While almost every great actor has at least one or two terrible movies in otherwise stellar careers, a select few have managed to consistently choose the right roles and never put a foot wrong. This is no mean feat, as it’s never certain when filming whether a seemingly great movie will turn bad during the editing process or just be outright rejected by audiences. Many might point toall-time great actorslike Al Pacino, Robert De Niro, or Denzel Washington as examples of fantastic careers, yet even these legends have a few stinkers in their body of work.
The most famous examples of perfect filmographies come from those careers that were tragically cut short,such as John Cazale, who appeared in just five films, all of which werenominated for Best Picture. However, for this list, only actors who have had large bodies of work were taken into consideration, and this can act as a moment to appreciate those who achieved the seemingly impossible and have never been in a bad movie. Whilethis doesn’t mean every film they were in was a masterpiece, every performer here has been very fortunate with the roles they gained.
7Cillian Murphy
The Irish actor has been notoriously discerning about his film roles
Few Hollywood actors have managed a filmography as diverse and high-quality as Cillian Murphy. This Irish actor has never courted fame, and, as a performer who has always valued the artistic merit of his roles over mainstream attention and box office success, Murphy’s filmography was packed with carefully selected roles with respected directors and smart scripts. Whether it’s playing a trans woman in the cult classicBreakfast on Pluto, politically charged dramas like Ken Loach’sThe Wind that Shakes the Barley, or gaining a well-earned Oscar with Christopher Nolan’sOppenheimer, Murphy’s career was consistently filled with great roles.
As a Best Actor recipient,Murphy has now gained the leverage to be even more picky with the roles he choosesand looks set to continue his trajectory of appearing in one fantastic film after another. With the upcomingPeaky BlindersmovieThe Immortal Manand the long-festering sequel28 Years Lateron the horizon, there’s a lot to look forward to from this all-time great actor.
6Emma Stone
The two-time Oscar winner’s career has gone from strength to strength
Emma Stone made her feature film debut in the 2007 comedy classicSuperbadand has continued with one fantastic role after another ever since. With her immense talent on display right from the start, Stone continued to excel in comedies likeZombieland,Easy A, andCrazy, Stupid, Lovebefore showing off new dimensions to her skills with Oscar-winning roles inLa La LandandPoor Things. From acclaimed collaborations with directors like Yorgos Lanthimos to taking a more active role as a producer, Stone’s rise to the top has been truly meteoric.
While it’s possible to point to the notorious flopMovie 43as a prime example of Stone missing the mark, this panned anthology comedy featured 14 different storylines, each by a separate director, and amounted to more of a short film than a proper movie role. If we can cut Stone some slack for this unfortunate appearance, every single other movie she was in, from franchise films likeThe Amazing Spider-Manto Best Picture winners likeBirdman, had serious merit.
5Daniel Day-Lewis
The three-time Oscar winner is commonly regarded as the greatest actor of all time
With three Academy Awards for Best Actor, the name Daniel Day-Lewis is practically synonymous with acting greatness, and few actors can match the esteem of his filmography. Through his intense commitment to method acting, Day-Lewis gave his all to every part he played, and even minor roles were characterized by strong performances and emotionally resonant acting. Whether it was transformative performances such as the profoundly disabled yet determined artist Christy Brown in My Left Foot or the ruthless oil tycoon Daniel Plainview inThere Will Be Blood, Day-Lewis’s film roles were among the greatest cinema has ever seen.
In his acclaimed collaborations with esteemed directors like Jim Sheridan, Martin Scorsese, and Paul Thomas Anderson, Day-Lewis consistently took method acting to the next level. In preparation for his roles, Day-Lewis has locked himself in solitary confinement, lived in the woods, andnever went out of character as the 16th President of the United States in Steven Spielberg’sLincoln. With countless iconic roles to his name, Day-Lewis was truly one of the greats.
4Harry Dean Stanton
A cult favorite actor who never phoned it in
WhileHarry Dean Stanton never became a household name, to those in the know, he was one of the most intriguing actors in all of Hollywood. Stanton was mostly known as a supporting actor who appeared in everything fromAlientoThe Godfather Part IIin his long and acclaimed career of more than six decades. Although Stanton rarely stepped into the limelight for a leading role, the few times he did, such as inParis, TexasandLucky, were rare examples that he could stand toe-to-toe with the greatest actors of all time.
Stanton had a unique aura that made him the perfect performer for directors outside of the mainstream, such as David Lynch and Wim Wenders. Even in his smallest roles, Stanton was a memorable presence who was just as comfortable in comedy as he was in drama. Despite never gaining major awards such as Oscars or Golden Globes, Stanton’s filmography encapsulated the best of American cinema and was a microcosm of the countercultural landscape, showcasing the voices and stories often overlooked by mainstream cinema.
3Viggo Mortensen
A mainstream actor who values roles over recognition
Viggo Mortensen shot to international stardom following his role asAragorn inThe Lord of the Ringstrilogyand has maintained an incredibly high-caliber body of work ever since. While the global phenomenon that was Peter Jackson’s depiction of Middle-earth meant Mortensen could have carved out a successful career in franchise films, he’s instead opted to focus on smaller-scale roles and give himself over to personal artistic endeavors like painting, poetry, music, and photography.
Perhaps Mortensen’s greatest accomplishments post-LOTRwere with director David Cronenberg in thought-provoking, crime-driven stories likeA History of ViolenceandEastern Promises. Add to this acclaimed roles inCaptain Fantasticand the divisive Best Picture winnerGreen Book, and it’s clear that Mortensen only chooses roles that he genuinely connects with. Mortensen has also carved out a new career as a writer, director, and star with movies likeFallingandThe Dead Don’t Hurt, showcasing that he’s not afraid to create his own opportunities.
2Olivia Colman
A British national treasure
The Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman got her start in British comedies likePeep Showbut has since broken through in Hollywood as one of the most sought-after actresses of modern times. Following her Academy Award for Best Actress in Yorgos Lanthimos’The Favourite, Colman’s feature film career has gone from strength to strength with thoughtful dramas likeThe Father, psychologically rich roles such as inThe Lost Daughter, and box office hits likeWonka. As an incredibly likable and versatile actress, Colman’s recent career success was well earned after honing her craft on smaller-scale British TV projects for so long.
Colman’s talent meant that she seamlessly made the jump from offbeat comedies to a renowned actress without trading any of the cheerful, sweet-natured demeanor that characterized her early work. WhileColman came up within the comedy circuit, her recent film output has also showcased an immense talent for drama, which means she excels in every role she takes up.
1Leonardo DiCaprio
A defining actor of modern times
In a media landscape where actors are constantly shifting between movie and TV projects, Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the few performers who has maintained his status as a movie star in the truest sense of the word. Gaining his first Academy Award nomination at just 19 forWhat’s Eating Gilbert Grape,DiCaprio shot to worldwide superstardom with the box office smash hitTitanic. These early successes meant DiCaprio could be very particular about what roles he chose to accept, as he usually works on one project at a time with acclaimed, auteur filmmakers.
DiCaprio’s work for directors like Martin Scorsese, Quentin Tarantino, Christopher Nolan, and soon Paul Thomas Anderson meant that every new movie he’s been in has felt like a major cinematic event. With a focus on quality over quantity, even DiCaprio’s less beloved movies likeJ. EdgarandDon’t Look Upstill gained widespread acclaim. DiCaprio’s career has been a masterclass in how to traverse Hollywood success, and he’s one of the only major actors whose career has never had any downturns.
