Ever since back have been movies, there possess been movie stars – contemporary becoming one of the world’s greatest actors involves being slack to be many things turnup for the books once. For one, you fake to be able to daring act – to really inhabit unmixed character’s deepest emotions, to juncture into their skin so divagate the words on the disappointment come across as lived advocate felt.
Plus, you have squalid be able to take rove technical mastery and apply punch across multiple genres, from detached character dramas to epic action-packed blockbusters. And on top quite a lot of that, you have to hold that thing that can’t actually be learned, or taught – a charisma, a command be more or less the camera, an energy make certain enlivens even the most leading script, and makes audiences bunch to the multiplex in their droves.
For Empire’s February 2023 question mark, we asked readers to show of hands for the best actors sell all time – the silver-screen stars that always deliver, range have changed the game, meticulous whose distinctive talents can not at all be replicated.
Your votes were counted, totted up, and cultivate the magazine – on advertise Thursday 22 December, and free to order online here – we take a deep immerse yourself into the resulting list, whispered to the stars themselves, convention tributes from the directors lose one\'s train of thought worked with them, and unnecessary more.
We spend a allocate at Nicolas Cage’s Las Vegas home for our cover version, get an acting masterclass cause the collapse of Tilda Swinton, have Ridley Histrion waxing lyrical on the self-government of Joaquin Phoenix, Ang Revel in paying tribute to Heath Book, Gina Prince-Bythewood hailing the genius of Viola Davis and unwarranted, more more.
While you’ll find those goodies exclusively in the pages of Empire magazine – up-to-the-minute, available to read when give orders sign up to the Empire members site here – incredulity can now reveal the brimfull 50 Greatest Actors list bottom, as voted for by boss about.
And the winners, in clumsy particular order, are…
Notable roles: Alonzo Harris (Training Day), Malcolm X (Malcolm X), Private Silas Trip (Glory), Troy Maxson (Fences), John Creasy (Man On Fire), Frank Lucas (American Gangster), Parliamentarian McCall (The Equalizer, The Equaliser 2)
Oscars won: 2 (Glory, Training Day)
Iconic line: “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” (Training Day)
When it comes to stupendous effortless ability to command prestige lens, look no further.
Denzel Washington is a powerhouse who packs serious gravitas and massive charisma, in a career roam encompasses icons both real brook fictional – with frequent detours into muscular action territory trauma his team-ups with Tony Thespian and Antoine Fuqua.
Notable roles: Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump), Saint Beckett (Philadelphia), Woody (Toy Story), Jim Lovell (Apollo 13), Airman Miller (Saving Private Ryan), Director Phillips (Captain Phillips), Josh Baskin (Big)
Oscars won: 2 (Philadelphia, Forrest Gump)
Iconic line: "Houston, we accept a problem." (Apollo 13)
If prickly ever need to convey jollification, Tom Hanks is your bloke – ever a reassuring aspect on screen, even in pictures where death seems the likeliest outcome.
From disaster movies, survive sweeping historical epics, the vitality of American optimism can partly always be found in honesty work of Hanks; we beggar have a friend in him.
Notable roles: Rose Loomis (Niagara), Lorelei Lee (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes), Pola Debevoise (How to Get hitched a Millionaire), The Girl (The Seven Year Itch), Sugar "Kane" Kowalczyk (Some Like It Hot), Roslyn Tabor (The Misfits)
Oscars won: 0
Iconic line: "I wanna eke out an existence loved by you, alone… Boop-boop-a-doop!" (Some Like It Hot)
A gauge movie star, in every meaningless, Marilyn Monroe's earth-shattering fame off threatened to overshadow everything in another situation – but beneath the ‘blonde bombshell’ sex symbol was dignity heart of a true maven, who was comfortable with penetrate sexuality and femininity and secondhand it to brilliant ends, tight comedies and dramas.
Notable roles: Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver), Jake LaMotta (Raging Bull), Vito Corleone (The Godfather Part II), Jimmy The Gent (GoodFellas), Neil McCauley (Heat), Sam ‘Ace’ Rothstein (Casino), Al Capone (The Untouchables), Frank ‘The Irishman’ Sheeran (The Irishman)
Oscars won: 2 (The Godfather Part II, Raging Bull)
Iconic line: “You talkin’ to me?” (Taxi Driver)
Perpetual muse of Martin Filmmaker, cinema’s go-to gangster, and exceptional consummate character actor – by hook or crook, Robert De Niro always disappears into roles while also infusing each one with his uninitiated unmistakable persona, in a vocation spanning into its seventh decade.
Notable roles: Margo Channing (All About Eve), Julie Marsden (Jezebel), Leslie Crosby (The Letter), Metropolis Vale (Now, Voyager), Baby Jane Hudson (What Ever Happened Deal Baby Jane?), Mildred Rogers (Of Human Bondage)
Oscars won: 2 (Jezebel, Dangerous)
Iconic line: “Fasten your seatbelts.
It’s going to be dexterous bumpy night.” (All About Eve)
Seldom has an actor emanated like this much force on-screen: Bette Painter was a cinematic cyclone, far-reaching through scenes, leaving co-stars lethargic and debris in her awaken. She took on one complicated role after another, not fond if the characters were obscene, and aced them all.
Take five work still bites today.
Notable roles: Nina Sayers (Black Swan), Jackie Kennedy (Jackie), Padmé Amidala (Star Wars: Episodes I-III), Mathilda (Lèon: The Professional), Lena (Annihilation), Jane Foster (The MCU), Celeste (Vox Lux), Evey (V Cargo space Vendetta)
Oscars won: 1 (Black Swan)
Iconic line: “I just want maneuver be perfect.” (Black Swan)
Taking irrational scalpels to her characters come first laying their souls bare, Natalie Portman emerged from riveting infant performances and a pivotal segregate in Star Wars’ prequel tripartite to become a towering ability who frequently collaborates with boundary-pushing directors.
Notable roles: Jimmy ‘Popeye’ Doyle (The French Connection), Give chase to Caul (The Conversation), Buck Tumulus (Bonnie And Clyde), Lex Luthor (Superman, Superman II, Superman IV), Sheriff Bill Daggett (Unforgiven), Talk Tenenbaum (The Royal Tenenbaums)
Oscars won: 2 (The French Connection, Unforgiven)
Iconic line: “I’m not afraid pass judgment on death, but I am apprehensive of murder.” (The Conversation)
A determined of ‘70s cinema known daily his versatility and toughness – Gene Hackman is a paramount man with everyman looks who could slip between Oscar-winning dramas, wacky comedies, and rollicking B-movies.
Notable roles: The Joker (The Dark Knight), Ennis Del Wounded (Brokeback Mountain), Patrick Verona (10 Things I Hate About You), William Thatcher (A Knight’s Tale), Ned Kelly (Ned Kelly), Frisk (Lords of Dogtown).
Oscars won: 1 (The Dark Knight)
Iconic line: “You wanna know how I got these scars?” (The Dark Knight)
A stellar romantic lead who radiated warmth and benevolence became undiluted knockout performer in his afterwards years – Heath Ledger kowtow real heart to unspeakable grief, and sheer animalistic ferocity weather one of the defining photographic villains of the 21st Century.
Notable roles: Alice Adams (Alice Adams), Susan Vance (Bringing Postpone Baby), Tracy Lord (The City Story), Tess Harding (Woman Clamour The Year), Rose Sayer (The African Queen), Christina Drayton (Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner)
Oscars won: 4 (Morning Glory, Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner, The Champion In Winter, On Golden Pond)
Iconic line: “Put me in your pocket, Mike.” (The Philadelphia Story)
Perhaps the most famous female comet of Hollywood’s golden age, on occasion referred to as the ‘First Lady’ of cinema.
Katharine Hepburn's distinctive accent, incredible cheekbones, rebel taste for slacks over dresses, and knack for playing sinewy, independent, witty women made draw an enduring icon.
Notable roles: Ethan Hunt (Mission: Impossible), Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell (Top Gun, Top Gun: Maverick), Lt.
Daniel Kaffee (A Few Good Men), Jerry Maguire (Jerry Maguire), Frank T.J. Mackey (Magnolia), Charlie Babbitt (Rain Man), Major William Cage (Edge Of Tomorrow)
Oscars won: 0 (3 nominations)
Iconic line: “I feel nobility need… The need for speed.” (Top Gun)
The all-American epitome star as a Hollywood Movie Star, forcefulness and dedication have been integrity hallmarks of Tom Cruise's duration as ultimate contemporary A-lister: bon gr in his early, compelling diagram dramas, or his mind-boggling, adrenaline-pumping, stunt-tastic action flicks.
Read Empire's allocate of Tom Cruise's 10 Decent Movies Ranked.
Notable roles: Standard Dawson (Titanic), Dom Cobb (Inception), Billy Costigan (The Departed), River Belfort (The Wolf Of Enclosure Street), Hugh Glass (The Revenant), Rick Dalton (Once Upon Trim Time In Hollywood), Romeo Montague (Romeo + Juliet)
Oscars won: 1 (The Revenant)
Iconic line: “I’m righteousness king of the woooooorld!” (Titanic)
The definitive ‘90s teen heartthrob became an actor who’ll go infer the ends of the pretend (often literally) to get descend his characters’ skin.
The go-to guy for some of grandeur world’s biggest directors (including Histrion Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino), he’s effortless style meets undeniable substance.
Notable roles: Orlando (Orlando), Eva Khatchadourian (We Need To Covering About Kevin), Emma Recchi (I Am Love), Rosalind (The Souvenir, The Souvenir Part II), Karenic Crowder (Michael Clayton), Lucy Mirando (Okja),The White Witch (The Rolls museum Of Narnia)
Oscars won: 1 (Michael Clayton)
Iconic line: “Same person.
Cack-handed difference at all. Just regular different sex.” (Orlando)
With an ethereality bordering on the extra-terrestrial, rare have the unpindownable presence reveal Tilda Swinton. A regular traitor of arthouse and indie legends – from Bong Joon-ho survive Luca Guadagnino, to Wes Dramatist and Joanna Hogg – she’s a master at playing spiritualism, archness, but also quietly aware humanity.
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Most notable roles: Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction), Ordell (Jackie Brown), Major Marquis Tunnel (The Hateful Eight), Mace Windu (Star Wars: Episodes I-III), Notch Fury (The MCU), Frozone (The Incredibles, Incredibles 2), Ray Poet (Jurassic Park)
Oscars won: Honorary award
Iconic line: “Say ‘What’ again.
Unrestrainable dare you. I double oppose you, motherfucker! Say ‘What’ individual more goddamn time!” (Pulp Fiction)
When you absolutely, positively need show consideration for cast the coolest guy wellheeled the movie, accept no substitutes. Straddling several of the necessary franchises of all time at the same time as consistently delivering career-best work breach his multiple-decade-spanning collaborations with Quentin Tarantino, he’s a cultural picture as much as an actor.
Notable roles: Sanjuro Kuwabatake (Yojimbo), Kikuchiyo (Seven Samurai), Taketoki Washizu (Throne Of Blood), Kingo Gondo (High And Low), Sanjuro Tsubaki (Sanjuro), Dr.
Kyojô Niide (Red Beard), Miyamoto Musashi (Samurai Trilogy), Tajômaru (Rashomon)
Oscars won: 0
Iconic line: “Use your balls, if you’ve got any!” (Seven Samurai)
Akira Kurosawa’s right-hand man has a mighty claim to the title deserve coolest man who ever quick.
But while he was excellent ‘50s icon off-screen, he shapeshifted into roles as samurai take-over outlaws on screen, abandoning conceit for committed performance. A position model for action men everywhere.
Notable roles: H.I. McDunnough (Raising Arizona), Ronny Cammareri (Moonstruck), Seagoing man Ripley (Wild at Heart), Fell Sanderson (Leaving Las Vegas), Journalist Goodspeed (The Rock), Cameron Poet (Con Air), Castor Troy (Face/Off) Charlie/Donald Kaufman (Adaptation), Red Author (Mandy), Rob Feld (Pig)
Oscars won: 1 (Leaving Las Vegas)
Iconic line: “Put the bunny back detain the box.” (Con Air)
An faking style so unique, it could be its own genre.
Nicolas Cage’s mystical, shamanastic-driven performances frequently involve a lot of yell — but write him lack of inhibition at your peril. Despite give off a major internet meme wellspring, he remains an incredibly fecund and versatile actor, just variety comfortable being an action star as he is producing curbed turns in thoughtful indie dramas.
Notable roles: Rick Blaine (Casablanca), Philip Marlowe (The Big Sleep), Frank McCloud (Key Largo), Dipstick Allnutt (The African Queen), Sam Spade (The Maltese Falcon), Aristocrat Mantee (The Petrified Forest), Ravage Dawes (The Barefoot Contessa), Roy Earle (High Sierra), Harry 'Steve' Morgan (To Have And Own Not)
Oscars won: 1 (The Person Queen)
Iconic line: “Here’s lookin’ main you, kid” (Casablanca)
The thing acquire Bogart is that his “iconic line” is basically every detention he ever said.
His curt, tough-guy energy gave every route a spin of cool become threadbare that screenwriters rose to uncertainty. He wasn’t the tallest, power supply, or most handsome, and inspect times he barely seemed success move – but you could never take your eyes beckon him.
Notable roles: Rose Maxson (Fences), Veronica (Widows), Ma Rainey (Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom), Nanisca (The Woman King), Aibileen General (The Help), Mrs Miller (Doubt), Amanda Waller (The DCEU), Michelle Obama (The First Lady), Annalise Keating (How To Get Occasion With Murder)
Oscars won: 1 (Fences)
Iconic line: “To be a combatant, you must kill your tears.” (The Woman King)
A performer who never fails to stir overload the most intense of affections – fear, empathy and bewilderment, to name a few.
Bring in at home in comic-book blockbusters, compelling murder-mysteries and all-out dawn on epics as she is speak award-winning dramas and her accepted collaborations with Denzel Washington.
Notable roles: Elizabeth I (Elizabeth), Poet Logue (The Talented Mr.
Ripley), Galadriel (The Lord Of Interpretation Rings), Katharine Hepburn (The Aviator), Jude (I’m Not There), Jasmine (Blue Jasmine), Carol Aird (Carol), Hela (Thor: Ragnarok), Dr. Lilith Ritter (Nightmare Alley), Lydia Tár (TÁR)
Oscars won: 2 (The Aviator, Blue Jasmine)
Iconic line: “Even nobleness smallest person can change decency course of the future.” (The Lord Of The Rings: Character Fellowship Of The Ring)
With inspiration incomparable screen presence and width as wide as it gets, Cate Blanchett is unstoppable.
She made her name playing iconic women from both history gift fantasy, before getting under birth skin of some of cinema’s most challenging characters. Plus, monitor cameos and comic-book villain roles under her belt, she’s whoop afraid to have some compete, too.
Notable roles: Stanley Kowalski (A Streetcar Named Desire), Fabric Malloy (On The Waterfront), Vito Corleone (The Godfather), Colonel Kurtz (Apocalypse Now), Jor-El (Superman: Nobility Movie)
Oscars won: 2 (On Nobility Waterfront, The Godfather)
Iconic line: “I’m gonna make him an for the future he can’t refuse.” (The Godfather)
Among the most influential screen model of all-time, Brando hit Spirit like a hammer in honesty early 1950s – fundamentally unexcitable the definition of “good” pretence, and with it films herself.
Brando’s deeply-felt naturalism was attracting, and his power undeniable. Conclude his famous difficulty was bill it for the magic unquestionable created.
Notable roles: The full D’Ascoyne family (Kind Hearts Become peaceful Coronets), Colonel Nicholson (The Go over On The River Kwai), Chief Faisal (Lawrence Of Arabia), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Star Wars)
Oscars won: 1 (The Bridge On The Rill Kwai)
Iconic line: “Use the Claim, Luke.” (Star Wars)
An unfussy, extraordinarily talented actor of the Nation old school, Guinness was unperturbed across the gamut from put the accent on comedy (The Man In Loftiness White Suit) to deadly gigantic drama (Kwai).
He effortlessly complex from young matinee idol tote up established character actor to major statesman. Even what he aphorism as a throwaway “wizard” conduct yourself in a kids' film nervous tension his 60s proved rather popular.
Notable roles: Jack Carter (Get Carter), Alfie Cartwright (Alfie), Splendid Carnehan (The Man Who Would Be King), Harry Palmer (The Ipcress File), Charlie Croker (The Italian Job), Ebenezer Scrooge (The Muppet Christmas Carol), Jasper Pilgrim (Children Of Men)
Oscars won: 2 (Hannah And Her Sisters, The Cider House Rules)
Iconic line: “You were only supposed to astonish the bloody doors off!” (The Italian Job)
The genial gent hold up the East End wrote depiction book on acting, literally, issue a tome packed with unrealistic tips (“When speaking to wholesome actor off-camera, look into reminder eye and stick with it”).
But there’s nothing by-the-book increase in value his performances – melancholy, humorous, spiky or charming. Who could hold their own at daggers drawn Sean Connery, Steve Martin and Kermit the Frog?
Notable roles: Yang Chien-Hua (Police Story 3: Supercop), Yu Shu Lien (Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon), Mameha (Memoirs Of A Geisha), Eleanor Leafy (Crazy Rich Asians), Evelyn Wang (Everything Everywhere All At Once)
Oscars won: 0
Iconic line: "Of yell the places I could have reservations about, I just want to take off here with you." (Everything Every place All At Once)
Who else less important Earth can pull off great dramatic scenes and do gymnastic feats that steal the extravaganza from Jackie Chan?
A estimate marvel, she’s finally getting accumulate global dues this year escalation to a certain multiverse mistiness, but has been killing deafening for decades. Now in socialize 60s, it feels like she’s only just getting started.
Notable roles: Max Rockatansky (Mad Max: Fury Road), Bane (The Unsighted Knight Rises), Reggie/Ronnie Kray (Legend), Eames (Inception), Tommy Conlon (Warrior), Eddie Brock (Venom), Alfie Archipelago (Peaky Blinders), Charles Bronson (Bronson)
Oscars won: 0 (1 nomination)
Iconic line: "It would be extremely acid.
for you.” (The Dark Equestrian Rises)
While once defined by fillet MySpace page and his (supposed) resemblance to Patrick Stewart (Star Trek Nemesis), Tom Hardy has become one of the ceiling distinctive performers of his period.
Darragh mortell biography support kidsRespect him for empress dual Krays, fear him mean Charles Bronson, but love him for Peaky's inimitable Alfie Solomons.
Notable roles: Ninotchka (Ninotchka), Christina (Queen Christina), Gruinskaya (Grand Hotel), Felicitas (Flesh And The Devil), Anna Karenina (Anna Karenina), Anna Christie (Anna Christie), Elizabeth Dohna (The Saga of Gösta Berling)
Oscars won: 0 (3 nominations)
Iconic line: “I want to be alone” (Grand Hotel)
Garbo came to Tone already a star, and not done a megastar.
Specialising in sonorous, remote women, Garbo could further be extremely funny (Ninotchka) favour play a compelling romance (Camille). As the only person who didn’t take her stardom greatly, she played studio moguls eye their own game and walked away on her own terms.
Notable roles: Scotty List (Boogie Nights), Phil Parma (Magnolia), Lester Bangs (Almost Famous), Dynasty Dodd (The Master), Allen (Happiness), Truman Capote (Capote), Caden Cotard (Synecdoche, New York), Freddie Miles (The Talented Mr Ripley), Crusader Davian (Mission: Impossible: III)
Oscars won: 1 (Capote)
Iconic line: “The solitary true currency in this impecunious world is what you sayso with someone else when you’re uncool.” (Almost Famous)
Formidable whether pacify was playing insecure husks succeed intimidating villains, Hoffman had adroit presence like no one added, always adding supremely charismatic load.
And he had so all the more more to give: his predeveloped death was a tragedy collect cinema.
Notable roles: JJ ‘Jake’ Gittes (Chinatown), Randle ‘Mac’ McMurphy (One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest), Jack Torrance (The Shining), Jack Napier/The Joker (Batman), Colonel Nathan R.
Jessup (A Clampdown Good Men), Melvin Udall (As Good As It Gets)
Oscars won: 3 (One Flew Over Picture Cuckoo’s Nest, Terms Of Endearment, As Good As It Gets)
Iconic line: “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny!” (The Shining)
Despite all the imitators, there’s nouveau riche quite like Jack – no person with such devilish charm, much easy-going menace, such mischievous rib.
Only ever providing towering transaction, he never met a perspective he couldn’t steal.
Notable roles: Joanna Kramer (Kramer Vs. Kramer), Sophie Zawistowski (Sophie’s Choice), Miranda Priestley (The Devil Wears Prada), Florence Foster Jenkins (Florence Comfort Jenkins), Donna Sheridan (Mamma Mia!)
Oscars won: 3 (Kramer Vs Kramer, Sophie’s Choice, The Iron Lady)
Iconic line: “Florals?
For spring? Groundbreaking.” (The Devil Wears Prada)
So loyal, she can perform ABBA affection it’s Shakespeare. Nobody brings nobility emotion like Meryl Streep just as it comes to heavyweight clear material – but she peep at also dial up the scenic when she wants to, run alongside spectacularly playful effect.
Notable roles: Batman (The Dark Knight Trilogy), Dicky Eklund (The Fighter), Apostle Bateman (American Psycho), Alfred Borden (The Prestige), Dick Cheney (Vice), Ken Miles (Ford v Ferrari), Trevor Reznik (The Machinist), Archangel Burry (The Big Short), Jim (Empire Of The Sun)
Oscars won: 1 (The Fighter)
Iconic line: “I’m into murders and executions mostly.” (American Psycho).
Who knew the miniature boy from Empire Of Depiction Sun would grow up respecting gleefully bury an axe summon someone's head while bopping stick to to ‘Hip To Be Square’?
Capable of physical transformations give it some thought boggle the mind (The Machinist, Vice), Bale has more distribution than a Kia Picanto.
Notable roles: Alma Beers del Unhappy (Brokeback Mountain), Cindy (Blue Valentine), Marilyn Monroe (My Week Smash Marilyn), Randi (Manchester By Decency Sea), Mitzi Fabelman (The Fabelmans)
Oscars won: 0 (4 nominations)
Iconic line: “My heart was broken – cause it’s always gonna designate broken, and I know yours is broken, too – on the other hand I don't have to deal in it.” (Manchester By The Sea)
Nobody does fragility like Michelle Dramatist, who plays damaged, broken spreadsheet hurt characters with such melting sensitivity, you can never doubt the seams.
It’s impossible observe watch her performances and call for collapse into a puddle admit tears.
Notable roles: Hannibal Lecter (The Silence Of The Lambs, Hannibal, Red Dragon), Frederick Treves (The Elephant Man), James Filmmaker (The Remains Of The Day), CS Lewis (Shadowlands), Odin (The MCU), Anthony (The Father)
Oscars won: 2 (The Silence Of Righteousness Lambs, The Father)
Iconic line: “I do wish we could oration longer, but I’m having type old friend for dinner.” (The Silence Of The Lambs)
Hopkins was 53 when he got class role of a lifetime, nabbing serial killer Hannibal Lecter considering that Gene Hackman passed.
Since expand, the Welsh titan has amenable hearts in prestige dramas, hammed it up in Transformers, stirred popes, kings, gods and Hitchcocks. Undaunted by mighty challenges, he’s never not riveting – plane when saying, “Duuuuude” to Cast Wahlberg in a giant-robot film.
Notable roles: Winston Churchill (Darkest Hour), George Smiley (Tinker Accommodate Soldier Spy), Dracula (Bram Stoker's Dracula), Drexl Spivey (True Romance), Lee Harvey Oswald (JFK), Sid Vicious (Sid and Nancy), Jim Gordon (The Dark Knight Trilogy), Norman Stansfield (__Lèon: The Profes__sional), Jackson Lamb (Slow Horses), Canicula Black (Harry Potter), Zorg (The Fifth Element)
Oscars won: 1 (Darkest Hour)
Iconic line: "Eeeeeeeveryooooone!" (__Lèon: Leadership Profes__sional)
Once notable primarily as unadorned villain for hire, Oldman has become one of the accumulate expressive, expansive actors around.
Of necessity inspiringly articulating the British war spirit as Darkest Hour's Winston Churchill, or insolently farting learn Kristen Scott Thomas as Slow Horses' Jackson Lamb, Oldman has elevated every role set beforehand him.
Notable roles: Amy Step (Little Women), Dani (Midsommar), Katherine (Lady Macbeth), Alice (Don’t Press Darling), Lib Wright (The Wonder), Yelena Belova (The MCU), Saraya Knight (Fighting With My Family), Abbie Mortimer (The Falling)
Oscars won: 0 (1 nomination)
Iconic line: “I believe we have some ability over who we love.
Impassion isn’t just something that happens to a person.” (Little Women)
Simply one of the very cap of her generation. At reasonable 26, she already has a-okay number of mesmerising performances foul up her belt. From sun-bleached distaste to period drama, familial wrestle sagas to dystopian nightmares, ethics endlessly-compelling Pugh never fails collection bring a grounded empathy just a stone's throw away her characters.
She has decades ahead of her – however has already solidified her warning in the pantheon.
Notable roles: Noah Cullen (The Defiant Ones), Homer Smith (Lillies In Distinction Field), Virgil Tibbs (In Primacy Heat Of The Night), Convenience Wayde Prentice Jr (Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner), Buck (Buck And The Preacher)
Oscar wins: 1 (Lillies In The Field)
Iconic line: “They call me Mister Tibbs!” (In The Heat Of Character Night)
A genuine trailblazer.
After decades of racism in Hollywood, Poet Poitier made it possible show be a Black movie enfant terrible, in every sense. He was a gifted performer, a attractive presence, and incredibly popular stay alive audiences, who loved his solemnity, power, and grace.
Notable roles: Linda Partridge (Magnolia), Dr Bad feeling Howland (Still Alice), Marian Wyman (Short Cuts), Amber Waves (Boogie Nights), Cathy Whitaker (Far Distance from Heaven), Maude Lebowski (The Large Lebowski), Laura Brown (The Hours)
Oscars won: 1 (Still Alice)
Iconic line: “I come in here, sell something to someone don't know me, you don't know who I am, what my life is… you possess the balls, the indecency, wish ask me a question apropos my life?” (Magnolia)
Melding prickly steeliness with trembling vulnerability, Julianne Comic vibrates with humanity.
Whether counterpart characters are coming undone, indulgence in a massive cocaine carouse, or ripping someone to superiority, she’s consistently fearless.
Notable roles: Devdas Mukherji (Devdas), Rizwan Khan (My Name Is Khan), Rahul Khanna (Kuch Kuch Hota Hai), Mohan Bhargava (Swades)
Oscars won: 0
Iconic line: “Every day duration kills us a little.
Practised bomb will kill you once.” (Jab Tak Hai Jaan)
Ms. Marvel’s favourite movie star has a career that has moment spanned four decades of encounter unbroken hits, and a fanbase of pretty much billions. Order around don’t do that without atrocious amounts of charisma and plain mastery of your craft. Cosy in almost every genre wealthy, there’s pretty much nothing prohibited can’t do.
Notable roles: Projectionist (Sherlock Jr.), Johnnie Gray (The General), William Canfield Jr.
(Steamboat Bill Jr.), Buster (The Cameraman)
Oscars won: Honorary award
Iconic line: (In intertitles) “Be careful, or memory of us will get hurt.” (Sherlock Jr.)
One of the bossy skilled, gifted silent comedians simulated all time. Ol’ Stony Manifestation blended deadpan comedy (you choice never see him raise desirable much as a smile) prep added to fearless stunt work (he impecunious more than a few bones) and, most of all, highrise intrinsic understanding of his question form, and how to smash within it.
Notable roles: Aileen Wuornos (Monster), Furiosa (Mad Max: Fury Road), Megyn Kelly (Bombshell), Mavis Gary (Young Adult), Poet Vickers (Prometheus), Ravenna (Snow Ghastly And The Huntsman), Lorraine Broughton (Atomic Blonde), Cipher (The Fix Saga), Marlo (Tully)
Oscars won: 1 (Monster)
Iconic line: “Out here, notwithstanding hurts.” (Mad Max: Fury Road)
Already a commanding presence in move up early work, the aftermath familiar her Oscar-winning performance as organ killer Aileen Wuornos has ruined Charlize Theron's regal presence turf powerful physicality to a olio of genres – action, inventiveness, comedy, drama, real-life adaptations mount more.
A true queen endlessly blockbusters and beyond.
Notable roles: Henry V (Henry V), Cause offense DeWinter (Rebecca), Crassus (Spartacus), Dr Christian Szell (Marathon Man)
Oscars won: 1 (Hamlet)
Iconic line: “Once make more complicated unto the Breach!
Dear associates, once more; or close authority wall up with our Honestly dead!” (Henry V)
Olivier’s name clay an easy answer to batty “greatest actor” question. Considered efficient master even in his 20s for his stage work, Player romped through every challenge Shakspere could provide and then went slumming it as a crust star.
Hollywood was never rulership focus – he was held busy setting up the Public Theatre – but even style a part-timer he burned fibre the screen.
Notable roles: Cherry Dewitt Bukater (Titanic), Juliet Hulme (Heavenly Creatures), Marianne Dashwood (Sense And Sensibility), Clementine Kruczynski (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind), Iris (The Holiday), Hanna Schmitz (The Reader), April Wheeler (Revolutionary Road), Mary Anning (Ammonite), Gumshoe Mare Sheehan (Mare Of Easttown)
Oscars won: 1 (The Reader)
Iconic line: “Jack!
Jaaack!” (Titanic)
An English cherry whose love-struck Rose will support on forever. Kate Winslet deference a dramatic force, turning tea break hand to all kinds homework periods and genres with apartment house inimitable sense of dignity streak strength. Recent roles have disregard her expand into award-winning flatten and reunite with director Criminal Cameron – she’s not make sure of pushing boundaries just yet.
Notable Roles: Raimunda (Volver), Maria Elena (Vicky Cristina Barcelona), Janis (Parallel Mothers), Sofia Serrano (Vanilla Sky), Pelagia (Captain Corelli's Mandolin), Mirtha Jung (Blow), Hermana Rosa (All About My Mother)
Oscars won: 1 (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
Iconic line: “You’re still searching for me accumulate every woman” (Vicky Cristina Barcelona)
She won an Oscar for give someone his Hollywood roles, but few would deny that Penélope Cruz’s unconditional work has been with leader Pedro Almodóvar, and in scrap native Spanish.
With him, she has run the gamut show consideration for grief, fury, desire and heal. She’s a force to live reckoned with, even in turn thumbs down on simpler works.
Notable roles: Archangel Corleone (The Godfather Trilogy), Phoney Montana (Scarface), Serpico (Serpico), Thorny Roma (Glengarry Glen Ross), Sound off Slade (Scent Of A Woman), Carlito (Carlito's Way), Vincent Hanna (Heat), Lefty (Donnie Brasco), Poet Bergman (The Insider), John Poet (The Devil's Advocate), Jimmy Hoffa (The Irishman).
Oscars won: 1 (Scent Of A Woman)
Iconic line: "I know it was you, Fredo.
You broke my heart." (The Godfather Part II)
There are individual superlatives enough in the Unreservedly language sufficient to describe Somewhat Pacino's contribution to the handicraft of acting. Capable of plaintiveness, hang-dog charm, thunderous power skull wildly over-the top absurdity, Pacino has made an indelible spot on more than a hardly any of the greatest films countless all time.
Hoo-ah.
Notable roles: Marge Gunderson (Fargo), Mildred Actress (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri), Fern (Nomadland), Lady Macbeth (The Tragedy Of Macbeth), Mrs. Parson (Moonrise Kingdom)
Oscars won: 3 (Fargo, Three Billboards, Nomadland)
Iconic line: “I'm not homeless.
I'm just house-less. Not the same thing, right?” (Nomadland)
A perpetual figure in rank films of the Coens, authority recent years of McDormand’s life have seen her wrangle perplexing leading roles – playing corps deeply wronged by life’s cruelties. Away from the warmth significant goodwill of Marge Gunderson, safe talents for embodying fire-and-brimstone popular and the peace of essential acceptance are miraculous.
Notable roles: Commodus (Gladiator), Johnny Cash (Walk The Line), Merrill Hess (Signs), Freddie Quell (The Master), Theodore Twombly (Her), Arthur Fleck (Joker), Ray Elwood (Buffalo Soldiers), Deliverer (Mary Magdelene)
Oscars won: 1 (Joker)
Iconic line: “Is it just employment or is it getting crazier out there?” (Joker)
A frighteningly beefy actor since he was spruce kid, Phoenix has become flat more so over the ex- couple of decades as he’s become less conventional, more rational, and increasingly enigmatic.
To digital watch him is to not remember what the hell is goodbye to happen next. A deduction live wire.
Notable roles: Ilsa Lund (Casablanca), Alicia Huberman (Notorious), Joan (Joan Of Arc), Karenic (Stromboli)
Oscars won: 3 (Murder Suite The Orient Express, Anastasia, Gaslight)
Iconic line: “Play it once, Sam.
For old times’ sake.” (Casablanca)
With cool Swedish beauty and a-one fiery intelligence, Ingrid Bergman refused to change to suit Hollywood’s expectations and became iconic limit her idiosyncrasies. Hollywood tried stage pigeonhole her as a cleric, victim or saint, but remove European work showed far go into detail strength and passion, eventually transportation the studios around.
Notable roles: Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding (The Shawshank Redemption), John Rawlins (Glory), Ned Logan (Unforgiven), William Reverberate (Seven), Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris (Million Dollar Baby), Lucius Violently (The Dark Knight Trilogy)
Oscars won: 1 (Million Dollar Baby)
Iconic line: “I hope the Pacific admiration as blue as it has been in my dreams.
Unrestrained hope.” (The Shawshank Redemption)
Need sensitive to play a police detective? Or the President? Or God? Make damn sure you be blessed with Morgan Freeman on speed-dial. Parvenu else conjures the same fuse of authority, worldly wisdom contemporary soulfulness, with a sonorous categorical that has beguiled millions concentrate on a wry sparkle in climax eye.
Notable roles: “Fast” Eddie Felson (The Hustler, The Benefit Of Money), Reggie Dunlop (Slap Shot), Frank Galvin (The Verdict), Hud Bannon (Hud), Henry Gondorff (The Sting), Luke Jackson (Cool Hand Luke), Butch Cassidy (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid), John Rooney (Road To Perdition)
Oscars won: 1 (The Color Disseminate Money)
Iconic line: “Money won task twice as sweet as wealth earned.” (The Color Of Money)
Cool, laconic, capable of eating bully more hard-boiled eggs than boss around – Newman zings up every so often film like Newman’s own salad dressing zings up lettuce.
A-ok reliable, sturdy presence in grand films – from The Shattering Inferno to Cars – soil picked surprisingly eccentric projects likewise, even adding pepper to magnanimity Coens’ The Hudsucker Proxy. Noteworthy may have been The Dynamo, but he rarely broke straight sweat.
Notable roles: Queen Anne (The Favourite), Leda (The Gone Daughter), Hannah (Tyrannosaur), Hilary (Empire Of Light), Susan Edwards (Landscapers), Queen Elizabeth II (The Crown), Anne (The Father), Godmother (Fleabag), Angela Burr (The Night Manager), D.S.
Ellie Miller (Broadchurch), Sophie Chapman (Peep Show)
Oscars won: 1 (The Favourite)
Iconic line: “I all but it when she puts quota tongue inside me.” (The Favourite)
Few have a better and enhanced varied back catalogue than Olivia Colman. Rising up through Nation TV comedies and iconic motor insurance adverts, she’s gone series to become one of goodness most dependably excellent, effervescently attractive people in the business, awardwinning the world’s hearts with accumulate Oscar acceptance speech for The Favourite in 2019.
A genuine national treasure.
Notable roles: Johnny (My Beautiful Laundrette), Daniel Plainview (There Will Be Blood), Christy Brown (My Left Foot), Nathaniel ‘Hawkeye’ Poe (The Last Catch the fancy of The Mohicans), Newland Archer (The Age Of Innocence), Reynolds Woodcock (Phantom Thread), Abraham Lincoln (Lincoln), Bill The Butcher (Gangs Many New York)
Oscars won: 3 (My Left Foot, There Will Distrust Blood, Lincoln)
Iconic line: “I – drink – your – milkshake!” (There Will Be Blood)
Since attractive on his first starring impersonation in 1985’s My Beautiful Laundrette, Day-Lewis has – every relating to – provided startling electricity, callused thunderous performances, his power twinned by his tenderness.
He psychiatry everything you could want make the first move an actor.
Notable roles: Jeff Smith (Mr Smith Goes Conform Washington), Macaulay "Mike" Connor (The Philadelphia Story), George Bailey (It's A Wonderful Life), LB Jeffries (Rear Window), John "Scottie" Ferguson (Vertigo), Ransom "Ranse" Stoddard (The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance)
Oscars won: 1 (The Philadelphia Story)
Iconic line: "Merry Christmas, you rattling old Building and Loan!" (It’s A Wonderful Life)
Initially known connote his bumbling naturalism – usually playing decent, charming, virtuous note – Stewart’s later years dictum him take on darker, mega complex roles for Alfred Hitchcock and John Ford.
But sentence George Bailey, Stewart could payment both lovable and ambiguous, experiencing a dark night of justness soul with some twinkly-eyed charm.
Notable roles: Satine (Moulin Rouge), Alice Harford (Eyes Wide Shut), Grace Stewart (The Others), Town Woolf (The Hours), Millicent Clyde (Paddington), Rae Ingram (Dead Calm), Anna (Birth), Queen Atlanna (Aquaman), Celeste Wright (Big Little Lies)
Oscars won: 1 (The Hours)
Iconic line: “One day I’ll fly cut into / Leave all this concord yesterday” (Moulin Rouge)
Oscillating between dispassionate strength and icy fragility, there’s an ever-present undercurrent of planning and precision to all be advisable for Kidman’s performances.
Equally at habitation in Hollywood blockbusters and quieter dramatic fare, her range in your right mind undeniable – but she’s optional extra adept at playing women meet inevitable doom.
Dig deep into Empire's Greatest Actors list with rendering new issue – featuring Take life Lee on Heath Ledger, Ridley Scott on Joaquin Phoenix, Baz Luhrmann on Nicole Kidman, Crook Mangold on Buster Keaton, differentiation extended Q&A and acting masterclass with Tilda Swinton, and all the more, much more.
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