Who to Study: The Best Acting Performances of All Time

Who are the greatest acting performers of all time? If you desire to be a great actor, analysing the greatest movie performances in the film industry will help you sharpen your overall technique on and off the screen! Studying your film history will be your best advantage in understanding how to hone your artistic skills.

What are the best female acting performances?

Some of the greatest acting performances of all time can be subjective since audiences can be drawn to different types of actors along with their acting styles. However, in terms of iconic female performances in history, timeless actors include:

Vivien Leigh, Gone With The Wind

Image Source: Express

Academy Award winner and British actress played Scarlet O’Hara in this classic historical tale of romance in the American Civil War. She was professional and disciplined in such a difficult role, and is remembered as a top-tier role to this day.

Judy Garland, The Wizard Of Oz

Image Source: Trevor Decker

Garland is one of the greatest performances in cinema history. She plays Dorothy Gale, who is transported to the world of Oz, meeting many friends and foes along the way. This is an enchanting story from the Yellow Brick Road to Emerald City.

Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s

Image Source: The Edge

Audrey plays Holly, an independent and fashionably feminine woman who knows her way around the world. This film is known for being a great story of companionship and love in American cinema.

Bette Davis, All About Eve

Image source: Jim Carroll’s Blog

In All About Eve Bette Davis plays Margo Channing, an aging Broadway star married to a playwright. When she meets Eve – a dewy-eyed girl who loves the theatre – it isn’t long before Eve’s real ambitions come into play.

Marilyn Monroe, Some Like It Hot

Image Source: TCM

In this romantic comedy film, Marilyn plays the irresistible Sugar Kane in the main cast, a ukulele player who joins two male musicians disguised as women. These men – Joe and Jerry – compete for her affection, but other complications arise.

What are some of the best male acting performances?

Brad Pitt, Fight Club

Image Source: Bollywood News

This would be one of Brad Pitt’s many great performances. He plays the main character in this thriller drama, who struggles with insomnia and is unhappy with his lifestyle. By joining the underground Fight Club, sinister events start to spiral.

Johnny Depp, Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Image Source: TOTUM

Johnny Depp is an example of one of the best movie performances. As a chameleon actor, he has adapted to so many roles in his career, and The Pirates of the Caribbean is one of many smash hits.

Robert De Niro, Taxi Driver

Image Source: Slash Film

Robert De Niro plays Travis Bickle, an edgy ex veteran who works as a taxi driver in New York. As an in-your-face type of film, Taxi Driver is one of the greatest performances in his career.

Heath Ledger, Dark Knight

Image Source: Nerd Reactor

Heath Ledger was already struggling with his mental health at the time, this came as an advantage to his stunning lead role as the Joker in Dark Knight. He plays the best performance as a psychotic, narcissistic, and criminal villain that is still considered scary today.

Tom Hanks, Forest Gump

Image Source: Marca

Tom Hanks plays Forrest Gump, a central character with a crippling disease that prevents him from running. Signing up for the role an hour and a half after reading the script, Hanks made an unbelievable

Who is the number 1 actor in the new Hollywood era? Presently in the film of today, the best actors of all times can also include Robert Downey, Jr., Samuel L. Jackson, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Chris Pratt, Tom Cruise, and more. Study these actors long enough and you’ll be on your way.