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Ten Best Performances In English Films

In any movie, the hardest job is probably that of the actor. He not only has to give his character an air of believability but also must bond with the viewer emotionally.

As always, a few things first,

• In compiling this list I have tried to focus on what in my opinion should be the best performances in English films. However when speaking of performances, it is impossible to keep one's personal choices aloof. So you might very well call this the list of my favourite performances.

• I am not including foreign actors in this list for the same reason I had not included foreign films. Other than Bengali (my mother tongue) I am not very well equipped with foreign actors.



In alphabetical order,

Cate Blanchett in Elizabeth
An outstanding portrayal of England's first female monarch, Blanchett's performance has immortalized Elizabeth. Nowhere in film history have I seen a wider exploration of a woman's emotions, and Blanchett comes through brilliantly. Her performance explores every dimension of her character, as Elizabeth transcends above a feminine vulnerability and assumes a man's role. Her eyes in the last scene have a haunting clarity that conveys the strength of her performance.
Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire
Brando's on-screen debut as boorish, chauvinistic and ruggedly handsome Stanley Kowalski is one of the finest performances I have ever seen. He is every bit as vulgar, hateful and brutal as his character demands and Brando pulls it off brilliantly. Marlon Brando would go on to become Hollywood's most legendary name. The actor delivered one excellent performance after the other (On The Waterfront, Sayonara, The Godfather). But to me nothing tops his Stanley in Streetcar.

Audrey Hepburn in Roman Holiday
Have you ever seen a real-life Cinderella, beautiful and charismatic, trapped and yearning? Audrey Hepburn in her debut role is all that and much more. William Wyler's...