25 Great Actors (no particular order)

by jakearcher16 | created - 11 Apr 2013 | updated - 11 Apr 2013 | Public

Actors come in many different ways, these are 25 that I think are brilliant. Obviously I will have missed a lot of great actors.

1. Jennifer Lawrence

Actress | The Hunger Games

As the highest-paid actress in the world in 2015 and 2016, and with her films grossing over $5.5 billion worldwide, Jennifer Lawrence is often cited as the most successful actress of her generation. She is also the first person born in the 1990s to have won an acting Oscar.

Jennifer Shrader Lawrence...

I first saw Jennifer in X-men: First Class. Not only is she beautiful she is an outstanding actress. I admit he role in The Hunger Games was a bit disappointing, but after reading the book I blame it on the character. Jennifer's true calling was Silver Linings Playbook. Her portrayal of Tiffany was absolutely brilliant winning her and Oscar for best Actress in 2013.

2. Christian Bale

Actor | The Dark Knight

Christian Charles Philip Bale was born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, UK on January 30, 1974, to English parents Jennifer "Jenny" (James) and David Bale. His mother was a circus performer and his father, who was born in South Africa, was a commercial pilot. The family lived in different countries ...

Although it is said to be he is not a very nice man, he is an amazing actor. Starring in films like The Machinist and The Fighter he showed he had Talent, but Bale's true calling was the caped crusader himself Batman. Performing what I think is the best superhero performance of all time, he brought a certain something to the Dark Knight Trilogy.

3. Morgan Freeman

Actor | Driving Miss Daisy

With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this ever popular American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. The young Freeman...

He's Morgan Freeman do I have to say any more.

4. Anne Hathaway

Actress | Les Misérables

Anne Jacqueline Hathaway was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Kate McCauley Hathaway, an actress, and Gerald T. Hathaway, a lawyer, both originally from Philadelphia. She is of mostly Irish descent, along with English, German, and French. Her first major role came in the short-lived television series ...

Originally I wasn't keen. He earlier stuff like Princess Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada were a bit samey. I first started to realise how great she was in Love And Other Drugs and then she just evolved. When I saw Dark Knight Rises I thought she couldn't get any better, obviously I was wrong. Her performance in Les Miserablés was impeccable, winning her awards and critical acclaim.

5. Tom Hanks

Producer | Cast Away

Thomas Jeffrey Hanks was born in Concord, California, to Janet Marylyn (Frager), a hospital worker, and Amos Mefford Hanks, an itinerant cook. His mother's family, originally surnamed "Fraga", was entirely Portuguese, while his father was of mostly English ancestry. Tom grew up in what he has ...

Growing up in the 90's and 00's, Tom Hanks was a big part of my childhood as the voice of Woody in the Toy Story films. Tom has many memorable roles in films like Cast Away, Philadelphia and The Green Miles. But nothing compares to his performance of Forrest Gump, a beautiful performance which will go down in history as e of the greatest of all time.

6. Christoph Waltz

Actor | Django Unchained

Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor. He is known for his work with American filmmaker Quentin Tarantino, receiving acclaim for portraying SS-Standartenführer Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds (2009) and bounty hunter Dr. King Schultz in Django Unchained (2012). For each performance, he won...

Christoph Walz came to my attention as the despicable Hans Landa in Inglorius Basterds, His performance blew everyone away in the opening of the film. Now he seems like he's becoming a Tarantino regular with the recent role as Dr King Schultz in Django Unchained. The performance is so different to Inglorius but yet so good winning him the Oscar and Bafta for best supporting actor in 2013

7. Amy Adams

Actress | Arrival

Amy Lou Adams was born in Vicenza, Veneto, Italy, to American parents, Kathryn (Hicken) and Richard Kent Adams, a U.S. serviceman who was stationed at Caserma Ederle in Italy at the time. She was raised in a Mormon family of seven children in Castle Rock, Colorado, and has English, as well as ...

I haven't seen to much with her in but the things I have seen her in have been great. From a small part in an episode of Smallville to being Lois Lane herself in The Man Of Steel she has really grown as an actress. My Favourite role of her's was in The Muppets she has a great voice and a pretty face. I am looking forward to what is ahead.

8. Noomi Rapace

Actress | Män som hatar kvinnor

Swedish actress Noomi Rapace was born in Hudiksvall, Gävleborgs län, Sweden to Swedish actress Nina Norén and Spanish Flamenco singer Rogelio de Badajoz (Rogelio Durán). Her parents did not stay together, and when she was five she moved to Iceland with her mother and stepfather, where she lived for...

After Being the brilliant star in the Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (original Sweedish version), she starred in Ridley Scott's Sci-fi epic Prometheus were she blew me away, playing this brilliant scientist with a surprising recovery speed from being cut open. I think there is great things to come from her.

9. Chris Evans

Actor | The Avengers

Christopher Robert Evans is an American actor, film producer, and director. Evans began his acting career in typical fashion: performing in school productions and community theatre.

He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Lisa (Capuano), who worked at the Concord Youth Theatre, and G. ...

After starring in a few romcom's and teen romps Chris moved over to the world of superheroes and starred as Johnny Storm/The Human Torch in Fantastic Four (which was the best bit about the film), Now he is the most important Marvel Hero, The First Avenger, Captain America. Easily his best role he brings something different to the large team in The Avengers. A true Leader.

10. Cillian Murphy

Actor | 28 Days Later...

Striking Irish actor Cillian Murphy was born in Douglas, the oldest child of Brendan Murphy, who works for the Irish Department of Education, and a mother who is a teacher of French. He has three younger siblings. Murphy was educated at Presentation Brothers College, Cork. He went on to study law ...

Cillian has had many career defining roles. Playing Jim in 28 Days Later he became a bit of a favourite for Director Danny Boyle later staring in Sunshine. Christopher Nolan is the one that has made him shine though, becoming the Scarecrow in the Dark Knight Trilogy and starring in the ever so confusing Inception.

11. Stephen Amell

Actor | Arrow

Stephen Amell is a Canadian actor, known for portraying Oliver Queen / Green Arrow in the Arrowverse television franchise (based on the comic character of the same name) and Casey Jones in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows (2016).

Stephen Adam Amell was born on May 8, 1981 in Toronto,...

Now Stephen Amell was'nt very well known until the end of 2012 when he appeared on are screens as Oliver Queen/The Green Arrow in Arrow . He's grown as the first series has gone through and now think he's an excellent addition to the DC universe and I believe Stephen is good enough to continue playing the character for a Justice League movie if it comes to it.

12. Harrison Ford

Actor | Raiders of the Lost Ark

Harrison Ford was born on July 13, 1942 in Chicago, Illinois, to Dorothy (Nidelman), a radio actress, and Christopher Ford (born John William Ford), an actor turned advertising executive. His father was of Irish and German ancestry, while his maternal grandparents were Jewish emigrants from Minsk, ...

One of the few actors to make it out of Star Wars The Original Trilogy with a proper career. Ford was a brilliant fun person to have as the loveable but arrogant Han Solo and fit the role perfectly. Then going on to make so amazing films Including the Indiana Jones Trilogy (I don't like to talk about 4) and what I think is his best film Blade Runner, where he plays a renegade cop hunting down androids.

13. Maggie Gyllenhaal

Actress | Secretary

Maggie Gyllenhaal was born on November 16, 1977 in New York City, New York as Margalit Ruth Gyllenhaal, the daughter of producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner and director Stephen Gyllenhaal, and the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal. She is of Ashkenazi Jewish (mother) and Swedish, English, and ...

The first of 2 Gyllenhaals on the list. Maggie has been making films for quite a long time now. Going form mentally unstable secretary to a much needed replacement for Katie Holmes in the Dark Knight. Maggie can do an array of brilliant roles and her pretty face popping up in a film is a nice treat.

14. Jake Gyllenhaal

Actor | Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhaal was born on December 19, 1980 in Los Angeles, California as Jacob Benjamin Gyllenhaal, the son of producer/screenwriter Naomi Foner and director Stephen Gyllenhaal, and the younger brother of actress Maggie Gyllenhaal. He is of Ashkenazi Jewish (mother) and Swedish, English, and ...

The second Gyllenhaal. Jake starred in one of my favourite films Donnie Darko which also defined his career. Moving on he starred alongside the late Heath Ledger in the critically acclaimed Brokeback Mountain where his performance was absolutely outstanding. He then starred in the surprisingly good End Of Watch as a bald cop.

15. Leonardo DiCaprio

Actor | Inception

Few actors in the world have had a career quite as diverse as Leonardo DiCaprio's. DiCaprio has gone from relatively humble beginnings, as a supporting cast member of the sitcom Growing Pains (1985) and low budget horror movies, such as Critters 3 (1991), to a major teenage heartthrob in the 1990s,...

I'm not going to talk about Titanic. I didn't like him until I saw him in The Beach where his performance was so good. We've seen DiCaprio evolve from a boy to a man and as a man he has starred in two of my favourite films Inception and the amazing Django Unchained which i think the role (which was written for Brad Pitt) will go down as his best.

16. Samuel L. Jackson

Actor | Pulp Fiction

Samuel L. Jackson is an American producer and highly prolific actor, having appeared in over 100 films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Unbreakable (2000), Shaft (2000), Formula 51 (2001), Black Snake Moan (2006), Snakes on a Plane (2006), and the Star Wars prequel trilogy (1999-2005), ...

He's Samuel L Jackson.

17. Bradley Cooper

Actor | A Star Is Born

Bradley Charles Cooper was born on January 5, 1975 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His mother, Gloria (Campano), is of Italian descent, and worked for a local NBC station. His father, Charles John Cooper, who was of Irish descent, was a stockbroker. Immediately after Bradley graduated from the ...

Cooper came to stardom through The Hangover. He has evolved very fast giving an amazing performance as Pat Solitano in Silver Linings Playbook where he did a great portrayal of someone with bipolar. He's become a must have starring in The Place Beyond The Pines opposite Ryan Gosling and starring in an untitled David O'Russel project alongside some of the biggest names in Hollywood: Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale, Jeremy Renner and Robert De Niro.

18. Ryan Gosling

Actor | Blue Valentine

Born Ryan Thomas Gosling on November 12, 1980, in London, Ontario, Canada, he is the son of Donna (Wilson), a secretary, and Thomas Ray Gosling, a traveling salesman. Ryan was the second of their two children, with an older sister, Mandi. His ancestry is French-Canadian, as well as English, ...

He became noticed after his role as Noah Calhoun in The Notebook. What I love about Ryan is that he doesn't seem to star in big blockbuster movies. He has had some amazing films like Drive, Blue Valentine and Gangster Squad. He is also seems to be one of the most loved men in Hollywood. I know I love him and i'm straight.

19. Rachel McAdams

Actress | The Notebook

Rachel Anne McAdams was born on November 17, 1978 in London, Ontario, Canada, to Sandra Kay (Gale), a nurse, and Lance Frederick McAdams, a truck driver and furniture mover. She is of English, Welsh, Irish, and Scottish descent. Rachel became involved with acting as a teenager and by the age of 13 ...

Starting as Regina George in Mean Girls she entered Hollywood. Her best role is probably opposite Ryan Gosling in The Notebook that makes me cry every time. She has been very popular over the last few years playing Irene Adler in the Sherlock Holmes movies and her brilliant role in The Vow. She is also one of the pretties women in Hollywood.

20. Michael Caine

Actor | The Dark Knight

Michael Caine was born as Maurice Joseph Micklewhite in London, to Ellen (née Burchell), a cook, and Maurice Micklewhite Sr., a fish-market porter. He had a younger brother, Stanley Caine, and an older maternal half-brother named David Burchell. He left school at age 15 and took a series of ...

Michael Caine has been in some god awful films, but then again he has done some amazing films. He has played the iconic butler Alfred in the Dark Knight Trilogy and starred in other greats like Get Carter, Alfie, Harry Brown, The Italian Job and lets not forget the voice of Finn McMissile in Cars 2'

21. Hugh Jackman

Actor | Les Misérables

Hugh Michael Jackman is an Australian actor, singer, multi-instrumentalist, dancer and producer. Jackman has won international recognition for his roles in major films, notably as superhero, period, and romance characters. He is best known for his long-running role as Wolverine in the X-Men film ...

Most known for Wolverine in the X-men films, Jackman has become a household name. He plays Wolverine brilliantly but he he has moved on to some amazing roles in films like Australia and Les Miserablés. As I write this we are waiting for his return as The Wolverine in The Wolverine where I reckon he will bring a new level to the character.

22. Ewan McGregor

Actor | Moulin Rouge!

Ewan Gordon McGregor was born on March 31, 1971 in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland, to Carol Diane (Lawson) and James Charles McGregor, both teachers. His uncle is actor Denis Lawson. He was raised in Crieff. At age 16, he left Morrison Academy to join the Perth Repertory Theatre. His parents ...

Ewan Mcrgregor has had some amazing roles over the last 2 decades, as an array of very different characters, from the Heroin Addict in Trainspotting to the Almighty Obi Wan Kenobi. With many years under his belt he shows no side slowing down, being interested as returning as Obi Wan in the new extended Star Wars universe.

23. Jamie Foxx

Actor | Collateral

Jamie Foxx is an American actor, singer and comedian. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor, BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy, for his work in the biographical film Ray (2004). The same year, he was nominated for the Academy...

I'm going to mention one my favourite performance of all time now. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles. The film Ray won Foxx an oscar, he really shows the true nature of Ray Charles without making him look like a complete idiot. Also he played the titular character in Django Unchained with some great one liners.

"I like the way you die boy."

24. Tom Hardy

Actor | Inception

With his breakthrough performance as Eames in Christopher Nolan's sci-fi thriller Inception (2010), English actor Tom Hardy has been brought to the attention of mainstream audiences worldwide. However, the versatile actor has been steadily working on both stage and screen since his television debut...

Coming from a troubled past he has really turned himself around. His breakthrough role was Eames in Inception but he his moved on later starring as The Man Who Broke The Bat, Bane in The Dark Knight Rises. He has been cast as the legendary Sam Fisher in the Film adaptation of Splinter Cell. I believe there are great things to come from Tim Hardy.

25. Benedict Cumberbatch

Actor | The Imitation Game

Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch was born and raised in London, England. His parents, Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton (born Timothy Carlton Congdon Cumberbatch), are both actors. He is a grandson of submarine commander Henry Carlton Cumberbatch, and a great-grandson of diplomat Henry Arnold ...

Cumberbatch is one of the most critically acclaimed actors of the moment. Obviously his best role is Sherlock Holmes himself in Sherlock. He has now taken on several interesting roles over the next few years including the still unrevealed Star Trek Villain in this summers sequel and the portrayal of Julian Assange.



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