Bringing Jesus to life on screen is one of the greatest challenges in acting. The role must be approached with a degree of reverence; otherwise, there is the risk of offending the sincerely held beliefs of tens of millions of people. At the same time, the ultimate purpose of film and television is to entertain: Jesus can’t be a dreary old dud because what is the point of boring audiences senseless? Given these demands, it is understandable that not every portrayal of Christ is a success – but the very best transcend such limitations with enormously moving results. Ahead of Easter, here is your own personal Jesus countdown of the 10 best screen depictions of the Messiah, reports BritPanorama.
10. Liam Neeson – The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Hold up – surely Liam Neeson never donned the robes and flowing beard of Jesus? You’re right – but he did the next best thing, voicing divine lion Aslan in Disney’s adaptation of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. The Chronicles of Narnia author CS Lewis was always explicit about Aslan being his version of Christ – recall how the protector of Narnia sacrificed himself so that sinful, Turkish Delight–gobbling Edmund Pevensie could be redeemed.
Neeson was right on board with that message, with his respectful portrayal of this children’s fantasy realm’s own Messiah figure. The rumours are that Meryl Streep will inherit the part from Neeson in Greta Gerwig’s forthcoming Narnia films for Netflix: she will do well to bring the same weight and humility to Lewis’s main character.
9. Ralph Fiennes – The Miracle Maker (1999)
Last seen rocking out to Iron Maiden in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Ralph Fiennes had a very different energy when he voiced Jesus in this 1999 stop-motion animation. He imbued Christ with a fitting gravitas while making the Messiah sound surprisingly personable. Here was a saviour who genuinely seemed more concerned with the woes of the common folk than the concerns of moneylenders, temple priests, or Roman administrators.
He did well, moreover, to shine among a pretty strong cast that also included Julie Christie, Ian Holm, Richard E Grant, and Miranda Richardson. Kudos to all for taking a potentially tricky Wallace and Gromit–style take on the New Testament and making it both profound and family-friendly.
8. Ted Neeley – Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)
It took a miracle for stage actor Ted Neeley to win the part of Jesus in the adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical. Director Norman Jewison had gone to see Neeley appear in the Broadway production of the rock opera Tommy – only for the actor to fall sick. Eager to bag the role, Neeley followed Jewison back to California – dressed as Jesus. His commitment convinced Jewison that he was the right fit
