When we talk about actors, it's usually the ones who are both extremely talented and extremely unstable that get all the credit. Marlon Brando, for example, captured the imagination of generations of filmgoers because he was not only magnetic on camera, but had a carpetbag full of issues that made him seem incredibly interesting. But then there are actors who are just as talented (or at least close), but for some reason their work is never as appreciated. We get used to seeing their work ethic, their steady and consistent performances, and we take it for granted. They're good actors, we all know they're good actors, so we just stop talking about it. Is that fair, though? We run the risk of neglecting all the actors out there who do a hard job incredibly well, but never get the credit for it. So lets take a moment to celebrate the nose-to-the-grindstone actors who give us films that we love, and remember how truly incredible their work is.
10. Tom Hanks
Everyone loves Tom Hanks, but we definitely have a tendency to take him for granted. He's been a steady force in the entertainment industry for over thirty years, and that's a lot harder than it looks. A huge part of this has to be attributed to the fact that he's not a flashy actor by nature. He doesn't usually take roles that are over-the-top or self-indulgent - he's just a comforting, reliable presence in any film that he's in. Tom Hanks is one of the only actors who has won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars (for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump in 1993 and 1994, respectively), so no-one's even impressed by his performances anymore.They just expect greatness from him, like doing great work in a film is somehow easier just because you've done it a bunch of times before. His movies may not always be fantastic, but you know that whenever you see a Tom Hanks film, if nothing else, at least he is going to turn in a solid performance. He's also a surprisingly creative force in his films - you need only see That Thing You Do, a movie that he wrote, directed, starred in, and provided music for, to value his contributions that go far beyond acting.