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.
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.
