The most searched for actors of 2023
A recent retirement, a blockbuster hit, and a resurfaced interview have led these stars to become search-worthy this year.
2023 was another busy year in the entertainment industry, with a number of high profile actors sharing big life decisions or being part of some of the biggest movies of the year.
We have had to bid farewell to some actors from the profession, while others have impacted it in a big way and so Yahoo has looked at who has drawn the most interest from the public. The results, which were pulled from hundreds of millions of searches on Yahoo UK in the past 12 months, reveal that the following ten actors were of the most interest.
10 | Tom Cruise
The action star has always been of note in the industry, but 2023 saw Cruise make a splash with the newest film in the Mission: Impossible franchise — Dead Reckoning Part One. As one of the big blockbusters of the year, and one that saw Cruise do another death-defying stunt, it's no wonder people have been looking him up.
9 | Michelle Keegan
The Our Girl actor is a British favourite and she has recently been seen on our screens in the fifth season of Brassic, for which she reprised her role as the fiery Erin. Earlier this year she starred in BBC drama Ten Pound Poms, and her next project is a thrilling Netflix series titled Fool Me Once.
8 | Lily James
Since making a statement in the drama Pam & Tommy in 2022, Lily James has kept largely out of the news in recent months as she spent 2023 working on new projects such as the forthcoming A24 film Iron Claw, and Italian period drama Finally Dawn.
7 | Margot Robbie
With Barbie dominating the box office it's comes as no surprise that star Margot Robbie has entered the most-searched actors list. Robbie has been the talk of the town thanks to the film, which also stars Ryan Gosling and was directed by Greta Gerwig, and she and her co-star were recently in the headlines after it was revealed they'd been cast in the Ocean's Eleven prequel as Danny Ocean's (George Clooney) parents.
6 | Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren has always been an actor of interest, but 2023 saw her come to the minds of the public not for her work for the way she handled herself during a now infamous interview with Michael Parkinson in 1975 which was brought back into the spotlight following the chat show host's death in August. Mirren has also been busy with work as she starred in series 1923, and some of the year's biggest films Fast X, Barbie, and Shazam! Fury of the Gods.
5 | Miriam Margolyes
Given her potty mouth, when is Miriam Margolyes not of search interest? Well, 2023 saw the actor come to attention for a variety of different reasons — from apologising to Steph McGovern for calling her ugly, to appearing in Doctor Who as The Meep, and even making the cover of British Vogue in July at the age of 82.
4 | Michael Caine
Michael Caine announced his decision to retire from acting in October following the release of his film The Great Escaper in the same month. The 90-year-old actor has given us so many great films over the years, from Italian Job to Muppets Christmas Carol, to his regular collaborations with Christopher Nolan so it feels only right that he enjoy some well-earned rest and relaxation.
3 | Arnold Schwarzenegger
The '80s action icon has been at the forefront of the entertainment industry thanks to two big projects: Fubar, which earned an early renewal at Netflix, and a tell-all documentary mini-series with the same streamer titled Arnold, in which the actor reflected on his rise to fame and enduring legacy.
2 | Judi Dench
Judi Dench is an icon of the stage and screen, and her recent health has seen search interest in her sky rocket in 2023. The actor has been candid about her battle with macular degeneration, which has impacted her eyesight, but regardless Dench is not ready to say goodbye to her profession anytime soon. Dench recently wrote a book about the works of William Shakespeare and she appeared in a Channel 5 documentary titled The Divine Judi Dench: Our National Treasure.
1 | Jennifer Aniston
Friends star Jennifer Aniston is the most searched for actor of 2023, she was in the news after revealing that friend and co-star Adam Sandler and his family send her flowers every Mother's Day, whilst she also appeared in a new season of Apple TV+'s The Morning Show and in Murder Mystery 2 for Netflix. Aniston has also been in the news following the sad passing of her co-star Matthew Perry, who she paid tribute to alongside the rest of the Friends cast.
Watch the making of The Great Escaper: