The number 1 actor in Tamil Nadu in 2023 is widely recognized as Joseph Vijay, popularly known as Vijay or "Thalapathy." He is the highest-paid actor in Tamil cinema and has a massive fan following both in Tamil Nadu and globally. In 2023, Vijay starred in major hits like "Leo" and "Varisu," which were blockbuster successes at the box office, further cementing his status as the top actor of the year. He has received numerous awards and has been featured multiple times in the Forbes India Celebrity 100 list for his earnings

. Other leading actors in Tamil cinema in 2023 include Rajinikanth, Ajith Kumar, Suriya, and Dhanush, but Vijay remains the most commercially successful and prominent actor in Tamil Nadu for that year