Reel Life: 12 Brilliant Biopic Performances

Since the earliest days of the motion picture industry, biopics have given film fans a glimpse into the storied lives of the famous -- and infamous. With the soon-to-be-released film 'Marshall,' starring Chadwick Boseman, about to hit theaters, we thought it would be a good idea to check out the greatest biopic lead performances of all time.

Robert De Niro’s mesmerizing portrayal of boxer Jake La Motta not only earned him an Oscar for his performance, it also secured this Martin Scorsese masterpiece a place on the list of the 100 greatest films of all time.

Playing the lead in this rags to riches biopic about the life of country singer Loretta Lynn not only earned Sissy Spacek an Academy Award for her amazing performance, it also showed the world that Spacek could sing just as well as she could act. 

With his portrayal of the quadriplegic writer Christy Brown, Daniel Day-Lewis proved to the world that he has more talent in his left foot than most people have in their entire bodies.  An Oscar-worthy performance if there ever was one.

Truman Capote captivated readers everywhere with his true-to-life tome 'In Cold Blood,' but it is Philip Seymour Hoffman’s Oscar-winning portrayal of Capote’s life during the time he wrote the book that would captivate viewers. Brilliant!

Considered one of the most influential films of all time, Peter O’Toole’s portrayal of legendary British intelligence officer T.E. Lawrence is the stuff of legend. Shot on an epic scale in the desert sands, O’Toole delivers a larger-than-life performance worthy of Oscar gold… yet somehow they didn’t give it to him.

Colin Firth’s portrayal of war-torn England’s stuttering King George VI is as good as it gets. Feeling unworthy of the position while needing to appear strong for the sake of his country, Firth delivers an Academy Award-winning performance worthy of nobility.   

Casting Jamie Foxx to play musician Ray Charles on the big screen was a stroke of genius. A classically trained pianist, Foxx literally becomes the man and brings his music to life in a way no other actor could have ever dreamed of, earning an Oscar for his efforts.

Julia Roberts earned Oscar gold for her portrayal of the unemployed single mother who took on a multibillion-dollar corporation and won!

Stepping into the high-energy shoes of singer Tina Turner is no easy task, but lucky for viewers Angela Bassett was up for the challenge. Not only did she deliver a stellar performance as the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, she earned an Oscar nomination in the process.

From the moment he steps in front of a giant U.S. flag, George C. Scott takes command of the screen and doesn’t give it back for three hours. His spot-on portrayal of General George S. Patton is so remarkable, you’ll forever have a hard time trying to separate the real Patton from Scott’s Oscar-winning performance.

Winning an Academy Award for her portrayal of the difficult life of singer Edith Piaf, Marion Cotillard gives a performance so true to life you’ll personally feel all of the pain, loss and love Piaf endured. Truly magnificent.  

Staying true to his belief in the power of nonviolent protest, Mahatma Gandhi single-handedly transformed India and the rest of the world. The story of this outwardly simple yet inwardly complex man’s life is so beautifully acted by Ben Kingsley, it earned him an Academy Award and the adoration of fans and critics alike.