No role just jumps out at me and that's an indication of how tough this question is, because I enjoy most of Michael's performances. But upon deeper reflection, I think the gif foretells my preference and it is David from Prometheus. Firstly, as a gigantic sci-fi freak fan, I love this movie. Secondly, I have a fascination with androids and robots in many sci-fi films. I often find that the non-human entity that is a part of the crew is the most interesting character. Don't you find that too? In Star Trek Next Generation, Data was my favorite character, hands down, next to Captain Picard. I still can't watch Steven Spielberg's A-I again because I hate the human race for what they are doing to the robots, and in I Robot, I wanted to have a party at the end because the robots gained their independence from the humans from the help of Will Smith. I could go on and on.
In Prometheus, while the humans are in cybersleep, David is just a busy bee in monitoring everyone to make sure they are ok (eavesdropping on his secret girlfriend's dreams), and learning so that he could be as essential in their voyage as possible and meet Wayland's objectives. However, when he's not working, he's slowly connecting with an innate humaness that does reside in him. He fantasizes, imagines possibilities for his existence, he has a childlike wonder, and he's perfectly beautiful and intelligent. His sinister side reveals itself to sarcastically defend and protect himself against rude humans, and although he's supposedly not programmed to feel hurt, he does. The moment when Wayland's introduction about him mentions that David will never have a soul, his face goes blank as if he were saying 'But I do'. David is different than the humans, and the Engineer knew that immediately, that's why he gently caressed David's face to feel him, get a sense about what he is before everything went to pot.
Michael really put his heart and soul into bringing David alive, and even if Michael wasn't in this movie, I know I would like whatever good actor was in this role because this character is intriguing and interesting.
So, what is your favorite role that Michael has portrayed?