Best Actors/Actresses/Acting

WatcherWes

When we were muck
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Who do you think is the most talented actor or actress on each show, why, and who do you think is the most talented performer out of the entire cast of both shows? My choices:
Angel: Alexis Denisof
Why: With most of the other characters who have gone through significant changes, we've seen the old version of the character, and then the new version. Denisof's Wesley has gone through so many changes, but we've seen the step by step process, artfully performed. Wes may have some new characteristics, but we can still see the old ones shine through on occasion. Also, amazing accent.

Buffy: Hmm, that's a little tougher. Gellar was good for seasons 1-5, but 6-7, her heart just wasn't there. She didn't lose any ability, she just seemed to have lost her passion for it. Everyone will probably say James Marsters, though I have never seen the appeal. He's not a bad actor, but certainly not light years ahead of the rest of the cast as many people seem to feel. I'd say Eliza Dushku, but she was never a regular and I don't think it's fair to count her. I guess I'd go with Anthony Stewart Head, he brought a lot of maturity to the show. Loved his speech to Ben as he killed him in the Gift. Really showed what Giles was all about, and how he and Buffy may work together, and love each other, but their modus operandi are very different.

Overall, I'd say Denisof is the most talented. I'd love to see him do some more high profile work outside of Angel.
 
I think Sarah Michelle Gellar has acted well through all seasons, shes made Buffy funny, moody, whiny, annoying, sweet and much more and just made her much more relatable. other than that I think Seth Green played Oz well and Wild at heart and new moon rising just proved that he had depth in his acting too.
 
All the actors have been fun to watch, but I think SMG and Alyson Hannigan are the most talented. They can both play any emotion well, and they can sell even the silliest lines. Triple bonus points to AH for being convincingly devestated about Xander hooking up with Cordelia while yelling about the "we hate cordelia fanclub". 🙂
 
You know, sometimes I get the feeling when people are talking about good acting, theyre actually talking about good writing, but for pure, proven acting talent, I'll choose as follows from best to (not worst) least best.

1.) Alyson Hannigan
2.) James Marsters
3.) Emma Caulfield
4.) Anthony Steward Head
5.) David Boreanaz
6.) Sarah Michelle Gellar
7.) Seth Greene
8.) Charisma Carpenter
9. ) Michelle Trachtenberg
10.) Nicholas Brandon
 
sadly I must agree with all of you and say 'Sarah Michelle Gellar' for Buffy. I didn't like her acting much after season 6. I as well liked Alyson Hannigan.

for Angel I think 'David Boreanaz' and 'Amy Acker'

for both series I liked 'Eliza Dishku' (think thats the right spelling).
 
really, Andy Hallet? Nothing but love for the guy, but he hasn't exactly shown anything too amazing.
 
Originally posted by WatcherWes
really, Andy Hallet? Nothing but love for the guy, but he hasn't exactly shown anything too amazing.

He's cool WatcherWes, although he's not really acting so much as just being himself. I think the funniest part about Amber Benson's movie Chance was watching Andy, because he WAS Lorne; he was just wearning an Andy Hallet mask.
 
My own personal list of the best of the best acting jobs, in order, on Buffy/Angel:

1. Alyson Hannigan
2. Seth Green
3. Anthony Steward Head
4. James Marsters
5. Emma Caulfield
6. Sarah Michelle Gellar
7. Alexis Denisof
8. Eliza Dushku
 
Generally they're a talented groups of folks. They all do really well. My favorites are probably Dushku, Brendon, Head, Denisof and Hannigan. They have all portrayed a good range and come off well on screen.

Really though, it's hard to find someone on either show who is a bad actor.
 
i agree watcherwes about the SMG thing she just wasnt doing her best in season 6-7
 
As far as I'm concerned these are the best five actors/actresses on both shows:

1) James Marsters

2) Sarah Michelle Geller

3) Anthony Stewart Head

4) Alyson Hannigan

5) Alex Denisoff


Michelle Tratchenberg is a runner up.
 
Originally posted by WatcherWes
Don't wanna sound like a hater, but can people please explain their choices?

Ooh, me first, OK?

These are the criteria I used to decide my picks:

1. Who displays the ability to take on varied characters and give them their own personalities. This gives me Alyson Hannigan: Willow, Vamp-Willow, Dark Rosenberg, Michelle Flaherty. Also James Masters (believable accent) Evil-Spike, William, Crazy Spike, Souled Spike. I'm not familiar with Emma Caulfield's other work, but I have a feeling she should slip in here too.

2. Screen presence. The ability to draw your eye to them every scene they're in, and notice when they're not there. This gives me SMG, ASH, JM, ASH, and EC.

3. Scene stealing ability. Emma Caulfield, hands down. There are no other contenders.

4. Ability to interact with other actors. Immediately I remember those amazing scenes between Giles and Buffy where the 2 actors just suck every little bit of meaning out of the script, then add stuff with a shared glance that isn't even in it. Then there's Alyson Hannigan. She seems to have the most varied and intense personal relationships with the others. I reference Same Time Same Place and the wide gap between her relationship with Anya, and her relationship with Buffy. Alyson sucks those scenes dry, at the same time playing off and accenting the performances of the other actresses.

5. Ability to understand the character and add to the complexity of it. This gives me Alyson Hannigan, James Marsters, and Anthony Steward Head.


I put all this together, and I get in this order.

1. Alyson Hannigan
2. James Marsters
3. Anthony Steward Head
4. Emma Caulfield
5. Sarah Michelle Gellar
 
Most of the Buffy cast is amazing and about 1/3 of the Angel cast but really...

#1. James Marsters~He is an excellent actor. I feel that he can pull off anything. I love how he can just slip right into his character and play them in a way that makes me believe that they are real. He's just amazing in my eyes. He took Spike from a character that should have died after a few episodes to a character that has lasted for years. I have honestly never loved a character more than Spike. Yes, there is good writing but I feel that if anyone else had played him it just wouldn't have worked. His acting gave Spike the dimentions that made him what he is.

For pretty much the same reasons I'd have to add...
#2 Alyson Hannigan/SMG tie for second
#3 Anthony S Head
#4 Ema Caufield
#5 Alexis Denisoff (his character has come very far and he's played it quite well all the way)
 
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