Who do you think is the most talented actor/actress that you've seen?

[bumblebeewine]

For me, it's Pamela Rabe. So underrated but so immensely brilliant. Also think Jessica Lange is amazing.

Who do you think is the most talented actor/actress you've ever watched?

Also love Michael Sheen and David Tennant - If you haven’t seen Staged, it’s great.
Actress - Frances McDormand

Ian McKellan, Maggie Smith, David Tennant

Tamsin Grieg is also amazing on stage (and in Black Books )

I was coming on to say Micheal Sheen but see I have been well and truly beaten to it!

He is an absolute chameleon and is utterly brilliant in everything I've seen him in, all wildly different characters.

I think Lennie James is great, you can watch him in any role and you forget it's the same person.

Cate Blanchett and Christian Bale

Gary Oldman
Michael Caine
Maggie Smith

Ken Branagh. Have seen him on stage as Hamlet and the 4 hour production was mesmerising and ignited a love of theatre and Shakespeare over 25 years ago. (Eek!)

Also, second Michael Sheen and David Tennant. I caught DTs Hamlet in Stratford and he gave Branagh a run for his money!

If anyone hasn't caught Staged which is the lockdown project MS and DT are in for the Beeb then do search it out.

I love Sarah Lancashire

Big fan of Mark Rylance

On stage -
Lesley manville
Fiona Shaw
Penelope Wilton

Not live
Judi dench
The actor who played Walter’s brother in law in Breaking Bad
Lily Tomlin
Michael Sheen - incredible at all ages recently saw Badlands again - what a film.

The measure of a great actor, as well as range, is how much they can boost indifferent material. I chanced upon an episode of 'Midsomer Murders' the other day while channel-hopping and found myself hooked to the scene before realizing it was Desmond Barrett. Made the rest of 'em look like the original line-up of 'Hollyoaks'. Michael Elphick; Andy Garcia; Tony Shalhoub; Tom Bell; William Devane - they can/could all do it, in the most mediocre of TV movies, soaps or sitcoms. I've never seen a better stage performance than Brian Dennehy in 'Death Of A Salesman'.
Sarah Polley is my favourite film actress; wish she worked more. Sharon Stone and Michelle Pfeiffer also much underrated.
I really like Michael Sheen but cannot get to grips with Tennant, who I'm sure is a lovely bloke.

Absolutely agree with Martin Sheen and Sarah Lancashire.

A perhaps less well known actress who I find excellent is Jeanie Drynan. (She played Betty Hislop, the mother having the breakdown, in Muriel's Wedding.)

I also very much liked the late great Nigel Hawthorne.

Mark Benton, player an angel and a devil. His face just transformed from one to the other.

Michael Sheen
Daniel Mays
Eddie Marsden
Stephen Graham
Jodie Comer
Aiden Gallagher (Umbrella Academy)
Tamsin Grieg

Matthew McCaughney in Dallas Buyer's Club and True Detective

At the moment, probably Adam Driver, especially after seeing some sketches on SNL. There's nothing he can't act.

I really enjoy watching Jessica Lange and Jodie Comer.

Ralph Fiennes performance in Schindlers List haunted me for a long time after.

HeronLanyon
Fiona Shaw! Yes! I forgot her.

lightdrizzle I absolutely trade you back Eileen Atkins - amazing.

I don't think anyone has mentioned Monica Dolan. She is spellbounding in everything I've seen her in, from humour in W1A to a hauntingly terrifying Rose West in Appropriate Adult. I'd watch anything if she was in it.

She's soooo good.

Phoebe waller wotsit.
Tamsin greige.
Victoria Wood.
Tom cruise.

From long ago I absolutely love Celia Johnson.

Very unpopular to mention him (for obvious reasons) but saw Kevin Spacey play Richard III and he gave me goosebumps.

Was also bowled over by Suranne Jones in Stage production of A Few Good Men. She acted Rob Lowe off the stage!

Alan Rickman. Can't believe I forgot him. And Clive Owen, actually. Paul Scofield. Nicol Williamson. Denholm Elliott.