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The actors everyone was searching for online in 2020

<strong>Reason:</strong> David Tennant became the unofficial king of lockdown telly in 2020 thanks to his double whammy of critically acclaimed shows: <em>Des</em> (<a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/des-director-dennis-nilsen-lied-090450380.html" data-ylk="slk:in which he played serial killer Dennis Nilsen;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">in which he played serial killer Dennis Nilsen</a>) and <em>Staged</em>. His luvvie comedy, which he co-stars with Michael Sheen, is coming back for a second season.
<strong>Reason:</strong> Although Gwyneth Paltrow (pictured here in <em>Avengers</em>) has largely given up her acting career, her lifestyle brand Goop continues to generate column inches, and her relationship with Harvey Weinstein keeps <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/gwyneth-paltrow-intense-public-scrutiny-harvey-weinstein-retirement-094841684.html" data-ylk="slk:coming under scrutiny;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">coming under scrutiny</a>.
<strong>Reason:</strong> With <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/sylvester-stallone-cult-character-rocky-iv-directors-cut-112326419.html" data-ylk="slk:Rocky IV celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2020;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link"><em>Rocky IV </em>celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2020</a>, interest in Sly Stallone remains high. His beloved character <a href="https://www.mortalkombat.com/roster/rambo" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank" data-ylk="slk:John Rambo was made a playable character in Mortal Kombat 11;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas" class="link ">John Rambo was made a playable character in <em>Mortal Kombat 11</em></a>, while he also <a href="https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sylvester-stallone-joins-suicide-squad-233529021.html" data-ylk="slk:joined the cast of James Gunn's The Suicide Squad;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">joined the cast of James Gunn's <em>The Suicide Squad</em></a>, coming to cinemas in 2021.
<strong>Reason: </strong>Gillian Anderson was unavoidable in 2020, thanks to her three mega Netflix hits all returning this year. She starred in <em>Sex Education</em> S2, <em>The Fall</em> (the final season hit the streaming platform this year), and then in <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/conservatives-criticise-the-crown-margaret-thatcher-151436800.html" data-ylk="slk:The Crown as Margaret Thatcher;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link"><em>The Crown</em> as Margaret Thatcher</a> (pictured).
<strong>Reason: </strong>In 2020, Clint Eastwood (pictured here in <em>The Mule</em>) turned 90. The veteran filmmaker shows no sign of slowing down, having released <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/richard-jewell-paul-walter-hauser-clint-eastwood-best-boss-152411025.html" data-ylk="slk:Richard Jewell;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link"><em>Richard Jewell</em></a> earlier in the year, as well as lining up a few more high-profile film projects.
<strong>Reason:</strong> Lily James, pictured here in Netflix's <em>Rebecca</em>, briefly became a tabloid darling in 2020 thanks to <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dominic-west-marriage-121839392.html" data-ylk="slk:some intriguing photos of her with Dominic West enjoying each other's company;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">some intriguing photos of her with Dominic West enjoying each other's company</a>. It was all strenuously denied, of course.
<strong>Reason:</strong> It was the moment Tom Hanks <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/tim-allen-toy-story-tom-hanks-coronavirus-diagnosis-102733655.html" data-ylk="slk:declared his coronavirus diagnosis in early March;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">declared his coronavirus diagnosis in early March</a> that made the world sit up and take notice of the impending pandemic. He also became <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/tom-hanks-rita-wilson-greek-citizens-100913573.html" data-ylk="slk:a Greek citizen;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">a Greek citizen</a>, and <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/tom-hanks-calls-new-movie-a-magnificent-gift-112950024.html" data-ylk="slk:released a few movies;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">released a few movies</a> too. Long live Tom Hanks.
<strong>Reason:</strong> Judi Dench, pictured here in Disney's <em>Artemis Fowl</em>, became <a href="https://uk.style.yahoo.com/judi-dench-vogue-cover-history-oldest-person-164451282.html" data-ylk="slk:the oldest person to ever grace the cover of British Vogue;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">the oldest person to ever grace the cover of British Vogue</a> in 2020, and <a href="https://uk.news.yahoo.com/dame-judi-dench-becomes-surprise-145600606.html" data-ylk="slk:was a viral star during lockdow;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">was a viral star during lockdow</a>n after starring in her daughter's TikTok videos.
<strong>Reason: </strong>Although she had no new acting roles in 2020, interest in Jennifer Aniston (pictured here in Apple's <em>The Morning Show</em>) remained sky-high this year thanks to <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/brad-pitt-jennifer-aniston-reunite-fast-times-ridgemont-high-scene-083519203.html" data-ylk="slk:her virtual reunion with Brad Pitt;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">her virtual reunion with Brad Pitt</a>, and the upcoming <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/friends-reunion-delayed-covid-19-110835705.html" data-ylk="slk:Friends reunion show, which was delayed to 2021;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link"><em>Friends</em> reunion show, which was delayed to 2021</a>.
<strong>Reason:</strong> Unfortunately for Johnny Depp (pictured here in <em>Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald</em>, part of a franchise he won't be returning to), it was <a href="https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/johnny-depp-court-ruling-affect-career-155438042.html" data-ylk="slk:his very public and very messy court case;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas;outcm:mb_qualified_link;_E:mb_qualified_link;ct:story;" class="link yahoo-link">his very public and very messy court case</a> that put him on front pages around the world in 2020, rather than his acting roles.
Tom Butler
·Editor, Yahoo Entertainment UK
Updated

We get billions of searches every year on Yahoo Search, and 2020 was no different. With people stuck at home for large portions of the year, many turned to the world of showbiz for some light relief, and we’re excited to share the stars that everyone was looking for on Yahoo in 2020.

Year in Review compiles the most searched topics over the last year on Yahoo Search. We look at searches by domain country, so the UK list is searches on uk.search.yahoo.com.