My Top 10 Favourite (modern) Actors

I realized that I've never sorted my favourite people in the movies into nice lists, like I do with everything else, so I thought now was the right time to make some more lists on the particular matter. You know how I have random 'actor-spazzes', and you know which ten men I have huge crushes on. But you don't actually know who my favourite actors are, do you?
Most of these probably won't come as much of a surprise, either.

Honourable mentions: Jake Gyllenhaal, Heath Ledger, Guy Pearce, Ewan McGregor, James Franco, Bradley Cooper, Jeff Bridges, Peter Sarsgaard, Dominic Cooper, Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Ralph Fiennes, Liam Neeson, Sean Penn, Edward Norton, Sam Rockwell, Brad Pitt.


10. Jesse Eisenberg (in The Social Network)

No, this isn't just another one of my geek crushes. I genuinely like Jesse Eisenberg's work as an actor. From all of the films where he played an outwardly awkward little nerd until his explosive Oscar nominated work in The Social Network, I've come to expect big things of Mr. Eisenberg. And the more I see of him, the more I enjoy his acting style. It's like he doesn't even try to be funny or to be anything else. He just is, and I like that.
Favourite performance: The Social Network
Favourite film: The Social Network


9. Aaron Eckhart (in The Dark Knight)

I doubt that any of you have realized my love for Aaron Eckhart, as I haven't really talked about him much. He's an actor who has always been there, and he's always stood out for me, even if he hasn't for others. He's the kind of underrated actor who I usually go for. I simply can't wait to see Rabbit Hole, a film which I assume he should have got more recognition for since Nicole Kidman did get a lot. I'll see any film if it has Eckhart in it. Hell, I even sat through Love Happens just for him.
Favourite performance: The Dark Knight
Favourite film: The Dark Knight


8. Andrew Garfield (in Boy A)

Ah, you were probably expecting Andy to be further up in the list. Alas, he may have topped my biggest crushes list, but he doesn't top this one as he just hasn't been around long enough for me to go "fuck yes, best actor ever!" yet. The work of his I have seen though, is brilliant. He really should have been nominated for an Oscar for The Social Network. His BAFTA-winning performance in Boy A is beyond brilliant. His supporting work in Never Let Me Go, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus and Lions for Lambs is show stopping. And even seeing him as a robot in I'm Here is an experience in itself. I love you, Andrew Garfield. Where have you been all my life?
Favourite performance: Boy A
Favourite film: The Social Network


7. Robert Downey Jr. (in Iron Man)

Me? Miss a Robert Downey Jr. flick? Never. This man. This man. Why the hell is he so goddamn awesome? I wish I knew the answer to that question. Just anything he is in, he just makes me laugh and want to bask in his awesomeness. And hell, he's the only person ever to get nominated for an Oscar for being an American playing an Australian playing an African-American. Yes, he deserves a spot here.
Favourite performance: Tropic Thunder
Favourite film: Iron Man


6. Colin Firth (in The King's Speech)

Colin Firth is such a great person. Like, every time I see him he just looks like the guy you'd go and hug. Y'know, he just seems like a really nice person. He's had an interesting film career, too. He went from being a dashing young Brit with a knack for playing Mr. Darcy figures, to becoming the thing of middle-aged women's dreams with all those chick flicks, to suddenly becoming hot Oscar property by getting two consecutive nominations for A Single Man and The King's Speech (winning for the latter, of course). I'll continue watching his movies until he stops making them.
Favourite performance: The King's Speech
Favourite film: A Single Man


5. Jeremy Renner (in The Hurt Locker)

Despite being nominated for two consecutive Oscars, Jeremy Renner is not a name widely known in the household, even though if anyone has seen either The Hurt Locker or The Town, I bloody hope they were impressed by this beautiful man. Based on those two movies alone (and a few others to the side), I've fallen in love with Renner's talent. He's such a great actor. And he seems so chill in real-life as well. Please tell me I'm not the only one who loves Renner!
Favourite performance: The Hurt Locker
Favourite film: The Town

4. Joseph Gordon-Levitt (in Brick)

Whoever doesn't love JGL ought to leave. Now. Right now. Because it's damn near impossible not to love him. He's gorgeous, he's oh-so-hip right now, he's a musician, he has his own rocking website, he's a really chill guy and he's super talented. Ever since I saw (500) Days of Summer, I was in lesbians with him. I flicked back through some of his other movies like Brick and fell in lesbians even more. Completing my love for him was his appearance in Inception for Master Nolan, where he does a gravity defying fight scene which is pretty out of this world. And he's gonna star in The Dark Knight Rises. With Master Nolan. Again. You've gotta be pretty great to do a double Nolan.
Favourite performance: Brick
Favourite film: Inception

3. Mark Strong (in Kick-Ass)

Like Aaron Eckhart, Mark Strong has always been there, minding his own business, but being completely awesome in the meantime. He's been in a heck of a lot of films, and I think - well, I hope - people are cottoning on to how great this guy actually is. To be honest, he steals the show in every movie he is in. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Body of Lies. Sherlock Holmes. Robin Hood. Kick-Ass. Those are to name a few. I particularly loved him in Kick-Ass, because he is so mean but he is so funny at the same time. He's just great. Mainly because he can actually talk in proper sentences unlike Nicolas Cage.
Favourite performance: Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day
Favourite film: Kick-Ass


2. Cillian Murphy (in Red Eye)

Many people underestimate Cillian Murphy. I don't know why this is. I guess you could call me an expert on Cillian, considering I watched most of his films during my major Cillian Murphy phase in August/September 2010. I learnt that he can indeed do comedy (Watching the Detectives...the whole film wasn't great, but he was pretty good). I learnt that he is a very scary man (Red Eye, Batman Begins). I learnt that he is a great leading man in Danny Boyle movies (28 Days Later..., Sunshine). I learnt that he has the most beautiful eyes in the world (all of his films, particularly Inception). And I learnt that he makes a very good girl (Breakfast on Pluto, Peacock). Yes, Cillian has a very diverse range of films. Which is why I love him so much.
Favourite performance: Breakfast on Pluto
Favourite film: Inception

1. Leonardo DiCaprio (in The Aviator)

No, this spot on the list is not filled because I saw Titanic and decided that Jack was a real hottie. In fact, I saw What's Eating Gilbert Grape and I was like "holy shit, that dude must be Jesus or something". From that performance on, I have gone through my life loving Leonardo DiCaprio. I have pretty much seen his entire filmography (there are a few that have passed me by, oh well), and I have been impressed by every single one of his performances. Though I am thankful that his teen idol status has disappeared and now we only see serious DiCaprio making serious movies which are seriously good. Now, come on, just give him an Oscar already!
Favourite performance: The Aviator
Favourite film: Inception

Expect a list of my favourite actresses tomorrow!