# Most underrated (big time) actor/actress of our time is... **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 16, 2003, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170 "2003-04-16T21:08:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/21 "2003-04-17T13:58:30Z")
Christopher Plummer Harvey Keitel Sam Neill and I really miss the talented John Candy and yes I’ll get slammed for this - but Demi Moore was underrated as an actress. Of course, unlike Kurt Russell she didn’t pick her roles very well. ---
**Author:** ![sammyjankis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@sammyjankis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sammyjankis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/22 "2003-04-17T14:50:37Z")
Steve Buscemi is great. I also love Sam Rockwell. He got a little bit of recognition for Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, but he’s had lots of great roles. (He’s great in The Green Mile.) And then there’s Steve Zahn, who has had not-so-good roles and is still a really awesome actor in my eyes. ---
**Author:** ![sammyjankis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dec6dc/32.png) [@sammyjankis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sammyjankis)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/23 "2003-04-17T14:52:09Z")
I used “great” way too much in that last post. Buy me a thesaurus? ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/24 "2003-04-17T15:05:15Z")
William Forsythe. Every time I watch _The Waterdance_ I just can’t believe that’s the same guy from _Raising Arizona._ I know they’re both him, but it seems like two different people. ---
**Author:** ![Gorgon\_Heap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f475e1/32.png) [@Gorgon\_Heap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorgon_Heap)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/25 "2003-04-17T15:09:37Z")
Clint Howard. ---
**Author:** ![Archergal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Archergal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archergal)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/26 "2003-04-17T15:34:29Z")
For the category of “Best Character Actor in Comedy Roles,” I have to say I really like **Paul Dooley**. (I don’t know that he’s underrated, but I really like him for some reason.) ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/27 "2003-04-17T17:14:30Z")
I think **Toni Collette** is great, but despite her fine work in major films like _The Sixth Sense_ and _About a Boy_ (as well as lower-profile films from _Emma_ to _Velvet Goldmine_) no one seems to know who she is and she never seems to get lead roles. The former may be partially because she is so versatile as an actress that she is nearly unrecognizeable from one role to the next. The latter may be partially because she does not have Hollywood leading-lady looks, although I think she is an attractive woman. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/28 "2003-04-17T17:24:34Z")
I don’t think Gene Hackman ever gets enough credit. He makes good movies better and stinkers tolerable without overshadowing the rest of the cast somehow. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/29 "2003-04-17T18:40:04Z")
Dennis Quaid. Just one great performance after another for two decades, and yet half the public still confuses him with Clark Griswold’s brother. ---
**Author:** ![DMark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@DMark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMark)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/30 "2003-04-17T18:55:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Archergal \* > \*\*For the category of “Best Character Actor in Comedy Roles,” I have to say I really like **Paul Dooley**. > \*\* I’ve had the pleasure to meet Paul Dooley several times, and he is also a really nice guy as well. I forgot to mention: **Morgan Freeman** **Alfre Woodward** They can be a supporting actor in crap films and still give the film some class and credibility. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/31 "2003-04-17T22:26:08Z")
How can you talk about Toni Collette and not mention _Muriel’s Wedding_?!? She and Rachel Griffiths were excellent! ---
**Author:** ![Govindha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5fc32e/32.png) [@Govindha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Govindha)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/32 "2003-04-18T01:50:49Z")
Since no one metioned this guy, I will… Eric stoltz. He is a great actor and did quite a few films with several other wonderful actors that I can’t quite remember their names…Oh well the movies were kicking and sceaming, sleep with me and highball… I’ll also second willem dafoe, buscemi, candy and bridges. I like adam goldberg, I think he is on his way up… ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/33 "2003-04-18T04:57:38Z")
A true modern Bogart is Australia’s **Brian Brown**. He is most famous Stateside for the movie, **FX**. He provided absolutely smashing work in Neville Shute’s, **A Town Like Alice** and another film, **The Shiralee**. The actor’s taciturn delivery and not-always-obvious compassion make his roles spring to life. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/34 "2003-04-18T13:37:55Z")
Clancy Brown Rutger Hauer Sure there are a lot of actors who can be good in a good movie, but these guys can make a bad movie watchable. ---
**Author:** ![herwono](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9f8e36/32.png) [@herwono](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herwono)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/35 "2003-04-18T14:24:30Z")
Toni Collette had a small part in _The Hours_. She was great in that, I didn’t even recognize her at first. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/36 "2003-04-18T14:34:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by EJsGirl \* > \*\*How can you talk about Toni Collette and not mention _Muriel’s Wedding_?!? She and Rachel Griffiths were excellent! \*\* I didn’t mention it because, as good as she was in it, if people know who she is at all it’s only from that. I think that may be one of the reasons why she keeps getting stuck in supporting roles, actually – she’s associated too much with her character in _Muriel’s Wedding_ for people to want to cast her as a Hollywood leading lady. ---
**Author:** ![Q.N.Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/3da27b/32.png) [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/37 "2003-04-18T14:56:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Dumbguy \* > **Vincent D’Onofrio > Jeff Daniels > David Morse > Don Cheadle > Gary Sinise > William Fichtner** You read my mind–D’Onofrio and Morse are my two favorite actors, and the others are terrific as well. I’m not so enthusiastic about Jeff Daniels, though. ---
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/38 "2003-04-18T15:11:57Z")
I don’t think Ed Norton is underrated. Everyone names that guy on favorite actor lists. While Jeff Bridges was good in The Contender, his overacting elsewhere is unwatchable. ---
**Author:** ![h.sapiens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e0b2c6/32.png) [@h.sapiens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/h.sapiens)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/39 "2003-04-18T15:44:08Z")
**Ian Holm** is wonderful in everything he does. So is **Timothy Spall**. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170/40 "2003-04-18T15:44:30Z")
**Tony Shalhoub**. From _Monk_ to _Wings_ to _Stark Raving Mad_ to _Galaxy Quest_, he displays perfect comedic timing, impeccable delivery, and he makes it happen through a vastly different array of characters. He is a genius. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/most-underrated-big-time-actor-actress-of-our-time-is/169170.md?page=3)