Ariel Award for Best Actor

It is given in honor of an actor who has delivered an outstanding performance in a leading role while working within the Mexican film industry.

In 1947, the 1st and 2nd Ariel Awards were held, with Domingo Soler and David Silva winning for the films La Barraca and Campeón Sin Corona, respectively.

[1] Nominees and winners are determined by a committee formed every year consisting of academy members (active and honorary), previous winners and individuals with at least two Ariel nominations; the committee members submit their votes through the official AMACC website.

[3][4] In 1972, Alfonso Arau won for his self-directed leading role in El Águila Descalza.

[6][7] Six films have featured two nominated performances for Best Actor, De Todos Modos Juan Te Llamas (Jorge Russek and Juan Ferrara), Cuartelazo (Héctor Ortega and Bruno Rey), Vidas Errantes (José Carlos Ruiz and Ignacio Guadalupe), Chido Guan, El Tacos de Oro (Fernando Arau and Mario Almada), Dulces Compañías (Roberto Cobo and Ramiro Huerta), and 600 Millas (Kristyan Ferrer and Tim Roth); Russek and Ruiz won the award.

Color photo of Damián Alcázar.
Five times winner, Mexican actor Damián Alcázar
Color photo of José Carlos Ruiz.
Three time winner, Mexican actor José Carlos Ruiz
Black-and-white photo of Pedro Armendariz Jr, 1973.
Mexican actor Pedro Armendáriz Jr. won in 1977 for Mina, Viento de Libertad .
Color photo of Alfonso Arau, 2016.
Mexican actor Alfonso Arau was nominated twice and won once in 1972 for El Águila Descalza .
Color photo of Hector Bonilla.
Mexican actor Héctor Bonilla won twice for Meridiano 100 (1975) and Rojo Amanecer (1991).
Color photo of Noe Hernandez.
Mexican actor Noé Hernández won for Ocho de Cada Diez in 2019 and for Kokoloko in 2024.
Color photo of Demián Bichir.
Mexican actor Demián Bichir won for Hasta Morir in 1995.
Color photo of Gael García Bernal.
Mexican actor Gael García Bernal won for Amores Perros in 2001.
Color photo of Rafael Inclán.
Mexican actor Rafael Inclán won for Nicotina in 2001.
Color photo of Tenoch Huerta.
Mexican actor Tenoch Huerta has been nominated three times and won once for Días de Gracia in 2012.
Color photo of Roberto Sosa.
Roberto Sosa was nominated four times and won in 2013 for El Fantástico Mundo de Juan Orol .
Color photo of Juan Manuel Bernal.
Mexican actor Juan Manuel Bernal won for Obediencia Perfecta in 2015.
Color photo of Adrián Ladrón.
Mexican actor Adrián Ladrón won for La 4ª Compañía in 2017.
Color photo of Eligio Melendez.
Mexican actor Eligio Meléndez won for Sueño en Otro Idioma in 2018.
Color photo of Luis Alberti.
Mexican actor Luis Alberti won for Mano de Obra in 2020.
Color photo of Luis Alberti.
Mexican actor Alfonso Herrera won for El baile de los 41 in 2021.