How do you make a list of the best actors of the 21st century? We should select actors with better films on his resume. Or we should choose the ones with a wider acting range. Honestly, I’m tempted to go with the latter. Some actors work much less than others. While others are simply out of luck. And that’s why some like Naomi Watts was placed so much higher in our best actresses of the 21st century. Her resume might not contain many great movies, but we all know what diverse range she possesses and how easily she can fit into any character.
We will also use a similar measure for this list. Judge an acting talent by his abilities rather than his resume (although, of course, the more impressive the resume, the more opportunities an actor has had to show off his abilities). Joaquin Phoenix may not have many great movies to show off, but we all know he’s easily one of the most talented actors in town. That said, here’s the list of the best 21st century actors.
10. Tony Leung Chiu-Wai
You just need to watch ‘In the Mood For Love’ to know what an actor’s gem it is. Meanwhile ‘In the mood for love’ He plays a very discreet and quiet role, in ‘The Grandmaster’ he transforms into a great martial arts master. He also went from being a lone cop on Chungking Express to a gay Chinese expat living in Argentina on Happy Together. Leung first gained international exposure in Hou Hsiao-hsien’s 1989 film A City of Sadness, which won the Golden Lion of Venice. Obviously, his close collaboration with director Wong Kar-wai helped him showcase his vast talent. There is no doubt that he is among the best acting talents around not only in Asian cinema but in the world.
9. Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger’s untimely death shocked the film fraternity and film lovers around the world. Handsome and charming, the Down Under man had conquered millions of hearts around the world with his blue eyes and a smile that penetrated his heart. He was a quintessential actor and brought a sense of realism to every single role he played on screen. From his sensitive portrayal of a gay cowboy in ‘Brokeback Mountain’ to his mischievously intelligent Joker in ‘The Dark Knight’, he has indulged in each of the characters he has played. A truly exceptional actor’s testament.
8. Jake Gyllenhaal
An actor who has been in fantastic shape lately. In fact, it can easily be said that Gyllenhaal has been the best actor in business for the past three years just for the sheer amount of great work he has done. Not that he’s not been a great actor over the past decade: he’s been great on ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and ‘Zodiac’ – but lately he’s risen to a whole different level. Forget the films he’s made in the last three and you’ll know what we’re talking about: ‘End of the Clock’, ‘Prisoners’,’ Enemy ‘,’ Nightcrawler ‘,’ Southpaw ‘,’ Everest ‘,’ Demolition ‘and’ Nocturnal Animals’. Wow just Wow.
7. Javier Bardem
Whether he’s an effeminate poet or an evil contract assassin or an undead sea pirate in the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean, his ability to transform into any role makes him unique. Menacing looks, unconventional beauty and eyes that have the depth of the oceans. Among his colleagues, he is the only actor whose intensity is unmatched .. Born into an artistic family, Javier has remained faithful to it and has started making waves in the corridors of Spanish films. As author Erica Jong states, everyone has a talent but only a few have the courage to follow him into the dark places he leads. Before it was only a matter of time Javier Bardem burst into the limelight thanks to his effervescent performances, garnering numerous accolades along the way.
6. Christian Bale
Ever since his successful performance as a psychopathic millionaire in ‘American Psycho’, it has become well established that Christian Bale enjoyed playing unconventional roles. British actor who has had a slow but steady rise to stardom, Bale is one of the most successful actors in the world today. Her commitment and dedication to his craft is evident from his excellent performances in ‘The Machinist’ and ‘The Fighter’. But it was his role as Bruce Wayne / Batman in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Trilogy that truly catapulted him to worldwide popularity; he managed to give emotional depth to a cartoonish cartoon role, without ever exaggerating. Bale continues to deliver excellent performance with films like ‘American Hustle’ and ‘The Big Short’
5. Sean Penn
Often referred to as a thoughtful man’s actor, Penn has repeatedly demonstrated his extraordinary ability to get inside the skin of every character he plays, bringing him to life. A complex man whose face can simultaneously reveal everything and nothing, Penn has given us some of the most intensely intricate cinematic portraits in history. His portrayal of Jimmy, a man blinded by his rage and rage at the injustice of his daughter’s murder in ‘Mystic River’ is arguably one of the best performances of this century. While positioning him so low on our list might be a disappointment to some, the fact that some of his best performances took place in the 80s and 90s led us to make this difficult choice.
4. Joaquin Phoenix
Arguably the most underrated actor on this list, Joaquin Phoenix is ​​one of the few actors who brings an air of raw realism to each of his characters. From the insensitive and deranged Emperor Commodius in ‘Gladiator’ to the casual and obsessive detective Doc Sportello in ‘Inherent Vice’, there is little Phoenix cannot do. His deep expressive eyes can convey both the best and the worst of humanity, with the subtlety and ingenuity of a craftsman. His painfully honest performance of him as a lonely depressed man who falls in love with an AI system in Spike Jonze’s masterpiece ‘of him’ is a testament to his reach and depth as an actor.
3. Philip Seymour Hoffman
An actor who fearlessly explored the misery of the wounded, the exiled and the misunderstood, with his signature of honesty, humor and empathy; Philip Seymour Hoffman was a voice for the millions of people who have remained forever unrepresented in films. Hoffman brings a human touch to all the roles he plays; whether he is an obsessed writer in ‘Capote’ or a charismatic leader of a Scientology-like movement in ‘The Master’. But it is in his role as paranoid stage director Caden Cotard in the postmodern experimental drama ‘Synecdoche, New York’ that he gives the best interpretation of him, which may be among the most beautiful ever. An actor who never seemed to act, Hoffman always transformed into the character he played, absorbing the physical and emotional nuances;
2. Leonardo DiCaprio
Arguably the most popular actor in the world right now, Leonardo Dicaprio is an institution all to himself. One of the most versatile actors of his generation, there’s almost nothing DiCaprio can’t do; there is hardly anything he hasn’t done. A man who has chosen his films with the utmost care, DiCaprio has worked with some of the greatest directors of his generation including Christopher Nolan, Quentin Tarantino, Ridley Scott, Clint Eastwood and Alejandro González Iñárritu among others; with each of their films revealing the depth and emotional weight he carries as an actor. But it’s his association with the great Martin Scorsese that was the most rewarding thing for DiCaprio; each of the five films in their collaboration managed to reveal the intricate craftsmanship behind his art.
There’s an inexplicable childish charm to his face that translates into each of his performances, whether it’s visionary tycoon Howard Hughes in ‘The Aviator’ or corrupt Wall Street stockbroker Jordan Belfort in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street. ‘. With the Academy finally recognizing DiCaprio for his incredibly visceral performance as a wounded man in his quest for revenge in ‘The Revenant’, there is probably nothing more for this modern legend to do; but that doesn’t stop us from hoping that he continues to amaze us with his performance.
1. Daniel Day-Lewis
This was probably the easiest choice for us to make; who else could it be? After the great Marlon Brando, no actor has influenced so much the craft of the medium Daniel Day-Lewis has; each of his interpretations reveals the man’s incredible talent and skill. Being featured on this list, let alone at the top, having only made five films in this century, is a testament to his incredible performance. A methodical actor known for his extensive research and preparation of every character he plays, Day-Lewis’s devotion to his craft goes beyond words. Watching him on screen is more like a spiritual experience, in which you see the man abandon himself completely, taking on the nuances and characteristics of his portraits.
A perfectionist in every possible way, no matter who you play; he will connect with you emotionally and leave you mesmerized. Whether it’s his terrifying portrayal of a 19th-century gang leader in Gangs of New York or his subtly moving performance as US President Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln, Day-Lewis never gives up on his acting intensity, without never go beyond the top or lose the human touch. But it was his creepy performance of him as cold-blooded oilman Daniel Plainview in ‘There Will Be Blood’ that completely blew us away. Arguably one of the best cinema performances ever, he literally transforms himself into the vicious man he is playing.
