David Cronenberg’s films are frequently noted for their existentialist themes and startlingly imaginative flashes of violence, but there’s one aspect of his movie making that’s often overlooked. Almost every film he’s made since the late-70s has featured at least one stand-out performance, and I’d even go so far as to say that some actors have never bettered their Cronenberg-driven turns.

With but one exception, most of these performances have been overlooked by major award-giving organisations. To redress the balance a little, here’s our list of career-best performances in Cronenberg’s films…

Samantha Eggar