Actors
To save space and reduce confusion, instead of mentioning favourite roles as people like Harry Tasker and Father Merrin, I've used the film names. The links on the actors names will take you to their pages on IMDB where you can look them up properly.
Something about the accent, his timing and the sorts of movies he's in. I'm impressed that he always seems to get what he wants. He sets a goal and somehow he makes it. He transcends genres having been in Sci-Fi, Action and Comedy which means he's more than a one man show. There's been some lesser quality Arnie films but I like his old stuff enough that I can overlook things like The Last Stand.
Favourite roles: Terminator, True Lies, Kindergarten Cop, Total Recall, Predator, Junior
I've tried not to like him because he's too young and has a "baby-face" etc.. but unfortunately he turns in such consistently good performances that I've got no choice. Sometimes it's as much about the actors as the choices their agents make. In Leonardo's case, he's generally a "Drama guy" but his drama characters vary a lot, he's incredibly versatile.
Favourite roles: Romeo + Juliet, Titanic, The Aviator, Catch Me if You Can, Departed, Shutter Island, Inception.
Christopher Lee was a favourite of mine as a child back when he was Dracula and the guy from the Wicker Man. Of course, having him in Star Wars and Lord of the Rings recently has elevated him to a much higher place.
Favourite roles: Dracula, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, The Wicker Man, Rasputin, The Man with the Golden Gun, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Gremlins 2
I've always liked Liam Neeson, from way back when I saw him in Rob Roy. It was only later that I realised that he was in one of my favourite movies; Excalibur. Being in Star Wars cemented him in my mind and he was one of the more interesting characters in the Phantom Menace. Taken 1 was pretty good too but since then he seems to be remaking the same film over and over again (even if it's under different names).
Favourite roles: Phantom Menace, Schindler's List, Taken, Excalibur, Rob Roy, Batman Begins, The Haunting, Cold Pursuit
I was a big fan of David Warner when I first saw him in the original Omen film. He was great as Jack the Ripper in Time after Time too. He's one of those great character actors who seem to appear and disappear so easily into their roles that you don't realise that it's the same person. I thought he was long gone until he resurfaced in Titanic -- and of course he's done Doctor Who audios which are impressive too.
Favourite roles: The Omen, Time After Time, Time Bandits, Titanic, Star Trek V and VI, Tron
Donald seems to get better as he gets older and his turn in the Hunger Games saga showed him at his best. Of course he's pretty good in Space Cowboys too. There's also his appearance in Kate Bush's Cloudbusting music video.
Favourite roles: The Hunger Games, Space Cowboys, Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Don't Look Now, Cold Mountain, The Italian Job (Remake)
Max is one of the most amazing actors. He's been in so many films and delivered so many incredible performances but people remember his characters rather than the actor. Most people, if you ask them, have never heard of him but mention some of his roles and they start nodding their heads. If that's not the definition of an actor, I don't know what is.
Favourite roles: Flash Gordon, The Exorcist, Game of Thrones, Minority Report, Star Wars, Needful Things, Never Say Never Again, Conan the Barbarian, The Seventh Seal, The Greatest Story Ever Told.