# What makes a "great" actor?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-great-actor/215414>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [November 26, 2003, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-great-actor/215414 "2003-11-26T17:07:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-great-actor/215414/21 "2003-11-27T00:39:56Z")

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**Lissener** and **sirtonyh** , even if we don’t agree on nuancees, I feel we are on to something common. I very much agree on Aniston, who’s _the_ most under appreciated actress of her generation.  
Your list, lisener, added some names I thought of, and some I didn’t even remember, but agree with.  
Especially Bill Murray. Seeing him in ‘The Royal Tennenbaums’ it’s quite obvious that he has a range few produers have credited him with. He’s young enough for me to think that he’ll go on to surprise a lot of people/win awards/finally get recognition.

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**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-great-actor/215414/22 "2003-11-27T05:35:58Z")

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I’ll have to disagree about Meryl Streep. I think the best performance by an actor on screen _ever_ was her performance in _Sophie’s Choice_. Compare that character with her role in _Out of Africa_.

One of the best actors to watch in action was Spencer Tracey. I could never figure out how he did it. Just couldn’t catch him acting.

Listening is the first step.

Billy Bob Thornton could play the role of the Shenandoah Valley and be convincing. There is _nothing_ he can’t do when he makes up his mind to it.

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**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\
**Post date:** [November 27, 2003, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-great-actor/215414/23 "2003-11-27T05:46:43Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by well he’s back \*  
> \*\* That’s why (looks completely aside) Johnny Depp is a great actor and such folks as Ben Affleck, Tom Cruise, etc. are “merely” celebrity superstars. \*\*

And due to his cuteness Cruise has won 3 of the 5 Golden Globes he has been nominated for and earned 3 Oscar nominations.

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