The celebrities who top internet search trends offer unique insight into which names and faces captivate the public’s attention in 2023. Of all the talented performers in television and film, only an elite few can claim global appeal significant enough to drive millions of Google searches.
So which actors make up this exclusive list, and what has fueled their prominence? By analyzing this year’s search data and evaluating each actor’s major projects over the past year, clear patterns emerge around the names that provoked the highest search traffic and sustained public curiosity into 2023.
Content Highlights:
- Margot Robbie takes the top spot with close to 20 million searches, following buzzy turns in Babylon and the controversial Netflix film Blonde.
- Johnny Depp’s legal saga and comeback efforts land him in third with over 8 million searches, 87% above his 2022 volume.
- Avengers star Chris Hemsworth cracks the list, aided by the long-awaited Marvel sequel Thor: Love and Thunder, released last summer.
- Will Smith, Amber Heard and Jennifer Lopez show massive scandals or tabloid attention, contributing greatly to public curiosity.
- Tom Cruise sustains incredible popularity into his 60s on the strength of Top Gun sequel Maverick’s box office dominance 36 years after the original.
- A diverse mix of generation-defining veterans (Cruise, JLo, and Pitt) and rising young stars (Robbie, Zendaya) make up the top tier of searched names.
Top 10 Google’s Most Searched Actors in the World:
1. Margot Robbie
This year’s most searched-for actor starred not in 2023’s highest-grossing blockbuster but instead in its most controversial biopic. Australian actress Margot Robbie’s portrayal of tragic icon Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s Blonde earned as much scorn as praise. But captivating audiences have come naturally to Robbie throughout her rapid rise.
Proving her box office power opposite Brad Pitt in the summer hit Babylon, Robbie’s 2023 drew nearly 20 million global Google searches, nearly double her next closest competitor among actors. Rivaling the popularity of far more established movie stars at just 32 years old, don’t expect Margot Robbie to relinquish her perch atop this ranking for years to come.
2. Tom Cruise
Even after four decades as Hollywood’s quintessential action hunk, Tom Cruise continues to raise his stardom well into his 60s. Replacing his iconic role as Top Gun’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell 36 years after the 1986 classic, Top Gun: Maverick emerged as 2022’s biggest blockbuster, raking in over $1.4 billion globally.
The sequel sparked around 12 million Google searches for Cruise in 2023 and further cemented the actor’s unfading appeal across generations. Even a polarizing public persona around science hardly makes a dent. Among leading men, none carry more sustained drawing power on the silver screen than Cruise. In addition, you can also read an article on- Method Actors: The Stars Who Took Immersion to the Extreme
3. Johnny Depp
Once ranked Hollywood’s most bankable star, actor Johnny Depp rebounded spectacularly in 2023 following his public legal battle with ex-wife Amber Heard. After losing his libel suit in late 2021, Depp took Heard back to court for defamation, winning over public perception after explosive testimony captured rapt attention.
The renewed spotlight translated into over 8 million Google searches for Depp in 2023 and a host of new film projects after years in the wilderness. At nearly 60, the actor once labeled “washed up” now sees his fame rapidly appreciate anew.
4. Brad Pitt
Hollywood legend Brad Pitt enjoyed a late career resurgence in 2023, earning an Oscar nomination for his starring turn in Babylon. Coming after a messy divorce saga with Angelina Jolie dominating tabloid fodder for years, Pitt reclaimed focus on his on-screen work while still generating as much public fascination as ever.
With over 6 million Google searches focused on the 59-year-old superstar, Pitt shows zero signs of acting his age or losing his spot among Hollywood’s most searched-for talents. 2023 simply marks yet another year with all eyes glued to Pitt’s storied career.
5. Jennifer Lopez
Even before high-profile reunions, actress and performer Jennifer Lopez seldom left headlines or escaped widespread public fascination. Over 5 million Google searches focused on JLo in 2023 amid a marrying Affleck and starring role in the new romantic comedy Shotgun Wedding.
Even as she enters her 50s, Lopez’s amorous exploits and continual acting roles sustain a celebrity that leaves no signs of fading. As her 2023 search traffic suggests, a few names better personify resilience in the spotlight.
6. Will Smith
Actor and musician Will Smith seldom disappears from the public eye for long, thanks to hisubiquity, which few stars can match. But Smith attracted extraordinary attention this year following the slap when he infamously struck comedian Chris Rock at March’s Academy Awards. The incident fueled a torrent of hot takes and over 3 million Google searches for Smith in its immediate wake.
However, Smith also generated buzz for his new film, Emancipation, his first release since his Oscar ban ended in 2023. While still polarizing, Smith’s unique ability to captivate public discourse remains fully intact heading into his 30th year as a ubiquitous pop culture fixture. Additionally, you can also read about- Top Actors Propose Changes to Aid Stalled Film/TV Contract Talks
7. Ana de Armas
After a breakout performance in the latest James Bond film, the Cuban actress earned mainstream attention as Hollywood’s latest “It Girl” heading into 2023. With over 2.8 million searches this year, the rising star generated buzz both for her acting and her high-profile relationship with Ben Affleck.
But after acclaim in small films like Knives Out, de Armas’ turn in the widely-panned Blonde showed the difficulty of transitioning to leading roles. However, with four upcoming projects, this fast-rising talent still shows enormous potential. For the 34-year-old de Armas, her position among Hollywood’s elite feels far from set in stone.
8. Amber Heard
Few names made bigger headlines in 2022 than actress Amber Heard, though not for her on-screen work. Her high-profile legal battle with ex-husband Johnny Depp resulted in over 2.5 million searches this year. Interest was sparked more by scandal than entertainment success.
With her role reduced for Aquaman 2 and limited major acting jobs on the horizon, Heard’s fame primarily derives from her conflict with Depp’s monopolizing tabloids. For this controversial star, widespread public attention resulted more from legal strife than artistic achievement in 2023.
9. Zendaya
As the star of HBO’s drama series Euphoria, 25-year-old Zendaya has emerged as one of her generation’s most-followed talents. Garnering over 2.2 million searches This year, her portrayal of Rue Bennett earned Zendaya her second Emmy award last September and fueled fascination in the young actress’ burgeoning career.
With season 3 of Euphoria slated for 2024 and starring roles in films like Dune: Part Two and Challengers, Zendaya’s visibility and online interest should both increase exponentially moving forward. At just 25, her best years likely still lie ahead.
10. Chris Hemsworth
Best known for wielding the hammer as Marvel’s Thor since 2011, Australian actor Chris Hemsworth earned over 2 million Google searches worldwide in 2023, partly off the long-awaited premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder last summer. Replacing his iconic role in the fourth Thor film, Hemsworth’s fame remains tethered to the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s enduring popularity.
With Thor still ranking among Marvel’s most beloved heroes, Hemsworth’s celebrity should continue to stand the test of time thanks to one of superhero cinema’s most legendary roles. The sky remains the limit for this action star’s online interest in 2023 and beyond.
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Takeaway
Online searches offer quantifiable insight into audience curiosity, highlighting which entertainers attract and sustain public fascination most fervently at any moment. While interest perpetually shifts, this year’s crop of highly searched stars share the exceptional talent and exaggerated personal lives driving enduring celebrity.
But simple searches only reveal part of the picture. The full narratives around stars like Depp, Robbie and Smith depend on a more complex context. At minimum, 2023’s top actor searches showcase how the combination of on- and off-screen visibility fuels today’s most ubiquitous pop culture icons—for better and worse.
The elite group of highly watched stars almost represents a world of celebrity unto itself, playing by different rules of reputation and resilience compared to mere mortals. Their prominence seems constructed more to weather any controversy than to crumble under its weight. As long as eyes stay fixed and searches flow steadily, the volatile nature of superstardom allows falling hard and fast just as quickly as soaring.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the most searched actor in 2023?
Based on Google search data, Margot Robbie stands as 2023’s most highly searched actor, with nearly 20 million global searches. She finishes well ahead of second-place Tom Cruise’s 12 million searches.
2. Why do these actors generate so many searches?
A mix of high-visibility projects, sustained career success, and tabloid headline-grabbing controversies outside their work combine to drive fascination—and searches—around these elite performers.
3. Has Margot Robbie been the most searched before?
While enormously popular, 2023 does mark the first year Robbie has topped this ranking. However, at just 32 years old, she seems poised to become a mainstay among the most searched as her stardom keeps rising.
4. Who had the biggest increase in searches over last year?
Three standouts based on increased search volume over their 2022 totals are Johnny Depp (+87%), Amber Heard (+75%), and Will Smith (+68%), all fueled heavily by scandals commanding public attention.
5. Who is the oldest actor among the top 10 searches?
60-year-old Tom Cruise finishes second in searches despite having the longest career of the list’s actors, first appearing on screen in 1981’s Endless Love four decades ago at age 18. His sustained appeal remains unmatched among the leading men of his generation.
