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Consistently Interesting Actors

Name your favorite actors who draw you in. They can be in a bad film, but for whatever reason you want to watch them. Even in bad films, they’re interesting to watch.

Charlotte Rampling

Jim Broadbent

Patricia Clarkson

Gabriel Byrne

Parker Posey

by Anonymousreply 101April 22, 2024 3:16 AM

I know those names but can't quite place them.

by Anonymousreply 1April 2, 2024 1:09 PM

Kate Winslet proves it in The Regime. Sloppy, unmoored script but she holds you.

by Anonymousreply 2April 2, 2024 1:14 PM

Olivia Colman.

by Anonymousreply 3April 2, 2024 1:14 PM

Here’s a few:

Mark Bonnar

Stephen Mangan

Claire Rushbrook

Rosie Cavaliero

David Tennant

Keeley Hawes

Matthew Macfadyen

And I’m not even British.

by Anonymousreply 4April 2, 2024 1:17 PM

John Cleese.

by Anonymousreply 5April 2, 2024 1:20 PM

Judy Davis.

by Anonymousreply 6April 2, 2024 1:25 PM

♥️TIMMY CHALAMET ❤️

by Anonymousreply 7April 2, 2024 1:27 PM

Natascha McElhone

by Anonymousreply 8April 2, 2024 1:29 PM

Patricia Clarkson

Jamie Bell

Quim Guitiérrez

Melora Walters

Tim Blake Nelson

Xander Berkeley

Timothy Spall

Carrie Coon

Fernando Rey

by Anonymousreply 9April 2, 2024 1:38 PM

Love many of the names mentioned, would add Eve Best.

I would have agreed with Parker Posey until i recently saw her in Mr and Mrs Smith and she was truly and surprisingly awful.

by Anonymousreply 10April 2, 2024 1:54 PM

James Purefoy

by Anonymousreply 11April 2, 2024 1:54 PM

Jeremy Irons, Mark Rylance, Ben Whishaw, Jessica Lange, Laura Linney, Tilda Swinton.

by Anonymousreply 12April 2, 2024 1:58 PM

Imelda Staunton.

by Anonymousreply 13April 2, 2024 2:02 PM

Jared Harris and Tobias Menzies

by Anonymousreply 14April 2, 2024 2:03 PM

Edith Massey

by Anonymousreply 15April 2, 2024 2:11 PM

Kathy Bates.

by Anonymousreply 16April 2, 2024 2:17 PM

Another vote for David Tennant. Love him.

Micheal C. Hall

James McAvoy

Patrick Wilson (although that may simply be due to the fact I find him irresistibly handsome)

Toni Collette

Rosamund Pike

McKenna Grace. She's young, but I find her charming and hope she has a long career.

by Anonymousreply 17April 2, 2024 3:16 PM

And also, honourable mention to Robin Williams. RIP. I miss his talent.

by Anonymousreply 18April 2, 2024 3:18 PM

If he were still with us, I would watch anything Raul Julia ever did.

by Anonymousreply 19April 2, 2024 3:29 PM

Mads Mikkelson

Vincent D'onofrio

Ted Levine

Frances Conroy

by Anonymousreply 20April 2, 2024 3:30 PM

Esteemed character actress Margo Martindale.

by Anonymousreply 21April 2, 2024 3:32 PM

Gael García Bernal

by Anonymousreply 22April 2, 2024 3:36 PM

From the Raul Julia department, I wanna add Javier Bardem.

by Anonymousreply 23April 2, 2024 3:57 PM

Elizabeth Perkins

by Anonymousreply 24April 2, 2024 4:04 PM

Andrew Garfield. I've seen everything he's been in but the last Spider Man movie. I can't wait to see his new stuff. Today I'm going to watch him in the National Theatre production of Angels in America.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 25April 2, 2024 4:08 PM

Daniel Day Lewis

by Anonymousreply 26April 2, 2024 4:09 PM

Toby Jones and all the British ones listed so far.

Patricia Clarkson is the only interesting American I can think of so far.

by Anonymousreply 27April 2, 2024 4:16 PM

William Frawley

by Anonymousreply 28April 2, 2024 4:27 PM

Jeffrey Wright

Mark Bonnar

Patrick Wilson

Hannah Waddingham

by Anonymousreply 29April 2, 2024 4:37 PM

Eddie Marsan

Alicia Vikander

Ann Dowd (AKA "Aunt Lydia")

Franz Rogowski

Mads Mikkelson

Harris Dickinson

Elizabeth Marvel

Julianne Nicholson

by Anonymousreply 30April 2, 2024 4:53 PM

*Mikkelsen, sorry

by Anonymousreply 31April 2, 2024 4:54 PM

Forgot to list Andrew Scott.

Jamie Bell is also a great choice.

And Julianne Nicholson is a good addition to the lists, so in my case, she and Patricia Clarkson are the only interesting Americans I can think of. I'm sure there are more, but they don't come quickly to mind.

by Anonymousreply 32April 2, 2024 5:02 PM

Michael Sheen

by Anonymousreply 33April 2, 2024 5:12 PM

Rupert Graves

by Anonymousreply 34April 2, 2024 5:21 PM

Geraldine Page. That gal could take a line and make a 5 course meal out of it.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 35April 2, 2024 5:29 PM

As long as we're going with Brits, I will add:

Sarah Lancashire

Morven Christie

James Nesbitt

by Anonymousreply 36April 2, 2024 5:30 PM

Viola Davis

by Anonymousreply 37April 2, 2024 5:33 PM

Samantha Morton

by Anonymousreply 38April 2, 2024 5:40 PM

Julianne Moore, seriously.

by Anonymousreply 39April 2, 2024 5:44 PM

Fiona Shaw, Harriet Samson Harris, Michael Fassbender, the late Alan Bates, Yvonne Strahovski, Gary Oldman, Sam Neill

by Anonymousreply 40April 2, 2024 5:48 PM

Donald Sutherland

by Anonymousreply 41April 2, 2024 5:52 PM

Dame Janet Suzman. Appearances are rare but she brings regality to her roles. .

by Anonymousreply 42April 2, 2024 5:53 PM

It took till R12 to mention Dame Tilda??

by Anonymousreply 43April 2, 2024 5:54 PM

Liv Lisa Fries

by Anonymousreply 44April 2, 2024 8:48 PM

Marion Cotillard

Kathy Bates

Cate Blanchett

Jack Nicholson

James Gandolfini

by Anonymousreply 45April 2, 2024 8:56 PM

I hate Jim Broadbent. He always looks befuddled and doesn't know where he is.

by Anonymousreply 46April 2, 2024 9:30 PM

[quote]I hate Jim Broadbent. He always looks befuddled and doesn't know where he is.

That’s why he’s interesting. Not many men have that.

by Anonymousreply 47April 2, 2024 10:03 PM

Julianne Moore

Annette Bening

Stanley Tucci

Jessica Lange

Paul Giamatti

Christian Bale

by Anonymousreply 48April 2, 2024 10:21 PM

Frank Langella and Geoffrey Rush.

by Anonymousreply 49April 2, 2024 10:23 PM

I’m going to get shit for this, but — RDJ.

by Anonymousreply 50April 2, 2024 10:26 PM

Willem Dafoe

Leslie Manville

Janeane Garofalo

by Anonymousreply 51April 2, 2024 10:28 PM

And Richard Jenkins

by Anonymousreply 52April 2, 2024 10:29 PM

Margaret Qualley

by Anonymousreply 53April 2, 2024 10:34 PM

Alan Rickman.

by Anonymousreply 54April 2, 2024 10:42 PM

Michael Fassbender

Colin Farrell

Denzel Washington

by Anonymousreply 55April 2, 2024 10:44 PM

Chris Pratt

Fascinating because I just don’t get the appeal.

by Anonymousreply 56April 2, 2024 10:56 PM

Armie “Man Eater” Hammer

by Anonymousreply 57April 2, 2024 11:32 PM

[quote]And Richard Jenkins

I’ve worked with him and he is extremely nice. Very talented. He’s played both nice and nasty.

by Anonymousreply 58April 2, 2024 11:38 PM

Tom Troupe (Mr. Carole Cook).

by Anonymousreply 59April 2, 2024 11:41 PM

Jason Isaacs. I think it’s those icy blue eyes.

by Anonymousreply 60April 3, 2024 2:42 AM

Parker Posey has sucked for at least 15 years.

by Anonymousreply 61April 3, 2024 2:47 AM

Jennifer Lawrence.

Yes, I said Jennifer Lawrence.

by Anonymousreply 62April 3, 2024 2:52 AM

I just finished the first half of Angels in America with Andrew Garfield. I've seen three other versions of the play, and this is the first one that I think will stick in my memory. He deserved that Tony.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 63April 3, 2024 2:57 AM

R63

Obligatory… FAG!

by Anonymousreply 64April 3, 2024 3:06 AM

[quotr]I just finished the first half of Angels in America

How is Nathan Lane as Roy Cohn?

by Anonymousreply 65April 3, 2024 3:19 AM

Kiki Dunst

by Anonymousreply 66April 3, 2024 3:26 AM

R65 He plays his first scenes for laughs, which I found offputting. There's nothing funny about Roy Cohn, IMO. Or maybe I've seen Nathan Lane in so many funny things, I'm incapable of perceiving him as a villain. I had no problem with the way Roy Cohn was written/played in Fellow Travelers. That's who Roy Cohn was IMO.

by Anonymousreply 67April 3, 2024 3:42 AM

r64, it's not a musical, dimwit.

by Anonymousreply 68April 3, 2024 3:43 AM

R52 Richard Jenkins was my first thought. I like him as an actor. Especially loved him in Cabin in the Woods, Burn After Reading, and The Shape of Water

R58 glad to hear it!

by Anonymousreply 69April 3, 2024 4:04 AM

I always liked Miguel Ferrer (RIP). He was usually good for a dickhead type character. But he often made them somewhat likable so you didn’t outright hate them, like in Robocop or Deep Star Six. He had a pretty decent voice as well.

by Anonymousreply 70April 3, 2024 4:08 AM

Catherine Deneuve

María Casares

by Anonymousreply 71April 3, 2024 4:19 AM

Check out Olive Kitteridge if you haven't already seen it, r69. He's great in that.

by Anonymousreply 72April 3, 2024 4:59 AM

James Marsden

by Anonymousreply 73April 3, 2024 5:07 AM

R66 and her husband, Jesse Plemons.

by Anonymousreply 74April 3, 2024 5:09 AM

Angelina Jolie's three ex husbands are each usually quite watchable. She had good taste in men.

by Anonymousreply 75April 3, 2024 5:13 AM

The great Alan Rickman.

John Lithgow

Patricia Arquette

Sigourney Weaver

Harry Dean Stanton

by Anonymousreply 76April 3, 2024 6:59 AM

Dame Harriet Walter

by Anonymousreply 77April 3, 2024 8:06 AM

Anna Torv. And not just because she has the best resting bitch face in the business.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 78April 3, 2024 5:25 PM

I’m going to catch shit for this, but Jennifer Lawrence. Great in everything I’ve ever seen her in.

M Emmett Walsh.

Laura Linney, despite how annoying her character became on Ozark.

Toni Collette.

John Carroll Lynch.

Margot Martindale.

Ann Dowd.

Julia Garner.

by Anonymousreply 79April 3, 2024 5:42 PM

Just learned that M Emmett Walsh just died two weeks ago. So sorry to read that. He totally made “Blood Simple.”

by Anonymousreply 80April 3, 2024 5:45 PM

Bill Nighy

Liam Cunningham

by Anonymousreply 81April 3, 2024 7:08 PM

Walton Goggins. He’s great in everything.

His Uncle Baby Billy from the Righteous Gemstones is one of my favorite characters ever. He’s so ridiculous and funny. Plus his roles in Justified, Vice Principals, and The Shield. Not to mention, Venus Van Dam from Sons of Anarchy. That was wild.

I love it when this guy shows up in things.

by Anonymousreply 82April 4, 2024 2:28 AM

DL fave Judy Davis

by Anonymousreply 83April 4, 2024 2:36 AM

The entire cast of "Mike and Molly." One of the best sitcoms (IMHO) of the past 15 years. I have the entire series on disc and can watch any episode of any season and still laugh my head off.

The casting was brilliant.

by Anonymousreply 84April 4, 2024 4:01 AM

Robert Duvall. I’ve never not liked a performance.

by Anonymousreply 85April 11, 2024 5:33 AM

R46

Watch Hot Fuzz - he’s fantastic in it.

by Anonymousreply 86April 11, 2024 5:52 AM

The greatest of them all:

Jessica Lange

by Anonymousreply 87April 11, 2024 5:55 AM

I like Don Cheadle.

by Anonymousreply 88April 16, 2024 7:20 AM

OP, Jim Broadbent! Yes!! He's both the best policeman and the best criminal, menacing as either! If you haven't seen the 2-Part "The Great Train Robbery," with Luke Evans as The Mastermind and Jim Broadbent as The Copper, please do so! Likewise, with Jim as a criminal, "King of Thieves," starring Michael Caine. Both productions are fact-based.

by Anonymousreply 89April 16, 2024 7:52 AM

Frances McDormand

by Anonymousreply 90April 20, 2024 11:13 PM

Bonita Granville

by Anonymousreply 91April 20, 2024 11:30 PM

Paddy Considine

Shea Whigham

Wes Studi

Scott Glenn

by Anonymousreply 92April 20, 2024 11:35 PM

In parentheses recommended and maybe little-known works:

Tom Wilkinson. (Essex Boys) (In the Bedroom)

Peter Firth. (MI-5)

Sam Rockwell. (Confessions of a Dangerous Mind)

David Straithairn. (The Bourne Ultimatum)

Guy Pearce. (L.A. Confidential)

Willem Dafoe. (To Live and Die in L.A.)

John Williams. (Dial 'M' For Murder)

Paul Scofield. (Quiz Show)

John Turturro. (To Live and Die in L.A.) (Quiz Show)

Jeremy Irons. (Damage)

Diane Lane. (Nights in Rodanthe)

Owen Teale. (Conspiracy)

Chris Cooper. (Breach)

David Harbour. (The Equalizer)

Brian Cranston. (The Infiltrator)

John Castle. (Miss Marple)

by Anonymousreply 93April 21, 2024 12:51 AM

Shelley Duvall has never turned in a dud performance to my knowledge.

Annette Benning, Jessica Lange, Robert Downey Jr., Alan Rickman, Sigourney Weaver, Tilda Swinton, Joan Cusack, Toni Collette, Kathleen Turner, Veronica Cartwright, Donald and Kiefer Sutherland, Kyle McLaughlin, Patrick Stewart, David Tennent, Wallace Shawn, Jennifer Connelly, Ed Norton, Gabriel Byrne, Tim Roth, Diane Keaton, Jodie Foster, Helena Bonham Carter and Whoopi Goldberg are all people I look forward to seeing in films.

Angelica Houston has had some misfires, but when she is on, she is on. The Dead, Prizzi's Honor, The Grifters, The Witches, The Addams Family = all superb.

I'm not sure if Jeff Bridges can act, but he exudes likability.

Nicole Kidman can be amazing with the right director/material and she's taken far more chances than it seems people give her credit for.

by Anonymousreply 94April 21, 2024 1:10 AM

R94, NK is a plastic person.

Jeff Bridges is excellent in "Arlington Road" and "Jagged Edge."

by Anonymousreply 95April 21, 2024 3:54 AM

Alanna Ubach --- Never the star but always interesting. She has a LOT of range.

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by Anonymousreply 96April 21, 2024 4:14 AM

R95, Kidman is amazing in The Others and the only reason to watch The Golden Compass where her melancholically evil Mrs. Winters completely dominates a talented but otherwise hamstrung cast.

by Anonymousreply 97April 21, 2024 4:36 AM

Benedict Cumbarbatch

Christian Bale

James Rebhorn (RIP)

Bryan Cranston

by Anonymousreply 98April 21, 2024 4:48 AM

More, in perhaps lesser-known roles:

Jeremy Northam. (The Statement)

Ian McKellen. (The Good Liar)

John Hurt. (A Man For All Seasons)

Roger Allam. (Endeavour).

Tom Hardy. (Child 44) (The Take)

Brian Dennehy. (Presumed Innocent).

Giovanni Ribisi. (10th & Wolf)

by Anonymousreply 99April 21, 2024 4:51 AM

Mark Strong and his sexy bald head.

Especially love when he’s wearing glasses.

by Anonymousreply 100April 22, 2024 2:06 AM

Don't know if he's been mentioned yet, but my vote goes to Viggo Mortensen. Sexy, talented and a little quirky is my favorite combination. I loved the movie where Michael Douglas asks Viggo to kill his wife, and the one where he plays a diner owner with a dark past. I think he’s a great actor who chooses interesting roles, but perhaps his above average looks were a distraction for the Hollywood suits, I don't know why he never became bigger. He's underrated.

by Anonymousreply 101April 22, 2024 3:16 AM
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