The Best Actor Award () is an award presented at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

since 1946. It is given to an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance and chosen by the jury from the films in official competition slate at the festival. At the 1st Cannes Film Festival held in 1946,

Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. He is often remembered for his portrayal of an alcoholic writer in Billy Wilder's ''The Lost Weekend'' (1945), which wo ...

was the first winner of this award for his performance in ''

The Lost Weekend ''The Lost Weekend'' is a 1945 American drama film noir directed by Billy Wilder, and starring Ray Milland and Jane Wyman. It was based on Charles R. Jackson's 1944 novel about an alcoholic writer. The film was nominated for seven Academy Aw ...

'', and Wagner Moura is the most recent winner in this category for his role in ''

The Secret Agent ''The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale'' is an anarchist spy fiction novel by Polish-British author Joseph Conrad, first published on 12 September 1907.. The story is set in Soho, London in 1886 and deals with Mr. Adolf Verloc and his work as a sp ...

'' at the

78th Cannes Film Festival The 78th annual Cannes Film Festival took place from 13 to 24 May 2025. French actress Juliette Binoche served as jury president for the main competition. Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi won the Palme d'Or, the festival's top prize, for the drama ...

in 2025.

History

The award was first presented in 1946. The prize was not awarded on five occasions (1947, 1953–54, 1956, and 1960). The festival was not held at all in 1948, 1950, and 2020. In 1968, no awards were given as the festival was called off mid-way due to the

May 1968 events in France May 68 () was a period of widespread protests, strikes, and civil unrest in France that began in May 1968 and became one of the most significant social uprisings in modern European history. Initially sparked by student demonstrations agains ...

. The award can be for lead or supporting roles, with the exception of the period from 1979 to 1981, and in 1991, when the festival used to award a separate "Best Supporting Actor" prize. The jury also, on occasion, cites actors with a special citation that is separate from the main award. On four occasions, the jury has awarded multiple men (more than 2) the prize for one film. The four films were: '' A Big Family'' (1955), '' Compulsion'' (1959), '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' (1962), and '' Days of Glory'' (2006). Dean Stockwell,

Jack Lemmon John Uhler Lemmon III (February 8, 1925 – June 27, 2001) was an American actor. Considered proficient in both dramatic and comic roles, he was known for his anxious, middle-class everyman screen persona in comedy-drama films. He received num ...

, and

Marcello Mastroianni Marcello Vincenzo Domenico Mastroianni (26 September 1924Come da lui stesso dichiarato a 1'10" dquesta intervista/ref> – 19 December 1996) was an Italian actor. He is generally regarded as one of Italy's most iconic male performers of the 20t ...

have won the most awards in this category, each winning twice.

Winners

1940s

1950s

1960s

1970s

1980s

1990s

2000s

2010s

2020s

Multiple winners

The following individuals have received multiple Best Actor awards:

Notes

:A: This year the award was changed to ''Prix d'Interpretation'' (Acting Award), without gender differentiation. :B: The entire male and female cast of '' A Big Family'' (''Больша́я семья́'') was recipient of this award in a tie with

Spencer Tracy Spencer Bonaventure Tracy (April 5, 1900 – June 10, 1967) was an American actor. He was known for his natural performing style and versatility. One of the major stars of Classical Hollywood cinema, Hollywood's Golden Age, Tracy was the ...

for '' Bad Day at Black Rock''. :C: This year award was given as ''Prix Le Premier Regard Un Certain Regard'' (Premiere Award - Un Certain Regard) to the lead male and female cast of '' Long Day's Journey into Night'' and '' A Taste of Honey'' (ex aequo).

References

External links

Cannes Film Festival official website

Cannes Film Festival at IMDb
. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cannes Film Festival Award For Best Actor Awards for male actors Film awards for lead actor Film awards for supporting actor Cannes, Best Actor