Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Who is the best actor?

101 replies

BridgetJonesAsFuck · 30/09/2023 19:18

Right.

I absolutely ADORE Tom Hanks. Utterly adore him. I think he's an absolutely incredible actor and I've seen most of his films. Ironically not Forrest Gump. But he's just fantastic and seems like a really nice person too. He shits glitter as far as I'm concerned.

But also Leonardo DiCaprio. Look up What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I don't understand how he never won an Oscar for that shit. Same with his withdrawal scene in Basketball Diaries. Fuck me.

Many others I'm sure. But WHO stands out for you?

OP posts:
LegendsBeyond · 30/09/2023 22:10

I can’t believe someone’s put Jim Carrey 🙈

I love Stephen Graham & Alan Rickman. Saoirse Ronan is also great.

UncleHerbie · 30/09/2023 22:11

EasternStandard · 30/09/2023 20:06

I’d liked the main actor in Get Out

Daniel Kaluuya

Winnipeggy · 30/09/2023 22:12

IAmcuriousyellow · 30/09/2023 21:23

Somebody above mentioned Barry Keoghan - check him out in Top Boy

he broke my heart in Banshees! But there’s more to him than that, he does good villain too

Have you seen killing of a sacred deer? Incredible

Winnipeggy · 30/09/2023 22:16

Daniel Kaluuya is next level. Also greatly looking forward to the new Andrew Scott/Paul Mescal movie, they are both sensational.

The entire cast of Succession are just exceptional, unbelievable actors. I've never seen a badly acted scene in the entire 4 seasons.

UncleHerbie · 30/09/2023 22:25

Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy had the most expressive face and could make me cry with the emotions she portrayed. Also loved her in Killing Eve

Jodie Comer’s phenomenal facility with accents is second to none

Naomie Harris in Moonlight was unbelievably good. A total volte face from Miss Moneypenny

Anna Maxwell Martin for her versatility (from Bleak House to Motherland via Line of Duty, and Lyra in His Dark Materials at the National)

jays · 30/09/2023 22:26

i saw a meme that said ‘imagine one day you’re at work, or out for a drink or doing the shopping and then someone shouts “CUT” and it turns out you were Gary Oldman all along. That’s how good an actor he is.

I totally agree.

Wolvesart · 30/09/2023 22:29

The late Alan Rickman. Florence Pugh

UncleHerbie · 30/09/2023 22:29

OakTreesAreTheBest · 30/09/2023 21:49

Taron Egerton (did I spell that correctly?)

Ian McKellen

Tamsin Grieg is amazing

Agree with Leonardo DiCaprio.

I like actors who make me forget who they are when I'm watching - when I see the character not the actor. I am terrible with faces, which helps!

Your last comment is exactly why I wince when I watch Julie Walters, Meryl Streep (except in The Deer Hunter) and Catherine Tate in anything

Wolvesart · 30/09/2023 22:29

Oh and Jodie Comer. And Benedict Cumberbatch

uhtredofbattenberg · 30/09/2023 22:38

Robert Downey Jnr was amazing in Chaplin.
I like Anna Maxwell Martin and don't think she takes herself too seriously.

Bluevelvetsofa · 30/09/2023 22:50

Timothy Spall
Jason Watkins
Matthew McConaughey
Martin Clunes
Gary Oldman

OhMyFriend · 30/09/2023 23:15

Yes Jason Watkins is a great actor.

Catsmere · 30/09/2023 23:24

Michael Kitchen. I've only seen him in a few things - the villain in episodes of Morse, Pie in the Sky and Dalziel and Pascoe (an incredibly creepy character) and as Foyle in Foyle's War - but damn he's good. Complete contrasts. Foyle is definitely my favourite fictional policeman - if only the real ones were like him! But MK can convey so much without even speaking.

Alan Rickman - Snape and Slope and Colonel Brandon and Tybalt and so many others!

Alec Guinness, my first favourite actor. Disappeared into his roles. Main reason I went to Star Wars when it came out (I was 14) was because he was in it.

Gillstuck · 30/09/2023 23:24

Carey Mulligan. The episode of Doctor Who that she was in with the sleeping angels was incredible.

Robert Carlye. I forget he is acting and he becomes the character for me.

Toby Jones. From Tinker, Tailer, Solider, Spy to the voice of Dobby in Harry Potter. Brilliant.

Gillstuck · 30/09/2023 23:26
  • weeping angels
Catsmere · 30/09/2023 23:32

@Gillstuck I just saw Toby Jones in some early Midsomer Murders episodes the other night! I didn't know he'd done all that other work.

Robert Carlyle, yes - The Full Monty and Hamish MacBeth, 'nuff said! (And Trainspotting, but I never saw that, not my type of film.)

Forgot to add John Hurt. Caligula in I, Claudius, that poor sod in Alien, "John" Merrick in The Elephant Man, The War Doctor - such a variety of roles.

Derek Jacobi, Claudius, whether the Roman emperor or Hamlet's uncle, plus lots of other roles of course.

MerylSqueak · 30/09/2023 23:32

I just came on to say Toby Jones. I always enjoy watching him. I love Douglas Henshsll too and wish he got better parts. His tole in Lawless Heart is one of my favourite things ever.

MerylSqueak · 30/09/2023 23:33

I raye Cardy Mulligan too.

2024815pm · 30/09/2023 23:33

It has got to be the next POTUS Donald Trump

SleepingStandingUp · 30/09/2023 23:43

UncleHerbie · 30/09/2023 22:25

Sandra Oh in Grey’s Anatomy had the most expressive face and could make me cry with the emotions she portrayed. Also loved her in Killing Eve

Jodie Comer’s phenomenal facility with accents is second to none

Naomie Harris in Moonlight was unbelievably good. A total volte face from Miss Moneypenny

Anna Maxwell Martin for her versatility (from Bleak House to Motherland via Line of Duty, and Lyra in His Dark Materials at the National)

No one who's seen Prima Facie could doubt Jodie's inclusion on the list.she was tremendous.

2024815pm · 01/10/2023 00:01

Paddington

nobleisle · 01/10/2023 05:25

Ben stiller

JadeSeahorse · 01/10/2023 06:59

The late and very great Sir John Hurt.

alwayslearning789 · 01/10/2023 09:41

Winnipeggy · 30/09/2023 22:12

Have you seen killing of a sacred deer? Incredible

Show quote history

Totally Agree on Barry Keoghan

Was just about to come and say he's incredible

Highly talented and definitely one to watch in the new crop of acting greats

Funkyslippers · 01/10/2023 09:50

OhMyFriend I absolutely loved The Father and his performance was outstanding.

I love Tom Hanks, ever since Splash! One of my all time favourite films