British crime television shows have made a name for themselves as being some of the best out there. The range of programs in a fairly narrow genre is astounding, especially when so many have been able to find their own lane within the requirements of being a crime show.

While the writing and production should always be credited for the success a show may bring, the actors are just as important at making any series popular. There has been a whole list of great casts for crime dramas, but there are a few specific performances that are worthy of separate acknowledgment, highlighting their impeccable contribution to a series.

10 Idris Elba Plays the Lead in a Psychological Crime Drama

Not only has Idris Elba become part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and been regularly highlighted as a favorite to play the next James Bond, but the actor has portrayed the titular character of the British drama series Luther, which also followed up with a film.

The lead is a detective who is able to get inside the minds of murderers, though he isn't always on the best of terms with the rest of his team. Elba delivers a complicated personality effortlessly, helping to put the show at the top of its category and keeping audiences wanting more at the end of each episode.

9 Benedict Cumberbatch Puts His Own Spin on an Iconic Character

Sherlock Holmes is a widely known character whose stories have been put on screen numerous times. Benedict Cumberbatch gave his modern version of Arthur Conan Doyle's character in four seasons of Sherlock and, somehow, made the detective his own.

His eccentricity and deadpan humor form his unlikable but watchable personality while also keeping the original deductive skills that Sherlock is usually given in each depiction. Thankfully, Cumberbatch didn't make the iconic detective unrecognizable. Instead, he made him suitable for the time it was set in and pushed the series to become one of the best British crime dramas.

8 Olivia Colman Perfectly Conveys Every Part of Her Characters’ Life

Playing Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller in Broadchurch mapped out precisely what Olivia Colman was capable of in acting. Ellie was integral to the plot line in both her job and personal life, which gave Colman the task of presenting a few aspects of the character.

Seamlessly, Colman transitioned her character from a detective to a mother and a friend, all while facing the crisis of her husband being a criminal. In particular, a scene that rolled Ellie's emotions into one was when she confronted her son for lying in court to protect his father. Ellie's morals, motherhood, and loyalty to decent people came spilling out as she loudly voiced, in no uncertain terms, how she felt about her son's actions and finished off with sharp intakes of breath as she held back her tears. Colman is an expert in her craft, and Broadchurch brought out the best in her ability.

7 Martin Freeman Is Back for a Second Season of His Liverpool-Based Character

Recently returned for a second season, The Responder gave Martin Freeman yet another role to add to his versatility. The actor has been a crucial part of J.R.R Tolkien's world, portraying Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, a down-to-earth worker in the UK version of The Office, and now he's back in police uniform on the streets of Liverpool.

The Responder is gritty and expresses the difficulties in Chris' (Freeman) job. Each shift, the policeman is presented with challenges, both physical and mental, which threaten to push him to the limit. Part of making the role credible is Freeman's adeptness at accents. The Liverpudlian intonation is specific and had Freeman not been able to carry it off; it would've been hard to buy into the character.

6 Vicky McClure Gets Audiences on Side

The show that got audiences googling police-specific words and acronyms, Line of Duty, focused on a section of the force that investigated any misconduct within the police. The show is intricate and requires concentration to keep up with the plot, but once viewers are hooked into the story, there's no turning away from it.

The cast of Line of Duty is first-class throughout, but Vicky McClure stands out for her convincing portrayal of Detective Constable Kate Fleming. The character is professional at her job but keeps herself grounded and approachable to others. McClure kept the episodes tense and energetic, with a believable sense of wanting to get to the truth.

5 Katherine Devlin Brings Depth to a Fledgling Police Officer

Blue Lights Season 2 began last month and kept in line with the brilliance of its first installment. The series is set in Northern Ireland and conveys the stresses of being a police officer in the region. Annie is one of the newer recruits and sometimes doesn't think before she acts.

Katherine Devlin does a stellar job of depicting Annie's urge for justice and her willpower. Though the more obvious actions like punching DI Murray Canning (which viewers were very much in support of) indicate her resilience and ability to stand up for herself, Devlin's skill at showing Annie's emotions in her subtle facial expressions gives depth to the character, as she finds her way in the force.

4 Rhianne Barreto Knows How to Smoothly Act out a Character Arc

Stephen Merchant wrote and stars in The Outlaws, for which he deserves every accolade. The show is unique and clever, with twists that don't come without the right amount of humor. The blend of comedy and drama is faultless, with a cast that do the script justice.

Rhianne Barreto's role, Rani, has such an engaging character arc that it could only be played by a performer who would indicate to the audience the slow change in her personality. Barreto nails it. Rani's taste for living outside the law gradually filtered into her motives and happiness. Without spoon-feeding the viewers, Barreto continually moved her character forward, episode by episode, to deliver an honest transformation.

3 Nicola Walker Gives Audiences a Relatable Character