Looking at standout roles, unforgettable performances, and behind-the-scenes drama of famous and forgotten actors.

Casting Calls

Underrated

A debut film is a big deal in any actor's career. The chance to be seen onscreen, even if only for a minute or two, can be enough to get career momentum rolling. Many performers <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/great-actors-who-started-in-bad-movies/saim-cheeda">struggle for years</a> before getting that kind of break, so they're usually determined to make the most of it once it comes. Famed acting teacher Konstantin Stanislavski said, “There are no small roles, only small actors.” He meant that a good actor can do something interesting with a role of any size.The following A-list stars exemplify that idea with their debut films. Some of them lucked into leading roles, others have significant supporting parts. All of them used the opportunity as a launching pad to something else. Aside from featuring future stars, the movies below are underrated and deserving of bigger audiences. The next time you're looking for an evening of at-home entertainment, give one of these titles a spin.&nbsp;

Underrated Debut Movies That Launched A-List Stars

Film

Mike McGranaghan

Pop Culture

The greatest actors of 2022 have had some awesome movies and TV shows come out this year, whether they&#39;re action-packed or serious dramas, they really show their talent. Of course, you&#39;ll recognize a lot faces from the MCU and adjacent movie universes. You&#39;ll also find actors starring in long awaited sequels/reboots like Tom Cruise in&nbsp;Top Gun: Maverick&nbsp;acting alongside younger talent like Miles Teller. Maybe Ben Affleck will surprise us with another sleeper performance like the one he gave us in&nbsp;The Tender Bar.&nbsp;But now it&#39;s time to determine the best actor of 2022 way ahead of the awards season.

The best part about this list of great actors from this year is that you don&#39;t have to choose just one. You can vote up all your favorite actors and then check back throughout the year to see which one&nbsp;made it to the top of the list or even the top ten.

The Best Actors Of 2022

Actor

The Best Actors Of 2022, Ranked By Fans

Jason Bancroft

Looking closer at the actors who have played cold-blooded bad guys—and totally nailed it.

Playing the Villain

1990s

Are you nostalgic for movies from the &#39;80s and &#39;90s? If so, you will undoubtedly have a special place in your heart for the character actors who played the bad guy again and again during those two decades. Why did the same actors get typecast so often? Hard to say, but there&#39;s no denying those eras had a bunch of talented performers who did the villainy thing extremely well. Whenever they popped up on-screen, viewers knew stuff was about to go down.

Every single one of these gentlemen carved out a strong career for himself. That said, none of them are what you would call an A-list star. These are not the Bruce Willises or the Eddie Murphys of their day. They were reliable &quot;that guy&quot; actors who didn&#39;t need to be front and center in order to make a huge impression. Let&#39;s take a closer look at their distinct abilities, as well as give a brief rundown of some of their most notable performances.

Which of these &quot;bad guy&quot; actors&nbsp;is the most memorable? Your votes will decide.

17 Actors Who Were The Bad Guy In Every Movie In The '80s And '90s

The Man of Steel, The Man of Tomorrow, Krypton's Last Son, Clark Kent, Kal-El... Whatever you call him, he's best known as Superman. Here are some lists about him.

A Bird, A Plane

Looking closer at actors and actresses who have played the *exact* same role.

Familiar Faces

Lists about the DC Comics superhero team and the film of the same name.

Justice League

Superman (Clark Kent)

When it comes to today&#39;s most popular superheroes, Superman was definitely one of the first, and all of the actors who played Superman over the years have offered some great takes on the role. Debuting in <a href="https://ew.com/article/2001/06/06/1938-superman-comics-debut/" target="_blank">1938</a>&nbsp;in the&nbsp;comics, Superman has long been a favorite among comic book fans and moviegoers (even <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/times-superman-was-a-jerk/stephanroget" target="_blank">when he acts like a jerk</a>), and he&#39;s been the subject of a long <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-best-superhero-movies-ever-made" target="_blank">list of superhero flicks</a> since. Not only that, but this iconic figure in the superhero universe has also appeared in video games and <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-superman-tv-shows-movies/ranker-entertainment" target="_blank">animated series</a>. Of course, with every portrayal of Superman, whether it be a cartoon or live-action feature film, there&#39;s an actor to fill the bill. Of all the men to take on the role, who do you think are the best Superman actors?

A long list of shows, movies, and actors associated with the beloved superhero has graced TV and movie screens for decades. No matter which interpretations of Superman you&#39;re a fan of, whether that be the classic cartoons or action-packed and star-studded modern films, all the actors who&#39;ve played Superman have surely done him justice. From Christopher Reeve&#39;s performances&nbsp;(Superman: The Movie, Superman II)&nbsp;to George Newbern&#39;s&nbsp;voice acting on numerous animated series (Superman vs. the Elite, Justice League), we&#39;ve seen some great Superman portrayals.&nbsp;

Now, take a look at the list of Superman actors and voice actors below and vote up your favorites from over the years.&nbsp;

Can Anyone Top Christopher Reeve?

The Best Actors Who Played Superman, Ranked

Ranking All 19 Superman Actors, Best To Worst

Ranker Entertainment

2022 Movies

The Academy Awards is one of the most prestigious and celebrated events in all of Hollywood. Actors dream their whole lives to be nominated and win an Oscar, but only a small percentage of performers actually achieve that dream. While the award show itself is typically a serious event, the press leading up to the program is all smiles. Here are some of our favorite <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/brendan-fraser-interview-moments/brian-roque">interview moments</a> with the 2023 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oscar-nominated-actors-who-also-played-comic-book-characters/ejlinehan?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Oscar-nominated actors</a>.&nbsp;

20 Hilarious Interview Moments With The 2023 Oscar Nominated Actors That Deserve Their Own Awards

General

Brian Roque

Wholesome

<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/oscar-nominated-actor-interviews-2023/brian-roque">The Academy Awards</a> is one of the most prestigious and celebrated events in all of Hollywood. Actors dream their whole lives to be nominated and win an Oscar, but only a small percentage of performers actually achieve that dream. While the award show itself is typically a serious event, the press leading up to the program is all smiles. Here are some of our favorite <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/brendan-fraser-interview-moments/brian-roque">interview moments</a> with the <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/nominees-reaction-oscar-nominations-2023/erin-maxwell">2023 Oscar-winning actors</a>.&nbsp;

16 Wholesome Interview Moments With The 2023 Oscar-Winning Actors That Deserve Their Own Awards

Lists that rank the best and worst film series, sequels, prequels, threequels, and other ways movie studios chew up and regurgitate good ideas to squeeze out every last dignity-free penny.

Super-Franchise Me

Ghostface has been terrorizing Woodsboro and its surrounds since 1996. Will the screams never end?

It's a Scream, Baby

Entertainment Franchises

Chances are, if a movie gets a sequel, the original was a financial success. Even still, these&nbsp;actors who didn&#39;t return for sequels passed on steady work and perhaps even the opportunity to be&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-who-left-franchises-then-returned/anncasano" target="_blank">a part of a franchise</a>.&nbsp;

Some of these actors passed on sequels because the money wasn&#39;t right. Others skipped the recurring role because they didn&rsquo;t think the script was good enough. Or, perhaps they didn&rsquo;t like the new direction their character was headed.&nbsp;What happens when an actor decides not to return for a sequel? Different movies handle it in different ways. Sometimes - like in the case of Back to the&nbsp;Future II - filmmakers get so &quot;creative&quot; that it leads to a lawsuit.

How did Back to the Future II producers go about <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/crispin-glover-back-to-the-future-2-lawsuit/mike-mcgranaghan" target="_blank">replacing Crispin Glover</a>, and how much did it wind up costing them in the long run? Why did Marlon Brando refuse Francis Ford Coppola&rsquo;s offer to appear in the&nbsp;Godfather sequel? What exactly did Megan Fox say to get herself fired from Transformers:&nbsp;Dark of the Moon?

Read about those stories and more in the roundup below.

Actors Who Refused To Return For Sequels - And How The Movies Handled It

Ann Casano

Remember these child stars? How did they turn out?

All Grown Up

Child Stars

It's tough being a child actor. If you have a hit, heavy expectations can be placed upon you. If not, it can feel as though the whole world is rejecting you. Those and other factors, including the stress of long work hours and the pressure from adults to be “on” all the time, have led more than a few young performers down a bad road. The list of famous names who struggled with substance use or worse is long.In happier cases, the child actors take a reprieve in order to get themselves together then return once they feel more ready to handle the pressures of fame. The following child stars all did that, going on a break before returning triumphantly. Some did it intentionally to pursue an education or another personal interest. Others had the break thrust upon them but used it to grow and recalculate what they wanted from their careers. Either way, they eventually emerged to re-establish their awesomeness.Vote up your favorite child actors who came back and nailed it.&nbsp;

Child Actors Who Returned After Long Breaks - And Nailed It

Child Actors Who Returned For Grown Up Roles

A look at some fresh cuts and risky styles.

Hair Dos, Don'ts, and IDKs

If the eyes are the windows to the soul, wigs and prosthetics are windows into the makeup department, project budget, and studio demands. 

 Hair & Makeup & Wardrobe

Costuming & Props

For an actor, physical transformation often comes with the territory. Hell, some people win Oscars entirely because of it. But there is transformation, and there&#39;s reinvention... and then there&#39;s violation. For Hollywood&#39;s baldest and brightest, choosing to don a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-who-wear-hair-pieces/celebrity-lists" target="_blank">hairpiece</a> can be construed as a shameful capitulation - even an act of blasphemy.

Some bald actors, of course, weave in and out of hair and non-hair roles without a hitch. No one knows, for example, what Nicolas Cage and John Travolta&#39;s real hair actually looks like anymore. But for many a bald thespian, baldness&nbsp;has become an inseparable part of his identity - even his legacy. The patron saint of the bald actor is, of course, Telly Savalas, who chose the bald look and stuck with it - undeterred - for the entirety of his career. For too many others of his ilk, however, the temptation of a full head of hair is, sadly, just too much to pass up. Be the bald, gentlemen. Be the bald.

Vote up the unexpected hairpieces that truly changed the way you saw - and respected - the actors wearing them. <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/worst-bald-caps-in-movie-tv/brenden-donnelly" target="_blank">Then take a look at the flip side of the equation.</a>

Hairpieces On Iconically Bald Actors, Ranked By Degree Of Blasphemy

Person

Worst Hairpieces In Movies & TV Shows, Ranked By Degree Of Blasphemy

Chris Bellamy

Firsthand Accounts

Imagine being an actor and having the opportunity to be in a Marvel movie, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-lotr-franchise-action-moments/griffin-peters?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Lord of the Rings</a> film, or get to play Bond, James Bond. Behind the blockbuster appeal rests some significant drawbacks. Read what these <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-nerdy-for-source-material/dom-mitrano">famous actors</a> had to say about the downsides of being in huge movie franchises.Most of these blockbuster movie franchises take a lot of time to film. The average film production lasts 2-3 months. A typical Marvel movie is double that time. Plus, an actor may need to commit to other Marvel movies like the Avengers.These <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/funny-celebrity-interview-responses/matthewcoleweiss">actor interviews</a> reveal the potential negatives that inherently come with movie franchises. Make your voice heard. Vote up the worst aspects of being a blockbuster star.

14 Actors Talk About The Downsides Of Being In A Huge Movie Franchise

Actors Talk About The Downsides Of Being In A Huge Movie Franchise

Celebrities

Celebrities often <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/nerdy-tv-cameos/julian-hoffman">guest-star</a> on popular network sitcoms, usually on&nbsp;well-known shows like Friends, which featured&nbsp;a <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/friends-guest-stars/cehudspeth">long list</a> of celeb appearances during its run. But the big TV shows aren’t the only ones to feature an A-lister or two. Underrated sitcoms feature some of the funniest and best cameos around.&nbsp;While some guest-star roles on underrated shows are an act of self-promotion, many come about because the celebrity is a fan of the show and wants to be involved in any way possible. Seriously acclaimed actors are often doing pretty silly stuff in these sitcoms - with some appearances resulting in fan-favorite episodes.

18 Surprising A-List Cameos In Underrated Sitcoms

TV Actor

Big Cameos In Small Sitcoms

Griffin Peters

Lists of fun facts and differing opinions about Hollywood's biggest, most self-congratulatory night. 

The Oscars

Sometimes, the Academy sets out to right an Oscar mistake, finally giving top awards to the most deserving of actors and directors... but not for their best work. Which stars have won Academy Awards, but a few years too late? For actors and directors who've made it in Hollywood, no accolade is more prestigious than the Oscar. But sometimes the Academy gets it wrong.This occasionally results in make up Oscars - honoring the great work of top actors or directors, for a film that wasn't necessarily on par with their best outing. Other times, the Academy might give a farewell Oscar to an iconic actor who is retiring and hasn't yet won. From Al Pacino to Martin Scorsese, the Oscars have chosen some debatable films in an effort to make the Oscar dreams of film legends finally come true.Whatever the case, these are the stars who won an Oscar... but for the wrong film. Vote up the people who should've won Oscars for other films in their bodies of work, but got consolation Oscars instead.

Al Pacino

People Who Won Oscars For The Wrong Film

Person in Film

People Who Won Oscars for the Wrong Film

Ranker Film

Entertainment

Casting is a tricky business. Many times, writers and/or directors have a particular actor in mind from the conception of the project. If they end up getting that star, it's great. If, for some reason, they don't, there can be a scramble to find someone else who fits the criteria and is available. Cinema history is littered with times filmmakers didn't get their first choice, only to see the movie falter.And then there are the happy cases where an actor played a role that was written for someone else and nailed it. Luck isn't the reason why - talent is. Even if the writers and directors envisioned a different person at first, these actors were clearly as good a choice, if not an even better one. In the best of examples, it's now hard to imagine anyone else playing those characters. That's how fully they embodied the parts. The following stories of how one performer effectively replaced another will increase your appreciation of these popular movies.&nbsp;

Actors Who Played Roles Written For Someone Completely Different - And Nailed It

Lists about actors and actresses and the characters they became, how they disappeared into roles, what they really look like, and more.

The Art of Acting

Contrary to popular belief, action stars aren't made in Eternia or at the Nakatomi Plaza. <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/not-all-heroes-wear-capes-pictures/nathandavidson?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Not all heroes wear capes</a> - and not all are created in the same way - as some are&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/sitcom-guest-stars-who-became-famous/julian-hoffman">born on sitcoms</a>. Yes, those funny situational comedies are directly responsible for producing some of the best action-centric&nbsp;<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/movie-stars-who-started-in-sketch-comedy/jim-rowley">movie stars</a> around. While they may have started out by tickling the audience's funny bone, they are now breaking other bones with roundhouse kicks and stiff uppercuts.It's always a good time to celebrate the action genre, so let's take a look at the provocateurs of muscle and mayhem who had their start on chuckle-worthy sitcoms.

15 Action Stars Who Started Out On Goofy Sitcoms

Action Stars Who Started Out On Goofy Sitcoms

Sergio Pereira

Missed opportunity does not always <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/stories-about-roles-actors-regret/anncasano">lead to regret</a>, but even the most successful A-List actors wonder what could have been. Check out what these famous actors had to say about great Hollywood casting what-ifs.Leonardo DiCaprio as Dirk Diggler in Boogie Nights. Christopher Walken as Han Solo in Star Wars. Liam Neeson as James Bond in GoldenEye. It sounds blasphemous, but that’s what could have been. Imagine how different their careers would have been if those three actors wound up taking those roles.Who doesn’t love to<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/actors-talk-about-controversial-movies/lauren-glen"> hear actors talk about</a> the roles that got away? Make your voice heard. Vote up the behind-the-scenes casting stories that you can’t believe almost happened.&nbsp;

14 Actors Talk About Great Hollywood Casting What-Ifs

Actors Talk About Great Hollywood Casting What-Ifs

A look at the best and most underrated in entertainment, music, and sports in 2022.

2022: Wrapping Up

Actors

The year 2022 was a very rich one when it came to discovering new stars. Whether in fantasy or biopic, sweeping drama or intimate comedy, the year marked a key moment in the careers of some of the industry’s most promising performers. Many of these individuals had fine careers before this year, of course, but very often they managed to fly under the radar, waiting for the one big role that would not only give them a chance to flex their acting muscles but also reach a wider audience.Fortunately for them, and for those sitting in the audience, many got just what they wanted, heralding a bright new future for their careers.

14 Up-And-Coming Actors Who Officially Arrived In 2022

Up-And-Coming Actors Who Officially Arrived In 2022

Thomas West

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for hundreds of actor lists and rankings.

Actor lists at Ranker - the ultimate source for top 10, top 100, best of, funny, factual lists of any kind

Actor lists on Ranker

Actors lists on Ranker

Jaden Smith

Miley Cyrus

Beyoncé

Robin Williams

James Earl Jones

Eddie Murphy

Christian Bale

Gary Oldman

Benedict Cumberbatch

Liam Neeson

Cillian Murphy

Richard Harris

England

You'd listen to Michael Caine talk all day, right? And surely you'd watch Ian McKellan in just about any movie Hollywood decided he should be in. Why? Because they're two of the best living English actors, along with the other English men on this list. These <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="http://www.ranker.com/list/the-best-actors-working-today/bustermcdermott?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest living actors</a> from England aren't just handsome and don't just come with a great accent, they're truly talented actors who have all made film history.Who are the top living English actors? These men (whether retired or still working) are still gracing the earth and many are turning out excellent performances in hit movies, like Christian Bale and Benedict Cumberbatch. The best at what they do, these English actors win awards left and right, from BAFTAs to Golden Globes, and are popular with film-going audiences the world over.This list features the greatest living English actors including Christian Bale, Michael Cane, Colin Firth, Anthony Hopkins, Ralph Fiennes, Sean Bean, John Cleese, Jude Law, Hugh Laurie, and Rupert Everett. Don't see your favorite living 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 <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/old-celebrities-you-didn-and-_39_t-realize-are-still-alive/carly-kiel?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors still alive</a> today.&nbsp;

Tom Hiddleston

The Best Living English Actors

Best Living English Actors | List of Top Actors from England

Visit Ireland

Lists that rank the greatest performers to hit the large and small screens.

The Best Actors and Actresses

Ireland

Sure, Colin Farrell is a handsome bad boy, but what about all those other great Irish actors? This list of the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-irish-actors-working-today/ranker-film?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best Irish actors</a> of all time reaches back in film history to rank the <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-actors?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">greatest male actors</a> to have ever hailed from Ireland. Hollywood just wouldn't be the same without Lawrence of Arabia and a whole bunch of James Bond films, and those movies wouldn't be what they were without a few of the top Irish actors ranked here.Who are the best Irish actors ever? The land of Erin has given the world many good actors, who have played iconic roles, been part of blockbuster and classic films, and represented Ireland on the big screen for decades. Great classic Irish actors like Peter O'Toole and Richard Harris are listed here, along with more modern talents like Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell, and Pierce Brosnan. Think of your favorite movie, and there just might be a good Irish actor starring as the leading man.This list features the top Irish actors of all time including Peter O’Toole, &nbsp;Liam Neeson, Noel Purcell, Tony Doyle, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Pierce Brosnan, Richard Harris, and Colin Kenny. Don't see your favorite actor from the Eire? 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 Irish actors to have ever graced the screen.

Pierce Brosnan

The Best Irish Actors of All Time

Ranking the 40+ Best Irish Actors of All Time

Lists about your favorite characters that were drawn by hand or generated by computer.

Animated Characters & Cartoons

This list contains information about the best animated voiceover performances in film, ranked by your votes. Several famous <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have lent their voices to to help create some of the most iconic animated characters of all time. Some of these celebrities voiced Disney characters while others teamed up with Dreamworks. Several Academy Award winners are also among the best voice over actors, and have given great voice over performances.Which Hollywood actors have given some of the best animated VO performances in film? Robin Williams is at the top of the list. Robin Williams's iconic performance as Genie in Aladdin is one of the best vocal roles in any Disney film. Tom Hanks and Tim Allen also gave great performances as Woody and Buzz Lightyear in the Toy Story movies. Johnny Depp brought the character of Rango to life with his expressive vocals.Some famous women also voiced animated characters. Angelina Jolie and Lucy Liu both gave great performances in Kung Fu Panda. Oscar-winner Meryl Streep did a great job being the voice of reason as Mrs. Fox in The Fantastic Mr. Fox. Perhaps one of the the best animated voiceovers from a famous actress would be Cameron Diaz's portrayal of Princess Fiona in Shrek.Which animated voice overs are your favorite? Vote on this list and let your voice be heard in the comments section.

Mark Hamill

The Best Animated Voiceover Performances

Best Animated Voiceover Performances | Actors with the Best V.O. Performances

This list of the most overrated actors of all time, has been ranked by critics and fans from all over the world. Actors are seen as the face of the movies, television, and other media products in which they star. Hollywood <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-greatest-film-actors-and-actresses-of-all-time?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">actors and actresses</a> have become like gods to many people around the globe, and they are worshiped with praise, money, awards, and gifts.

However, many of the actors receiving the most accolades are extremely overrated in their raw talent, charisma, and chemistry with other actors. Some believe that overrated male actors, like Tom Cruise and Will Smith, bring in the big box office bucks, but have little to no acting range and often phone in their performances.

Many of the actors who get the most praise gave one or two great performances, but then rested on their laurels for the rest of their careers. Others are pretty good actors, but nowhere near as talented as the overwhelming praise they receive. Even more overrated celebrities&nbsp;have no talent at all, but are famous because of their looks and personality. Bottom line: some of the actors and actresses from classic movies aren&rsquo;t as gifted as many claim.

Who are the most overrated actors and actresses? This list features current and old Hollywood actors who are rated far more highly then they deserve (for their acting skills). Make your opinions heard by voting below!&nbsp;