Paul Rudd first came to everyone's attention in the 1995 hit Clueless, and then as Mike Hannigan in Friends - the boyfriend and eventual husband of Phoebe. Both of these roles made him pretty famous, but in the years since Friends finished in 2004, he has become one of Hollywood's funniest, most reliable comedy stars. Although Rudd is at his best playing the straight man - invariably sensible, middle-class nice guys - that would be doing his talents a huge disservice. He is fantastic as Brian Fantana in Anchorman, a sexist, dim-witted lothario with a beautiful moustache, and he also shines in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, improvising brilliantly with Seth Rogen in some scenes. He has since made the step-up to leading man status in the likes of Role Models, I Love You, Man and This Is 40, while his supporting performances in Knocked Up and Forgetting Sarah Marshall are understated but terrific. The 45-year-old may not have the comic genius of someone like Ferrell or Mike Myers, but he is the master at playing the aforementioned nice guy roles. He may have made a few shockers in the last few years - How Do You Know and Wanderlust were abysmal - but he has a hugely impressive portfolio, and one that will continue to grow.
