Mark Ruffalo: His 10 greatest films, from 13 Going on 30 to Foxcatcher 1. The Kids Are All Right (2010)

Ruffalo’s character in The Kids Are All Right feels like what would happen if his You Can Count on Me character grew up, grew a beard and went vegan. He plays the anonymous sperm donor to a lesbian couple (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore), who is surprised by the arrival of two children he didn’t know existed. There’s a lovely sleepy energy to his performance here, but also significant trauma. Here’s a character magnetised to screw-ups, someone charming and sweet but perpetually sabotaging his life and relationships. In a film filled with incredibly difficult characters that often stretch the limits of your empathy, Ruffalo is its most haunting and loveable protagonist. It’s no wonder it earned him an Oscar nomination, the Academy finally waking up to Ruffalo’s brilliance, nearly two decades after he started acting. Better late than never.

Focus Features