Originally by Ranker FilmList RulesMale actors from England, dead or alive. Vote based on their entire body of work.
Some of the best actors of all time hail from England, and whether you love these English men for their acting talents or just their accents, there's no denying that many of these English actors are among some of the best actors in film history. Whether living or dead, these men made England a top source for acting talent in Hollywood and will go down in history as the best.
Who are the all-time top English actors in film history? Some of these actors from England became famous for roles as Americans, as Jedi (hi, Alec Guinness!), as detectives, and any number of other memorable characters. There's just something about these English gentlemen that movie audiences love, and their fantastic acting abilities have made many of them award winners as well.
This list features the greatest English actors of all time including Charlie Chaplin, Anthony Hopkins, Benedict Cumberbatch, Christian Bale, Cary Grant, David Niven, Daniel Day-Lewis, and Ewan McGregor. Don't see your favorite actor from England? Add him below so other film fans can vote. Then, be sure to vote and rerank the list according to who you think are the best English actors to have ever graced the screen.1
1,8141,041Alan Rickman
Die Hard, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of AzkabanBirthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom,England
Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (21 February 1946 – 14 January 2016) was an English actor and... more2
1,913632Colin Firth
The English Patient, The King's SpeechBirthplace: Grayshott, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom, England
Colin Andrew Firth (born 10 September 1960) is an English actor who has received an Academy... more3
336146Peter O'Toole
Lawrence of Arabia, RatatouilleBirthplace: Connemara, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Republic of Ireland
Peter Seamus O'Toole (; 2 August 1932 – 14 December 2013) was a British stage and film actor... more4
1,360829Gary Oldman
The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight RisesBirthplace: Eurasia, New Cross, London, England, United Kingdom
Nationality: England
Gary Leonard Oldman (born 21 March 1958) is an English actor and filmmaker who has performed... more5
46999Anthony Hopkins
The Silence of the Lambs, ThorBirthplace: Margam, United Kingdom
Nationality: United States of America, United Kingdom
Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins (born 31 December 1937) is a Welsh actor, director, and producer.... more6
1,421905Ian McKellen
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingBirthplace: Burnley, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor. His career spans genres... more7
468248Eddie Redmayne
Les Misérables, The Good ShepherdBirthplace: London, United Kingdom
Nationality: England
Edward John David Redmayne (; born 6 January 1982) is an English actor and model. Redmayne... more8
23681Sean Connery
Goldfinger, The UntouchablesBirthplace: Fountainbridge, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (25 August 1930 – 31 October 2020) was a retired Scottish actor and... more9
1,147837Michael Caine
The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight RisesBirthplace: Rotherhithe, England, London
Nationality: England
Sir Michael Caine (born 14 March 1933) is an English actor, producer and author. He has... more10
1,051736Patrick Stewart
X-Men, X-Men: The Last StandBirthplace: Mirfield, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom, England
Sir Patrick Stewart (born 13 July 1940) is an English actor whose work has included roles on... more11
644361Tom Hardy
The Dark Knight Rises, InceptionBirthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Edward Thomas Hardy (born 15 September 1977) is an English actor and producer. After studying... more12
680404Ewan McGregor
Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the SithBirthplace: Perth, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Ewan Gordon McGregor (born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor, singer, and director known... more13
507328Rowan Atkinson
The Lion King, Love ActuallyBirthplace: Consett, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom, England
Rowan Sebastian Atkinson (born January 6, 1955), CBE is an English actor, comedian, and... more14
1,129799Benedict Cumberbatch
Star Trek Into Darkness, The Hobbit: The Desolation of SmaugBirthplace: Hammersmith, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom,England
Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch (born 19 July 1976) is an English actor who has... more15
766522Tom Hiddleston
The Avengers, ThorBirthplace: Westminster, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Thomas William Hiddleston (born 9 February 1981) is an English actor, film producer, and... more16
289144Kenneth Branagh
Thor, Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsBirthplace: Belfast, United Kingdom
Nationality: Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
Sir Kenneth Charles Branagh (born 10 December 1960) is a Northern Irish actor, director,... more17
742539Charlie Chaplin
City Lights, The Gold RushBirthplace: Walworth, United Kingdom
Nationality: England
Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (16 April 1889 – 25 December 1977) was an English comic actor,... more18
426270Michael Fassbender
Inglourious Basterds, X-Men: First ClassBirthplace: Heidelberg, Germany
Nationality: Republic of Ireland, Germany
Michael Fassbender (born 2 April 1977) is an Irish-German actor. His feature film debut was in... more19
535346Idris Elba
Thor, Thor: The Dark WorldBirthplace: London Borough of Hackney, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Idrissa Akuna Elba (; born 6 September 1972) is an English actor, writer, producer, musician,... more20
831602John Hurt
Alien, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneBirthplace: Chesterfield, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom, England
Sir John Vincent Hurt (22 January 1940 – 25 January 2017) was an English actor whose career... more21
350228Tim Curry
The Little Mermaid, The Rocky Horror Picture ShowBirthplace: Grappenhall, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Timothy James Curry (born 19 April 1946) is an English actor, voice artist, comedian and... more22
571427Richard Harris
Gladiator, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's StoneBirthplace: Limerick, Republic of Ireland
Nationality: Ireland
Richard St. John Harris (1 October 1930 – 25 October 2002) was an Irish actor and singer. He... more23
558385Bill Nighy
Shaun of the Dead, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's ChestBirthplace: England, Caterham
Nationality: United Kingdom, England
William Francis "Bill" Nighy is an English actor. He worked in theatre and television before... more24
682493Martin Freeman
Shaun of the Dead, Hot FuzzBirthplace: Aldershot, United Kingdom
Nationality: United Kingdom
Martin John Christopher Freeman (born 8 September 1971) is an English actor and comedian,... more25
939735Christopher Lee
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingBirthplace: Belgravia, London, United Kingdom
Nationality: England
Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (27 May 1922 – 7 June 2015) was an English actor, singer... more
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