10 Underrated Fantasy TV Performances That Deserve More Recognition

Fantasy TV shows have long been a launchpad for actors to skyrocket into stardom. From Sarah Michelle Gellar’s breakout as Buffy Summers in Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Emilia Clarke becoming synonymous with Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, fantasy on the small screen can transform careers. Audiences don’t just watch these actors – they remember them for decades.

However, not every standout performance gets the attention it deserves. While big names like Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki from Supernatural continue to dominate fan discussions, countless other actors gave equally compelling performances that never reached mainstream recognition. Their talent often gets overshadowed by bigger stars or the cultural juggernauts surrounding their shows.

Still, many of these overlooked performances deserve revisiting. They weren’t just good – they were scene-stealing, show-defining, and unforgettable. Decades later, these performances remain under-discussed, but fans of fantasy TV shows should revisit them for the sheer on-screen magic these actors delivered.

Anna Silk As Bo In Lost Girl (2010-2015)

Silk Made Bo One Of Fantasy TV’s Most Magnetic Heroines

Anna Silk’s portrayal of Bo in Lost Girl remains one of the most compelling and underrated lead performances in fantasy TV. Playing a succubus torn between her supernatural identity and her humanity, Silk brought a raw vulnerability that grounded the show’s fantastical premise. She delivered a charismatic balance of strength, sensuality, and emotional depth that made Bo unforgettable.

Anna Silk was an instant standout in Lost Girl thanks to her ability to convey both power and tenderness within the same scene. Bo was a complex protagonist navigating moral gray areas, and Silk gave the role a richness that elevated the show well beyond genre expectations. She turned what could have been pulpy escapism into an engrossing character study.

For a series that thrived on world-building and myth, it was Anna Silk’s performance that held Lost Girl together. It’s astonishing that Bo isn’t more widely remembered, as Silk created one of the most unique and magnetic heroines in fantasy TV history.

David Giuntoli As Nick Burkhardt In Grimm (2011-2017)

Giuntoli Gave Nick Burkhardt Quiet Strength And Heart

David Giuntoli anchored NBC’s Grimm as Nick Burkhardt, a homicide detective who discovers he’s part of a long line of monster hunters. On paper, the premise sounds pulpy, but Giuntoli’s understated and grounded approach kept the show compelling across six seasons. His Nick was relatable, human, and quietly heroic in a way fantasy TV rarely showcases.

Giuntoli excelled in balancing Nick’s dual life – ordinary man by day, supernatural warrior by night. He managed to keep the role believable while navigating outlandish creatures and high-stakes battles. That level of consistency is no small feat, especially in a show where nearly every episode introduced a new fantastical element.

While Grimm gained a loyal following, Giuntoli never got the recognition he deserved for carrying such a dense mythology with subtle charisma. His Nick deserves to be remembered alongside the great fantasy protagonists for giving fans a grounded hero in a fantastical world.

Timothy Omundson As King Richard In Galavant (2015-2016)

Omundson Turned King Richard Into A Hilarious Underdog

Timothy Omundson’s King Richard in Galavant was the kind of comedic performance that elevated an entire show. Initially written as a bumbling villain, Omundson transformed Richard into a sympathetic, hilarious, and oddly heartfelt figure. His delivery of one-liners and commitment to musical numbers made every scene unforgettable.

What made Omundson’s work so strong was his ability to turn absurd comedy into something emotionally resonant. Over time, King Richard became less of a caricature and more of a fully realized, insecure ruler struggling with identity and belonging. Omundson balanced sharp wit with surprising tenderness, creating a layered portrayal few expected.

In a series like Galavant that leaned heavily on parody and satire, Timothy Omundson’s performance stood out as both outrageously funny and genuinely moving. Fantasy TV shows rarely feature such effective comedic villains-turned-heroes, and Omundson’s Richard remains one of the great under-discussed highlights.

Adria Arjona As Anathema Device In Good Omens (2019-2023)

Arjona Brought Intelligence And Charm To Anathema Device

As Anathema Device, Adria Arjona brought intelligence and warmth to the cast of Good Omens. The role could have easily been overshadowed by Michael Sheen and David Tennant’s iconic pairing, but Arjona held her own with poise and charisma. She turned a supporting part into a vital presence in the show’s apocalyptic tapestry.

Anathema was a descendant of a witch and tasked with fulfilling a prophecy, a role heavy with responsibility. Arjona infused her with charm and a quiet determination, making the character both mystical and deeply human. Her performance carried an understated power, bringing balance to the show’s chaotic world-ending antics.

While Sheen and Tennant received endless acclaim, Arjona’s contribution remains underappreciated. Her work ensured Good Omens wasn’t just about angels and demons but about the humans caught in between. Fantasy TV shows thrive on strong ensembles, and Arjona proved indispensable to one of the best.

Ruth Wilson As Mrs. Coulter In His Dark Materials (2019-2022)

Wilson Made Mrs. Coulter Terrifying Yet Strangely Sympathetic

Ruth Wilson delivered a magnetic performance as Mrs. Coulter, one of the most complex villains in His Dark Materials. She exuded chilling elegance, portraying a woman whose manipulations and cruelty masked a profound inner conflict. Wilson’s Mrs. Coulter was terrifying yet strangely sympathetic, a villain who commanded attention every time she appeared on screen.

Wilson’s ability to layer menace with vulnerability made the character fascinating. Her scenes with her daughter Lyra (Dafne Keen) carried immense emotional weight, highlighting the twisted bond between them. This combination of coldness and fragility turned Mrs. Coulter into one of the most multidimensional antagonists in fantasy TV.

Though His Dark Materials was praised overall, Wilson’s performance remains under-discussed compared to the show’s technical achievements. She deserves recognition for creating a villain who was as compelling as the heroes themselves – a performance that elevated the entire series.

Mason Alexander Park As Desire In The Sandman (2022-2025)

Park Embodied Desire With Charisma And Menace

As Desire in The Sandman, Mason Alexander Park gave one of the most captivating performances in modern fantasy TV. Their portrayal of the sibling to Dream (Tom Sturridge) was alluring, mysterious, and sharp, perfectly embodying Neil Gaiman’s enigmatic character. Every scene with Park radiated charisma and danger.

Park’s performance so effective due to how they captured Desire’s duality – seductive yet threatening, playful yet cruel. Their chemistry with Sturridge was electric, creating some of the most memorable confrontations of the series. Park didn’t just play Desire; they seemed to inhabit the role completely.

The cast of The Sandman received significant praise for many reasons, but Park’s Desire remains underrated in conversations about standout performances. Their embodiment of one of Gaiman’s most challenging characters deserves to be celebrated as one of the finest in fantasy TV history.

Aiden Gillen As Littlefinger In Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)

Gillen Made Littlefinger One Of TV’s Most Cunning Schemers

Aidan Gillen’s Petyr “Littlefinger” Baelish was one of Game of Thrones’ most chilling and intelligent villains. Gillen imbued Littlefinger with slippery charm, making every whisper and smirk feel dangerous. His controlled delivery and calculating presence turned even small scenes into moments of tension.

Littlefinger thrived on manipulation, and Gillen made that scheming utterly believable. He wasn’t a warrior or a king, yet he wielded as much power as either, thanks to Gillen’s razor-sharp performance. Every word carried subtext, and Gillen never wasted a gesture in creating one of fantasy’s most cunning antagonists.

While Game of Thrones is remembered for larger-than-life characters like Tyrion Lannister or Daenerys, Gillen’s Littlefinger is often overlooked despite being central to the political heart of the series. His performance should be remembered as one of the genre’s best examples of subtle, menacing acting.

Eva Green As Vanessa Ives In Penny Dreadful (2014-2016)

Green Gave Vanessa Ives Haunting Power And Vulnerability

Eva Green’s Vanessa Ives was the emotional and supernatural core of the underrated masterpiece that is Penny Dreadful. Green infused the character with haunting intensity, portraying Vanessa as both fragile and fiercely powerful. Her performance carried the show, creating an unforgettable heroine trapped between faith, possession, and desire.

Green’s fearless commitment brought staggering depth to the role. She moved seamlessly between gothic melodrama and heartbreaking vulnerability, commanding every frame she occupied. Even in the show’s darkest, most surreal moments, Green made Vanessa relatable and achingly human.

Penny Dreadful remains a cult favorite, but Eva Green’s performance has never received the mainstream recognition it deserves. In the pantheon of fantasy TV performances, Vanessa Ives deserves to be remembered as one of the finest creations of the last decade.

Robert Carlyle As Rumplestiltskin/Mr. Gold/Weaver In Once Upon A Time (2011-2018)

Carlyle Turned Rumplestiltskin Into A Tragic, Complex Icon

Robert Carlyle brought dazzling versatility to Once Upon a Time with his portrayal of Rumplestiltskin, Mr. Gold, and Weaver. He shifted effortlessly between grotesque villainy, tragic vulnerability, and sly humor, sometimes within a single scene. His performance kept the series unpredictable and endlessly watchable.

Carlyle’s Rumplestiltskin was simultaneously monstrous and pitiable, making him one of the most compelling characters in modern fantasy TV. His gravelly voice, theatrical mannerisms, and heartbreaking backstory gave the show an emotional weight it might otherwise have lacked.

Despite Once Upon a Time’s ups and downs, Carlyle’s performance remained consistently excellent. Few actors could sustain such a multifaceted role over seven seasons, and his work deserves far more recognition than it receives today.

Lucy Lawless As Xena In Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001)

Lawless Redefined Fantasy TV With Her Legendary Xena

Lucy Lawless’s performance as Xena in Xena: Warrior Princess redefined what a fantasy TV heroine could be. She blended ferocity with compassion, creating a character both larger-than-life and profoundly relatable. Xena wasn’t just a warrior – she was a flawed, evolving hero, and Lawless’s charisma made audiences believe every step of her journey.

What made Lawless unforgettable was her command of tone. She could switch from lighthearted banter to devastating drama without missing a beat. That versatility allowed Xena: Warrior Princess to move between camp, action, and tragedy, all anchored by her magnetic presence.

Even though Xena became a cultural icon, Lucy Lawless’s actual performance is less frequently discussed in today’s conversations about great fantasy TV. Yet without her, the show wouldn’t have become the enduring classic it is. Lawless created a character who continues to inspire decades later – and the fact she fails to receive more recognition is nothing short of criminal.