There will be people that complain about Tilda Swinton being on this list. She is a star now - of that there can be little doubt. Anyone that stars in the likes of The Chronicles Of Narnia, The Beach and Burn After Reading is certainly no longer known only to a cult audience. She's also set to star in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as The Ancient One in Doctor Strange, so there's little doubt that Swinton has "made it" beyond a cult following! But she merits her place on this list - and, indeed, such a high placing - because of the tireless efforts she put in prior to becoming famous, and the fact that she continues to support independent cinema from her lofty position despite the fact that she doesn't need to. Swinton was Derek Jarman's favourite actress, with the visionary British director employing her at every opportunity. She was selected by the brilliant Lynne Ramsey for her adaptation of We Need To Talk About Kevin (this after her stardom had already been cemented). She starred in Sally Potter's mind-bending adaptation of Orlando. She has even worked with artists and music video directors. In other words, despite her infamy, she has remained completely true to the arthouse side of her profession. Tilda Swinton will always be a cult actress. She is impeccably gifted, dedicated to her art and the underground, and a committed defender of the rights of minority groups (including LGBTQ actors and film-makers). No matter how famous she becomes, she never forgets her roots.
