Who do you think is the best alive actor?

[halloween41]

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?☺️

Alan Rickman was amazing, everything from comic villain in a Die Hard to romantic in Sense and Sensibility. I also think that everyone who ever worked with him said how nice he was.

Another vote for Danielle Day Lewis

For absolute 100% acting ability it's got to be Andy Serkis. The way he can transform into a role is fantastic.

I love Cate Blanchett, but my vote is split between Daniel Day Lewis and Ralph Fiennes.

Amongst the younger generation I’d pick out two who are each breathtaking both on stage and on screen.

Cush Jumbo

Paapa Essiedu

They’ve both been revelatory Hamlets. (Which I feel suited CJ more than her recent Lady Macbeth opposite David Tennant.) And Gangs of London lost all point for me once he was no longer in it.

Although that reminds me of

Lucian Msamati

He was epic on stage as Iago - but always the best person on any screen.

I feel a certain loyalty to Harriet Walters as her portrayal of Harriet Vane decades ago has actually shaped how I see womanliness. And of course she was razor sharp in Succession.

Tom Hanks

Amy Adams - if you have seen Nightbitch, you'll know!

John Lithgow. Never seen him in bad thing. And he's SO versatile.

Haven't heard of that but will add it to my list, I think Amy Adams is great

Andrew Scott

U really recommend it. Myself and ds aged 19 went to see it on a whim as we had cinema tickets to use up. We were quite stunned - in a good way! We talked about it for ages afterwards. AA s so good in it.

Sadly he doesn't qualify for inclusion on this thread.

Are there rules then?! I appreciate he is no longer alive but think he deserves inclusion.

Two other actresses of note are Patricia arquette and toni Collette

Some of my favourite male actors not yet mentioned (I don’t think) are:

Edward Norton
Matthew McConnaughey
Michael Shannon
Bryan Cranston
Sam Rockwell

Some of my female favourites are:

Jodie Foster
Amy Adams
Cate Blanchette
Glenn Close

Male, I always thought Michael Sheen was very good.
Female, having recently been watching old 80s episodes of Brookside I noticed how much of fantastic actress Sue Johnston was who played Sheila Grant.

Gary Oldman - agree with many, many PPs.
Toby Jones - agree with PP.
Bryan Cranston
Paul Giamatti
Trevor Eve
Paul Mescal

Stephen Graham.

The rules are "alive" or am I missing something?

No you are not missing something.

Otherwise the thread would just say “Maggie Smith, Maggie Smith, Maggie Smith, Maggie Smith “ on and on ad infinitum!

RIP Maggie the Great.

Eddie Marsan
Pamela Rabe
Toby Jones
Lesley Manville

Does it matter? Have you passed a law?

@GentlemanJackmay I assume you’re a Wentworth fan? I love Pamela Rabe!

@Arlanymorboth amazing choices, Fiennes has been one of my top three actors for years. I was lucky enough to see him on stage last year in Macbeth, he was amazing.