The Most Talked About Actors Of 2023: Not All Of Them Are Evil

Josh Hutcherson was first catapulted to fame in 2013 as Peeta in the Hunger Games films. In 2023, Hutcherson continued to dominate the news cycle due to his landmark performance in the recent Five Nights At Freddy’s film. The actor also made waves through the TikTok algorithm, as a video of the star whistling gained viral notoriety, and proceeded to be edited into thousands of viral videos shared on the platform.

For years, Ke Huy Quan was best known as the child star who brought the character Short Round to life in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. That all changed in 2023, when the actor received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 2022’s Everything Everywhere All At Once. Like several of his co-stars in the prolific art film, Ke Huy Quan’s star has risen exponentially in the last year, as the film saw record-breaking financial returns and unparalleled critical praise.

Russell Brand has long held the position as a controversial artist in the space of comedy. Unfortunately, 2023 saw Brand in the news for a much darker purpose than pushing the boundaries of free thought. Brand was accused of sexual assault by four women in September, including one who would have been 16 years old at the time of the alleged incident.

The so far unproven accusations have led to a great deal of discourse surrounding Brand’s public image, his comedy, and his production company’s record-breaking profits. Brand has been repeatedly questioned by the authorities following these allegations, though no convictions have been made nor has any evidence been presented.

Before 2023, Sophie Turner was best known for portraying Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones, as well as a handful of other prominent roles such as Jean Grey in several of the latest X-Men installments. However, Turner dubbed 2023 “the year of the girlies” after headlines carried her name amid her turbulent divorce with pop singer Joe Jonas. For years the pair had served as one of Hollywood’s greatest power couples, though news of their split left fans to choose sides and make waves.

Jonathan Majors suffered a highly tumultuous 2023, as he was found guilty of misdemeanor assault and harassment in connection with a domestic disturbance, resulting in him losing his position as Kang The Conqueror in the MCU. Majors closed out the year with a great deal of uncertainty regarding his future, as the convictions carry a possible sentence of up to one year in prison.

Sentencing is set to begin in February 2024, leaving the future of Majors’ acting career in an incredibly fragile state. Many fans have been left to wonder what the Creed 3 star’s next move will be as Marvel seeks to completely restructure their upcoming phase.

Unlike some of the controversial figures on this list, Pedro Pascal managed to make waves throughout 2023 based on his acting ability and roles alone. With no major controversies surrounding the star, it can be surmised that fans ravenously searched for news regarding Pascal due to his landmark performances in projects such as The Last of Us, The Mandalorian, and 2022’s The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. Pascal has rapidly become one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood, with 9 upcoming projects in various stages of active production listed on his IMDb page.

Matt Rife may be a brand new face for many pop culture fans in 2023, as the comedian rose to prominence back in July when he announced his first major nationwide tour. Despite a rapid rise to the forefront of comedy, Rife disappointed his largely female fan base with a number of misogynist jokes, before continuing his descent into obscurity by publicly arguing with small children over the internet. Rife may have been granted his 15 minutes of fame in 2023 with a few popcorn headlines, though he may not show up on this list next year unless he cleans up his act.

Former That 70’s Show lead Danny Masterson was embroiled in a host of controversies throughout 2023, resulting in a number of Google searches bearing his name. The Steven Hyde actor and noted Scientologist spent the majority of the year under fire for a number of horrific sexual assault accusations, resulting in a sentence of 30 years to life in prison beginning this past September. The Netflix reboot That 90’s Show featured reprisals from the entire main cast excluding Masterson, though the shadow of the actor’s unspeakable crimes loomed over the entire production.

Despite serving as a multi-hyphenate performer, Jamie Foxx spent a decent portion of 2023 making headlines for a mysterious illness. Though Foxx appeared in projects such as They Cloned Tyrone, Strays, and The Burial last year, he spent months in and out of the hospital with a life-threatening affliction that the actor still refuses to name. Foxx has been blessed with excellent medical care and a supporting family, allowing him to recover from his unnamed ailment in peace, and has since returned to film for his many upcoming projects.

Jeremy Renner takes the lead placement, partially due to his massive significance to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and partially due to his unfortunate snow plow accident which he suffered in January. Renner rang in 2023 by trying to do a good deed for his friends and neighbors, utilizing his massive Pistenbully Snowcat plow to clear the driveways and sidewalks of his entire Lake Tahoe community.

Unfortunately, the brakes gave out on the enormous vehicle as Renner was assisting someone with their car, resulting in a life-threatening accident that left the Hawkeye actor fighting for his life throughout the entire year. 2023 was full of updates on Jeremy Renner’s health and wellness, with many fans concerned that the actor would never be able to walk again. Luckily, after countless surgeries and physical therapy treatments, Renner has almost fully regained his movement, though there is still a long road to a full recovery ahead of him.