Good Acting.

[Bigbad]

I often see posts on AB where someone is described as being a good actor/actress.
I’m curious as to what you think makes them good.
I just think they are doing their job, and I can only think of 3 occasions where I’ve said someone was good, and 2 of those were playing ‘real’ people.
I’m far more likely to pick someone out for being a rubbish/wooden/hammy actor.

Recent posts have mentioned (among others) Stephen Graham, Jodie Comer, and Jean from Eastenders.

So, what is it that makes you think that someone is a good actor/actress?

[Tilly2]

A good actor, in my opinion, is one who can make you feel the feelings that they are presenting. It doesn't matter what their real name is or what they have been in before, if they can make me feel the same emotion as they are portraying. If they can gain my empathy for the character, in my book, they are excellent actors.

Sarah Lancashire, in Happy Valley, is a case in point.

[Peter Pedant]

I didnt think Peter o'toole (*) was bad as Lawrence in Leans film 1962
but Noel Coward didnt like it

anymore eye shadow and they will have to call it - Florence of Arabia !

( now THAT is a proper one-liner to all you wordsmiths on AB ! )

John Gielgud wouldnt do the script in Julius Cheezer but insisted on doing the relevant speech from shakespeare - or carry on cleo or some film

I mean actors are acting innit - delivering lines written for them
Churchill - 1951-55 is protrayed as a shadow of the war leader, as actors do their interpretation
In fact it was well known even at the time he was ga-ga ....

Macmillan - you have never had it so good, and Supermac,
night of the long knives -and when all his ministers resigned the ones he hadnt sacked in the night of long knives see above - a little local difficulty
knew well that Dorothy ( his wife ) was being er kissed by Bob Boothby who normally er spoke to young men ......

but that is never acted

[Tilly2]

I would like to see Calico answer this question.

[Peter Pedant]

(*) Peter o'toole yeah ....

Sean Connery as James Bond
Hi I'm plenty !
Bond ( connery for it is he) I can see that ( looking down her cleavage - is that all right for a family thread?)
no - I'm Plenty, my name is Plenty, Plenty O'toole !
Bond: named after your father perhapsh ?

Now THAt readers is real acting !

[Peter Pedant]

so many questions
never an answer

[Tilly2]

I've answered it!

[woofgang]

Sir Alec Guinness, amazing actor, yes David Jason who can make you completely forget Del Boy. Tim McInnery likewise. Victoria Wood was another amazing actor....The Day We Sang....but also Bren in Dinner Ladies and the sad woman in Housewife 49. I thought the acting standard in the comedy Jam and Jerusalem was also extremely high, most of the cast playing roles outside their normal personae

[pixie374]

I often watch things while seeing them as "acting", which can be offputting. I agree the best actors are those that are believable and versatile. Hugh Laurie, Eddie Redmayne, David Jason, Holly Windsor are all good, I think.

[Tilly2]

Alison Steadman is someone I would rate very highly in the good actor stakes.

[Tilly2]

...and Sheridan Smith.

[Peter Pedant]

// I've answered it!//
so many answers - none recognised !

what abotu Romeo + juliet - set in venice beach?

Glenn Close as Lady Capulet was REALLY good - and Di Caprio who tried to deliver his lines like a Brooklyn stalwart was really crap

by the way readers - R +J isnt a slice of Jeremy Kyle life remember !

[Tilly2]

Do you mean, Molly Windsor, Pixie?

[Peter Pedant]

// Alison Steadman is someone I would rate very highly in the good actor stakes.//
oh Mr Bennett - how can you be so contrary ? you have five daughters to find husbands for .....

AS doesnt find this her best part

[pixie374]

I like those too, tilly.

[pixie374]

I do :-)

[Tilly2]

Pixie, :-)

[Calicogirl]

I did I answered it first Tilly :) x

[Tilly2]

So you did, Calico. Sorry about that. I missed it.

[Calicogirl]

My top ten best and worsts are peculiar to some but I think a lot of greatly lauded actors (Antony Hopkins being my prime example) are utterly wooden and some far lesser known actors (Juliet Stevenson) for example are utterly brilliant.

[pixie374]

Emma Thompson too...