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Original poster

Who do you think is the best alive actor?

216 replies

halloween41 · 04/05/2025 09:02

Cate Blanchett for me; Blue Jasmine, Carol, Veronica Guerin, Notes on a Scandal… I could go on but I think that she’s just phenomenal. Who would you pick?☺️

OP posts:
anon666 · 04/05/2025 18:32

And for the women, Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Kristen Bell, Sarah Lancashire, Keeley Hawes.

Bundtbake · 04/05/2025 18:32

Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, Gillian Anderson, Emma Thompson, Anne Reid.....

anon666 · 04/05/2025 18:33

Oh God, forgot Hugh Grant. Robert de Niro. Ben Stiller.

Ugh, I could go on forever......

ThePoliteLion · 04/05/2025 18:34

waltzingparrot · 04/05/2025 09:54

There's so many great actors but I've loved everything I've watched that has Toby Jones in it. I think it's because he's a cut above as an actor.

Love Toby Jones
also Emma Stone and Mark Rylance

Picklepower · 04/05/2025 18:35

anon666 · 04/05/2025 18:32

And for the women, Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Kristen Bell, Sarah Lancashire, Keeley Hawes.

Glad to see appreciation for Anna camp!

toosenuf · 04/05/2025 18:44

Dustin Hoffman

NanLyn · 04/05/2025 18:46

Lesley Manville , totally believable in any part she plays.

ShergarAgain · 04/05/2025 18:56

Bob Odenkirk. Better Call Saul is the best series I’ve watched by a country mile and I suspect will never be bettered in my lifetime.

Original poster
halloween41 · 04/05/2025 18:58

@ShergarAgainI LOVE Bob and BCS

OP posts:
Sharptonguedwoman · 04/05/2025 20:07

devildeepbluesea · 04/05/2025 09:04

Alison Steadman, Gary Oldman

Second to Alison Steadman. Also Nicola Walker. I'd watch her paint a wall.

Sharptonguedwoman · 04/05/2025 20:08

NanLyn · 04/05/2025 18:46

Lesley Manville , totally believable in any part she plays.

Started watching Mum starring Lesley Manville. Why is this lovely woman surrounded by idiots? Is it supposed to be funny.

angela1952 · 04/05/2025 20:08

MeltonInTheHeat · 04/05/2025 09:07

Gary Oldman. My favourite film of his is still Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. Never fails to make me laugh.

Mind you he is delightfully menacing in Air Force One.

And Slow Horses.

terracelane23 · 04/05/2025 20:15

Tom Hanks

MeltonInTheHeat · 04/05/2025 20:17

Beachbodyready · 04/05/2025 17:44

Hugh Laurie - I can’t believe the same actor played King George in Blackadder and the title character in House

Wet in one and sexy as hell in the other. Just how?!

Efrogwraig · 04/05/2025 20:31

Jason Isaacs from Malfoy Snr to Death of Stalin to The Salt Path plus the Kate Atkinson series.
For eye candy Jesse Spencer, House to Chicago Fire.

Crimson5 · 04/05/2025 20:34

Agree lots of above are great. Tom Hanks and Denzil Washington are excellent actors.

OrangeBlossomsinthesun · 04/05/2025 20:36

ItGhoul · 04/05/2025 11:15

The two best performances I’ve ever seen live on stage were both by Kenneth Branagh, twenty years apart.

Branagh is amazing on stage. Totally mesmerising.

Hoplolly · 04/05/2025 20:36

NanLyn · 04/05/2025 18:46

Lesley Manville , totally believable in any part she plays.

I loved her but then I read one of those "tell me about a celeb you met" threads and learned that she wasn't very nice, which was disappointing. But I guess doesn't mean that she's not a good actress.

Allmarbleslost · 04/05/2025 20:42

Having very recently seen Gary Oldman on stage in Krapps Last Tape he gets my vote. He was absolutely captivating.

Gnarab24 · 04/05/2025 20:43

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 04/05/2025 09:05

Those are film actors, so a different kind of acting required. Stage acting, both David Tennant and Simon Russell Beale. Film/tv acting- Mark Rylance

Recently saw Cate Blanchett at the Barbican, she was exceptional

Chumbawomble · 04/05/2025 20:44

Aidan Turner and Maxine Peake.

Gnarab24 · 04/05/2025 20:46

ThisHangrySheep · 04/05/2025 10:47

Meryl Streep (esp Silkwood and Sophie’s Choice)
Nic Cage (everything!)
Ethan Hawke
Ben Kingsley
Ray Winstone

Nicolas Cage was phenomenal in Pig

wildfellhall · 04/05/2025 20:50

Sorry too many to choose just one:
Mark Rylance - certified genius
Gary Oldman
Paddy Considine
Denzel Washington
Juliet Stevenson
Simon Russell Beale
Michael Kitchen
Kenneth Branagh
La Dench
Daniel Day Lewis
Saskia Reeves
Marianne Jean Baptiste
Tilda Swinton

LindorDoubleChoc · 04/05/2025 20:57

Anthony Hopkins

LindorDoubleChoc · 04/05/2025 20:59

zaxxon · 04/05/2025 09:38

Can't agree on Bill Nighy. No matter who he's playing, he always still seems like Bill Nighy.

I'd say Sophie Okonedo

Yes, Bill Nighy always Bill Nighy. Can anyone point me in the direction of a play or film where he's done something different?