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?

Mine are Michael Sheen, Casey Affleck, Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Hardy, Billy Bob Thornton, Tom Hardy, Robert Downey Jr and Toni Collette. All fabulous actors.

Tom Hardy, so good I pit him twice.

John Lithgow he steals most scenes he is in...

Even if it's just his such as the last scene of the day after

Just his Voice... His voice

Viggo Mortensen

Eddie redmayne

Ben Wishaw

Julianne Moore

Brilliant in the recent film Still Alice

Well after watching the very disappointing The Descendants last night, I'd say George Clooney. He seems to raise the standard of anything he appears in. Despite most of the film being weak and contrived, he reduced me to tears in one scene.

Steve Buscemi

Timothy Spall
Jim Broadbent
Jim Norton
Bob Hoskins

Leonardo DiCaprio

Anne-Marie Duff

Kristen Scott Thomas

Have you seen Samuel L Jackson in his latest film as U.S. president? Puts him off this list for me!

YY to Anton Lesser - I listen to a lot of radio drama and he is always fantastic
Simon Russell Beale
Mark Rylance

All above very understated and powerful on stage and screen.

Peter Firth - love him in Spooks

Juliet Stevenson
Imelda Staunton
Harriet Walter

Not necessarily adding 'class' in all their roles but definitely classy women
Tamsin Greig
Brenda Blethyn
Eileen Atkins
Olivia Coleman
Sally Hawkins
Sheila Hancock
Billie Whitelaw

And the greats - Olivia de Havilland
Greer Garson
Celia Johnson
Joan Plowright

And Ian Charleson - he died way too young and was a truly an amazing actor.

Oh yes, Tamsin Greig! One of the greats IMO.

Love Olivia Colman too, especially in Rev.

Marion Cotillard

Michael Sheen. I read something he said about how he finds he has to work very hard to be any good. He's the opposite to Hugh Grant who admits he doesn't put any effort in at all (and doesn't it show..) Sheen is pure charisma and disappears into every character. And he also suits the crumpet thread.

I also like Kevin Spacey for his invisibility as an actor (sweet Lester Burnham is the same guy as the Se7en psycho!) and Emma Thompson just makes an emotional connection with me in anything she does, she's amazing.

Judi dench,
Maggie Smith,
Stephanie Cole,
Alan Rickman,

YY to Anton Lesser - I listen to a lot of radio drama and he is always fantastic
I don't listen to the radio as often as I should. I did hear his Angelo in Measure for Measure a good few years ago and love him as Falco.
Something about the way he says "Sweetheart" when talking to Helena Justina makes me come over all unnecessary.

I've been watching the repeats of Inspector Alleyn on Drama - Patrick Malahide is definitely classy.

Alfred Molina -great in a two hander with Dawn French & I still remember him as a whistleblower in a pharmaceutical story from he eighties & "he was amazing in Hancock & Frida.
Roger Allam- just so much, but especially love him on the radio.
Second Danie Auteuil for many, including Romauld et Juliette

Agree with many on here, esp English ACTORRRS. Wanted to add Derek Jacobi, a shocking omission (unless I missed his name!) and Fiona Shaw.

Judi dench,
Maggie Smith,
Stephanie Cole,
Alan Rickman

Hels I think ^ that is my ideal film - surely someone's made it?

YY to Alfred Molina and Harriet Walter.

Bob Hoskins is a good one, I've seen interviews where Maggie Smith and Michael Caine speak very highly of him, Same with Derek Jacobi And Christopher Lee other actors have genuine respect for them.

John Le Mesurier was talented, he's in a BBC play called Traitor from 1971 and is shockingly brilliant in it. but apparently rarely took roles where he had to learn more that 4 pages of dialog because he was lazy.

Hello all,

With the kind permission of the OP, we are now going to move this thread over to the shiny new Films topic.

Thanks.

Will People still be able to find it?

I loved Cranford because it had many of the names here in it.