What's your favorite TV performance of the last 25 years?
Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark; Murray Bartlett as Armond, Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez
FX; HBO; Fox
When it comes to LGBTQ+ representation in mainstream media, there's been a clear upward trajectory encouraged by out actors and their nuanced performances on very popular TV shows.
25 years into the 21st century, Variety has released a new list of the 100 best TV performances since the year 2000. The top names on the list are probably not a surprise — from Bryan Cranston as Walter White, to Jeremy Strong as Kendall Roy, to Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, to Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Selena Meyer.
However, there's also a solid number of queer characters and actors on the list! In the past, Out has also highlighted some of these performances of straight actors playing queer roles and queer actors playing straight roles, as well as actually queer actors delivering lived-in performances in queer roles, of course!
Keep scrolling to check out the queer actors and characters who have made it onto Variety's list, and find out where they are ranking according to the publication!94. Matt Berry as Laszlo Cravensworth in 'What We Do in the Shadows'
Matt Berry's brilliantly comedic turn as the heavily accented and very libertine vampire Laszlo Cravensworth helped give What We Do in the Shadows some of its magic. This character gave the British comedian a chance to go hornier than we thought possible, as Laszlo had sex with everything from men and women to vampires and monsters.
What We Do in the Shadows is streaming on Hulu.
93. John Early as Elliott Goss in 'Search Party'
John Early is one of the most exciting voices in comedy right now, and the queer comedian got to show off his skills as the pathological-lying and attention-desperate gay millennial Elliott in the absurdist comedy Search Party. Elliot did everything: from throwing an extravagant wedding, to writing a tell-all memoir, to lying about cancer, to selling his soul for the gig of hosting a conservative talk show... and he did it all hilariously!
Search Party is streaming on Max.
84. Ilana Glazer as Ilana Wexler in 'Broad City'
Queer millennials have quoted and GIF-ed Ilana Wexler to death ("in da clerb we all fam," "the vayinya is nature's pocket," "yas queen") one half the dynamic duo created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson on Broad City, and we doubt they'll stop anytime soon. This bisexual baddie has inspired viewers everywhere to be bolder and more messy.
Broad City is streaming on Hulu.
80. Al Pacino as Roy Cohn in 'Angels in America'
When Tony Kushner's powerful play about the AIDS epidemic in America was brought to life by HBO in 2003, legendary actor Al Pacino embodied the closeted gay and deeply homophobic real-life lawyer Roy Cohn — making his internal hatred palpable.
Angels in America is streaming on Max.
78. Naya Rivera as Santana Lopez in 'Glee'
As the lesbian cheerleader and glee club member Santana Lopez on Glee, Naya Rivera blew the socks off viewers with her powerhouse voice ("Rumour Has It/Someone Like You" and "Smooth Criminal," to mention a few) and was able to bring real pain and ethos to a character that started as a mean cheerleader stereotype. Through her relationship with fellow Cheerio Brittany, she gave lesbian representation a considerable boost.
Glee is streaming on Hulu.
76. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez as Blanca Evangelista in 'Pose'
As the mother of the House of Evangelista on Pose, Rodriguez became the first trans actor nominated for an Emmy in a major acting category and became the first out trans actor to win a Golden Globe. Through her performance, she humanized a part of history few people know about.
Pose is streaming on Hulu.
58. Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter in 'Hannibal'
In the hands of gay showrunner Bryan Fuller, iconic cannibal Hannibal Lecter and FBI agent Will Graham's game of cat-and-mouse was turned into a dark, sexy, and deeply twisted love story. Mikkelsen's absurdly cryptic Hannibal made the character beloved by a whole new generation (and demographic) of fans.
Hannibal is streaming on Prime Video.
53. Tituss Burgess as Titus Andromedon in 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'
Another endlessly quotable and unforgettable character ("But I already did something today!") created by Tina Fey is this proud Black gay actor, brought to life by Tituss Burgess, who helps cult victim Kimmy Schmidt adapt to the modern world.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is streaming on Netflix.
45. Murray Bartlett as Armond in 'The White Lotus' (season 1)
Murray Bartlett won a Primetime Emmy Award for his performance as the overly stressed and deeply repressed gay hotel manager Armond, who helped make the first season of The White Lotus the runaway success it's been.
The White Lotus is streaming on Max.
44. Uzo Aduba as Suzanne 'Crazy Eyes' Warren in 'Orange Is the New Black'
Uzo Aduba won two Emmys for playing a troubled and queer inmate on Orange Is the New Black who was failed by the system at every turn. Her performance was so powerful that she won in both the comedy and drama categories in different years.
Orange Is the New Black is streaming on Netflix.
43. Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan Postoak in 'Reservation Dogs'
Queer actor Devery Jacobs brought life to this Indigenous teen trying to figure out her life after her best friend's suicide on the brilliant and beautiful Reservation Dogs. She balanced comedy, drama, heart, and culture together into one of the best characters in recent years.
Reservation Dogs is streaming on Hulu.
36. Sarah Paulson as Marcia Clark in 'The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story'
Sarah Paulson has worked with creator Ryan Murphy many times, including on American Horror Story and American Crime Story. In 2016, she won an Emmy for her nuanced portrayal of O.J. Simpson prosecutor Marcia Clark.
The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story is streaming on Hulu.
32. Niecy Nash as Denise 'Didi' Ortley in 'Getting On'
Emmy Award winner Niecy Nash-Betts starred in this series as a hospice nurse for the elderly in a down-to-earth and extraordinary performance. She's a comedic and dramatic powerhouse.
Getting On is streaming on Max.
26. Bridget Everett as Sam Miller in 'Somebody Somewhere'
Bridget Everett is the powerful force behind HBO's Somebody Somewhere, where she plays a mid-forties queer woman trying to find community and self-love after her sister dies and she moves back to her hometown. Along the way, she makes some powerful queer friendships and learns to be her best self.
Somebody Somewhere is streaming on Max.
23. Tatiana Maslany as clones in 'Orphan Black'
Tatiana Maslany played five primary clones (and several others!) in this trippy sci-fi series — mastering each and every one of them. As the nerdy lesbian Ph. D. student Cosima Niehaus and as trans man Tony Sawicki, Maslany brought queer nuance to the characters seen on Orphan Black.
Orphan Black is streaming on AMC+.
8. Andre Braugher as Captain Raymond Holt in 'Brooklyn Nine-Nine'
The late, great Andre Braugher brought the hilariously stoic but sassy Raymond Holt to life on the sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine. As the stalwart leader of the police precinct and a proud gay man, Raymond Holt delivers some of the show's best lines and many of its best deliveries.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is streaming on Netflix.
