Name the top 10 greatest actors alive today

**HWBL** · July 29th, 2008, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by Sasha

HWBL, I agree with all you have written. I would also like to add, and please don't hit me, that I think Jack Nicholson is over-rated. He has been absolutely brilliant in many of his roles and a down right ham in others. As someone said on another thread, he seems more an exhibitionist than an actor. He DOES NOT leave his ego at the door when he walks into a role, which is an essential part of being an actor.

LOL, don't worry, I agree about Jack. I think he may have
been the first of that group of big talents around the same
age/generation who started phoning in the same type of
performances: he became a character. So, you can see
that even truly gifted actors get typecast at some point
in their careers.

**Sasha** · July 29th, 2008, 03:09 PM

Originally Posted by kingcap72

^^You hurt my feelings. I'm telling Al Sharpton. j/k

And I don't know what my cousin was smoking when he said Cruise was better than Crowe.

Are you sure he's not ill? Check his temp, lol.

Originally Posted by HWBL

LOL, don't worry, I agree about Jack. I think he may have
been the first of that group of big talents around the same
age/generation who started phoning in the same type of
performances: he became a character. So, you can see
that even truly gifted actors get typecast at some point
in their careers.

Absolutely. If actors care a whit about their craft they should resist casting based on their perceived persona.

**kingcap72** · July 29th, 2008, 03:16 PM

Originally Posted by Sasha

Are you sure he's not ill? Check his temp, lol.

Absolutely. If actors care a whit about their craft they should resist casting based on their perceived persona.

Nah, he's just married with three small kids who are driving him crazy. So, I chalk it up to stress.

**tkdgirl** · July 29th, 2008, 03:32 PM

In no particular order:

Actors:

Gene Hackman
Denzel Washington
Kevin Spacey
Morgan Freeman
Russell Crowe
Joaquin Phoenix
Anthony Hopkins
Robert Duvall
Daniel Day-Lewis
Hugh Jackman

Actresses:

Helen Mirren
Cate Blanchett
Famke Janssen
Susan Sarandon
Jodie Foster
Kate Winslet
Sigourney Weaver
Holly Hunter
Rachel Weisz
Francis McDormand

Up and Comers (Honorable Mention):

Emile Hirsch
Keira Knightley
Ashley Judd
Edward Norton (forget the Hulk please)
Natalie Portman
Adrien Brody

**Chalet** · July 29th, 2008, 03:42 PM

I don't know. I can rely on my all time favorites which are included in the lists here. Then I think who today who really makes me laugh, breaks my heart and who I find so compelling I can't take my eyes off of them. I wish there were more women, but I find them more to be great technicians rather than really touching me.

Daniel Auteuil
Johnny Depp
Isabelle Huppert
Daniel Day Lewis
Al Pacino
Gerard Depardieu
Annette Bening
Maggie Smith
Kevin Spacey

**HWBL** · July 29th, 2008, 03:46 PM

Okay, actresses (this may even be harder than actors).
In no particular order:

Kathy Bates
Annette Bening
Juliette Lewis
Meryl Streep
Cher
Gena Rowlands
Joanne Woodward

Can't think of more right now

**msdeb** · July 29th, 2008, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by WhateverLolaWants

In no particular order

Don Cheadle

i'm so glad you mentioned him, i absolutely believe he's underrated!

**visitor42** · July 29th, 2008, 05:48 PM

Don Cheadle

He was great in Crash and Traffic.

**visitor42** · July 29th, 2008, 05:51 PM

Jack Nicholoson.
Tom Hanks
Tom Cruise
Dustin Hoffman
Kevin Spacey
James Earl Jones
Martin Sheen
Donald Sutherland
Ed Harris
Morgan Freeman

Special Mention
Al Pachino
Russell Crowe

**visitor42** · July 29th, 2008, 05:56 PM

Women

Laura Linney
Frances McDormand
Rachel Griffiths
Jodie Foster
Jennifer Connelley
Meryl Streep
Glenn Close
Kate Winslet
Helen Hunt

Up and coming
Natalie Portman
Lauren Ambrose