Star Wars has dominated at the American box office for the past 40 years. One-third of the country’s 15 top-grossing films of all time are Star Wars movies, and it is likely that future releases will also do exceedingly well.
The blockbuster series has lined not only the pockets of production studios, but of all those involved, especially the actors. In addition to introducing young, up and coming actors such as Daisy Ridley and John Boyega, numerous Hollywood superstars enjoyed taking part in the films — be it with larger or smaller parts.
24/7 Wall St. has identified the most successful Star Wars actors by creating an index based on audience ratings of each actors’ films and television shows – be they Star Wars or not – and the number of annual page views for each actor. This reflects both financial success as well as the actors’ level of celebrity.
Click here to see the most successful Star Wars actors.
Click here to see our methodology.
40. Hayden Christensen
> Character: Anakin Skywalker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,936,231
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
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39. Sally Hawkins
> Character: Villager
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,761,890
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
38. Lupita Nyong’o
> Character: Maz Kanata
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,973,820
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
37. Daisy Ridley
> Character: Rey
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,301,517
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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36. Thandie Newton
> Character: Val
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,693,339
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
35. Richard Armitage
> Character: Naboo Fighter Pilot
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,093,890
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
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34. Adam Driver
> Character: Kylo Ren
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,624,423
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
33. Justin Theroux
> Character: Master Codebreaker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,190,733
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
32. Max von Sydow
> Character: Lor San Tekka
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 839,694
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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31. Frank Oz
> Character: Yoda
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 753,142
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
30. Marton Csokas
> Character: Poggle the Lesser
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 564,020
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
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29. Laura Dern
> Character: Vice Admiral Holdo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,075,181
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
28. Oscar Isaac
> Character: Poe Dameron
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,933,503
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
27. Donald Glover
> Character: Lando Calrissian
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 5,861,075
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
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26. Joel Edgerton
> Character: Owen Lars
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,255,796
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
25. Alan Tudyk
> Character: K-2SO
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,013,985
> Star Wars appearances: Rogue One
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> Character: General Hux
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,302,065
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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23. Jon Favreau
> Character: Rio Durant
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,865,251
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
22. Forest Whitaker
> Character: Saw Gerrera
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,499,834
> Star Wars appearances: Rogue One
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21. Rose Byrne
> Character: Dormé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,923,984
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
20. Warwick Davis
> Character: Wicket, Wald / Pod race spectator / Mos Espa Citizen, Wollivan, Weeteef Cyubee, Wodibin, Weazel
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 983,276
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Rogue One, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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19. James Earl Jones
> Character: Darth Vader
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,754,085
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One
18. Simon Pegg
> Character: Unkar Plutt
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,429,451
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
17. Emilia Clarke
> Character: Qi’ra
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 6,950,857
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
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16. Paul Bettany
> Character: Dryden Vos
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,112,243
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
15. Benicio Del Toro
> Character: DJ
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,468,633
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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14. Christopher Lee
> Character: Count Dooku
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,519,913
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
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13. Daniel Craig
> Character: Stormtrooper
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,251,761
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens
12. John Ratzenberger
> Character: Rebel Force Major Derlin
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 636,639
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
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11. Mark Hamill
> Character: Luke Skywalker
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,156,872
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
10. Woody Harrelson
> Character: Beckett
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,837,468
> Star Wars appearances: Solo: A Star Wars Story
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9. Joseph Gordon-Levitt
> Character: Slowen Lo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 1,764,629
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
8. Keira Knightley
> Character: Sabé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,712,027
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace
7. Carrie Fisher
> Character: Princess Leia Organa
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,562,475
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
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6. Andy Serkis
> Character: Supreme Leader Snoke
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,665,799
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi
5. Ewan McGregor
> Character: Obi-Wan Kenobi
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,920,004
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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4. Natalie Portman
> Character: Padmé
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,874,423
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
3. Liam Neeson
> Character: Qui-Gon Jinn
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 3,827,872
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones
2. Harrison Ford
> Character: Han Solo
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 4,216,407
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi, Star Wars: The Force Awakens
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1. Samuel L. Jackson
> Character: Mace Windu
> Annual Wikipedia page views: 2,870,526
> Star Wars appearances: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Detailed Findings & Methodology
Many of the most successful actors to appear in the Star Wars films reached the highest level of their careers after these roles. For instance, while Harrison Ford had some major roles prior to appearing in “Episode IV – A New Hope” – including appearances in “American Graffiti” and “The Conversation” – it was the Star Wars role that catapulted his career to worldwide fame. He’s since starred in numerous major movies such as “Raiders of the Lost Ark,” “The Fugitive,” and “Air Force One,” and currently has an estimated net worth of $230 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
Other actors find their way to the Star Wars universe after making a name for themselves. c appeared in 2017’s “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” as Vice Admiral Holdo, 24 years after becoming a household name after starring in “Jurassic Park.” Even Daniel Craig, best known for his work as James Bond, had an uncredited role as a Stormtrooper in 2015’s “The Force Awakens.”
Star Wars is such a cinematic powerhouse, however, that a single lead role in the series can be enough for an actor to be considered a success. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill are both known for little more than their Star Wars characters, yet both make our list.
To determine the most successful Star Wars actors, 24/7 Wall St. measured fame by creating an index of two metrics: 1) Internet Movie Database audience user ratings of all films and television shows in which each actor appears. 2) The number of views each actor’s Wikipedia page received over the 12 months through May 2018. Acting credits were given additional weight. Only actors with at least 500,000 page views were considered.
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