Actors who dont actually 'act'
Author
Discussion

Pitre

Original Poster:

5,695 posts

256 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
There are many great actors who 'become' the character they are portraying. Then there are those that simply read out lines.

Shockers who though maybe popular but are stealing an acting wage IMHO include:-
Cher
Danny Dyer
Hugh Grant (until the last couple of years)
John Alderton and Pauline Collins
Vin Diesel
Adam Sandler
Elvis
Dwayne Johnson
Marylin Monroe

ATG

22,868 posts

294 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Harold Pinter would disagree with putting at least one of those people on your list.

carl_w

10,365 posts

280 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Roger Moore

Blib

47,108 posts

219 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
ATG said:
Harold Pinter would disagree with putting at least one of those people on your list.
yes

He and The Rock were as thick as thieves.

John D.

20,090 posts

231 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Jason Statham.

Heathwood

2,922 posts

224 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Keanu Reeves

cliffords

3,518 posts

45 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
I had this discussion,stuck at an airport, chatting to a well know film and TV actor. Who I did not recognise and asked him what he did for a living. Anton Lesser.

He said a good director will try and get actors cast who don't have to change too much to play the part .

Wheel Turned Out

2,053 posts

60 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
It's worth noting the difference between an actor and a film star. Yes ostensibly a film star is an actor, but they're not cast to "disappear into a role" - they're cast because of their name and star appeal.

ATG

22,868 posts

294 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Blib said:
ATG said:
Harold Pinter would disagree with putting at least one of those people on your list.
yes

He and The Rock were as thick as thieves.
I haven't seen it, but apparently Ye Rock has recently put in a performance that involved genuine acting. Whether Pinter would approve or not, I have no idea.

There is a difference between being incapable of acting, being stereotyped and that being your brand, and having a very naturalistic style that superficially doesn't look like acting so much as "being themselves". Michael Caine would fall squarely in the latter category, for example.

Ascayman

13,235 posts

238 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Brad Pitt.

Pitre

Original Poster:

5,695 posts

256 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Clint Eastwood

Notsofastfrank

263 posts

217 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Pitre said:
Clint Eastwood
Million dollar baby, Bridges of Madison County, Play Misty for me.
Yes, utterly one-dimensional.

ATG

22,868 posts

294 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Pitre said:
Clint Eastwood
GTFO

robemcdonald

9,694 posts

218 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
To be honest it would be easier to list actors that don’t just play themselves…

Most just play a very slightly modified version of the same character.

But in the spirit of the thread I will add

Bradley cooper
Changing Tatum
Glen Powell

Thinking about female actors do seem to be better actual actors…

Castrol for a knave

6,916 posts

113 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Adam Sandler has done a few decent films, with some heavyweight roles.

Ryan Reynolds for me, playing the same part since Blade Trinity

Boxster5

1,053 posts

130 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Danny Dyer - end of!
Can’t stand the bloke and he thinks he’s gods gift.

Smollet

14,980 posts

212 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
John Wayne and Sean Connery. Great presence. Crap actors.

marcosgt

11,418 posts

198 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Ascayman said:
Brad Pitt.
Keane Reeves is miles ahead of Pitt in this respect.

Agreed on Dyer, but you need to mention Statham in the same breath

I agree with an earlier poster, though. Most actors don't act, even if they can. Listing one's who do will be easier.

M

Edited by marcosgt on Friday 26th December 18:48

Smollet

14,980 posts

212 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
marcosgt said:
I agree with an earlier poster, though. Most actors don't act, even if they can. Listing one's who do will be easier.

M
Vince Vaughan. Very underrated

MOBB

4,289 posts

149 months

Friday 26th December 2025
quotequote all
Will Smith
Harrison Ford