Underrated actors

Draws attention for schlock like The Notebook and Crazy Sexy Love, but has turned in some truly incredible performances. Try Blue Valentine & The Place Beyond the Pines.

Surprised? Watch Bat 21 or The Saint of Fort Washington.

Good, bad, English, American...he can do them all.

The Fountain and Prisoners show that he is a force to be reckoned with.

A wonderful actor, never better than in the self-directed Jack Goes Boating.

Tragically passed not long ago.

Has generally starred in absolute trash, but on his day there is no one better. If you haven't seen Leaving Las Vegas, Knowing and Adaptation, then you should do so immediately.

Hate him all you want, but deep down you know he's brilliant. Look at The Man Without A Face.

Let himself down recently, but at his prime he was truly brilliant. Watch Romeo is Bleeding.

One of the unsung heroes of Hollywood cinema. Every film fan should watch his biopic, Pollock.

I never see this name on a list of the best ever actors, but if you watch him at his best, you might think about including him next time you make your list. Watch Ohio Impromptu, Lolita, Waterland and Dead Ringers, if you need a starter course on Irons.

Has recently begun to show the world how good he really can be. I expect him to take the Oscar in 2014 for Dallas Buyers' Club.

So suave it's hard not for him to be typecast, but has turned in some really stunning performances, such as his brief appearance in A Dangerous Method.

Like Cassel, his coolness often counts against him. People often think of him as an iconic movie star, but rarely give him the credit he deserved as an actor. Really studying Papillon can remedy this.

NEVER gets the credit he deserves. OK he made a lot of silly movies, but people overlook how it's not easy to play The Terminator and Conan, or to make many of his action movies as compelling as they are. A lesser actor would have made Predator look dreadful.

The only woman on this list, because, simply put, I think she's the best in the world today, man or woman. Naomi Watts was showing promise but has chosen mostly bad roles for a long time now. Whereas Penelope has chosen the best ones, including roles for which she had to learn new languages. I don't think anyone works harder or shines better. Watch 'Elegy', 'Volver' and 'Don't Move'.

I sincerely think that in 70 years time people will look back on him as a comic genius in the same way that people do for Chaplin nowadays. Best role: Walter Mitty.

OK, so Fassbender isn't very underrated, but I just wanted to say that he was pretty much the only thing I liked in '...Slave', and he was astonishing in Shame and A Dangerous Method.

Tragically died young, but his performance in 'Midnight Express' has stayed with me ever since I saw it.

If you want to see how an actor can transform their self, watch 'Bad Guy', then look at the DVD commentary.

For his more serious work - Reign Over Me and Punchdrunk Love.