Actors who are guaranteed to add class to a film

[Anniegetyourgun]

I was just posting in the Avengers thread and a thought occurred which I decided might make a good topic on its own.

I had been going to say that the presence of Samuel L Jackson always adds class to a movie, sometimes sorely needed Star Wars . Some film critic or other made this comment years ago about Sam Neill, which I agree with. Others that spring to mind are Judi Dench, Morgan Freeman and the much lamented Pete Postlethwaite. If they're in it there will be at least one little area of, shall we say, gravitas; some credibility; some dignity.

I'm not sure it's even about star quality. Possibly not. They don't have to carry a movie; in a minor supporting role they still manage to add a little stamp of authenticity to even the biggest steaming pile of shite.

This is not a crumpet thread. Attractiveness or lack thereof is irrelevant (no objections to it being mentioned in passing though). "I always watch so-and-so because he's so dreeeeamy" is far too well catered for elsewhere. We are talking about Class with a capital C.

Anyone want to play?

Has anyone mentioned Viggo Mortensen? Or William Hurt? A History of Violence is a really good film.

Wristy yes I loved Top of the Lake too. DW's performance in that was a bit of a stand-out for me too, though to say any more would be spoilery!

Chow Yun Fat
Michelle Yeow
Takeshi Kitano
Ken Watanabe
Anne Parillaud
Tcheky Karyo
Max Von Sydow

Right I'm off to make dinner.

Ralph Fiennes
Gary Oldman

YY to Ed Harris,bMorgan Freenan and Sir Ian McKellen.

Also Jack Nicholson and Robert Downey Jr.

I will watch anything with Bette Midler or Maggie Smith in it...

Ditto Whoopi Goldberg.

John Gielguid. Even made "Arthur" watchable.

Bob Hoskins

Ron Cook

Michael Caine is my pet hate! Can't act, can't speak properly, the same glib expression every time. Even in his early films...ugh! When will people wise up?

We'll have to agree to disagree on that point. I think he's brilliant. The only bearable Steve Martin film is "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" because MC is in it to take your mind off SM.

Ron Cook. Oh, yes!

Rags, you are the first person I've ever come across who knows his name. (I reckon lots more would recognise his face).

I would watch anything if he was in it. Always excellent, but sadly underrated.

Otherwise, Anton Lesser, Sian Phillips, and the late, lamented Ian Richardson.

David Niven.

Not so much lately though.

Glenn Close

Tom Baker. Limited acting range but such a distinctive voice. Yessss...

Patrick Stewart

I agree with the PP who said Bob Hoskins added class to a lot of the crap he starred in. but he also held his own against dramatic actors when he got a good part in things like "The Street".

Christopher Reeve and Raul Julia, Both their acting careers were cut very short but they displayed a lot of talent.

David Threlfall, i never thought much of him until that Tommy Cooper Biopic, which changed my mind.

Sandrine Kiberlain
Sophie Marceau
Juliette Binoche

Smith
Dench
Lansbury
Connery
Caine
Eastwood
Newman

There's a reason these guys had - and still have in most cases - the careers they've had.

Re: Caine and the trashing he got upthread earlier. Admittedly, he may not have a wide range but that doesn't make him a poor actor. Sometimes it's more a question of what you get offered. Caine has taken on a lot of rubbish because that's all there was. As he said about Jaws The Revenge: "I've never seen the film, I hear it's awful. But I have seen the house it built, and that's fabulous!" Olivier marked Caine out in his book On Acting in the early 80s and said what a superb actor he was and that the screen had yet to see his best work - which proved to be correct.

Left one out.

Christopher Lee. Ridiculously prolific but unquestionably brings class, dignity and gravitas to everything.

DrSeth You will notice they are all old style actors who are over 70. A dying breed of class.

I'll watch anything with Tommy Lee Jones in it.
Sorry for the panning, but I did say MC was my pet hate (in the sense that plenty of other people wouldn't feel the same).

Christopher Waltz
Christopher Walken
Mia Wasikowski(sp?)
Jesse Eisenberg
Yy to Dicaprio-so underrated, he should have won an Oscar several times over!
And can't agree more about Gary Oldman, he's a chameleon and loses himself completely in the role, intriguing. I would jump his bones in a second too!
And yes to Ed Norton

Carey Mulligan also.

For a newer breed i was going to say Carey Mulligan, also really bewitched by Helen Mcrory. Love the obvious ones like Judi Dench, Helena Bonham Carter and Emma Thompson.

Alan Rickman
Helen Mirran
Judi Dench
Maggie Smith

Julie Andrews is the Queen of Classy.

Julianne Moore
Jim Broadbent
Judi Dench
My hero, Helen Mirren
My other hero, Meryl Streep
Julia Roberts
Al Pacino
De Niro
Jack Nicholson
Bradley Cooper

Those were living ones anyway! I have a whole list of dead ones too .

Cate Blanchett is always outstanding. Paul Giamatti great character actor.