Known for his raw emotional vulnerability, fierce physical commitment, and uncanny ability to disappear into complex characters, Garfield has solidified his status as one of the finest actors of his generation. From indie dramas to massive blockbusters and Broadway stages, here is a retrospective look at 10 roles that define his extraordinary career.
1. Jonathan Larson – Tick, Tick… Boom! (2021)
Directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, this biographical musical saw Garfield transform into Rent creator Jonathan Larson during a desperate race against time to create a theatrical masterpiece before turning 30. Learning to sing and play piano specifically for the role, Garfield delivered a breathless, joyous, and heartbreaking performance that earned him a Golden Globe Award and his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor.
2. Eduardo Saverin – The Social Network (2010)
In David Fincher’s social media origin story, Garfield delivered the tragic, emotional spine of the film as Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. His trajectory from loyal best friend to betrayed outsider culminated in one of the most famous monologues of 2010s cinema (“You better lawyer up, asshole”), earning him widespread critical acclaim and launching him onto Hollywood’s A-list.
3. Desmond Doss – Hacksaw Ridge (2016)
In Mel Gibson’s WWII biographical drama, Garfield played Desmond Doss, a real-life Seventh-day Adventist who served as a combat medic without ever carrying a weapon. Garfield infused the role with conviction, quiet humility, and spiritual resolve, earning his very first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
4. Father Sebastião Rodrigues – Silence (2016)
In Martin Scorsese’s grueling theological epic, Garfield underwent a profound physical and mental transformation to portray a 17th-century Portuguese Jesuit priest searching for his missing mentor in feudal Japan. Garfield spent months in silent prayer retreats to prepare, resulting in a deeply contemplative performance about faith, doubt, and sacrifice.
5. Tobias Durand – We Live in Time (2024)
Starring opposite Florence Pugh, Garfield brought tender intimacy to John Crowley’s non-linear romantic drama. Playing an unpretentious man navigating an unexpected romance, family life, and tragic illness alongside his chef partner, Garfield demonstrated his unmatched talent for quiet, grounded heartbreak.
6. Prior Walter – Angels in America (Broadway/National Theatre, 2017–2018)
Taking on Tony Kushner’s legendary stage masterpiece, Garfield gave a tour-de-force performance as Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS in 1980s New York who receives visions from an angel. Garfield’s incandescent stage presence earned him the Tony Award for Best Lead Actor in a Play.
7. Jack Burridge – Boy A (2007)
In his breakout feature performance, a young Garfield played a young man re-entering society under a new identity after serving time for a horrific childhood crime. His fragile, nervous vulnerability earned him a BAFTA Television Award for Best Actor, signalling the arrival of a major dramatic talent.
8. Sam – Under the Silver Lake (2018)
David Robert Mitchell’s surreal neo-noir comedy-mystery allowed Garfield to embrace his deadpan, unhinged side. Playing a conspiracy-obsessed slacker wandering through a fever-dream version of Los Angeles to find a missing neighbor, Garfield anchored the cult film with hilarious, paranoid energy.
9. Detective Jeb Pyre – Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)
In Dustin Lance Black’s true-crime limited series, Garfield starred as a devout Mormon detective tasked with investigating a brutal murder within an fundamentalist sect. Garfield’s quiet, agonizing portrayal of a man experiencing a crisis of faith earned him his first Primetime Emmy nomination.
10. Peter Parker / Spider-Man – Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)
Reprising his web-slinging role alongside Tobey Maguire and Tom Holland, Garfield brought tragic depth, hyperactive wit, and emotional closure to his version of Peter Parker. His redemption scene catching Zendaya’s MJ remains one of the most emotional moments in modern superhero cinema.