Ben Foster: the greatest actor you’ve never heard of
In terms of elite Hollywood performers who consistently slip under the radar in terms of mainstream recognition or acclaim, there are few actors who can rival Ben Foster in terms of sheer talent, range, and watchability.
A notoriously underrated character actor, the 44-year-old has produced some of the most intense and memorable cinematic performances of the 21st century. Eschewing blockbusters and franchise offerings in favour of indie cinema has allowed the American to focus solely on his craft, resulting in a diverse selection of spectacular dramatic performances.
During the early goings of his career, Foster frequently demonstrated flashes of elite acting talent throughout his time on various television shows and films. However, it was 2007’s remake of 3:10 to Yuma that confirmed his status as one of Hollywood’s most criminally underappreciated faces. Stepping into the role of the sadistic outlaw, Charlie Prince, Foster’s chilling take on the movie’s supporting antagonist completely stole the show. His interpretation of the psychotic gunman arguably upstaged the efforts of the two top-billed Oscar winners, Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, breathing life into one of the most memorable villains the western genre has ever witnessed.
While other actors would have used such a performance as a springboard into the mainstream stratosphere, Foster didn’t ride his wave of success into blockbuster recognition. Where many actors would have ridden the gravy train of their success to the big time, he elected to fade back into relative anonymity. As such, while he would continue to produce exemplary performances in the likes of Lone Survivor, Alpha Dog, and The Program, many had forgotten the talent that the actor was capable of demonstrating on the biggest stage. Of course, that was until he was cast as Tanner Howard in Taylor Sheridan’s neo-Western standout, 2016’s Hell or High Water.
Producing another generational performance as a reckless bank robber being pursued by Texas Rangers, Foster’s failure to receive an Academy Award nomination for his stirring turn as Howard easily stands as one of the Academy’s more egregious fuck ups in recent years. Deftly balancing the line between a wild stick-up artist and a fiercely loyal brother, the American produced a career-best performance, one that was widely touted as one of the year’s best dramatic bows.
However, much like his success in 3:10 to Yuma, Foster chose to forego parlaying his latest accolades into more high-profile roles once again. It was a choice that would lead to another one of his finest turns, as the American was cast as Will in 2018’s Leave No Trace. Following a military veteran suffering from PTSD living off-grid in the forest with his young daughter, Debra Granik’s picture was universally acclaimed and appeared on numerous top ten lists for the year. True to form, Foster’s performance alongside Thomasin Mackenzie as his fictional daughter was singled out for exceptional praise once again.
Even if you ignore his bigger-name performances, Ben Foster still stands out as that rare kind of actor who can lift a middling film purely through the strength of a supporting role.
Whether it’s Hostage or Emancipation, he’s turned up in otherwise forgettable flicks and delivered something properly gripping. He’s never seemed all that fussed about chasing fame either – instead, he quietly sharpens his craft, bringing grit, honesty, and real emotional weight to everything he does. He’s got the chops to headline any blockbuster he fancies, but clearly prefers cracking on with the work rather than chasing red carpets.
