![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-CYqTXc.png)
As the young'uns would say these days, "She's so mother!" If there was a recurring theme among this year's best performances on film, then it would definitely be the challenges and triumphs of motherhood. Indeed, no less than 8 roles in my list explored the complexities of being a mother through a myriad of feelings surrounding grief, estrangement and love. These actresses were truly an indelible part of the film year, standing tall alongside many other superlative performances. Whittled down from a personal longlist of 51 candidates, here are my Top 20 Acting Performances of 2022:
20. Mia Goth in Pearl
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-5sD_ru.jpeg)
19. Cate Blanchett in Tar
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-_yq3_L.jpeg)
Brilliant casting, iconic results.
18. Harris Dickinson in Triangle of Sadness
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-YTsSgx.jpeg)
17. Nicole Kidman in The Northman
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-VqMEoc.jpeg)
16. Linnett Hernandez in Vicenta B.
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-vetzXW.jpeg)
15. Daryl McCormack in Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-d9YuWE.jpeg)
14. Penelope Cruz in Official Competition
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-YUJEFa.jpeg)
13. Rasti Farooq in Joyland
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-vbPuWK.jpeg)
12. Nicolas Cage in The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-8H82So.jpeg)
11. Daniel Kaluuya in Nope
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-Y8Agv5.png)
10. N. T. Rama Rao Jr. in RRR
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-EA0tPg.jpeg)
9. Ram Charan in RRR
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-042yj9.jpeg)
8. Stephanie Hsu in Everything Everywhere All at Once
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-xbmcXl.jpeg)
7. Michelle Yeoh in Everything Everywhere All at Once
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-fKZzp3.png)
6. Jessie Buckley in Women Talking
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-O0r7xC.jpeg)
5. Ke Huy Quan in Everything Everywhere All at Once
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-ZtLwRM.jpeg)
4. Michelle Williams in The Fabelmans
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-slBrgV.jpeg)
3. Emma Thompson in Good Luck to You Leo Grande
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-ntAqJa.jpeg)
2. Julianne Moore in When You Finish Saving the World
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-CT4s3H.jpeg)
1. Rebecca Hall in Resurrection
![Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances Best of 2022: Top 20 Acting Performances](https://m5.paperblog.com/i/729/7293940/best-of-2022-top-20-acting-performances-L-4qwDb7.jpeg)