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BENJAMONSTER AWARDS 2024: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series

Today's award is Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited/Anthology Series!

Past Awards in This Category: 2023   2022   2021   2020

This year's nominees are...

RICHARD GADD as Donny Dunn in Baby Reindeer (Netflix)











JON HAMM as Roy Tillman in Fargo (FX)













TOM HOLLANDER as Truman Capote in Feud: Capote vs. the Swans (FX)











TOBIAS MENZIES as Edwin Stanton in Manhunt (Apple TV+)










EDGAR RAMIREZ as Dr. Paolo Macchiarini in Dr. Death (Peacock)











ANDREW SCOTT as Tom Ripley in Ripley (Netflix)












And the Winner Is...
ANDREW SCOTT
Ripley (Netflix)
Like many, I was a little skeptical of the casting of Andrew Scott as Tom Ripley. The role has typically been a somewhat dashing and younger con man like Matt Damon in the 1999 film The Talented Mr. Ripley. But Scott was more than up to the challenge. He wasn't charming, he was a sociopath and it made for such an interesting portrayal. Scott was able to simultaneously make Tom Ripley brilliant and a step ahead of the investigators and also seemingly making rash decisions on the fly that dug him deeper into his web of lies. He masterfully played confident while being clearly on the ropes. It was interesting how his portrayal of Ripley didn't even seem to enjoy the cons he was doing. That added to the sociopathic nature. It was a fascinating portrayal.

Thoughts on the Rest of the Nominees:
Andrew Scott wasn't the only actor playing a sociopath in this category. Jon Hamm was terrifying as Sheriff Roy Tillman in Fargo, perhaps the first time that Hamm was a true villain and not an antihero. Were it not for Scott, he would have been an easy win here. Richard Gadd really shined as a writer but he was also a strong lead performance in Baby Reindeer, which hit very close to home for him. I thought Feud: Capote vs. the Swans was a complete mess of a show but there's no denying how strong Tom Hollander was in his portrayal of Truman Capote. Tobias Menzies kept the story moving with a grounded lead performance in Manhunt. This was a thin category that didn't really have a very strong sixth performer but I went with Edgar Ramirez for a sometimes chilling turn in Dr. Death.

Tomorrow: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series!
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