Andy Serkis working on his famous incarnation of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings
List compiled by Eddie on 29/06/2018
For various reasons and to certain degrees, some actors just never get the true recognition they deserve for the works they’ve produced.
This could be lack of awards, minimal industry praise or just a general underappreciation from the movie loving public but each of the 5 actors below have all been consistent and memorable performers for a number of years and rank as some of modern cinema’s most under the radar stars, even if their faces remain recognisable to many of us.
Hollywood is a big place, filled with more people than you can dare count so it’s understandable that many quality actors find themselves lost in the wilds of the industry but for today at least we pay homage to these talents who deserve to be counted amongst the best of the best working today.
Happy reading and happy watching.
5. Paddy Considine
Considine and Toby Kebbel made for a powerful double act in Dead Mans Shoes
An actor who has always excelled at whatever his put his name to whether it be comedy or fully fledged drama, Considine even directed the searing Tyrannosaur back in 2011. For whatever reason Considine has never achieved the credit he deserves for his impressively consistent career.
Notable films/TV shows – A Room for Romeo Brass, In America, Dead Man’s Shoes, Macbeth, Cinderella Man
4. Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis brings an ape to life using motion capture technology
Many would not know that Serkis plays a large role in many of their favourite films, mainly due to the fact it’s not often his face we see when his delivering world-class work. From the wide eyed Gollum in the LOTR films, the mighty ape in King Kong or the wise leader of apes in the recent Planet of the Apes films, Serkis is a world leader when it comes to performance capture work with many of his turns Oscar worthy, if the Academy were to ever treat the performance acting genre in the same light as other performers.
Notable films/TV shows – The Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, The Prestige, 24 Hour Party People
3. Sam Rockwell
Sam Rockwell can certainly play unhinged as evidenced in The Green Mile
Yes I know he just won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar but for decades now Sam Rockwell has been a man unafraid to delve in the big Hollywood films as well as ply his trade in small scale intimate dramas and whether his acting alongside Tom Hanks or by himself on the lonely surface of the moon, his always been one of if not the best thing about the films his in. A versatile performer that can do it all, Rockwell remains one of the more underappreciated actors of his generation.
Notable films/TV shows – The Green Mile, Moon, Seven Psychopaths, The Way Way Back, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Matchstick Men, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri
2. Stephen Graham
Graham was unforgettable as Combo in Shane Meadows brilliant This is England
While his done his fair share of forgettable films and TV, when Stephen Graham is on song his one of the most powerful actors going around. Proof is in the work, from the hard hitting drama of This is England (that extends to the great TV follow up series), his memorable turn as Al Capone in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire or a comedic offsider in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch, Graham is an exciting and charismatic screen presence that for whatever reason hasn’t yet achieved status as a house hold name.
Notable films/TV shows – This is England, This is England 90, Boardwalk Empire, Snatch, Gangs of New York, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Public Enemies
1. Bobby Cannavale
Cannavale stole the show in Boardwalk Empire season 3 as lunatic mobster Gyp Rosetti
Funny, unique and totally undervalued, Bobby Cannvaale may have a reputation in the industry itself as a fabulous actor (which includes praised jobs on stage in various productions) but for many fans of both film and television his recognisable face often gets swept under the rug. A scene stealer in most things he puts his name to from indie masterpiece The Station Agent to his Emmy winning turn in season 3 of Boardwalk Empire, Cannavale seems to be ever awaiting his big break (something Vinyl sadly could not offer) but you sense with the skills Cannavale possesses, the wait is drawing ever closer.
Notable films/TV shows – The Station Agent, Danny Collins, Boardwalk Empire, Vinyl, Chef, Oz, Ant-Man,
Jordan and Eddie (The Movie Guys) 
Great list you put together. I would also like to throw in Oscar Issac, Jeffrey Wright, & Mads Mikkelson. They’re all unbelievable.
Great picks! Particularly Oscar Isaac, his great. Some of his roles of late have been a little disappointing but his talent is undeniable.
E
Great list! One of the actors that I always think is very underrated is William Fichtner. I always like his performances and love the big range of different characters he can play. Another is the unfortunately passed away Powers Boothe. He always brought a great intensity to his roles.
Some great picks there mate! There are quite a lot out there that deserve more credit I must admit.
E
Great list!! Watch out for Paddy Considine’s boxing film JOURNEYMAN (2018) – not sure if its’s out in Australia or when, but it’s a heartbreaking story!
You’ve got me very keen mate.
E
I agree on all your picks and your honourable mentions. I am going to throw Emile Hirsch an Daniel Bruhl into the mix.
It’s really odd what’s happened to Hirsch’s career, at one stage he seemed set for really great things but seems like his personal life has gone off the rails a little and affected his movie roles. He really can act though!
E
Nice list, I’d add Giovanni Ribisi in ‘The Other Sister’ he nails it, also Steve Buscemi, Michael Shannon, Joaquin Phoenix, Steve Carell, Nicolas Cage, woody Harrelson, Matt Bomer, Ryan GoslingJohn Turturro, Sean Penn, Ben Foster, Matt Damon, Jude Law,Liam Neeson, Ralph Fiennes, ☺
Some cool picks there although some of them I would say are pretty highly regarded! Love the choice of Harrelson. He is a little underrated, especially over the last few years.
E
Yes, it’s always worthy watching movies of him
Spot on list Eddie! Especially agree on Bobby Cannavale – he’s always seems to be cast in the number 2 spot when really, he’s been a number 1 for ageeeees. To me, I think Michelle Williams is very underrated but likely due to her filming choices. Deffo think people should know who she is though when you say her name (happens to me all the time!)
His a fantastic actor I still remember the time I first saw him in The Station Agent, such a scene-stealer! Michelle Williams is fantastic and as you say doesn’t get that much credit from everyday cinemagoers.
E
Cannavale commands the camera’s attention so easily that it’s tempting to wonder whether he doesn’t take lesser roles deliberately. Not hard to see him doing edgy work for the next 50 years, perhaps as his generation’s Harry Dean Stanton.
He really does command the screen, very excited to see him in The Irishman.
E