Top 10 Male Actors of the 21st Century

This is a list of the actors that caught our imagination in the past 13 years.

The Top Ten

1 Tom Hanks Tom Hanks Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles in Splash, Big, Turner & Hooch, Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, Saving Private Ryan, You've Got Mail, The Green Mile, the Toy Story Franchise, Cast Away, The Da Vinci Code, Captain Phillips, and Saving Mr. ...read more.

Most of his films are awesome - belarbi

2 Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo DiCaprio Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. DiCaprio began his career by appearing in television commercials in the late 1980s.

He is the most consistent actor in my opinion.
He takes movies to a whole new level!

There really is no one who can do what this guy does...

There isn't a role this man can't handle excellently and convincingly.

This man is incredible. Wolf of Wall Street, The Revenant, Blood Diamond, etc. - HysteriXxD

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3 Johnny Depp Johnny Depp John Christopher "Johnny" Depp II is an American actor, producer, and musician. He has won the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Actor. His role in a movie is often rather big. His character is often on the "loopy side" and his character being in a darker state of mind, etc.

Johny Depp has starred in many brilliant movies including rango, Scissorhands and the most famous of all "the pirates of the carribean series and the latest comedy, dark shadows.

It was a hard decision but I have to say Johnny. He can play any character perfectly. Great as jack sparrow - dragonfly99

Every character he plays is THE SAME. He is always a freaky weirdo and has no charisma or emotion in his acting.

Not just the 21st century.

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4 Christian Bale Christian Bale Christian Charles Philip Bale is an English actor. He has starred in both blockbuster films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses.

His greatest work was the fighter transforming from the batman stuff to new england at its best he deserved the academy award

The dark knight trilogy machinist big short American hustle such variety defines greatness of an actor

He is a very talented, hard-working, dedicated and honest actor...

Very good actor... I think he had continued as Batman...

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5 Liam Neeson Liam Neeson Liam John Neeson is an actor from Northern Ireland. In 1976, he joined the Lyric Players' Theatre in Belfast for two years.

I will find you and I will kill you. - Sh8 just got real

Good actor loved the taken trilogy and his role as ra's al Gul in batman begins

Best

AWESOME ACTOR WITH THE BEST VOICE EVER

6 Samuel L. Jackson Samuel L. Jackson Samuel Leroy Jackson is an American actor and film producer. He achieved prominence and critical acclaim in the early 1990s with films such as Jungle Fever, Patriot Games, Amos & Andrew, True Romance, Jurassic Park and his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino including Pulp Fiction, Jackie ...read more.
7 Daniel Craig Daniel Craig Daniel Wroughton Craig is an English actor. Craig trained at the National Youth Theatre and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1991, before beginning his career on stage.

Daniel Craig is an amazing actor. Aside from the James Bond series his acting in Defiance and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (adaptation) were excellent. Although I did not like the movies themselves he was good at Dream House and Cowboys vs Aliens.

Well now... You can't beat those eyes.

8 Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Cumberbatch Benedict Timothy Carlton Cumberbatch is an English actor and film producer who has performed in film, television, theatre and radio.

Amazing Actor, Sherlock Holmes

I am voting for Benedict because he certainly took off during this century.

- Sherlock Holmes
- Smaug
- Imitation Game
- Doctor Strange
- etc...

9 David Tennant David Tennant David Tennant is a Scottish actor known for his roles as the Tenth Doctor in the British television series Doctor Who, Alec Hardy in Broadchurch, Giacomo Casanova in the TV serial Casanova, Kilgrave in Jessica Jones, and Barty Crouch, Jr. in the Harry Potter movie series.

Great actor! Has been chosen for many films, series and episodes now that's saying something he was the doctor for 4 years, featured in doctor who, broad church and the escape artist!

Yes, he was THE ALL MIGHTY DOCTOR, and the evil BARTY CROUCH JUNIOR

Oh God this guy... just ugh.

Talented and my favorite doctor.

From 'Glasgow' my City he is...

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10 Robert De Niro Robert De Niro

The most amazing actor of our generation.

Al Pacino is top actor

Best of all.

The Contenders

11 Tom Hardy Tom Hardy

He is one of the most talented actors of this generation! He is such a versatile actor. Every movie that he is been in has been worth watching just to see him act. First film of his that I watched was "Stuart a life backwards" and since then I have watched all and will continue to watch any film that he is in. :D

He should be top three. Liam neeson should nit be on the list. Hardy is the top method actor of the past 20 years

Love watching anything Tom Hardy is in! Just loved him in "Taboo" & it was not an 'easy watch'!

Amazing all rounder understated master of gangster like Robert D but in an English mans way. The Take was a fine show from a then unknown talent. Simply brilliant. Total man crush! Simply brilliant again and again! Peaky blinders the hard Jew quality acting along side a stellar cast! The best Brit about at the moment! Mixed it with Dicaprio and others but always returns to his routes in Britain and his own written Work voodoo superb! Can’t say anymore but thanks Tom for the brill T.V..

12 Kevin Spacey Kevin Spacey

I can't believe he is not in the top.. And also matthew mcconaughey

One of the best actors in the world.

13 Martin Freeman Martin Freeman
14 Robert Downey Jr. Robert Downey Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor. His career has included critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, and a resurgence of commercial success in middle age.

He is the best obviously

This list makes no sense. Robert should be the No. 1!

15 Will Smith Will Smith Willard Carroll "Will" Smith, Jr. born September 25, 1968, is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper, and songwriter. He is best known for his acting career overall. He has been in many popular movies including, but are not limited to, the Men in Black lineup, Pursuit of Happyness, I am legend, ...read more.

Should be #1 you uncluttered swine

Did not know Johnny Depp was so bashful. Love him on his movies and off.

Nobody can beat these - Pursuit of Happyness, Seven Pounds. Best Actor there is!

Just amazing #1

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16 Christoph Waltz Christoph Waltz Christoph Waltz is an Austrian-German actor that has won 2 Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his collaborations with director Quentin Tarantino in Inglourious Basterds and Django Unchained.

I love him. His work in Inglorious Basterds and Django Unchained is mindblowing. - HysteriXxD

17 Tom Cruise Tom Cruise Tom Cruise is an American actor and filmmaker. Cruise has been nominated for three Academy Awards and has won three Golden Globe Awards.

Bottom of my list

What about tomm?

18 Guy Pearce Guy Pearce

Guy Edward Pearce (born 5 October 1967) is an English-born Australian actor and musician, known for his roles as Leonard Shelby in Christopher Nolan's Memento, Lieutenant Ed Exley in L.A. confidential, Adam Whitely aka Felicia Jollygoodfellow (a drag queen) in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Mike Young in the Australian television series Neighbours and King Edward VI ("David") in The King's Speech. Pearce has won an Emmy Award, and received nominations for Golden Globe Awards, Screen Actors Guild Awards and Saturn Awards.

19 Christopher Walken Christopher Walken
20 Brad Pitt Brad Pitt William Bradley "Brad" Pitt (born December 18, 1963) is an American actor and producer. He has received a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and three Academy Award nominations in acting categories and received three further Academy Award nominations, winning one, as producer under his ...read more.

It's a shame I had to scroll down to the 20th spot to find Brad Pitt.

His legendary roles in Fight Club, Troy, 12 Monkeys, Inglorious Basterds etc have been overshadowed by his extremely good looks.

He deserves to be on the 2nd spot after Leo.

21 Denzel Washington Denzel Washington Denzel Hayes Washington, Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He has received three Golden Globe awards, a Tony Award, and two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for the historical war drama film Glory and Best Actor for his role as a corrupt cop in the crime thriller Training Day.

Dependable performance always. Believable in all of his roles. Training day took him to a new level. Super bad Azzz. But he's able to carry the good guy role too.

22 Chris Evans Chris Evans Christopher Robert Evans is an American actor. Evans is best known for his superhero roles as the Marvel Comics characters Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Human Torch in Fantastic Four.

He is amazing

23 Don Cheadle
24 Shahrukh Khan Shahrukh Khan

Greatest actor of all time.The king of Bollywood.

25 Bradley Cooper Bradley Cooper Bradley Charles Cooper is an American actor and producer. He has been nominated for four Academy Awards, three for acting and one for producing, and one Tony Award.
26 Jude Law Jude Law David Jude Heyworth Law (born 29 December 1972), is an English actor. He has received nominations for two Academy Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards and two British Academy Awards, winning one. In 2007, he received an Honorary César and was named a knight of the Order ...read more.
27 Kevin Bacon Kevin Bacon Kevin Norwood Bacon is an American actor and musician whose films include musical-drama film Footloose, the controversial historical conspiracy legal thriller JFK, the legal drama A Few Good Men, the historical docudrama Apollo 13, and the mystery drama Mystic River.
28 Russell Crowe Russell Crowe Russell Ira Crowe is an actor, film producer and musician. Although a New Zealand citizen, he has lived most of his life in Australia and identifies himself as an Australian.

His body of work speaks for itself. Thoroughly a craftsmen and artist at work. Definitely in the all-time top 10.

29 Suriya Suriya Saravanan Sivakumar, better known by his stage name Suriya, is an Indian film actor, producer and television presenter, who is currently working in the Tamil film industry.

One of the greatest Indian actors

Versatile, handsome, great actor, action packed, experimental what more do you need- By Kaushik

30 Gary Oldman Gary Oldman Gary Leonard Oldman is an English actor, filmmaker, musician and author. Renowned for his "big" acting style, Oldman is one of the most celebrated thespians of his generation, with a diverse career encompassing theatre, film and television.
31 Nicolas Cage Nicolas Cage Nicolas Kim Coppola, known professionally as Nicolas Cage, is an American actor and producer. He is well known for his roles in Raising Arizona, Moonstruck, Vampire's Kiss, Wild at Heart, Honeymoon in Vegas, Red Rock West, Leaving Las Vegas, The Rock, Con Air, Face/Off, City of Angels, 8MM, Bringing ...read more.
32 Clint Eastwood Clint Eastwood Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. is an American actor, film director, producer, musician, and political figure.

The ultimate tough guy! Him and John Wayne were the cowboys

33 Santhosh Pandit
34 James McAvoy James McAvoy James McAvoy is a Scottish actor. He made his acting début as a teen in 1995's The Near Room and continued to make mostly television appearances until 2003, when his feature film career began and he continued to work in both areas from then on.
35 Nivin Pauly Nivin Pauly
36 Mickey Rourke Mickey Rourke Philip Andre Rourke Jr., known professionally as Mickey Rourke, is an American actor, screenwriter, and retired boxer, who has appeared primarily as a leading man in drama, action, and thriller films.
37 Christopher Lee Christopher Lee Sir Christopher Frank Carandini Lee (1922-2015) was an English actor, singer, and author. He was best known for his villainous roles in films such as Dracula in the Hammer Horror films, Francisco Scaramanga in the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun, Saruman in the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit ...read more.
38 Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan Kamal Haasan is an Indian film actor, screenwriter, director, producer, playback singer, choreographer, lyricist, philanthropist and dancer who works primarily in the Tamil film industry.

He should be in top 3

39 James Norton James Norton James Geoffrey Ian Norton is an English actor best known for playing Reverend Sydney Chambers in the ITV period crime series Grantchester and Prince Andrei Bolkonsky in the 2016 BBC mini series adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's novel War and Peace.
40 Colin Farrell Colin Farrell
41 Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender Michael Fassbender is a German-Irish actor of stage and screen whose career includes roles in both independent and blockbuster films, most notably; Hunger, Inglourious Basterds, Shame, X-Men: First Class, Prometheus, 12 Years a Slave, Frank, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Steve Jobs.

Words don't describe the combined style and intensity he brings to the screen. His expressions tell a thousand words, and his words a thousand expressions. The perfect blend of character and personality to fit him in with greats such as Jack Nicholson and Jeff Bridges.

42 Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Radcliffe Daniel Jacob Radcliffe is an English actor who rose to prominence as the title character in the Harry Potter film series.

This guy is the definition of awesomeness, especially in Harry Potter.

Love you

43 Ryan Gosling Ryan Gosling Ryan Thomas Gosling is a Canadian actor, musician, and producer. He began his career as a child star on the Disney Channel's Mickey Mouse Club and went on to appear in other family entertainment programs including Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Two words... Six pack.

44 Mads Mikkelsen Mads Mikkelsen
45 Viggo Mortensen

He's. a great actor puts emotions into his movie. Ice: The Road

46 Orlando Bloom Orlando Bloom Orlando Jonathan Blanchard Bloom is an English actor. After having his breakthrough as Legolas in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, he rose to fame by further appearing in epic fantasy, historical epic, and fantasy adventure films.
47 Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor and narrator. Freeman won an Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor with Million Dollar Baby (2004), and he has received Oscar nominations for his performances in Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus. ...read more.

I guess he should be number 1

48 Jensen Ackles Jensen Ackles Jensen Ross Ackles is an American actor and director. He is mostly known for his role as Dean Winchester on the CW fantasy series Supernatural. He is also known for his roles in television as Eric Brady in Days of Our Lives, which earned him several Daytime Emmy Award nominations, as well as Alec/X5-494 ...read more.

He's fantastic! 9 seasons of his outstanding portrayal of Dean Winchester on Supernatural say it all!

49 Joaquin Phoenix Joaquin Phoenix
50 Alan Rickman Alan Rickman Alan Sidney Patrick Rickman (February 21st 1946 - Janurary 14th 2016) was an English actor and director known for playing a variety of roles on stage and screen, most notably Severus Snape in the Harry Potter series and Hans Gruber in Die Hard. He passed away of pancreatic cancer in 2016
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List Stats

1,000 votes
118 listings
5 years, 180 days old

Top Remixes (8)

1. Suriya
2. Shahrukh Khan
3. Santhosh Pandit
Kaushiknambisan
1. Johnny Depp
2. Daniel Craig
3. Leonardo DiCaprio
jakemcm
1. Johnny Depp
2. Liam Neeson
3. Samuel L. Jackson
sowwer

WRemix
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