That's all. :-)

I think the term refers to an actor who is just great in every project he/she is in, but who doesn't necessarily take flashy or high profile parts in big budget projects.

An "Actor's Actor" might not be widely known outside the acting community.

quote:

Originally posted by Prospective:
That's all. :-)

Ha Haaa! I love that actor!

I'm your favorite actor's actor.

Really it means nothing more or less than an actor whom other actors love to watch, even if the public hasn't quite caught on. Ed Harris has some fame, but I doubt the public appreciates him anywhere as generally as many of his peers. Ellen Burstyn has come SO close to full-on stardom, but even those who think of her as a star probably have a limited appreciation for just how strong she is, compared to what other actors will see.

There are people like Sean Penn who are both stars and actors' actors. Or people like Robert Duvall and Anthony Hopkins who labored at the edges for years before one role made the rest of the world sit up and pay attention. I think the nuance comes in in the understanding how much skill is involved in some work, or how rare the results themselves are, as opposed to just buying or being touched by the character.

Personally, I have a whole list of "quiet moments" that many might take for granted, but where one sees really memorable actors - stars or not - expertly doing "nothing".

By the way, I think the film "Pollack" is one of the great examples of seeing two "actors' actors" work together and at the top of their game. There are two marvelous moments in particular where Harris does nothing but react - one when they come back from their first date and she quite simply begins to undress for bed while he stands frozen in the hallway and another when she has left him with his latest young lovely and he registers how absolutely lost he is without her. You could almost read their whole relationship in those two shots.

an actor who will go balls to the wall to get the essence of the character...sometimes a little too far but they get the job done (i.e. Daniel Day Lewis)

Of course, this award season's "Actor's Actor" is Jeff Bridges - you had only to see his colleagues rise to their feet at both the Golden Globes and the Oscars when he won.

Great guy, great actor. Great to see.

Yeah an actor's actor is definitely nothing more or less than an actor that is a great performer and people (generally actors or those who appreciate "craft") enjoy watching. Good point on Jeff Bridges, he is a great example- only takes on projects he is willing to really go the extra mile for.