My 15 Favorite Actors and Actresses Working Today

With all the stars working today, not many of them have given That One Performance.  The one role that defines them as stars and will live with them forever.  Bogart had Casablanca, Pacino had the Godfather, but what does Ryan Reynolds have?  Really?  So I thought out who has given that career-defining, masterful performance in the last ten years and who is also a consistently good actor, even if the movie they are in isn't always a winner.  So without further ado here is my 15 favorite actors working today:

15.  Tom Wilkinson

Best Performance of the Decade: Benjamin Franklin - John Adams (2008)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Sir Knolte - Black Knight (2001)

14.  Ellen Page

Best Performance of the Decade: Juno - Juno MacGuff (2007)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Kitty Pride - X-Men: The Last Stand (2006)

13.  Ralph Fiennes

Best Performance of the Decade: Justin Quayle - The Constant Gardener (2005)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Hades - Clash of the Titans (2010)

12.  George Clooney

Best Performance of the Decade: Tie: Ryan Bingham - Up In The Air (2009) & Michael Clayton (2007)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Devlin - Spy Kids 3D: Game Over

11.  John Malkovich

Best Performance of the Decade: Osborne Cox - Burn After Reading (2008)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Galbatorix - Eragon (2006)

10.  Amy Adams

Best Performance of the Decade: Sister James - Doubt (2008)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Rose Lorkowski - Sunshine Cleaning (2008)

9.  Kevin Spacey

Best Performance of the Decade: Bobby Darrin - Beyond the Sea (2004)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Clyde - Fred Claus

8.  Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Performance of the Decade: Howard Hughes - The Aviator (2004)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Teddy Daniels - Shutter Island (2010)

7.  Kate Winslett

Best Performance of the Decade: April Wheeler - Revolutionary Road (2008)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Voice of Rita - Flushed Away (2006)

6.  Meryl Streep

Best Performance of the Decade: Julia Child - Julie & Julia (2009)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Donna - Mamma Mia! (2008)

5.  Don Cheadle

Best Performance of the Decade: Paul Rusesabagina - Hotel Rwanda (2004)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Luke - Mission to Mars (2000)

4.  Phillip Seymore Hoffman

Best Performance of the Decade: Truman Capote - Capote (2005)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: The Count - Pirate Radio (2008)

 3.  Paul Giamatti

Best Performance of the Decade:  John Adams - John Adams (2008)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Hertz - Shoot 'Em Up (2007)

2.  Hellen Mirren

Best Performance of the Decade: The Queen (2006)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Victoria - Red (2010)

 1.  Russell Crowe

Best Performance of the Decade: John Nash - A Beautiful Mind (2001)

Grounds For Firing Your Agent?: Robin Longstride - Robin Hood (2010)