The famed English director Alfred Hitchcock has worked with more of the biggest stars in Hollywood and international cinema than almost any other filmmaker. His career began in the 1920s and continued all the way through to the 1970s, giving him the chance to cast notable actors across five decades of movie history. Through his early years in Britain to the Golden Age of Hollywood and beyond, Hitchcock’s movies have featured some of the biggest names in show business, from Cary Grant and Ingrid Bergman to Gregory Peck and James Stewart.

Though working with such massive stars is a big deal in and of itself, Hitchcock also helped to craft some of their all-time greatest performances. Many of their most famous roles are in Hitchcock’s movies. Truly, the infamous master of suspense knew how to bring out the best in his actors. To see just how good he was, let's dive into the best performances in Alfred Hitchcock's movies, ranked.

8 Tippi Hedren - The Birds (1963)

Tippi Hedren and her iconic screams are on bold display in The Birds, a surreal horror film in which killer birds descend on Bodega Bay, California. Hedren wears her terror on her face, giving a mature, physically-taxing performance as wealthy socialite Melanie Daniels. Ultimately, she's just a normal woman who stumbles into a world of horror, and Hedren plays the part so well. The Birds would not have had the impact it did without her presence.

7 James Stewart - Rear Window (1954)

For a movie that takes place entirely in one apartment, Rear Window sure has terrific performances. Hollywood hall-of-famer James "Jimmy" Stewart takes on the leading role here as L.B. Jeffries, an injured, wheelchair-bound photographer who discovers a violent conspiracy taking place in a neighboring apartment building. Witty, charming, and skilled with his camera, Stewart makes this movie shine, though Express reports that it was difficult working with him on set.

6 Grace Kelly - Dial M for Murder (1954)

Grace Kelly is renowned for her on-screen grace and refinement, but she does not always get adequate opportunities to show off her acting chops. That changes in Hitchcock's Dial M for Murder, where she commands every scene she's in. Caught up in a love affair/murder mystery, her character Morgot is equal parts terrified and sharp-witted as she navigates a tangle of blackmail and lies. You won't see Kelly the same way after watching this film.

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5 Joseph Cotten - Shadow of a Doubt (1943)

Joseph Cotten plays Charles Oakley, a con man and killer on the run from the law. He emerges in the film as "Uncle Charlie," a relative of Charlotte Newton, our protagonist. But Uncle Charlie has much to hide, and the mystery of the film unravels as Charlotte uncovers his criminal past. At first, Cotten plays Charles as a jolly, lovable uncle, but over time his face changes; his expressions darken, and his eyes narrow with suspicion. In effect, Cotten plays two roles, as "Uncle Charlie" is merely a guise used to mask his murderous intentions.

4 Anthony Perkins - Psycho (1960)

Though the thriller classic Psycho (which spawned its own franchise) has Janet Leigh in the lead role, it is Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates who steals the show. This iconic villain is famed for his darkly menacing energy, which he hides behind a veneer of sheepish smiles and awkward charm. Perkins loses himself in the role, playing the mother-obsessed killer like he was born to do it. The results speak for themselves, and the legacy of the character has now been cemented in cinema history, as discussed by The Guardian for the film's 60th anniversary.

3 Cary Grant - Notorious (1946)

Notorious shows Cary Grant at his most suave, charismatic, and capable. Grant plays T.R. Devlin, a government agent trained in the arts of spycraft and love. Think James Bond minus the gadgets. Not only is Devlin a heartthrob extraordinaire; he's also instrumental in the takedown of a ring of Nazis who fled to Brazil after World War II. Grant plays this role opposite Ingrid Bergman, and their onscreen chemistry is just magical.

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2 Robert Walker - Strangers on a Train (1951)

Strangers on a Train is a movie brought to life by its villain, Bruno Antony. This fast-talking sociopath sets a murderous scheme in motion that makes other Hitchcock films look simplistic in comparison. The forever boyish Wielding a silvery tongue, Robert Walker plays the character wonderfully, giving Bruno his uncanny, mischievous look. Walker's performance during the movie's wild climax makes Bruno the best villain in Hitchcock's oeuvre — no small feat.

1 Kim Novak - Vertigo (1958)

In Vertigo, considered by many to be one of the greatest films ever made, Kim Novak plays not one but two central roles. Judy Barton and Madeleine Ester: two love interests rolled into one, with each harboring a dark secret that sends protagonist John "Scottie" Ferguson spiraling towards madness. Novak plays each part in subtly different ways, but the catch here is that the latter woman mirrors the former. Really, they are the same person, but our protagonist doesn't know it. Novak's grand trick lies in convincing Ferguson that she is not the same lover he once knew. It's a shockingly good performance and, in the final analysis, the best in any Alfred Hitchcock film.