Film Fridays: Let’s Find Out What’s Happening with Christopher Eccleston This Year, Shall We?
oh Chris. I die a little every time you have to play the villain in some wannabe blockbuster movie (see The Seeker) so you better have more screentime in the movie than you have in this trailer because if not, the next time you do something like this, I swear, I’m not gonna watch it anymore. But who am I kidding? Getting to see your weirdly gorgeous face in a big screen is worth any price.
oh, Chris, I dislike Hilary Swank. But I like you. But still. Getting to see your weirdly gorgeous face in a big screen is worth sitting through a Hilary Swank movie.
oh, Chris. This better be available in the internet soon. Why oh why did you have to quit Doctor Who so soon? I feel deprived.
I’ve Got A Crush On You…
…Albert Tiu. I wish I could play the piano like you, but I can’t, so I’ll just watch. As I said yesterday in his Rach III concert, he could play Mary Had a Little Lamb and I’ll be avidly listening. There are no videos of him performing alone (why youtube why?) but here’s a trio:
…and can I just say that I’m glad Rufus Sewell has a TV show. An hour each week of staring at him and listening to his voice, sans accent, but still, be still my heart. sigh.
70 Favorite Actors: A Recap
of course, the actual count [with ties] is 80. haha, sorry. too much love to give. here they are in alphabetical order:
Alonzo, Bea
Ardant, Fanny
Barrowman, John
Bean, Sean
Bell, Kristen
Bellucci, Monica
Blanchett, Cate
Bloom, Orlando
Bonnevie, Marie
Brody, Adrien
Bynes, Amanda
Byrne, Rose
Cassel, Vincent
Close, Glenn
Crudup, Billy
Cruz, John Lloyd
Delon, Alain
Deneuve, Catherine
Depp, Johnny
Downey, Robert Jr.
Eccleston, Christopher
Ehle, Jennifer
Elwes, Cary
Faris, Anna
Fey, Tina
Fiennes, Ralph
Firth, Colin
Foster, Jodie
Gainsbourg, Charlotte
Garai, Romola
Gyllenhaal, Maggie
Hannigan, Alyson
Hathaway, Anne
Head, Anthony Steward
Hepburn, Audrey
Hepburn, Katharine
Jackman, Hugh
Jackson, Joshua
Jolie, Angelina
Jourdan, Louis
Kaneshiro, Takeshi
Kidman, Nicole
Knightley, Keira
Laurie, Hugh
Leung, Tony
Lewis, Daniel Day
Linney, Laura
Marsden, James
Marsters, James
McAvoy, James
McFadyen, Matthew
Mirren, Helen
Moore, Julianne
Murphy, Cillian
Nivola, Alessandro
Northam, Jeremy
Norton, Edward
Oldman, Gary
Otto, Miranda
Owen, Clive
Penn, Sean
Pfeiffer, Michelle
Poehler, Amy
Portman, Natalie
Reeves, Keanu
Rickman, Alan
Rudd, Paul
Schrieber, Liev
Sewell, Rufus
Simm, John
Smith, Maggie
Stewart, James
Streep, Meryl
Swinton, Tilda
Tennant, David
Thompson, Emma
Tyler, Liv
Watts, Naomi
Weisz, Rachel
Williams, Michelle
Winslet, Kate
I would normally posts stats but too lazy. next time. haha.
70 Favorite Actors: 1. James Stewart
James Stewart
age: [at death] 89
nationality: American
watched in: Made for Each Other (1939), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Destry Rides Again (1939), The Shop Around the Corner (1940), The Philadelphia Story (1940), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), Rope (1948), Rear Window (1954), The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Vertigo (1958), Anatomy of a Murder (1959),
favorite role:
I loved him in The Philadelphia Story. I loved him in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I loved him in It’s a Wonderful Life. I especially loved him in Vertigo. I just love him.
70 Favorite Actors: 2. Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman
age: 41
nationality: Australian
watched in: To Die For (1995), Batman Forever (1995), The Portrait of a Lady (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Moulin Rouge! (2001), The Others (2001), Birthday Girl (2001), THe Hours (2002), Dogville (2003), THe Human Stain (2003), Cold Mountain (2003), The Stepford Wives (2004), Birth (2004), The Interpreter (2005), Bewitched (2005), The Invasion (2007), THe Golden Compass (2007)
favorite role:
She had me at To Die For and I’ve been in awe of her since. She can do no wrong in my eyes. I just wish she’d go back to being a redhead.
70 Favorite Actors: 3. Christopher Eccleston
Christopher Eccleston
age: 44
nationality: English
watched in: Elizabeth (1998), The Invisible Circus (2001), The Others (2001), I am Dina (2002), 28 Days Later… (2002), Doctor Who (2005), Heroes (2007), The Seeker: The Dark is Rising (2007)
favorite role:
So we come to the final three…who are really my three most favorite actors…at least right now. Christopher Eccleston has quite recently (at least as recent as 2 or 3 years ago) won his way to my heart thanks to a little sci-fi show called Doctor Who. And now I can’t get enough of him: his craggy, weathered face; his haunting blue eyes; the intensity he brings to every role…haha, I’m just smitten.
70 Favorite Actors: 4. Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
age: 39
nationality: Australian
watched in: Oscar and Lucinda (1997), Elizabeth (1998), An Ideal Husband (1999), The Talented Mr. Ribley (1999), The Gift (2000), The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), Charlotte Gray (2001), The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002), The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003), THe Aviator (2004), Babel (2006), The Good German (2006), Notes on a Scandal (2006), I’m Not There (2007), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
favorite role:
Why they gave Paltrow the Best Actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love over Cate’s marvellous Elizabeth is beyond me (on that note, I’m still wondering why Kate Winslet doesn’t have her Oscar yet.) Oh well, award shows.
70 Favorite Actors: 5. Tony Leung
Tony Leung Chiu Wai
age: 45
nationality: Chinese
watched in:Chung Hing Sam Lam [Chungking Express] (1994), Fa Yeung Nin Wa [In the Mood for Love] (2000), Hero (2002), 2046 (2004), Se, Jie [Lust, Caution] (2007)
favorite role:
Ah, that face. Really, he has one of the best faces in cinematic history. As my friend, Richard said better.
70 Favorite Actors: 6. Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet
age: 32
nationality: English
watched in: Sense and Sensibility (1995), Hamlet (1996), Titanic (1997), Quills (2000), Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004), Finding Neverland (2004), Extras (2005), Little Children (2006), The Holiday (2006)
favorite role:
It’s funny because I never really liked her in Sense and Sensibility (mainly because her character was too stupid to recognize the awesomeness that was Alan Rickman…haha) and I didn’t really like her in Titanic (I don’t know why, I just didn’t) and then came a number of films I couldn’t watch because I was too young then. and then came Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind…and I’ve been a fan ever since.
70 Favorite Actors: 7. Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes
age: 45
nationality: English
watched in: Quiz Show (1994), The English Patient (1996), Oscar and Lucinda (1997), Sunshine (1999), Onegin (1999), The End of the Affair (1999), Red Dragon (2002), Maid in Manhattan (2002), The Constant Gardener (2005), The White Countess (2005), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
favorite role: haha, sorry…more Julianne than Ralph here.
Another intensely beautiful actor. I don’t know how I can hate Voldemort when it’s Ralph Fiennes playing him. I’m more excited about him in the Harry Potter series (now that Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black is gone) than all those…children.
70 Favorite Actors: 8. Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore
age: 47
nationality: American
watched in: Benny & Joon (1993), Nine Months (1995), Boogie Nights (1997), An Ideal Husband (1999), The End of the Affair (1999), Magnolia (1999), Hannibal (2001), Evolution (2001), Far From Heaven (2002), The Hours (2002), Laws of Attraction (2004), The Forgotten (2004), Trust the Man (2005), Children of Men (2006), I’m Not There (2007)
favorite role:
Nobody did desperate housewife as well as Julianne Moore that year (with Far From Heaven and The Hours). Anyone can scream and shout and cry (which she does very well also) but the truly great actors are the ones who can portray the unsettling quietness of desperation in their characters. Which is why I love her.
70 Favorite Actors: 9. Edward Norton
Edward Norton
age: 38
nationality: American
watched in: Primal Fear (1996), American History X (1998), Fight Club (1999), Keeping the Faith (2000), Frida (2002), Red Dragon (2002), The Italian Job (2003), Kingdom of Heaven (2005), The Illusionist (2006), The Painted Veil (2006), The Incredible Hulk (2008)
favorite role: too little of Edward here but I couldn’t find anything else bar music videos.
He’s usually described as unassuming. Well, he is…until he’s not and it’s that transformation that surprises and intrigues you. He wowed me (is that a word? well, you know what I mean) since the first time I watched him [in Primal Fear[ and I’ve never gotten over that feeling.
70 Favorite Actors: 10. Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
age: 58
nationality: American
watched in: The French Lieutenant’s Woman (1981), Out of Africa (1985), The River Wild (1994), Music of the Heart (1999), Adaptation (2002), The Hours (2002), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004), Prime (2005), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Evening (2007)
favorite role:
Some people are just made of amazing.
70 Favorite Actors: 11. Hugh Laurie
Hugh Laurie
age: 48 (49 tomorrow…Happy Birthday Hugh!)
nationality: English
watched in: Sense and Sensibility (1995), 101 Dalmatians (1996), Spice World (1997), “The One With Ross’s Wedding Part 2″ [Friends] (1998), Flight of the Phoenix (2004), House M.D. (2004-2008)
favorite role:
I loved him since Mr. Palmer in Sense and Sensibility and my love only grew with his brilliant portrayal of Dr. Gregory House.
(on that note, I love Robert Sean Leonard too. [SPOILER] His death in Dead Poet’s Society depresses me until now [END SPOILER] and I love how his Wilson is the perfect foil for Hugh’s House. They just have the best chemistry together)
70 Favorite Actors: 12. Laura Linney
Laura Linney
age: 44
nationality: American
watched in: Congo (1995), Primal Fear (1996), The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Mystic River (2003), Love Actually (2003), P.S. (2004), The Savages (2007), The Nanny Diaries (2007)
favorite role:
I just love her. Something about her on screen makes me smile, even when she’s acting all crazy or bitchy (in her role of course)…I just can’t hate her. And have you seen that speechless short film? Just when you thought you couldn’t love her more, she does something like that. She’s just amazing.
70 Favorite Actors: 13. Daniel Day-Lewis
Daniel Day-Lewis
age: 51
nationality: English
watched in: A Room with a View (1985), The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), The Age of Innocence (1993), Gangs of New York (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007)
favorite role:
I admit, I wasn’t really a fan. I mean, I realized he was good, but I wasn’t a fan. That is, until There Will Be Blood came and gosh was that a revelation.
70 Favorite Actors: 20. Jodie Foster, 19. Billy Crudup, 18. Tilda Swinton, 17. Gary Oldman, 16. Angelina Jolie, 15. Adrien Brody, and 14. The Hepburns: Audrey and Katharine
Jodie Foster
age: 45
nationality: American
watched in: The Accused (1988), The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Contact (1997), Anna and the King (1999), Panic Room (2002), Un Long Dimanche de Fiancailles (2004), Flightplan (2005), Inside Man (2006), The Brave One (2007)
favorite role: sorry for the fanvid, can’t find a clip
Jodie Foster is amazing. Though she’s been playing mostly the same role since…well, since. But, she’s still amazing anyway. Nim’s Island looks like a different role though so I’m looking forward to that.
Billy Crudup
age: 39
nationality: American
watched in: Inventing the Abbotts (1997), Princess Mononoke (1997), Almost Famous (2000), Charlotte Gray (2001), Big Fish (2003), Stage Beauty (2004), Trust the Man (2005), Mission: Impossible III (2006), The Good Shepherd (2006), Dedication (2007), various Mastercard: Priceless commercials
favorite role:
Sometimes Billy Crudup boggles me sometimes. He’s declined commercially lucrative roles (In Titanic and The Hulk) for roles in smaller films, some of them sometimes questionable. But crap roles aside, when he does get a good role, he’s good. He’s really, really good. And speaking of roles, he’s playing Dr. Manhattan in the adaptation of The Watchmen. I really can’t imagine it yet but it’ll be cool.
Tilda Swinton
age: 47
nationality: English
watched in: Orlando (1992), Vanilla Sky (2001), Adaptation (2002), Constatine (2005), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
favorite role:
There is no one in the world like her. Well, okay, there is no one in Hollywood like her. She’s just so…cool.
Gary Oldman
age: 50
nationality: English
watched in: Henry & June (1990), Dracula (1992), Immortal Beloved (1994), Air Force One (1997), Friends (2001), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Batman Begins (2005), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
favorite role:
His presence in the Harry Potter films is what kept me watching. (Well, his and Alan Rickman’s) and I just love that Nokia commercial he starred in.
Angelina Jolie
age: 32
nationality: American
watched in: Love is All There Is (1996), Gia (1998), The Bone Collector (1999), Girl, Interrupted (1999), Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), Original Sin (2001), Life or Something Like It (2002), Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), Beyond Borders (2003), Taking Lives (2004), Shark Tale (2004), Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004), Alexander (2004), Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005), The Good Shepherd (2006), Beowulf (2007)
favorite role: She was nominated for the Razzies for this but I just absolutely adore it even if it is a lot of mush.
Angelina sizzles. She has that effect, that charisma that none of the young starlets have anymore. When she’s good, she’s intense. When she’s not so good, well, at least she isn’t boring. For me, she’s sorta like the girl version of Alain Delon.
Adrien Brody
age: 35
nationality: American
watched in: The Pianist (2002), The Village (2004), The Jacket (2005), King Kong (2006), Hollywoodland (2006)
favorite role:
I watched The Pianist and instantly became a fan. Unfortunately, most of his movies since haven’t really reached that level (I have a fondness for King Kong though) and I really want to see his pre-Pianist ones but they’re still pretty hard to find here.
Audrey Hepburn
age: (at death) 63
nationality: Belgian
watched in: Roman Holiday (1953), Sabrina (1954), War and Peace (1956), Funny Face (1957), Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961), Charade (1963), Paris – When it Sizzles (1964), My Fair Lady (1964)
favorite role:
Katharine Hepburn
age: 96
nationality: American
watched in: Bringing Up Baby (1938), The Philadelphia Story (1940), Adam’s Rib (1949), Love Affair (1994)
favorite role:
I was a fan of Audrey first, well because her films were more available. And then The Philadelphia Story came along and I fell for Katharine too. But her films still aren’t as available here than Audrey’s. Now why is that? I want more Katharine! And more Audrey won’t be bad either.
70 Favorite Actors: 27. Hugh Jackman, 26. Monica Bellucci and Vincent Cassel, 25. Clive Owen, 24. Maggie Gyllenhaal, 23. Johnny Depp, 22. Romola Garai and 21. Takeshi Kaneshiro
Hugh Jackman
age: 39
nationality: Australian
watched in: X-Men (2000), Someone Like You… (2001), Swordfish (2001), Kate & Leopold (2001), X2 (2003), Van Helsing (2004), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), Scoop (2006), The Fountain (2006), The Prestige (2006), Flushed Away (2006)
favorite role:
Aah, Hugh. There are times he can make me feel almost giddy. And if there’s ever walking talking proof that masculine men can love Broadway, it would be him. (I hate that stereotype, that only gay men enjoy Broadway. It’s stupid, as most stereotypes are.) I would love to hear/watch him sing on Broadway. Oh well, someday when I have the money.
Monica Bellucci
age: 43
nationality: Italian
watched in: Dracula (1992), L’Appartement (1996), Le Pacte des Loups (2001), Irreversible (2002), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), The Passion of the Christ (2004), The Brothers Grimm (2005)
Vincent Cassel
age: 41
nationality: French
watched in: L’Appartement (1996), Elizabeth (1998), Le Pacte des Loups (2001), Birthday Girl (2001), Irreversible (2002), Ocean’s Twelve (2004), Derailed (2005), Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), Eastern Promises (2007)
favorite role:
They’re my favorite European couple…on screen and off. I think they’re just gorgeous together. And I love how they keep working with each other. I hope they continue to make movies for a long long time.
Clive Owen
age: 43
nationality: English
watched in: Gosford Park (2001), The Bourne Identity (2002), Beyond Borders (2003), King Arthur (2004), Closer (2004), Sin City (2005), Derailed (2005), The Pink Panther (2006), Inside Man (2006), Children of Men (2006), Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
favorite role:
Clive has presence. When he’s on screen, it’s hard to concentrate on anyone else. Why would you want to concentrate on anyone else anyway? I have a feeling he has the same effect off screen. But I’ll probably never get to know if I’m right.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
age: 30
nationality: American
watched in: Secretary (2002), 40 Days and 40 Nights (2002), Adaptation (2002), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Mona Lisa Smile (2003), Trust the Man (2005), SherryBaby (2006), Paris, Je T’aime (2006), Stranger Than Fiction (2006)
favorite role:
There’s always something weirdly wonderful about Maggie Gyllenhaal. I only wish she doesn’t slouch so much. But I guess that’s part of her charm.
Johnny Depp
age: 44
nationality: American
watched in: Edward Scissorhands (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), Ed Wood (1994), Nick of Time (1995), The Ninth Gate (1999), Sleepy Hollow (1999), The Man Who Cried (2000), Chocolat (2000), From Hell (2001), Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003), Secret Window (2004), Finding Neverland (2004), The Libertine (2004), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005), Corpse Bride (2005), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
favorite role:
I guess no one will ever have a list of characters played as interesting as Johnny’s list. He can play the heartthrob. He can play the weirdo. He can play the heartthrob weirdo. He can play anything.
Romola Garai
age: 25
nationality: English
watched in: Nicholas Nickleby (2002), I Capture the Castle (2003), Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004), Vanity Fair (2004), Scoop (2006), Amazing Grace (2006), Angel (2007), Atonement (2007)
favorite role:
I think she’s the most talented young actress working in the biz today. And I’m looking forward to following what I think will be a wonderful career.
Takeshi Kaneshiro
age: 34
nationality: Taiwanese / Japanese
watched in: Chung Him Sam Lam [Chungking Express] (1994), Heung Joh Chow Heung Yau Chow [Turn Left, Turn Right] (2003), Shi Mian Mai Fu [House of Flying Daggers] (2004), Ru Guo – Ai [Perhaps Love] (2005)
favorite role:
There’s nothing to say really except…[drool.] Haha. But no, really, he’s as good as he looks. And he sings well too. Or maybe I’m just extremely biased.
70 Favorite Actors: 34. Marie Bonnevie, 33. Keanu Reeves, 32. Truffaut’s Muses: Catherine Deneuve and Fanny Ardant, 31. Paul Rudd, 30. Rachel Weisz, 29. Alan Rickman, and 28. Michelle Pfeiffer
Maria Bonnevie
age: 34
nationality: Swedish
watched in: I am Dina (2002), Reconstruction (2003)
favorite role:
I know, I’ve watched so little of her but what I’ve watched I’ve loved. So I hope I get to watch more.
Keanu Reeves
age: 43
nationality: Lebanese / American
watched in: Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), My Own Private Idaho (1991), Dracula (1992), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Little Buddha (1993), Speed (1994), Johnny Mnemonic (1995), A Walk in the Clouds (1995), Chain Reaction (1996), Feeling Minnesota (1996), The Devil’s Advocate (1997), The Matrix (1999), The Replacements (2000), The Gift (2000), Sweet November (2001), The Matrix Reloaded (2003), The Matrix Revolutions (2003), Something’s Gotta Give (2003), Constantine (2005), The Lake House (2006)
favorite role:
And before you get mad at his “high” ranking (AKA is Keanu Reeves better than Helen Mirren????!!!!!) again, this is not a countdown by rank because it’s too tiring to rank them by preference. Keanu actually almost didn’t make it because, well, he’s not really a great actor. He’s good enough. Enjoyable to watch. And what he lacks in talent he makes up with being extremely pretty. Haha. Anyway, let’s just say that there’s something about Keanu that I can’t resist.
Catherine Deneuve
age: 64
nationality: French
watched in: Les Parapluies de Cherbourg (1964), Belle de Jour (1967), La Sirene du Mississipi (1969), La Dernier Metro (1980), Dancer in the Dark (2000)
favorite role:
Fanny Ardant
age: 59
nationality: French
watched in: La Femme d’a Cote (1981), Vivement Dimanche! (1983), Elizabeth (1998), Paris Je T’aime (2006)
favorite role:
Maybe I love them more because I love Francois Truffaut but whatever. They’re still formidable actresses…and women.
Paul Rudd
age:39
nationality: American
watched in: Clueless (1995), Romeo + Juliet (1996), The Object of My Affection (1998), Friends (2002-2004), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy 2004), P.S. (2004), Night at the Museum (2006), Veronica Mars (2007), Knocked Up (2007)
favorite role:
I know, he has better roles than clueless but I’m sentimentally attached to it. I just enjoy everything he does, even though he’s been doing mostly supporting work. Well, as the saying goes: It’s not how small the role is, it’s how you use it.
Rachel Weisz
age: 37
nationality: English
watched in: Stealing Beauty (1996), Chain Reaction (1996), Swept from the Sea (1997), The Mummy (1999), Sunshine (1999), The Mummy Returns (2001), About a Boy (2002), Constantine (2005), The Constant Gardener (2005), The Fountain (2006), Eragon (2006), My Blueberry Nights (2007)
favorite role:
She’s just so beautiful to watch on screen. (umm…haha. sorry, my mind doesn’t seem to want to function anymore]
Alan Rickman
age: 62
nationality: English
watched in: Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Rasputin (1996), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Love Actually (2003), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005), Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
favorite role:
Ah, yes. I first saw him in Rasputin and fell in love (though, how I could fall in love with him as Rasputin, who’s not supposed to be lovable beats me.) Of course his beautiful beautiful (and not to mention sexy) voice helps. I even love him as Snape, and it’s not a loveable role. It’s that voice, I say, it mesmerizes.
Michelle Pfeiffer
age: 50
nationality: American
watched in: Dangerous Liasons (1988), Batman Returns (1992), Dangerous Minds (1995), To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday (1996), A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1999), The Story of Us (1999), What Lies Beneath (2000), Stardust (2007)
favorite role:
Totally not related to her acting but I can’t believe she’s 50. She really, really doesn’t look it.
70 Favorite Actors: 38. Helen Mirren, 37. Alain Delon, 36. Glenn Close and 35. Sean Penn
As you’ve realized, I’ve been really busy so this countdown has been counting down a bit slowly. Look out for more bunched up posts like this in the future. I didn’t really want to do things this way but I have no choice. Anyway, to continue…
Helen Mirren
age: 62
nationality: English
watched in: Caligola (1979), The Madness of King George (1994), Teaching Mrs. Tingle (1999), Prime Suspect 5: Errors of Judgment (1996), Gosford Park (2001), Prime Suspect 6: The Last Witness (2003), Raising Helen (2004), The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (2005), Elizabeth I (2005), The Queen (2006), Prime Suspect: The Final Act (2006)
favorite role:
She was great in Elizabeth and The Queen but I wasn’t a fan until I caught the later episodes of the Prime Suspect series and there was this one scene where she just gave someone a look and I swear the air sizzled and I went, my goodness she’s amazing!
Alain Delon
age: 72
nationality: French
watched in: Rocco e i suoi fratelli (1960), L’Eclisse (1962), Il Gattopardo (1963), Paris brule-t-il? (1966), Le Samourai (1967), Zorro (1975)
favorite role: sorry, no subtitles
Faithful readers will already know my love for Alain Delon. Nobody on earth or celluloid has had the same impact as he has had on me (at least, not yet). It took one frame for me to fall under his spell. And yes, even now that he’s 72 I still think he’s hot and (I think I told my friend Chard this) if he suddenly appears out of thin air and asks me to marry him I would.
Glenn Close
age: 61
nationality: American
watched in: Dangerous Liaisons (1988), Hamlet (1990), Hook (1991), 101 Dalmatians (1996), Air Force One (1997), Le Divorce (2003), The Stepford Wives (2004, Heights (2005), Evening (2007)
favorite role:
Nobody does it better than Glenn. Nobody…well, maybe a few somebodys can…a very few.
Sean Penn
age: 47
nationality: American
watched in: Friends (2001), Mystic River (2003), 21 Grams (2003), The Interpreter (2005)
favorite role:
Yes, I know, I’ve watched him in so little…it’s mostly because his films are so…so heavy. For example, I have had a copy of I am Sam at home for years but I’ve just never had the energy to watch it. But when I do watch him on film…he’s so mesmerizing to watch. Especially in the back-to-back tour de force performances of 2003 (namely, 21 Grams and Mystic River).
70 Favorite Actors: 39. Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.
age: 43
nationality: American
watched in: Chances Are (1989), Heart and Souls (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994), Only You (1994), Restoration (1995), Gothika (2003), Eros (2004), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
favorite role:
Robert Downey Jr. is just such a cool guy that even when he’s acting an idiot on screen, I still think he’s cool. Which is why I’m so excited for Iron Man. Have you seen the trailer? How can you not be excited? (And sorry for being so repetitive but…) It’s just soooo cool! I can’t wait for wednesday! Not that I’ll be able to watch it as soon as it opens (which is what I usually do when I’m this excited). But here’s to hoping I’ll get to watch it within the first week.
70 Favorite Actors: 41. Liev Schreiber and 40. Naomi Watts
2-in-1 post featuring one of my favorite Hollywood couples. Aren’t they just gorgeous together?
Liev Schreiber
age: 40
nationality: American
watched in: Scream (1996), Scream 2 (1997), RKO 281 (1999), Hamlet (2000), Scream 3 (2000), Kate and Leopold (2001), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), The Painted Veil (2006), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2007)
favorite role: in the absence of an RKO 281 clip I bring you Liev as…himself. Though he’s curiously looking a bit like Gill Grissom in CSI.
He had me at Orson Welles (RKO 281…the production code for Citizen Kane.) And ever since I’ve been interested in his career. The guy needs more starring roles. C’mon Hollywood!
Naomi Watts
age: 39
nationality: English / Australian
watched in: Dangerous Beauty (1998), Mulholland Dr. (2001), Le Divorce (2003), 21 Grams (2003), I Heart Huckabees (2004), Stay (2005), King Kong (2005), The Painted Veil (2006), Eastern Promises (2007)
favorite role: Again, not her best performance but I just can’t resist the pretty…
Naomi Watts is amazing on screen. She just lights everything up. She sometimes reminds me of Nicole Kidman in her amazing-ness, though of course no one can replace Nicole Kidman in my heart.
70 Favorite Actors: 42. Emma Thompson
Emma Thompson
age: 49
nationality: English
watched in: Impromptu (1991), Much Ado About Nothing (1993), Junior (1995), Sense and Sensibility (1995), Wit (2001), Love Actually (2003), Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), Nanny McPhee (2005), Stranger than Fiction (2006), Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
favorite role:
I know, that’s not a role. But is shows how brilliant Emma Thompson is: as an actress, as a writer and as a person. My favorite role would probably be Vivien in Wit or Karen in Love Actually or Karen in Stranger than Fiction or Elinor in Sense and Sensibility or…you get the picture. I just can’t choose. And no, I haven’t watched Howard’s End or The Remains of the Day yet (It’s in my to watch list but that list is too long). And isn’t it wonderful that she’s married to Greg Wise (Mr. Willoughby in Sense and Sensibility)? Wala lang…
70 Favorite Actors: 43. James McAvoy
James McAvoy
age: 28 (…29 in 2 days)
nationality: Scottish
watched in: Wimbledon (2004), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005), Penelope (2006), Becoming Jane (2007), Atonement (2007)
favorite role: SPOILER ALERT! Sorry, just couldn’t resist posting this as I’m still not over the kilig.
The first time I became aware of him, it was in Narnia and he had this weird chemistry with Lucy Pevensie that was, well, almost creepy. After a few films, I’ve realized that maybe sexy just comes naturally to James McAvoy and that, thankfully, he’s been directing that sexy to adults ever since (Christina Ricci, Anne Hathaway and Keira Knightley respectively…and Angelina Jolie in his next film Wanted.) It still bothers me that I don’t remember him at all being in Wimbledon. But, ah, maybe I was just distracted by Paul Bettany.
