What actors have surprised you?
 

Or not? In a good or a bad way?

I remember saying about ten years or so ago, that Johnny Depp was highly underrated and unrecognized. But the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is getting a little old.

I knew when I saw Leonardo DiCaprio in This Boy's Life that he was freaking amazing. Blood Diamond sealed it.

I used to find Renee Zellweger completely annoying, but after seeing Miss Potter, my opinion changed. She was perfect.

Depp's best moments were in the Nevada desert. :apimp:

Yes, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas was a shining moment for Johnny.

Tom Hanks. First time I saw him in anything was the TV show Bosom Buddies. It took me a long time to get over that, and accept him as a great actor.

I used to really hate Tom Cruise (when he was the shiny boy-faced star of Hotgun etc) then I saw him in Interview with a Vampire and he blew me away.

I still can't bear to watch him in interviews or anything, but I think he's an awesome actor. Magnolia and Vanilla Sky were both stunning, mainly because of his performances.

Warren Mitchell - it's a long stretch from Til Death Us Do Part to ...
Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman (Bristol Old Vic 1980ish) and King Lear (Hackney Empire 1995ish).

Ha! Bristol Old Vic, lovely theatre. My ex's dad did a stint in residence there (playwrite)

And...my ex has a autographed copy of Death of a Salesman, from when his Dad met Arthur Miller (he got me The Crucible).

I'm impressed by any actor who manages to break from typecasting and become successful acting in different sorts of roles. As Weird Harold said, Tom Hanks went from zany comedy to drama; so did Steve Martin and, to some extent, Robin Williams. Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson made the switch from action to drama. My favorite actors are probably still from the 1930's, 40's, and 50's, but anyone who can break out of a niche and still do well leaves me pleasantly surprised.

I've heard several actors say Adam Sandler is one of the nicest guys you can work with.

Cruse is a formula actor. Never impressed me at all.

I was pleasantly surprised by Jim Carrey in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

I only watched it because it got a great review from a magazine that generally shares my taste in film - I'd have been put off by the fact he was in it otherwise.