Who do and don't you consider a good/great actor of the modern age?

[blobby10]

I love Charlize Theron as I'm never sure if it's her in a role! Similarly Cate Blanchett - both seem to manage to morph into their characters without excessive make up and change their voice too. I enjoy many of Sandra Bullocks films but she always sounds the same in each role, ditto Ann Hathaway.

I think Johnny Depp is a good actor although he does use a lot of make up in many of his roles. The likes of Henry Cavill, Alan Ritchson, Robert Downey Jr, Chris Hemsworth all seem to play the same role with different costumes! Although very beautiful to look at with or without clothes

Michael Sheen. I saw him in Nye at the national theatre last year and he blew me away.

Andrew Scott and Ralph Fiennes are always compelling and believable.

Lenny James
Mark Rylance
Keely Hawes
Claire Foy
Ray Winstone

I can't stand Olivia Colman I can't watch anything with her in it.
Her gurning puts me off.

Michael Sheen
Sarah Lancashire
Saoirse Ronan
Cate Blanchett
Robert Carlyle
Alan Rickman
Denzel
Cher
I predict we will see Ryan Reynolds pivot into something out of his comfort zone. He can’t conceivably do cheeky chap forever surely?
And that’s reminded me of Hugh Grant now he’s broken out of typecasting. I think he’s a real talent.

Another vote for Andrew Scott. I watched him in All of us Strangers last night and was so touched by his portrayal of grief and loneliness.
He spreads himself quite thinly and seems to accept a range of roles, maybe because he’s reaching an age when he can’t be Sexy Priest for much longer. I believe he might be our future Anthony Hopkins.
I also like Jared Harris (The Terror!) and Rory Kinnear.

Can’t believe no one has mentioned Ian Mckellan and Judi Dench

Absolutely second Mark Rylance. If you are ever lucky enough to see him on stage, you just can't take your eyes off him.

Also fabulous on stage (as well as on screen) are:
Imelda Staunton
Lesley Manville
David Tennant (depending on the production)
Kenneth Branagh (better on stage than on screen)

I saw CE in Macbeth at the RSC Stratford. He was a bit hammy in it.

And I have to add Ralph Fiennes, Judi Dench, Ian Mckellen and Tom Burke.

Yes, I thought he'd be good, but he just didn't seem to have a handle on the verse at all.

Kenneth Branagh (who I like in Shakespeare) couldn't save some godawful Mamet play years back at the NT. I sat through it in rising disbelief.

No longer with us sadly but DH has just finished a LOTR rewatch and I was very struck by how beautifully Bernard Hill spoke verse. I know he did some stage but I don't think Shakespeare and he should have. Long way from Yosser! (Apparently he was a really nice man too, I only met him once in passing but know others how knew him better)

Christopher Eccleston a longtime favourite, Thomas Brodie Sangster, James Purefoy and Carey Mulligan, superb in The Dig with of course Ralph Fiennes. The gentle amateur archaeologist was a millions miles from Amon Goethe, but he was entirely convincing as both. Clive Owen, who I think would have made a superb Bond. Tom Cruise has done some superb things, I thought he stole Rainman from Dustin Hoffman and acted Brad Pitt off the screen in Interview with the Vampire.

On the subject of Oscars, Liam Neeson was robbed of the Oscar for his portrayal of Schindler, IMHO.

Julia Garner - in Ozark and Inventing Anna, but very different in both.

Agree Mark Rylance has a unique quality about him.
Agree Ralph Fiennes - has a great range.

I love Kieran Culkin. What a talent.
Sarah Lancashire
Jason Isaacs

And to add, another for Jared Harris!

I now he's done some rubbish rom-coms but I think Matthew McConnaughey is fab, his series of True Detective one of my fav ever series. Also Dallas Buyers Club.

Edward Norton and Christopher Ecclestone are both mesmerising in any role.
Love Judi Dench and Hilary Swank.

Cannot bear Tom Cruise or Olivia Coleman.

@JackieGoodman the series with him and Woody is INSANELY good!

And James Norton obviously - incredible actor.

I agree with those who’ve said they can’t watch Olivia Coleman. She’s just the same in everything.

Kyle MacLachlan was in Agents of SHIELD for a bit, a Marvel TV series. He played an unstable, dangerous psychopath who also wanted to be a caring father. In a show where everyone was pootling along doing normal TV series acting, he was incredible. Threw himself into it completely and was amazing.

Bradley Cooper was amazing in Maestro, and Carey Mulligan was even better.
John Sim.

I agree, John Sim seems to stay under the radar and he’s a fantastic talent.

I agree with Amy Adams and I'd add Joaquin Phoenix and Christian Bale.

For worst, I can't abide Olivia Colman either (Peep Show excepted), but Keira Knightly is like a plank of wood.

Not sure what people mean when they say that Olivia Colman always plays herself.
I’ve seen her in the Favourite, the Father, the Crown, Wicked Little Letters all very different roles which I thought she played convincingly.

Daniel Day Lewis and Lesley Manville. What an absolute treat to see them both together in the sublime Phantom Thread.

Joaquin Phoenix. His performance in Joker (the first one) is one of the greatest pieces of acting I’ve ever seen.

Meryl Streep, of course. Fantastic in everything she’s ever done. So versatile and in spite of being spectacularly famous she still manages to disappear into every role.