• Log in
    Out.comFashionEntertainmentDesignLifestyleTravel & NightlifeOut ExclusivesNewsPrintWeddingsVideo
    ADVOCATEPrideOut TravelerPLUSADVOCATE CHANNEL
    Email NewsletterSubscribeSubscriber Services
    CONTACTStaffCAREER OPPORTUNITIESADVERTISE WITH USPRIVACY POLICYPRIVACY PREFERENCESTERMS OF USELEGAL NOTICE
    © 2023 Pride Publishing Inc.
    All Rights reserved
    Out MagazineOut Magazine
    Scroll To Top

    By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Private Policy and Terms of Use.

    Accept

    15 Best TV and Movie Performances by LGBTQ+ Actors in 2022

    Mey Rude
    | 12/26/22

    15 Best TV and Movie Performances by LGBTQ+ Actors in 2022

    15 Best TV and Movie Performances by LGBTQ+ Actors in 2022

    15 Best TV and Movie Performances by LGBTQ+ Actors in 2022

    2022 was a great year for movies and television. With shows like A League of Their Own, What We Do in the Shadows, The White Lotus, and Los Espookys, queer actors and storylines were some of the best TV of the year. In film, several high profile gay movies (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Whale, Tar) were released as well as plenty of great movies starring and made by gay actors.

    While the Oscars and most other year-end awards will most likely go to straight actors, most of our favorite performances were from actors of the LGBTQ+ variety. Here's a look at 15 of the performances from across TV and film that we thought were among the very best of not just this year, but recent years as well.

    RELATED | Leslie Jordan & More LGBTQ+ Stars Get Critics Choice Award Nominations

    Abbi Jacobson in ‘A League of Their Own’

    abbi jacobson

    A League of Their Own is possibly the best lesbian show ever to grace our TV screens, and co-creator Abbi Jacobson's performance as a shy and closeted small-town Idaho baseball player is a big reason why. She's both hilariously awkward, inspirationally strong, and deeply relatable. She's us, and she just might be our favorite lesbian TV character ever.

    Ana Fabrega in ‘Los Espookys’

    ana fabrega

    Los Espookys was canceled far too soon. This year, Fabrega, who also writes and directs on the show, took her character Tati to absurd new heights on the show. Her blank stares and unearned confidence are always perfectly timed and perfectly executed. Tati was only around for two seasons, but she's one of our all-time favorite TV characters.

    Aubrey Plaza in ‘The White Lotus’

    aubrey plaza

    The White Lotus always has some of the best TV performances of the year, and this year Plaza joined those ranks. Plaza has been leaning into dramas and dark comedies recently, and here she got to revel in both of those genres as a jealous and jaded wife on vacation with her newly rich husband.

    Ben Aldridge in ‘Spoiler Alert’

    ben aldridge

    Both leads in Spoiler Alert pulled at our heartstrings, but we want to honor Aldridge here. As the subject of the movie's titular spoiler alert (he dies from cancer), he held us tight as the photographer Kit Cowan. Playing opposite Jim Parsons as journalist Michael Ausiello, Aldridge delivers a performance that shows the complexities, messiness, corniness, and beauty of true love.

    Billy Eichner in ‘Bros’

    Billy Eichner

    Billy Eichner is a leading man. Bros deserved better, and as the movie's lead, Eichner proved he's a true star, creating a unique but relatable gay protagonist who we couldn't help but root for. Hopefully, we'll get to see Eichner leading movies for years to come.

    Conrad Ricamora in ‘Fire Island’

    Conrad Ricamora

    Joel Kim Booster and Bowen Yang were amazing in this movie, but it was the stoic Conrad Ricamora who really stole our attention. Playing the Darcy role in this Pride and Prejudice adaptation, he brought a seriousness and gravity to the movie that helped elevate it to a truly classic rom-com.

    Emma D’Arcy in ‘House of the Dragon’

    Emma D'Arcy

    The star of the biggest HBO show of the year is nonbinary. It's wonderful to see them get to flex in such a meaty fantasy role as the strong-willed, dragon-riding Queen Rhaenyra Targaryen. D'Arcy has stepped up to the plate in a role that would make most actors stagger, and has become an instant star in doing so.

    Evan Rachel Wood in ‘Weird: The Al Yankovic Story’

    Evan Rachel Wood

    Was there a more perfectly unhinged performance this year than that of Evan Rachel Wood as pop icon Madonna in this Weird Al biopic? We think not. Wood's over the top performance was a perfect fit for this equally over the top "biopic." We need her in more comedies now.

    Harvey Guillén in ‘What We Do in the Shadows’

    Harvey Guillen

    Guillen keeps on killing it as familiar-turned-bodyguard Guillermo. This season, his frustration with his vampire lords (or are they just his friends now?) reached a boiling point, when Nandor used one of his djinn wishes to make his wife into an exact replica of Guillermo's boyfriend. As always, Guillen is a comedic genius, and also knows how to pull of the stunts and dramatic scenes to really sell the show.

    Janelle Monáe in ‘Glass Onion’

    Janelle Monae

    Monae was the perfect addition to Rian Johnson's Knives Out universe. In a movie full of enigmas, Monae stands out in a multi-layered and colorful performance. If Ana de Armas was the breakout of Knives Out, Monae is the breakout of this film.

    Jeremy Pope in ‘The Inspection’

    Jeremy Pope

    Pope is one of the hottest young actors in Hollywood. In The Inspection, he plays a gay man who joins the Marine Corps. When he can't disguise his sexual orientation, he's subject to near-lethal hazing in the drama. He's already been nominated for a Golden Globe for the role, and we hope an Oscar nomination is in his future.

    Keke Palmer in ‘Nope’

    Keke Palmer

    It's always a crowded Oscar field for actresses, but we wish that Keke Palmer was getting more attention for her role as a hustling lesbian trying to reconnect with her brother while a UFO keeps appearing on their ranch in Jordan Peele's excellent Nope. She was truly a standout this year and after a long career of great performances, we want to see her get her due recognition.

    Matt Rogers in ‘Matt Rogers: Have You Heard of Christmas’

    Matt Rogers

    He really is the true Prince of Christmas. Comedian and actor Matt Rogers' new Showtime Christmas Special was one of our end of the year surprises. Rogers isn't just hilarious, he sings beautifully, and makes us think about what's really important about the season - like having sex with the Grinch and Santa and Jesus being best friends.

    Murray Bartlett in ‘Welcome to Chippendales’

    Murray Bartlett

    After winning an Emmy for his portrayal in The White Lotus last year, Bartlett turned in another top-notch, award-worthy performance as Chippendale's choreographer. This is the age of Murray and we're all lucky to be living in it.

    Neil Patrick Harris in ‘Uncoupled’

    Neil Patrick Harris

    Following a gay real estate agent in NYC who just got out of a 17-year relationship, Uncoupled gave us a great chance to see Harris get to flex his acting chops in a juicy gay role. It's a deeply human portrayal that reminds us to keep on trying.

    Latest Stories

    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Looking' Cast: Where Are They Now?

    7h
    jamie clayton, rosie o'donnell, leo sheng
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    7 Things the New 'L Word: New York' Series Needs to Have To Win Us Over

    11h
    Lukas Gage and Chris Appleton
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Chris Appleton Calls Lukas Gage 'Apple of My Eye' & Shares Couple Pics

    12h
    Gleeworst
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of 'Glee's Worst & Wildest Musical Sins

    March 23 2023 5:11 PM
    Santana Lopez, Carol Aird, Taissa Turner, Shane McCutcheon
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    15 of Our Favorite—But Problematic—Fictional Queer Women Characters

    March 23 2023 11:21 AM
    Serena ChaCha; Milk; Loosey LaDuca
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    10 'Drag Race' Queens Who Got a 'Delusional' Edit On the Show

    March 22 2023 3:42 PM
    Monet X Change; Trixie Mattel; Jinkx Monsoon
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    Every Drag Artist Performing At the 'Drag Isn't Dangerous' Telethon

    March 21 2023 2:42 PM
    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'
    Out Exclusives
    Badge
    gallery

    For a Perfect WeHo Day (and Outfit), Ask 'The Real Friends of WeHo'

    March 21 2023 10:44 AM
    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    'Glee's 20 All-Time Best Performances, Ranked

    March 20 2023 2:39 PM
    Maluma
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    Maluma Shares Nude Pics & Proves He's Still a 'Pretty Boy Dirty Boy'

    March 20 2023 2:31 PM
    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    'Drag Race's Salina EsTitties Has 6 Explicit Words for Ross Mathews

    March 19 2023 2:16 PM
    Taylor Swift
    Music
    Badge
    gallery

    All the Unexpected Songs We'd Love to See at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour

    March 17 2023 12:11 PM
    Ewan McGregor in 'Halston'; Natasha Lyonne in 'Orange Is the New Black'; Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Brokeback Mountain'
    Film
    Badge
    gallery

    10 Straight Actors Whose Gay Roles We Actually Loved

    March 17 2023 1:50 AM
    Miami Dolls
    Television
    Badge
    gallery

    Meet the Cast of 'Miami Dolls,' OUTtv & Daddy TV's Newest Reality Show

    March 16 2023 1:18 PM
    Theo James; Jonathan Sadowski; Jesse Williams
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    20 Male Celebs Who Did Full Frontal Scenes

    March 15 2023 4:29 PM
    Law Roach: A Short Timeline of a Legendary and Historic Career
    Fashion
    Badge
    gallery

    Law Roach: A Short Timeline of a Legendary and Historic Career

    March 15 2023 1:48 PM
    Rupauls-drag-race-queens-with-onlyfans-accounts-milk-sasha-belle-v2_0
    Drag
    Badge
    gallery

    All the U.S. 'Drag Race' Queens on OnlyFans (& What They're Showing)

    March 15 2023 11:30 AM
    Diplo
    Celebs
    Badge
    gallery

    25 Sexy Pics of Diplo That Will Make You Want to 'Lean On' Him

    March 14 2023 3:09 PM
    13 Straight Actors Who Won Awards for Playing Queer Roles
    Film
    Badge
    gallery

    ​13 Straight Actors Who Won Awards for Playing Queer Roles

    March 14 2023 11:22 AM
    DC Pride 2023
    books
    Badge
    gallery

    DC Pride 2023 Has All Your Favorite Queer Superheroes In One Place

    March 13 2023 12:00 PM