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?

Lots of people mentioned him but Steven Graham stands out for me. I’m mesmerised by him. In the Virtues he made me uncomfortable and anxious, something I can’t remember truly feeling when watching a character before.
Fiona Shaw is amazing, just so watchable.
I love Jodie Comer too.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman
Olivia Coleman (in Broadchurch)

Also Jon Hamm as Don Draper

I find Cate Blanchett slightly hammy; in films it's always as if she's on stage, everything's larger than life, and I wish she'd calm down a bit

Sarah Lancashire
Jessica Lange in the American Horror Story series ditto Lady Gaga

Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson. Nah just kidding.

Only western / English speaking actors or anywhere within the world?

Daniel Day Lewis is probably the best actor I’ve ever seen.

Edward Norton is incredible as well, as is Leonardo Dicaprio.

Actress wise Meryl Streep I think is the best I’ve personally seen, Hilary Swank, Cate Blanchett and Jessica Lange are amazing as well.

Simone Russell Beale, Alex Jennings, Mikel Murfi, Fiona Shaw, Judy Davis, Paddy Considine.

'At the moment, probably Adam Driver'

I never understood Adam Driver's appeal - his face annoys me too much - until I saw his singing scene in 'Marriage Story'. It could have been the cringiest thing you've ever seen but he performed it SO beautifully. It was so sad, so vulnerable and strange but hopeful and uplifting, and totally believable. I was so impressed

Controversial but purely for ability Kevin spacey, Meryl Streep, Jodie Comer, Gary Oldman

@Deadringer

I will always remember Sarah Lancashire in one particular Corrie scene as Raquel- we had gotten so used to daft dopey blonde Raquel...it was when she discovered Des had betrayed her (prob 1994? I left the UK in late 94 and haven't seen CS since) and her anguish was brilliant. It was raw- none of that played up weeping and snotting but sheer devastation.

Mark Rylance
Marlon Brando.

Keeley Hawes - if you haven't seen her in Line of Duty, you should watch it.

Gillian Anderson was spectacular in A Streetcar Named Desire, also really rated Billie Piper in Yerma. Another Michael Sheen fan here!

@blacktanwhite

Daniel Mays is a great actor along with Stephen Graham. The latter's performance in the Virtues was very difficult to watch because of its authenticity.

Nothing will ever top seeing DLD as Hamlet at the NT though

Who's DLD? I can't work it out and it's driving me bonkers!

Pierce Quigley , he’s just brilliant in everything from comedy to Shakespeare and Elisabeth Berrington .

I’m always impressed when an actor is really famous for a role but can play a different role and you’re not reminded of the first. So for example Martin Clunes is Doc Martin without me remembering he is Gary in Men Behaving Badly. David Jason is Frost without me remembering Del Boy. There are others too.

Russell Crowe. I don't like him in interviews, but the characters he plays are unrecognisable from each other, which makes him a fantastic actor.

James Norton brilliant in all his very diverse roles.

Sam Riley amazing as Ian Curtis in Control.
Cillian Murphy especially in The Wind That Shakes The Barley.
Jake Gyllenhall particularly in Brokeback Mountain.
Keeley Hawes is amazing too also very diverse.

Edie Falco, specifically as Carmela Soprano in The Sopranos.

I'm on my 4th rewatch and have just watched the S4 finale, Whitecaps. The fight scenes between her and James Gandolfini in this episode contain some of the most uncomfortably, heartbreakingly relatable and believable emotions I've ever seen captured on film. It's sensational. She just is the character.

Honourable mention to the late great Gandolfini as well. Tony Soprano is one of the best realised characters of any tv show ever.

DLD = Daniel Day Lewis presumably.

Sylvestra le Touzel - very versatile and totally believable in everything she does. Mesmerising as the police officer in Appropriate Adult. Her scenes with Monica Dolan as Rose West were electrifying. But she also does comedy - The Thick of It - and she played a complete bitch in an episode of Doc Martin. Hilarious!

Another for Daniel Day Lewis. I just love him. In everything.

Alan Rickman on stage (in Tango at the end of Winter) was mesmerising.

On TV, Gillian Anderson in Bleak House just encapsulated the desparate, doomed Lady Deadlock.

Mark rylance

Gary Oldman, because I find him utterly believable in whatever role he plays.

Stephen Graham and Nicola Walker would be mine but we have so many fantastic actors and actresses in this country it is quite hard to choose!