and there’s a tragedy to Hardy’sDunkirkperformance that is evident in the closing shot.
2Cillian Murphy
Nolan deserves a fair amount of credit for simply discovering Cillian Murphy; while he was known for British films like the Palme d’Or winnerThe Wind That Shakes The Barley, Murphy was introduced to a much broader international audience thanks to his role as Dr. Jonathan Crane inBatman Begins. His magnetic personality instantly proved to be an asset that Nolan wanted to use again.
Murphy subsequently appeared inInceptionandDunkirk,as well as popping up for cameos in bothThe Dark KnightandThe Dark Knight Rises.Cillian Murphy’s incredible performanceas the titular scientist inOppenheimercould very well lead to the first Academy Award nomination of his career.
1Michael Caine
Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Interstellar,andTenet; at this point, it’s actually strange to see a Nolan movie whereMichael Caineisn’t in it. Seriously, how did Nolan not manage to fit him in as some sort of iconic historical figure inOppenheimer?
Caine has brought a sense of softness, paternal love, and sincerity to all of his work with Nolan. While all of their collaborations have been fruitful, it’s perhaps his performance as the butler Alfred in Nolan’sThe Dark Knighttrilogy that best represents the warmth he can add to Nolan’s generally cold films.
