My Top 10 Actors and Actresses Working Today
These are in a loose order. Near the middle and the end, things get a little blurry for me. In this list, I try to include a cross section of dramatic actors, comedic actors, and some up and coming actors from my generation.
1. Johnny Depp
Impulsive, mischievous, dark, and always with a trick up his sleeve, this actor has a talent for drama and comedy alike. He lights up the screen most in roles that combine these two aspects. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes.
The opening monologue from Depp’s film, The Libertine.
2. Kate Winslet
The well of her soul is open for her audience in every performance she gives. I am constantly surprised and never disappointed by her.
This clip is from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This movie also makes my top ten movies list.
3. Meryl Streep
A legend in her own time, there is no challenge too great for this woman. Her idiosyncrasies never fail to bubble to the surface in every role.
This clip is from The Hours.
4. Dustin Hoffman
What a joy he is. I find his playfulness incredibly engaging. He also has the uncanny ability to disappear into a role when he wants and to stand out when he chooses.
The following clip is from Hoffman’s first film, The Graduate. It also happens to be, in my opinion, one of the greatest scenes ever filmed.
5. Dame Judi Dench
Her presence is enough to make my hair stand up on end. She is a commanding force to be reckoned with and even her strong characters are smartly crafted with just the right vulnerable cracks in their surfaces to keep things interesting.
The following is a compilation of clips of her Oscar winning performance in Shakespeare in Love.
6. Ian McKellen
One of our best Shakespeare performers alive today and the perfect Gandalf in Lord of the Rings.
This clip isn’t exactly from one of his best movies, but it is one of the funniest things I have ever seen and it happens to be Ian McKellen’s episode of Extras on HBO. Also appearing is Ricky Gervais, creator and original star of The Office in Britain.
7. Steve Carell
Steve is a master. He’s the kind of actor I aspire to be, a comedian of the soul. He is simultaneously honest, horrifying, and heartbreaking. He is a living miracle.
The following is a clip from The Office. I found better ones, but they could not be embedded.
8. Robert DeNiro
He always seems to have a secret. A talent for comedy and for drama just by being himself, he seems to know more than his audience.
DeNiro in Meet the Parents.
9. Sean Penn
I am always impressed by the characters this actor chooses to play. He always seems to be looking for a new challenge.
A clip of Sean Penn as Harvey Milk in Milk. Every moment the character was giving this speech, he could have been shot. Watching his delivery with that in mind gives it a whole new perspective.
9. Anne Hathaway
A lot of people may disagree with me on this, but hear me out. I think she has great potential and for her age, she is positioning herself perfectly. Her performance in Rachel Getting Married was nothing less than brilliantly mesmerizing.
The following clip is a scene from Rachel Getting Married.
10. Will Farrell
Again, people may disagree with me here, but I think it’s important to include comedic actors. Most of what Will does is improvisation, but some of what he’s done is unmistakable creative brilliance. His one man show, You’re Welcome, America, was nothing short of astounding. He was painstakingly specific in every moment and managed to make me feel pity for a man i despised.
A clip from You’re Welcome, America. If you watch it to till the end, I promise it will be worth your time and you may come closer to agreeing with me about him deserving a spot in the top ten.
(11.) Gene Kelly
He’s dead… but he’s so amazing that he gets to be my ghost 11th favorite Actor of All Time. His dancing, his voice, and his presence are the complete package.
To close, here’s Gene Kelly with Singin’ in the Rain
