My Top 20 Favorite Actresses!

I have a much easier time picking out men over woman because I'm harsher on women. I actually was afraid that I wasn't going to be able to come up with any...seriously. But I decided that that wasn't fair to my sex and that I needed to delve deep. I may like their abilities, but that doesn't mean that I like all their movies or all their roles. These are listed alphabetically by first name. It would be too hard to figure out who I like over another. Some of my favorites that didn't make the cut were Sally Fields, Meg Ryan(don't like her recent stuff), Glen Close, Natalie Portman, and Helen Mirren...to name a couple. My favorite actors are in the post before this one.
Amy Adams - I didn't like Enchanted when it came out. I thought it was just too "over the top", but every time I've watched it since...I like it more and more each time. She's been in some okay and some not okay movies, but she's very talented. I could see her playing in a good drama or even an action movie and still being awesome.
Bryce Dallas Howard - She first showed up in The Village and I thought she did awesome. She also did Lady in the Water and did well. I wasn't crazy about her in Spiderman 3, but I didn't really like the role she was given. She was great in Terminator Salvation. I was a little surprised that she was taking the role of Victoria for Eclipse, but I think that she is talented and can step into it very well. Side note...I am not a die hard Twilight fan...just to be clear.
Drew Barrymore - Wasn't sure about her for a long time. She won me over softly. I think that what first peaked my interest was seeing her in Ever After. Not the best acting she's ever done, but I thought she did good. I was pretty sure she was talented when I saw 50 First Dates, but was positive with Music and Lyrics. She's consistent and fun to watch.
Emma Thompson - Again slowly. In fact, I don't think that I can say that it is any particular movie that did it for me. She has just played in a lot of movies and executes her roles beautifully. She just has a way and is flawless as she does it.
Gwyneth Paltrow - I've always liked some of her movies, but never felt like I had to see her, but she blew me away with Iron Man. It was a good role for her and she did it well. She's not the greatest of actresses, but I was impressed and am excited to see what else she brings.
Hattie Morahan - Who is this? She played on the new BBC version of Sense and Sensibility as Eleanor Dashwood and she was amazing. This is the only thing that I have seen her in and nearly the only thing she has ever done, but wow. I was really impressed with her performance.
Joan Allen - She's someone that I kept seeing and liking without even knowing it. I think I finally realized how good she was when I started seeing her in the Bourne movies. She's very believable and likable.
Joan Cusack - She's just awesome. Always brings it. Consistent and talented. Not my favorite, by any means, but she is a top performer. It's just a natural talent for her.
Julie Andrews - Thoroughly Modern Millie, Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music. Hello? She's just got skills both in music and in acting. She's just so sweet and you can't help but love her.
Kate Beckinsale - I have to say that I can't stand a lot of the movies that she has been in, but I've always liked her. I love some of her older stuff as well. She was a great Emma and Much Ado About Nothing and I loved her in Serendipity.
Kate Winslet - If you have never seen Hamlet you are missing a great performance from her. She struck me in that movie. No matter what anyone else thinks, she was great in titanic...I didn't like her hair color or some of the lines they gave her, but she was good. I think that when I saw The Holiday is when I was smitten with her as an actress. She's simple and sweet and very real...although I think that this picture of her doesn't look very real.
Kirsten Dunst - I couldn't stand her for the LONGEST time. In fact, I'm still a little surprised that she's on this list. But when I saw Wimbledon, I was shocked at how much I enjoyed her. She was perfect for the role. She's been given some annoying roles, but she's always played them as best as she could. I would like to she her in more of an action film. Spiderman doesn't count...I mean REAL action!
Mary Steenburgen - She played in Parenthood and Back to the Future III, but she kind of dropped of the map for a while. When I saw her in Elf and The Proposal, I realized that I missed her and liked watching her. I can't wait to see her in Did You Hear About The Morgans.
Meryl Streep - Can't stand a lot of her movies, but she is an amazing actress. I remember that the first thing I saw her in was River Wild. This must sound stupid to you, but I love that movie. Gavin makes fun of me, but I could tell she was good. She's been in some yuck movies, but she's definitely got talent.
Michelle Monaghan - I liked her in Mission Impossible III, but I was impressed at her performance in Eagle Eye. Not the best of actresses, but I really enjoy watching her.
Michelle Pfeiffer - She's a very consistent actress. I loved her in One Fine Day...so cute. She's also done some great work with Up Close and Personal and I Am Sam, but what brought her to my attention was Stardust...such a great movie and she was good in it. She looked really hot for her age, too.
Reese Witherspoon - Sweet Home Alabama was cute, but I loved her in Just Like Heaven and especially in Walk the Line. She's very likable and easy to watch. I would love to see her in more roles like Walk the Line, deeper roles.
Sandra Bullock - She's always been good, but recently she's shown how good. She's someone who has gotten better with age. She still looks amazing and is always funny and charming in her movies. I can't wait to see the Blind Side.
Toni Colette - One day I had an "ah ha" moment. I realized that I was always impressed by certain characters in a movie and that they were all her. She played the mom on The Sixth Sense, Harriet Smith in Emma, and The mom in About a Boy. I've seen her in some other roles and she always does well...even if I hate the movie.
Uma Thurman - This has only been a recent development, within the last couple of years. She's a great actress not only because she's a good actress, but because she's gutsy. She can play, and has played, just about any role you can think of. She's extremely versatile. I never really like her until I saw Paycheck and Kill Bill 1 & 2 (edited but still gruesome).

My Top 20 Favorite Actors!

My top 20 favorite actors. This isn't an exact science. There very well could be some that I couldn't think of but like better than these guys, but that would be hard. A couple of my favorites didn't make the cut; Jean Reno, Johnny Depp, James Cromwell, Geoffrey Rush, Collin Firth, Harrison Ford, and Ian McKellen...to name a few. My lists consists of those who've left an impression on me. I don't know how else to say it. It doesn't mean that I like all their movies or them personally. They are listed alphabetically by first name because it would be WAY TOO HARD to number them by preference. Actresses will come later.

Alan Rickman - What a great place to start. I first fell in love with him in Sense and Sensibility. When my mother told me that he played as The Sheriff of Nottingham on Robin Hood Prince of Thieves...I gained a HUGE respect for his versatility. And he kept proving that to me when he played a comical role on Galaxy Quest and I love him in Harry Potter.
Don Cheadle - My respect for him was more subtle. He played in a lot of minor roles before I realized how great of an actor he was. But it was extremely obvious in Hotel Rwanda. He always ready to impress.
Ewan McGregor - He's one of my favorites to watch because he's an awesome actor, but also because he's "eye candy"! Mm...mmmmmm! He's a really substantial actor and he makes it look easy.
Hugh Grant - I wouldn't say that I loved him right away. I always thought he was a good lookin' fella, but didn't think much of it. I always enjoyed him, but when I watched About a Boy...I was sold. I don't think that he was given the really good roles until more recently. Plus, I think he's someone who gets better with age.
Jack Black - I know that a lot you think that this is a stupid choice, but he's awesome. He's very talented and he makes it a real experience to watch him. He's confident and has real charisma. He's very honest in his acting... and let's face it...he's a funny guy! And no matter what you may think, he does have real talent as an actor.
Jake Gyllenhaal - I was impressed from the first time I saw him in October Sky. He's a clear and smooth in his acting. Very natural. I never saw him in Brokeback Mountain...AND I NEVER WILL, but I'm interested to see how he does in Prince of Persia.
James Cavlezel - Again...instantly saw his talents. I loved him in Frequency and then followed with The Counte of Monte Cristo. He's played in several "bad guy" roles and he's still great to watch.
Jeremy Piven - Who? Jeremy Piven! He played only in a few roles that you might recognize. He played in The Family Man as his best friend and Serendipity as his best friend...and a tiny role in Rush Hour 2 as the guy who sells them their suits. Fantastic in all of them. I want to see more of him.
Joaquin Phoenix - The first thing I remember seeing him in was Gladiator (edited)...and was blown away. He went on to do Signs, The Village, and Walk the Line. I feel terrible that he has stopped acting because he's so good at it. I was really concerned about him after I saw the footage with Letterman. I hope that he returns to acting very soon.
Jude Law - Subtle growth as well. I first saw him in A.I. , stupid movie but he did good in it. Then I adored him in The Holiday. I think what clinched it for me was Gattaca. I had never seen it before, but when I saw him I realized that he is so believable in all his roles. I've watched some edited versions of his rated R movies. I hated all of them, but he was always impressive. Loved Sherlock Holmes!
Justin Long - "Hi, I'm a Mac!" Yes, he's one of my picks. His very first role was in Galaxy Quest as the dorky kid Brandon. I loved him in it. He was just so funny. I loved Live Free or Die Hard. I just found out that he plays the voice of Alvin in the Alvin and the Chipmunks movies. He also played in He's Just Not That Into You. Movie...ehh, but he did well.
Matt Damon - The Rainmaker did it for me, first movie of his that I saw. Ever since I've discovered that he's my favorite action star because he's still a character you care about. He does so good in the Bourne movies and the Ocean Movies!
Paul Bettany - LOVE HIM! I watched Wimbledon and loved him instantly, but then Gavin and I realized that he played in A Knights Tale. The movie was okay, but we loved him in it. He's played in a lot of other movies and he's done fabulous in all of them.
Paul Giamatti - He's played in a lot of big roles recently and has gotten really well known, but I truly liked him before all of that. I'm not at all surprised that he has gotten so well known. I loved him in all of his minor roles in Paycheck, My Best Friends Wedding, Cinderella Man, The Illusionist. He's someone that I'll always enjoy watching.
Robert Downey Jr. - Again...liked him before all the hoopla. I always felt horrible when he had his drug problems because I thought he was super talented and it was such a waste. Plus I was a little selfish about it. I wanted to see him in more things. Then Iron Man came out and the world got to see what I had always seen in him. Sherlock Holmes...awesome. Can't wait for Iron Man 2!
Ryan Reynolds - Okay, he's like another Jack Black to me in that sense that he's fun to watch, but has real skills at the same time. I have liked him in every role that I've seen him in.
Sean Astin - "Rudy...Rudy...Rudy..." I thought that he did amazing in Rudy and for years hated that he was never in much of anything. Then Lord of the Rings came out! I was so happy to see him again and see him in something that he would show his capabilities. Then he went on to impress with with his hilarious character in 50 First Dates.
Shia LaBeouf - I liked him in Transformers and Eagle Eye, but the first thing that I absolutely loved him in was The Greatest Game Ever Played. That's when I knew how good he was. I've also really like him in Disturbia and I Robot.
Tom and Colin Hanks - This is cheating a little bit, but I was looking for a picture of Tom Hanks and came across this one. It reminded me about how much I like his son. I've only seen him in two things, but he impressed me in both; Orange County and King Kong. And Tom Hanks...well duh! Cast Away...need I say more?
Will Smith - Gradual. I enjoyed his acting until I saw Enemy of the State (edited) and then I loved his acting. Independence Day and Men in Black were fun, but he's done so much since then that have been awesome. The Legend of Bagger Vance, Hitch, I am Legend, The Pursuit of Happyness, and Seven Pounds. True talent.

"Debbie Downer" Moment

If you don't want to have a "Debbie Downer" moment, don't read this post!

CLICK HERE to see more...

My New Look

Okay, I guess the title is a bit deceiving. It's my new blog look. After a lot of reconfiguring, I finally have it the way I want it. However, Gavin doesn't like the plain white background. Should I add some color on the sides or leave it white?

My Pleasant Sunday Post

Here's the post that I put on my other blog.

Please Tell Your Friends! Send them to: www.pleasantsunday.blogspot.com

A Pleasant Sunday (that's me!), FAO Basket Company, and Green Jello with Carrots have teamed up for Tanner. We're not quite to our $200 mark yet and I'm hoping that this will get us closer.

This is what you'll get!

• My Gospel ABCs Book


• My Gospel Card Games


• $15.00 Gift Certificate for Green Jello with Carrots


• and a Church Tote Bag

Over a $70.00 value.

To place your bid, you must email me at cookienut@ymail.com, and be sure to give your name, contact email, and your bid. I will update the bids on a once daily basis. If two people make the same bid, it will go to the first. The bidding will close on February 28th at midnight.

There is a reserve on this auction.

Year of Donations!

I've discovered that this year is full of donations for me. I'm working on fundraising for my friend's son, for my cousin, and I'm also in the process of...donating my hair.

For YEARS, I've been wanting to donate my hair to Locks of Love. But whenever my hair got to a certain point, I would freak out and cut it. This is me now, and this is usually when I throw up my hands and quit...but not this time. This was one of my New Years Goals and I intend to see it through.

I wanted to take a picture as a reference, so that I have can remember my goal. Kind of like when someone wants to loose weight and they take a picture as a reminder and incentive. I may have my hair up in a ponytail a lot, but I'm so excited to do this.

Oh, and forgive the blog, it's under construction.