Inspired by me - Actors/actresses who CANNOT act

[auntpolly]

I think there is a difference when an actor just takes bad roles and when they can't act. For instance, I've seen Tom Cruise in pretty lame roles, but given a good script, like Magnolia, he was very impressive.

There's a Italian movie that Penelope Cruz was in called "Non ti Muovere" (Don't Touch) that really gave her the opportunity to show what she can do -- it hasn't been released in the US yet, but you should check it out when it is.

Brad Pitt and Ben Afleck pick such bad scripts that it's really hard to tell with them. I am always irked when an actor won't move out of his or her comfort zones.

 

[Hippychickali]

Arguably, William Shatner. He overacts, but he keeps winning award after award. Cult following on his music albums.

I think the appeal to William Shatner is that he overacts on purpose. I know that's why I like him. He doesn't take himself seriously.

Ali

 

[Disney1fan2002]

The girl that plays Marissa...she is pretty lame!

I don't watch the O.C., but she is the actress who played the little girl who was poisoned by her mother in The Sixth Sense. I thought she was pretty good in that.

My picks for BAD acting...

Sean Young....ICK

Jodie Sweetin... played Stephanie Tanner on Full House. She was cute when she was little, but man, she could not act for beans when she got older!

Gordon Clapp from NYPD Blue...I don't know if it is because he is a bad actor, or if the writer's give him BAD dialogue...but I cringe each week when he has an extended scene.

 

[MinnieFan4ever]

He could win an oscar if they had a Best Overactor catagory.

 

[Hippychickali]

Jodie Sweetin... played Stephanie Tanner on Full House. She was cute when she was little, but man, she could not act for beans when she got older!

Oh my! How could we forget the Olsen twins?! Yes....I did have to sit through their latest disaster, New York Minute.

Ali

 

[orvilleair]

I think the appeal to William Shatner is that he overacts on purpose. I know that's why I like him. He doesn't take himself seriously.

Ali

Yeah, he has a following, but he gets away with it while other "over actors" don't. He won an Emmy this year, so he's doing something right

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Oh my! How could we forget the Olsen twins?! Yes....I did have to sit through their latest disaster, New York Minute.

Ali

I cannot believe the following they have! My 6 yo DD loves her, but I thought it was because she watches Full House and knew they were Michelle. NOPE! DD never made the connection that Mary Kate and Ashley were Michelle, needless to say, she was THRILLED when she found out!

My 5yo niece got a Mary Kate and Ashley sweater and jeans. You should of heard the SCREECHING the little girls at the party did when they saw it was MK & A! You would of thought it was 1960 and the Beatles just walked in the room! These are 5 and 6 year olds!

 

[musicalSaranader]

Haydn Christiansen (sp?), the guy who plays Anikan Skywalker in the new Star Wars films. He could not act his way out of a wet paper bag. He is just terrible. He's not even that good-looking, either.

I agree with the person who said Paris Hilton can't act. I saw her on SNL last night and I couldn't stop wondering why she was hosting. There's only two things she's good at; looking good and you know the other, and neither of those has anything to do with acting.

It seems to me that most teenage actors today can't act well either. For example, Hillary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and the Olsen twins. Hillary and Lindsay should just stick to the singing...but wait, they can't even do that! (JMO; I apologize if I offend any of their fans.)

In fact I feel like most actors today *in general* aren't nearly as talented as they used to be. IMO, they are hired more for their *pretty* looks than for talent. (Same goes for pop singers today.) There are some exceptions, though. Johnny Depp is one. Not only is he incredibly gorgeous, but he has so much talent and variety in the roles he can play. I'm a HUGE fan of his .

 

[Dennis O'Dell]

One of the worst movies posssible would be a movie with:

Kevin Costner
Ben Affleck
Keanu Reeves

I think I would fall asleep during the opening credits.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Wow!
I think you've hit on most of mine!! I'm so glad someone finally said Hayden Chritensen (sp?)!!! And, to add insult to injury, they paired him Natalie Portman!!!!! Oy Vey!!!! Yes, she's pretty, but close your eyes and listen.

Also, Denise Richardson....especially in the James Bond film!!!

 

[Cyndiu]

I have one but many of you won't agree, I'm sure.

While he used to be terrific, I mean really really good, for the last 10 years I have thought Al Pacino has stunk. He never should have won the Oscar for Scent of a Woman IMO and everything since then has been overacted to the nth degree.

 

[Swimnoid]

Patricai Richardson....I used to think she was great on Home Improvemnt but she is so stiff and monotone on Strog Medicine. And I've seen her on WEst Wing and Law & Odre recently and she was the same way.

 

[eleanor]

Sorry Richard Gere is pretty but he cant act. I agree with the rest tho. I f I might mention a singer that I think is bad is Celine Dion

 

[caitycaity]

have you ever seen sofia coppola in the godfather 3? now that is some BAD acting!

 

[musicalSaranader]

Sorry Richard Gere is pretty but he cant act. I agree with the rest tho. I f I might mention a singer that I think is bad is Celine Dion

I've never been a huge fan of Celine Dion either. Has anyone heard her version of John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy"? She should be arrested and put in prison for it!

 

[EsmeraldaX]

I think this is kind of unfair. Most actors (non-gender specific) don't ever make it to the big screen, and even fewer are recognizable as celebrities. When they do become celebrities, the entertainment media does their best to create a public persona for these individuals (authentic or not) to sell their product. So how do we know what's real or not without knowing them personally?

Not that all celebrities went through this, but professional actor training is rigorous and complicated. It's more than just "pretending" to be someone. They research thier roles, learn dialects, create back histories on their characters, and open themselves up to emotional experiences that most of us naturally shy away from.

Sorry to go on, but as someone who interacts with actors on a daily basis, I get frustrated with dismissals of their intelligence or insinuations that they are somehow embarking on worthless careers. (If that's not what you meant, then just ignore my ramblings) Not that this thinking isn't without precedent...actors have been maligned since the age of Plato, so it's safe to say it will continue.

LOL. I was involved in theater for over 12 years of my life. I know.

I presumed that the OP was asking about well known actors. Most well know actors essentially play themselves in every single movie they are in. It doesn't mean it's bad. It just means they find one thing that they are good at and stick with it. And then when you see an interview with them, they talk the same way/ have the same mannerisms etc.

 

[TerriP]

I've said this before and I know it's not a popular answer....but imho the WORST actor around is Tom Cruise. No matter what role he takes, he's still just Tom Cruise. Tom in a race car, Tom doing karate, Tom as a lawyer, Tom on a horse....they are all the same person! There is no "character" with him, it's just Tom Cruise in different clothes.

 

[snoopy]

First person who comes to mind is Ben Affleck. He's this generation's Kevin Costner. I also agree that Tom Cruise is always Tom Cruise, as is Julia Roberts always Julia Roberts and Jack Nicholson always Jack Nicholson.

On the other hand, someone mentioned J-Lo. I think she is a talented actress, I've liked her in everything she's done in film to date.

 

[vettechick99]

Brad Pitt.
I enjoy a lot of his movies, but he usually sounds like he is just reading off the script.

When I saw Troy I totally thought that (although I really enjoyed him in Legends of the Fall). But he's gorgeous, so I'll just turn the sound off!

I can't stand the youngest girl on Standing Still. That show is hysterical, but she really brings nothing to the cast. Maybe its her age, but Dakota Fanning is young and outstanding as an actor.

 

[solotraveler]

Micha Barton from the O.C. Oh man, I mean, yikes. Vapid with a captial "V." She one of those I would categorize under "Thank god you are pretty, cause otherwise you'd be making Blizzards at Dairy Queen."

Solotraveler