1. Jeff Bridges - The Big Lebowski
Before 1998, Jeff Bridges have been making films for more than three decades. During that time he played in some influential science fiction films and dramas but never had he tackled a character like The Dude. Once this film hit theaters, his career was defined by this role which is something to say when an actor is playing against type. From the mind of the Coen Brothers, The Big Lebowski is a comedy of miscommunication involving a slacker who has to solve several different crises. It is a Coen Brothers movie after all. The brilliance in Jeff Bridges performance is that it seems so effortless. That could be because, according to Bridges, that The Dude is a lot like him. Even then, Bridges went to great lengths for a comedic role like gaining weight, buying the costumes, and hanging out with the real life inspiration for the character. He creates an oxymoron by being so graceful in playing a slacker. The impact of the role has changed Bridges career in the sense that the role is him and he is the role. Not bad for a leading man not known for his comedic work.