The British Actors We Love

THE BRITISH ACTORS WE LOVE, PART 1

 I just realized that there are so many incredibly talented British actors that I decided to leave some of them to a second article. Enjoy some of Britain’s finest!

(I am aware all of these men deserve their own posts so I will get down to work as soon as I find the time.)

THE ENGLISH

Colin Firth

He is a marvelous actor. He can do funny, idiotic, charismatic, gay, hetero, romantic, traditional, hippie… He can pull off any role and put a smile on your face. Let’s take a look at some of his finest moments:

In Bridget Jones’s Diary and Bridget Jones Edge of Reason, Colin Firth plays Darcy. He seems cocky, pretentious and boring. He also comes off as a jackass, since he is in fact shy. However Darcy is the misunderstood nice and romantic fella of the story vs Hugh Grant’s actual jackass. Who better than Firth to play the perfect English gentleman. But, he is not above kicking some butt when push comes to shove. Fun, silly and charming. Brilliant. I suspect girls enjoy Bridget Jones films more but I strongly suggest guys give it a shot.

He can play a ex-hippie/turned politician in What a Girl Wants. You haven’t seen true comedy until you catch Firth dancing in leather pants, wearing an ear-ring and singing along to a rocknroll song.

If you want him to go all gray and unethical on you, watch Dorian Gray. When he goes dark, he really goes dark. And meanness suits him as well as romance does.

My favorite Firth movies: Bridget Jones, Dorian Gray, Easy Virtue, Then She Found Me, Mamma Mia and Love Actually.

 To read the Dorian Gray review and watch the trailer:

http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/dorian-gray/

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day is in a league of his own. He can play a gang leader, a romantic Indian warrior or  a father with a troubled relationhip with his daughter all skillfully and with the same amount of grace. No role is too complicated or controversial for Lewis, as long as he believes in the project.

He has played so many diverse roles and characters that it makes me dizzy just thinking about them. He is also a rebel. Although film-makers worldwide are crazy about him, he can just disappear from the film world just because he felt like it. He considers The Dark Knight to be…well, let’s just say the guy has no tolerance for movies made for the box-office only. He once made this analogy when asked about Heath’s performance: “like finding a gem in the market..”

He is not your typical Hollywood actor and he has no intentions of being one.And we love him for it.

Favorite Daniel Day: Last of the Mohicans, Gangs of New York, The Age of Innocence

Ralph Fiennes

In one movie he is a Nazi, in another he is an obsessively passionate lover and then the next he will become a brutal killer. And as if you thought, he is not diverse enough, he will play a mentally ill person or a man who had a steamy yet complicated affair with an older woman in his very youth. He can go art house or hollywood romcom. He will play in dark comedy or dark romance. He will also play the most wicked villain Harry Potter has ever seen. He can seduce as easily as he terrifies. He can play the weak and humane parts of a character so well, that he will make you forgive him for brutal acts of revenge, adltery or even selling out on his own country. Yes, Ralph is one of my favorite actors of all time.

Favorite Ralph : The English Patient, Wuthering Heights, Schindler’s List, Quiz Show, Strange Days, The Duchess, The Reader

To read individual reviews of Strange Days and The English Patient:

 http://pinartarhan.com/blog/strange-days-one-hell-of-a-movie/

http://pinartarhan.com/blog/when-adultery-is-okaypart-2-the-english-patient/

Rufus Sewell

I think this guy is the king of underrated actors. I have been addicted to his movies ever since I watched In a Savage Land. He brought in depth to his character that was impossible to overlooks. He conveys passion so well that intense roles really suit him. Just like Ralph, he will bring passion to his character whether he is the hero or the villain. He did horror, action, thriller, drama, comedy, romance… He did little budgets and big budgets. He doesn’t mind playing the lead or the supporting role. But whatever the role, he owns the film. I couldn’t be happier about his casting in The Holiday. He could have looked equally at home playing Jack Black’s or Jude Law’s character. But he was just great as Kate Winslet’s object of unrequited love. He was as loveable as a jerk can ever get. I also find him to be uniquely handsome.

Favorite Rufus: A Knight’s Tale, The Holiday, Tristan and Isolde, Amazing Grace, The Legend of Zorro, Extreme Ops, Dark City.  

More about A Knight’s Tale: http://cinemaroll.com/cinemarolling/five-fun-heath-ledger-movies/