LESSON 3
Who are your top 10 favorite actors? Here are my top 10 favorite actors. They are from movies and TV shows I can watch again and again with performances that are memorable and moving. I found that these are based more on my favorite movies and tv shows, but I feel that these actors are the reason these are so great.
#1 Vivien Leigh My favorite actress of all time would have to be Vivien Leigh because of her portrayal of Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. She manages to take a very unlikeable character and turn her into a symbol of power and beauty. The movie is a masterpiece and a wonder to behold and she is at the center of it all, lighting up the screen with her amazing performance.
#2 Robin Williams When I look at his career, he has some pretty amazing performances. He may have started out in a goofy TV role as Mork the alien but he quickly showed he had the ability to do serious work in movies like "The World According to Garp." I was really impressed with his ability to mix comedy with drama in movies like "Dead Poet's Society" which is a movie that inspired me to be a teacher. And he showed an incredible ability to add comedy to a tough subject in "Good Morning Vietnam" where he supposedly did improv in much of the movie. And he even crossed gender lines in the comedy "Mrs. Doubtfire" creating a very memorable character. And one of my favorite movies of all time is "The Fisher King" which he does an amazing job with a character that struggles with his sanity. It is a very moving performance where you gain a lot of sympathy for his character and want to see him find his happy ending.
#3 Loretta Swit Because of her outstanding role in M*A*S*H (my favorite TV show of all time), I have to put her high on my list. She took a character that could have been cliche' (Hot Lips) and gave her tons of character and depth. Her character makes fascinating changes throughout the series and she has some of the best monologues of any tv actor.
#4 Denzel Washington This is an actor who first got my attention when I saw him in the movie "Glory" and he has been impressing me ever since. He has incredible screen presence and always has the audience's undivided attention when he is on the screen. He proved he could cross racial lines and take on roles that were not specifically for a certain race. I really was impressed by his performances in "Cry Freedom" and "Malcolm X" but also liked his work in "Book of Eli" which could have been a mediocre movie if it hadn't been for his powerful performance which gave the movie dignity over other post-apocalyptic fare. Denzel continues to impress me including his recent role in “The Magnificent Seven.”
#5 Elizabeth Taylor Elizabeth Taylor would be next because of her role as Cleopatra. This is another movie that is incredible and Elizabeth Taylor commands the screen. She dominates every moment on screen and really brings this historical figure to life.
#6 Charlie Chaplin This early actor has stood the test of time for me. I find his work to be worthy of study even to this day. I always enjoyed his work but was most impressed by "The Great Dictator" which is a powerful comedy that takes on one of the most powerful leaders of the day (Hitler). He used comedy to make commentaries about the social and moral climate of the world at the time in movies like "Modern Times." And some of his work is just plain fun like the "Gold Rush."
#7 Keira Knightley One of my favorite movies is Seeking a Friend at the End of the World, a very unrated film. She does a very moving performance in this that is very believable and touching.
#8 Kate Winslet No... not for Titanic (sorry, but I'm not fond of Titanic)... but I really liked Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. This movie blows me away with its creativity and I think she does an interesting performance that always draws me in.
#9 Scarlett Johansson I have seen Scarlett Johansson in a lot of movies including Lost in Translation, Captain American, and Lucy. She always manages to hold her own and make an impression in guy dominated movies like the Avengers but I felt like she showed a lot of range in a movie like Lucy.
#10 Hillary Swank I have seen some really impressive performances by Hillary Swank, especially Million Dollar Baby. I haven't watched any of her movies recently but her performance was memorable enough to make this list.
Who are your top 10 favorite actors? In your journal, write about why some of the actors are on your list.
COMPLETE YOUR ACTING JOURNAL ENTRY #3 BY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS ABOVE (basic acting students may do a written or audio journal, but advanced students must create a video and share via Google Drive with pocolocoplayers@yahoo.com or on your own YouTube channel)
FREE ACTING TIPS
Tips on Memorizing Lines
How to Deal with Stage Fright
To Live or Die in LA:
getting experience and finding an agent