The Best Creatives and Performances Of 2021
From potential Oscars nominees to underrated gems, there have been so many stand out creatives and performances within the films and TV shows of 2021. As the year comes to a close, Pop Culture Planet is sharing the Best of 2021.
Allen Maldonado as Rico in Maya and the Three
Afro-Puerto Rican actor Allen Maldonado voices Rico in Maya and the Three, a a master wizard from Luna Island who is considered an outcast because of his use of the feared Peasant Magic. Maldonado brought so much energy and likeability to his role as the future Greatest Wizard Who Ever Lived. You feel his insecurities, his goofiness, and the heart he brings to the screen through voice alone, as he realizes that what others perceived as weakness is his true strengths.
Alana Haim as Alana Kane in Licorice Pizza
Alana Haim, of the sister band Haim, makes her film debut as Alana Kane in Licorice Pizza — and even managed to steal the spotlight from the A-listers making cameos. Refreshing and charismatic on screen, Haim is a natural and a joy to watch.
Andrew Garfield as Jonathan Larson in tick, tick…BOOM
Andrew Garfield delivers a career-best performance as Jonathan Larson in tick, tick…BOOM. Not only does he show off surprisingly incredible vocals for his first ever musical project, but he truly embodies the late composer in this film by first-time director Lin Manuel-Miranda.
Anna Claire Beitel, Liam Diaz, Essence Fox as Laura, Bing, and Sylvie in Scarborough
Scarborough gives us an intimate look into the lives of an underprivileged community in Toronto. The slice of life film follows three friends and their very different experiences in the community. Young actors Anna Claire Beitel, Liam Diaz, and Essence Fox were absolute stand outs, delivering such authentic performances.
Ariana DeBose as Emma Tate in Schmigadoon and Anita in West Side Story
Ariana DeBose had multiple radiant performances this year, including her stint as Emma Tate, the Marian Paroo-inspired schoolmarm, in Schmigadoon and the bold Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of West Side Story. In both projects, she showcases her acting chops and her spectacular singing and dancing abilities — and her chemistry with David Alvarez as Bernardo was off the charts. The Afro-Puerto Rican star made 2021 her year!
Don Mancini, creator, writer, and director of Chucky
Don Mancini has brilliantly kept the legacy of Chucky alive since he first created the character in 1989’s Child’s Play. Now he’s taken the story to the next level with a TV continuation called Chucky on Syfy that follows the events of 2017’s Cult of Chucky. We get to learn the untold origin story of the killer doll while new characters are introduced and blended seamlessly with characters from the past. There are massive amounts of Easter eggs and incredible performances. Chucky is truly a career best for Mancini.
Fiona Dourif as Nica, Chucky-Nica, Young Charles Lee Ray in Chucky
Fiona Dourif, daughter of the legendary Chucky himself Brad Dourif, has blazed her own trail in the Chucky universe. She started out playing Nica Pierce, a victim of Chucky’s in 2013’s Curse Of Chucky and its 2017 follow-up Cult Of Chucky, where Chucky put a piece of his soul in her. In the new Chucky series, Fiona flexes her acting chops playing Nica, Nica possessed by Chucky, and a wildly impressive Young Charles Lee Ray in flashback scenes with the help of prosthetics. It's incredible how much she looks and sounds like her father, especially when she laughs. She delivers one of the most impressive performances of 2021!
Jenna Ortega as Vada in The Fallout
Jenna Ortega took on her first leading film role in The Fallout. She authentically captures the experience of a teenager dealing with the emotional fallout following a school shooting and the different ways people deal with trauma.
Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya McQuoid of The White Lotus
Played by the always hilarious Jennifer Coolidge, The White Lotus’ Tanya McQuoid is a gem of a character. Always put together and a little over the top, she sheds her layers like an onion, revealing the needy and lonely woman underneath.
Jessica Alexander as Bee in Glasshouse and Betsey in A Banquet
Jessica Alexander is a rising actress you need to add to your watch list. She brings an intense and compelling quality to every role she plays, from Bee in the sultry and dystopian South African film Glasshouse to Betsey in the British body horror A Banquet.
Jessica Marie Garcia as Jasmine Flores in On My Block
When she was originally introduced in On My Block season 1, Jessica Marie Garcia’s Jasmine Flores was a recurring character who wanted to be friends with the Core Four, but didn’t quite fit in with them. Over the course of four seasons, we’ve seen Jasmine flourish. She’s smart, stylish, compassionate, has epic dance moves, and is always up for solving a good mystery. But most of all she’s a good friend with a big heart. She is truly the rock of the group and always has excellent advice, especially when it comes to self-love. Jessica Marie Garcia developed a multi-layered character that has become a fan favorite. You can’t help but root for Jasmine!
Jorge R. Guttierez, creator, writer, and director of Maya and the Three
Jorge R. Gutierrez, alongside his wife and muse Sandra Equihua, create a stunning, colorful world of adventure in Netflix’s Maya and the Three, inspired by real Mexican warrior women. His art style is so unique and he pays beautiful tribute to both his Mexican culture and his projects from the past, including references to The Book Of Life and El Tigre.
Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness in WandaVision
Kathryn Hahn stole the show as Agatha Harkness, starting off as Wanda and Vision’s nosy neighbor before it was revealed through the Emmy-award winning song that “It Was Agatha All Along.” She straddled the line between shticky sitcom and evil villain so well that she’s even getting her own Marvel spin-off with Agatha: House Of Harkness.
Lin-Manuel Miranda with tick, tick…BOOM, Vivo, Encanto, In The Heights
Lin-Manuel Miranda had a stellar year with a variety of musical projects. His first Broadway show In The Heights made its big screen debut with him taking on the role of the Piragua Guy, he wrote music for and voiced the lead role in Vivo, he wrote the music for Disney’s Encanto, and made his directorial debut with tick, tick…BOOM. Miranda is on FIRE!
Ray Nicholson as Ray Hall in Panic
Ray Nicholson, son of Jack Nicholson, played the bad boy with a heart of gold in Amazon Prime’s Panic. It takes a lot of skill to go from unlikeable to the best character on the show and he did it well. He had a great arc and really made you feel for him. He’s definitely an actor on the rise!
Selena Gomez as Mabel of Only Murders in the Building
Selena Gomez’s Mabel in Only Murders In The Building is bold, outspoken, and loves a good mystery — plus she wears the cutest coats! I love seeing Gomez take on more tough and sarcastic roles, similar to her iconic Alex Russo from Wizards Of Waverly Place. This was a stand out performance for her and she played well off her co-stars Steve Martin and Martin Short.
Ynairaly Simo as Gabi in Vivo
Ynairaly Simo shines bright as the exuberant Gabi in Netflix’s Vivo. With endless positivity, enthusiam, and booming vocals, I’ve never related to a character more. She bounces to the beat of her own drum, even singing about it in a Missy Elliot-inspired musical number.
Have you checked out all these performances? What were some of your favorites this year? Get more recommendations, here.
