This was a tough one to write. I stared at my wall of DVD’s and just couldn’t decide who to include and who not to include. There are so many actors out there who are so talented, so gifted- from the old school to the new school and those in-between. But here we are.
10. Marlon Brando
Let’s start with an obvious one. I think more or less everyone says this actor, but I genuinely admire his talent and his gift. In A Streetcar Named Desire, I thought he was a spectacular embodiment of the character. He looked right, he sounded right, he even moved right. That’s talent.
I know Mr Brando’s personal life heavily overshadowed his acting skills but the talent is still there and can still be seen. I thought his performance in Apocalypse Now was sensational, and despite his discomfort with his weight and his appearance in general, he played the part chillingly well.
9. Denzel Washington
A very versatile actor I feel. He’s played the good guy, the bad guy, the not really either guy. There is something about him- I don’t know if maybe it is his height or the way he talks but he’s a very commanding presence. I like to watch him. I’ll even watch films I don’t really think would be my bag because he’s in them.
Denzel has had a long and illustrious career and I can’t see him ever stopping until he literally falls down. He seems to enjoy being on-screen and seems happy with his career choice. Good on you Denzel.
8. Gene Hackman
I have to say, this is almost entirely based on his performance in The Royal Tenenbaums. I think it is testament to an actor in the full when you really cannot imagine anyone except that actor in that role. This is how I feel about Gene in this film.
I think that Gene is a quite a measured actor. You don’t really see him playing unbalanced or unhinged characters- even when he’s upset about something he tends to play quiet, slow anger rather than screaming insanity. It suits him. He has a rumbling voice and a smooth, slow presence.
7. Michael J Fox
I don’t really know why. He makes cheesy films. But then I love cheesy films.
I just think whenever I watch the Back to the Future trilogy about just how young he was. He was still starring in Family Ties when filming the first Back to the Future film- so he filmed all day with one show and then filmed most the night for the film. It’s amazing to think just how hard he worked. He played the part in the films so well, such a little bundle of jabbering nervous energy. He was perfect for the role.
Michael’s career was sadly cut short in 2000, due to his Parkinson’s disease. He semi-retired from acting as the conditions were now too bad to hide. He appeared as a cameo in an episode of Scrubs, and I thought he was wonderful, every bit as emotive and funny as I always found him.
6. Idris Elba
When I found out that the most American of all American people in the world, Stringer Bell in The Wire, was English, I spat my tea out so fast it may have broken a world record. I’m totally serious! That big guy with the flawless American accent in The Wire is English. Crazy.
Idris Elba has come from absolutely nowhere to become an incredibly sought after actor. He was a sensation in the BBC drama Luther– I thought he played the part of utterly believably.
He’s a very confident actor, not afraid to underplay or overplay a scene when he feels it is right. A lot of his acting is in the small things- taking off his characters glasses when he feels its necessary, maybe even shifting in his seat. He’s an absolute delight to watch.
Doesn’t hurt a bit that he’s absolutely gorgeous too.
5. Benedict Cumberbatch
Yeah yeah, I know, whatever. But, ignore the insane fan girls, the fact that he may have been carved from marble by angels, and the fact that he has made some extremely dodgy films; he’s a damn good actor. It’s all about subtlety and nuance with him. He uses his eyebrows, his eyes, and a twitch of his lips or a tiny little hand gesture to communicate a million things.
He tends to take on quite difficult, sad, moving roles but he has done some comedy and done a surprisingly good job. He seems to get more and more in demand as the months go by, not least I’m sure because his mad legion of fans will go and see him in anything. I’m pretty sure if they released “Benedict watches some washing on a line” it would a box office smash. But genuinely, if you can get past the fact that you either find him a) the best looking man to have ever graced this green earth b) like Sid from Ice Age in a wind tunnel, he is genuinely talented and a delight to watch.
I see a very glittery future for this young man. Have you noticed he’s started to go grey? If you need me I’ll just be gnawing on this wall.
4. Christopher Walken
What a creepy, creepy actor. I love him. He has such a pull when he’s on screen- you have to watch. Walken has taken such a huge variety of roles but there is just something about the way he approaches them- he’s quite cold and guarded and yet very passionate and engaging.
I loved Walken in Sleepy Hollow, despite what a small role that was. He will forever be remembered in Pulp Fiction, and in Batman Returns. He has appeared in numerous music videos, most notably I feel in “Weapon of Choice” for Fatboy Slim, in which he showed his skills as a dancer. When he was a teenager, he worked as a lion tamer. A lion tamer.
I really love him.
3. Michael Caine
You did remember to do the broken voice didn’t you? When you’re Michael Caine…you have to do….the broken voice. As easy as it is to mock this man, I think he’s a wonder. His career has been running for heaven knows how long and he’s still got it.
I personally think that The Prestige is one of his best acting roles- other than in Little Voice. When he’s talking to Hugh Jackman about how it feels to drown, I almost recoil from the venom in his voice.
Caine is a bit of an English institution, and we’re so lucky to have him. He’s had a little go at just about everything, and I always find him a pleasure to watch and there is just something about his nature that makes him so likeable. He has an extremely emotive face, and there is something about the way he twitches when he wants to respond to something but won’t let himself that I really love.
2. Gary Oldman
Oh, naturally. I love Gary Oldman. He’s a uniquely gifted actor who pours so much of himself into every role it’s almost a bit concerning. When filming Sid and Nancy he lost so much weight to make himself look unwell that he was in hospital for a concerning amount of time. He will obviously be forever remembered in Dracula and for Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.
It is also worth mentioning that Oldman written and directed Nil By Mouth, which is one of my favourite films of all time.
1.Bill Murray
Bill Murray is the greatest actor of all time and nothing you ever do or say will convince me otherwise.
