The top 15 best performances in Star Wars
By Tom Farr
10. Adam Driver as Ben Solo/Kylo Ren
Regardless of how you feel about the Star Wars sequel trilogy, Adam Driver’s performance as Kylo Ren is worth the price of admission. Throughout the sequel trilogy, Kylo is conflicted, wanting to serve the dark side of the Force and finish what his grandfather Darth Vader started, but haunted by the choices he has to make to fulfill his destiny. Driver portrays this haunted quality perfectly. He’s intimidating, and yet you can still sense that he’s also just a scared little boy who’s been deceived by something he doesn’t truly understand. His chemistry with Daisy Ridley as Rey is one of the definitive strengths of the sequel trilogy, making their Force dyad connection one of the more brilliant ideas to be introduced into the story.
As impressive as his performance as Kylo Ren is, Driver’s standout performance comes near the end of The Rise of Skywalker when he renounces the Dark Side to become Ben Solo again. The interaction he has with the memory of his father Han Solo is one of the most touching moments of the Skywalker Saga, and the way he comes to fight beside Rey against Palpatine in the film’s final battle make him one of the most loved characters in Star Wars, even prompting many fans to wish for his resurrection in a future film.