I'm terrible with actor names but I'll rank them by character name.
1. Arya Stark. It's not even close. For a child to carry a show of this magnitude is just unreal. It's like when Sally Draper went head to head with Don Draper, Megan, Pete Campbell, AND ROGER STERLING in one episode and remaining the best character: Arya does it every episode she's in. Tywin Lannister? Sit down old man. Subtly avoiding Littlefinger? No problem. Out conniving JAQEN? Easy mode.
2. Joffrey. Holy crap. That's all I can say from Episode 9 of Season 1 on. Holy crap. This timid, pompous little boy has finally put his parents terrible parenting to good use. When he sentences Ned to death while simultaneously putting down his mother and wife in the most chauvinistic way possible...that was tv magic. Season 2 has been a living testimony to sadistic behavior. I keep waiting for Indigo Montoya to show up. Gleeson carrys out this character with a sickening glee that makes you want to hurt him the second he shows up.
3. Cersei Lannister. A little controversial maybe but I think Cersei has been involved in 3-4 of the shows 10 best scenes. I remember her Season 1 where I wrote her off as another mistreated wife who became cold ala Betty Draper. But then things happened. Her apology to Caitlyn was genuine, her talk with Robert was honest, the look when she lost control of Joffrey replaced the need for words. Season 2 came and she basically carried King's Landing with everyone from Tyrion to Sansa.
4. Tyrion . He's going to win best supporting actor from now until the show ends.
4. Jaime the mutha FING KINGSLAYER. It's not just the witty, clever lines or the myopic badassery. It's the way He takes such a unique charscter, a character that is a slippery dichotomy between respectable and deplorable, someone you envy but pity at the same time. That moment with his cousin where he's setting him up for the kill but is still sharing an honest moment is the epitome of it all.
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Realo won gold at the Sex Olympics with a BROKEN FRIGGIN NECK.-Voltch