Author Topic: Hopkins 'greatest British actor' (Read 3687 times)

Clive · « **on:** August 16, 2005, 19:49 »

Sir Anthony Hopkins has been named the greatest British actor of all time in a poll, beating Lord Olivier and Sir Sean Connery into second and third.
Sir Anthony, who won an Oscar for playing Hannibal Lecter in Silence of the Lambs, was born in south Wales but became an American citizen in 2000.

Dame Judi Dench, an Oscar-winner for a seven-minute role as Queen Elizabeth I, was named best British actress.

More than 6,000 people were polled for the wine label Mouton Cadet.

TOP 10 BRITISH ACTORS
1. Sir Anthony Hopkins
2. Lord (Laurence) Olivier
3. Sir Sean Connery
4. Sir Alec Guinness
5. Sir Michael Caine
6. Richard Burton
7. Sir David Jason
8. Cary Grant
9. Sir John Mills
10. Sir Ian McKellen

Julie Walters came second and Dame Elizabeth Taylor third.

Port Talbot-born Sir Anthony has more than 100 film credits to his name as an actor, director and composer, and received three Oscar nominations after his win as Hannibal.

Among his other best-known movies are Howards End, Nixon, the Remains of the Day, Meet Joe Black and Alexander.

TOP 10 BRITISH ACTRESSES

1. Dame Judi Dench
2. Julie Walters
3. Dame Elizabeth Taylor
4. Dame Maggie Smith
5. Dame Julie Andrews
6. Dame Helen Mirren
7. Emma Thompson
8. Vanessa Redgrave
9. Joan Collins
10. Dame Thora Hird

Dame Judi began her career on stage as Ophelia in Hamlet in 1957 and has acted in more than 60 films, winning an Oscar for Shakespeare In Love, nine Baftas and a Golden Globe.

Other actors just outside top 10 were Oliver Reed, John Thaw, Sir John Gielgud, Ray Winstone and David Niven.

The women who just missed out on being among the top 10 greatest actresses were Diana Dors, Kathy Burke, Juliet Stevenson and Kate Winslet.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4155326.stm

GillE · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 00:19 »

Where's Alan Rickman? John Hurt? Derek Jacobi? Virginia McKenna? At least Vanessa Redgrave made the list.

Surely one of the first requirements of a competent actor is the ability to speak in a variety of convincing accents. I seem to recall Sean Connery portraying an Irish/American cop in Goodfellas and speaking with a Scottish accent. He played a Spanish courtier in Highlander, again with a Scottish accent. He even played a Russian submariner in The Hunt For Red October with a Scottish accent. When Sir Sean manages to portray a character successfully without a Scottish accent I might give him credit as an actor. In the meantime...

Oh, and I'm sure the charge I lay against Sir Sean is equally applicable to several others on the list. Perhaps the customers of Mouton Cadet had been imbibing when they cast their votes and found themselves unable to distinguish between 'actors' and 'Hollywood Stars'.

Gill

Lona · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:08 »

I have to agree with you Gill, I would put Sean Connery in the same catagory as John Wayne. They are both icons but could never really act. They can only be themselves.

I would have thought Alan Bates deserved a mention and Albert Finney.

These polls are really rubbish and don't reflect a true picture.

GillE · « **Reply #3 on:** August 17, 2005, 01:21 »

Gosh, Lona. You and I agreeing about Sean Connery - that's a first! Yes, I also agree with you about Alan Bates and Albert Finney being worthy of inclusion.

Gill

Clive · « **Reply #4 on:** August 17, 2005, 06:35 »

Looks forward to Serenity's response.... :whistle:

Lona · « **Reply #5 on:** August 17, 2005, 15:24 »

Quote from: "Clive"

Looks forward to Serenity's response.... :whistle:

He's a smashing bloke Clive and a credit to Scotland for all he's done for the people but he still can't act.

PS and neither can Billy Connolly, he should stick to what he does best.

sam · « **Reply #6 on:** August 17, 2005, 15:51 »

Quote

PS and neither can Billy Connolly, he should stick to what he does best.

and that would be??

Lona · « **Reply #7 on:** August 17, 2005, 16:49 »

Quote from: "sam"

Quote
PS and neither can Billy Connolly, he should stick to what he does best.

and that would be??

being an idiot, Sam :wink:

sam · « **Reply #8 on:** August 18, 2005, 01:23 »

well said that woman!

GillE · « **Reply #9 on:** August 18, 2005, 02:09 »

There's a lot to be said for idiocy - I wouldn't mind being a penny behind Billy Connolly. Mind, I don't think I could tolerate all those interviews with Michael Parkinson.

On balance, I think I'll remain an amateur and leave professional idiocy to those who've got spouses with mental health qualifications.

Gill