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?

Jared Harris. He's been fantastic in everything I've seen him in.

Sally Hawkins. I think she's extraordinary.

Samantha Morton. I don't think she gets the recognition she deserves.

And then the others already mentioned - Maxine Peake; Michael Sheen; David Tennant; Benedict Cumberbatch; Julie Walters; Tom Hanks.

I forgot to say Nina Arianda - I think she’s incredible. First saw her in Midnight In Paris and thought she was brilliant. I hope she gets some bigger roles soon, she’s so good.

After just watched Killing Eve (all 3 seasons) for the first time. Jodie Comer blew me away! I saw her in Dr Foster too and can't believe how talented she is in Killing Eve. Her timing, her facial expressions, not to mention her accents. AMAZING!

An underrated actor but Thomas Brodie Sangster.

I’m currently enjoying Sarah Jessica Parker in Divorce. She’s excellent.

I think Jennifer Aniston is an underrated comic actor.

Thomasin Mackenzie is a brilliant young actor.

Tilda Swinton is great.
David Tennant and Mark Rylance are brilliant too.

Oh, and Andrew Scott. Absolutely magnetic.

Daniel Day Lewis

m.youtube.com/watch?v=kfjYhje2zrE

See it was Andrew Scott’s poetry reading that I found mortifying.

@Binterested I loved it!

I’ve loved Sam Rockwell since Galaxy Quest, which also features two of my other favourites Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. They were well established at that point but he held his own in a minor role. He’s even brilliant in shite films such as Charlie’s Angels and Iron Man 2. But given the meaty role he can and has given superb performances

I love Michael B. Jordan in everything, but it was actually the Monkey King bloke, Winston Duke, that I thought was the best thing about that film.

I really rate Julie Walters.

@Ihaveoflate

Juliette Stevenson in Truly, Madly, Deeply takes my breath away every single time. It also reduces me to a blubbering mess!

I haven't RTFT so apologies if she's already been mentioned.

Oh, I have to agree with that! I first watched TMD about 6 months after my husband died and I sobbed throughout the whole film. She is just amazing. As indeed was her co star, the wonderful Alan Rickman.

Al Pacino...Brilliant in Scent Of A Woman and Danny Collins..
Julie Walters..
Cary Grant....

Jessica Hynes in ‘There She Goes’ is brilliant. David Tennant is excellent in it, but it’s Jessica who reduces me to tears every episode.

Agree with others who have said
Martin Sheen
Daniel Day Lewis- acting genius
Sarah Lancashire
Jean Alexander- fantastic. characterisation
Sean Penn
Jodie Comer
Angela Bassett in What’s Love Got to do with It- brilliant performance
Lest well known black British actor- Ashley Walters- was in Channel 4’s ‘Top Boy’

Michael Sheen

Not Martin

Robert Carlyle. Hard to believe it's the same person when he's playing very different parts.

Brian Cranston too, how can Hal and Heisenberg be the same person?!

Amazing talent.

Another vote for Dame Maggie Smith. Laurence Fishburne - stunning in Othello. Jonny Depp as I love having to point out to the children it is actually the same person in Pirates / Willy Wonka / Fantastic Beasts. Alan Rickman obviously - in fact all of the adult actors in the Harry Potter films are world class. I wonder if its because of our British tread the boards doing Shakespeare culture?

Also, this sounds absolutely crazy but if anyone saw the Young Vic production of Yerma then you’d probably add Billie Piper to the list, with many critics calling it the best stage performance of the decade.

I agree - Billie Piper is grossly underrated. I think possibly because she is so "girlish" she doesn't get the credit she deserves. It's a bit like Diana Dors - because she was so "sexy" and was given mainly that sort of part, it was easy to overlook how very, very gifted an actress she was. (And if we are looking at "late" performers, too - Peter Barkworth)

Most of my favourites have already been mentioned - but not sure if Patricia Routledge has, or Charles Kay? Also Nicholas le Provost. And Judi Dench and Ian MacLellan in "Macbeth" umpteen decades ago were superlative.

Perhaps we should have a thread for "Grossly Over-rated Actors" too. I can think of quite a few who could only have got their first chance because they are from a "dynasty" of actors, or their families had some sort of clout when the casting was made, or achieved their popularity because their faced "fitted". (Looking at no-one i particular, but eyes rest briefly on Daniel Radcliffe)

Julia Roberts, Liam Neeson, Denzel Washington, Meryl Streep

at grossly overrated actors and those from thespian dynasties. I always think it's difficult for offspring of actors. Nobody bats an eyelid when plumbers' offspring want to be become plumbers, and children often want to do what their parents do because it's known and familiar. The difference, I guess, is that acting is one of those occupations that is massively oversubscribed and where, for new joiners, personal introductions can mean a lot.

Anyway, I digress. I'm glad to see so many votes for my candidate, Michael Sheen. I loved his double act with David Tennant in Good Omens, too, and more recently in Staged.

@ChiefClerkDrumknott

I’ve loved Sam Rockwell since Galaxy Quest, which also features two of my other favourites Sigourney Weaver and Alan Rickman. They were well established at that point but he held his own in a minor role. He’s even brilliant in shite films such as Charlie’s Angels and Iron Man 2. But given the meaty role he can and has given superb performances

Galaxy Quest is such an underrated film.

By Grabthar's hammer...

I agree - Billie Piper is grossly underrated. I think possibly because she is so "girlish" she doesn't get the credit she deserves. It's a bit like Diana Dors - because she was so "sexy" and was given mainly that sort of part, it was easy to overlook how very, very gifted an actress she was. (And if we are looking at "late" performers, too - Peter Barkworth)

I think people can’t take her seriously because of her start in the industry - she’s not someone you’d necessarily think of as a serious actor, and I don’t think she’s had much of a chance to act to the level she can onscreen. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing when I saw Yerma, she was simply incredible.