Best Whedonverse Actors

SMG is,of course, wonderful. This is most apparent in The Body (not my favorite episode, but I can't imagine anyone messing with the acting) and Who Are You? I mean... she was Faith. It was brilliant!
My favorite I think is Alyson Hannigan. I felt everything she felt. She *was* Willow. It was astounding! Dark Willow just blew me away!
Although, Aly has some competition with Amy Acker. On Angel and on Dollhouse, she was awesome!
Alexis Denisof and Julie Benz also must be on the list!
 
There are loads of talented actors in the Whedonverse, but these are the first ones that came to my mind:

Alyson Hannigan: I think she showed a lot of range over BTVS, as Willow's character changed to much from season to season. She did just as great of a job with the character in Season 1 as she did in Season 7 (despite how much Willow changed!), and really impressed me when she played Vampire and Dark Willow. Her performance at the end of "Grave" especially stands out as one of her best to me.

Anthony Stewart Head: I've seen him in a few productions and he never fails to impress me. Always plays a believable role and portrayed the different sides to Giles to a tee.

Amy Acker: Pretty much the same as Willow, her character changed a lot and she did play a very dark character on Angel. Seeing her in different roles on Dollhouse too has been a real treat. That girl can act!

James Marsters: Spike was another character that we see a lot of different sides to on BTVS/ATS. There was never once that I wasn't convinced of James' performance; whether he was taking on a humourous scene or a serious, violent one. He just always seems to do a bang-up job!

Also have to mention Enver Gjokaj (Victor) from Dollhouse. That show would really challenge an actor in that they have to jump between roles so often, and he seems to do it flawlessly everytime. Last week's episode especially, which had him in two very different roles, really showed off his acting ability.
 
There were so many good actors in Buffy and Angel. A few i rate but haven't seen mentioned much are j.august, Michelle Trachtenberg and Mayor(cant remember his rl name)
I like Charisma Carpenter, and she's a good comedy actor, but not so much with the serious acting.

---------- Post added at 10:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 PM ----------

Also, Glenn Quinn was very good too.
 
Sarah(i really love Buffy)

Eliza("five by five","orpheus","salvage")

David(in season 3 his performance ashtonished me when it comes to how he dealt with the whole connor-wesley-holtz thing)

Alexis Denisof

(i still haven't watched all seasons of Buffy so i will be patient to discover every aspect of the characters and then i can express my opinion again)
 
Emma and Nick. They're both a little unsung in this thread, and maybe I'm a little biased, but there are reasons that Anya and Xander are my favourite characters; and I'd say the acting is a huge part of that. They're two of the funniest characters in the 'verse, yet they can do such serious, emotional scenes, too (For example, in Hells Bells, and Anya's speech in The Body). It's quite hard to go from being all happy and funny to acting out such heartbreaking stuff (Trust me, I had to do it in my Drama exam. It was hard); so I definitely think they're amazing. Also, Amber Benson. I always thought she portrayed Tara so-so well. Oh, and Nathan Fillion. He's cheesey, in a good way; and oh-so funny.
 
I can't believe Enver Gjokaj has only been mentioned once. He's probably the best actor I've seen. As in, ever. The way he just slips into these different personas is brilliant. I never see him acting, I just see the character. I hope he goes on to great things, he definitely deserves that.

I'm also a fan of Anthony Stewart Head, he's brilliant in everything I've seen him in. He has a great range and plays every character completely consistent.

I'd like to say Alyson Hannigan because I love her, but... She plays a few characters very well but I don't think she's even near the range of Gjokaj and Head. She's a great comedy actress though.

I think Amy Acker, Amber Benson and Neil Patrick Harris are also great but I haven't seen them in enough roles to be able to really tell.

And I think James Marsters is a special case. I think he's a good actor, not fantastic but good enough, but he has this something about him that in every scene he's in, everyone is just a tad bit better than usual.
 
Angelic Slayer said:
Also have to mention Enver Gjokaj (Victor) from Dollhouse. That show would really challenge an actor in that they have to jump between roles so often, and he seems to do it flawlessly everytime. Last week's episode especially, which had him in two very different roles, really showed off his acting ability.
Click to expand...
I honestly think that Enver is the best television actor I've ever seen. Aside from Koko, who was over-the-top, but still great, Enver amazingly pulled off all of his radically different characters to the point where he seemed to embody each of their cultural backgrounds.

Though Enver/Victor is far from my favorite, simply because Dollhouse is Whedon's weakest work, imo.

In terms of my favs, I'd have to say James Marsters and Neil Patrick Harris. Even though I may like Angel slightly more, I think Spike took more acting-range to pull off. And everyone knows how talented NPH is, he's like Regis with more talent.
 
Since Dollhouse I have to say that Enver Gjokaj has blown every other Whedonverse actor out of the water for me. I never seen an actor that can slip in and out of characters so effortlessly as he does. When Victor was imprinted with Topher it wasn't Enver acting out the part of Topher; he was Topher. He is the reason I stuck with the series and I will go out of my way to see any other projects he becomes a part of.
 
Mumrik
Mumrik
[No message]
B
Buffyverse Fan
He did the same thing with Mr. Dominic. Enver did Dominic's voice so well, I'm not sure if I could tell the two apart without looking.
F
Fusions2
[No message]
BillyidolwannaB said:
David as Angelus in s2 is outstanding.
Click to expand...

(my first post, hullo Buffy Boards!)

I agree that it looks like David Boraneaz had a great deal of fun playing Angelus, he really went to town with the bad boy stuff! But Angel as Angel is pretty much a wet blanket, meh, and let's not even mention Liam's Oirish accent! (I could also tell James Marsters was NOT English from the very first sentence he spoke!)

I've been watching seasons 5 and 6 recently and the thing that stands out most (obviously) is SMGs performance in The Body. It's just an amazing performance, from when she first whispers "Mommy?" through to the end. All credit to her. Michelle Trachtenberg hasn't been mentioned here yet, I think, but considering her age at the time her performance in The Body is great 🙂

I can't decide if I think James Marsters is a really good actor or not, fact is I've not seen him in anything except Buffy and Torchwood. I mean, he excels at playing Spike but I don't know about range. There are two scenes recently where I definitely thought "nice work!" In season 3 where he's been beaten up and "Buffybot" kisses him thanks, as she pulls away the look in his one working eye as he realises it's the real Buffy is great. And he gives another "look" of slow dawning realisation when resurrected Buffy walks down the stairs at the beginning of season 6. I think maybe in these little moments he shows some quality.

ASH is clearly a dude and awesome, I saw him in something a while ago with Warren Clarke on the BBC and he had a monologue at the end, I remember just thinking "blimey matey, you should get a BAFTA just for that bit!"

Emma is great. I actually don't especially like Anya's character but the way Emma plays her is endearing, she reminds my of a 1930's screwball comedy actress (which of course is played up in OMWT so I guess Joss saw that too)
 
Kitten Poker said:
I can't decide if I think James Marsters is a really good actor or not, fact is I've not seen him in anything except Buffy and Torchwood. I mean, he excels at playing Spike but I don't know about range. There are two scenes recently where I definitely thought "nice work!" In season 3 where he's been beaten up and "Buffybot" kisses him thanks, as she pulls away the look in his one working eye as he realises it's the real Buffy is great. And he gives another "look" of slow dawning realisation when resurrected Buffy walks down the stairs at the beginning of season 6. I think maybe in these little moments he shows some quality.
Click to expand...

True, he hasn't had that many roles. If you think about it, though, he did show range in Spike's character. He went from terrifying murderer (and comic relief), to love struck fool (and comic relief), to a man in a mutually abusive relationship (not so much comic relief), to being guilt-ridden and half-insane, to the redeemed Spike of Season 7, and dozens more in between. I think he's one of the best actors in any of Whedon's work, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. Spike wouldn't have been what he was without James. It was the way Marsters completely owned the role of Spike that kept the character interesting and relevent to the show. Marsters was just able to convey so much through his looks, actions and facial expressions. I just think it's great that he came in as a disposable big bad, and ended up with a redemption story to rival Angel's.

I have to say, though, Joss has a gift for picking out magnificient actors that flesh out his characters and really bring them to life. Nathan Fillion is another one that I just adore; his Mal was perfect. And obviously SMG, and just about all of the members of the Scooby gang.

I honestly have to say DB (though I love him!) pales in comparison to the talent both on Buffy and his own show. As does Eliza, unfortunately. They're great actors on their own, but in comparison to the other members of the cast.... can't really hold up.
 
Kelsey said:
True, he hasn't had that many roles. If you think about it, though, he did show range in Spike's character. He went from terrifying murderer (and comic relief), to love struck fool (and comic relief), to a man in a mutually abusive relationship (not so much comic relief), to being guilt-ridden and half-insane, to the redeemed Spike of Season 7, and dozens more in between. I think he's one of the best actors in any of Whedon's work, and I'm not just saying that because I'm biased. Spike wouldn't have been what he was without James. It was the way Marsters completely owned the role of Spike that kept the character interesting and relevent to the show. Marsters was just able to convey so much through his looks, actions and facial expressions. I just think it's great that he came in as a disposable big bad, and ended up with a redemption story to rival Angel's.

I have to say, though, Joss has a gift for picking out magnificient actors that flesh out his characters and really bring them to life. Nathan Fillion is another one that I just adore; his Mal was perfect. And obviously SMG, and just about all of the members of the Scooby gang.

I honestly have to say DB (though I love him!) pales in comparison to the talent both on Buffy and his own show. As does Eliza, unfortunately. They're great actors on their own, but in comparison to the other members of the cast.... can't really hold up.
Click to expand...

I agree with you that for the vast majority of Buffy and Angel, DB shows himself a very workaday actor. Comes in, gets the job done to a satisfactory level, goes home and walks the dog or whatever. He did a great job on Angelus in S2 and obviously took some glee in being bad for a while, but I still think personally that any one of a dozen actors could have been cast in that role and it wouldn't make a heap o' difference. Eliza doesn't fire up my imagination either.

Like you, Spike is my favourite character and I agree that to go from "cardboard villain who was only meant to be in it for a few episodes" to his ultimate end is a brilliant feat, both for the writers who made such a move believable and for JM who I give all due credit to. I can't imagine anyone else playing Spike and the same decisions to give him a role being made. If it had been anyone else he would have stayed cardboard and been a few episodes for S2 only. I put a lot of that down to JM's previous experience and theatrical training, and the age gap between him and the rest of the scooby actors. More life experience shows through 🙂

I think SMG and JM are the two stand out actors in the Buffyverse, and as I said I think Emma Caulfield did a great job with what she had even though personally I think Anya is an unbelievable character. My only real problem with JM is that, to my mind, his scattering of roles since Buffy have somehow shown a lack of focus. I'd like to see him on TV again but in something he has a more major role in and sticks at for a few years. I love him to bits, he's a total dude and he obviously loves being a raconteur and meeting the fans, but a little less conferencing and a little more acting would prove his abilities more to me 🙂

I think both SMG and Emma suffer from the curse of being an actress in your thirties and there not being much around apart from wives and girlfriends. I look forward to seeing Veronica Decides to Die though, I quite liked the book 🙂
 
Number one would have to SMG. She's plays Buffy perfectly, character developments and all.

Then James Marsters. It seems Spike is radically different in every seasons, and he plays each one perfectly.

Amy Acker. She played both the sweetest, most lovable darling, and the most powerful and detached of creatures perfectly.

Aly Hannigan. Her way of being both sweet little Willow and Dark, power addicted Willow is quite lovely.

But I think they're all good actors, with one exception: Michelle Trachtenburg. I've never liked the actress, or the characters she's played. Like, in Gone, when she was completely flipping out because she couldn't see Buffy? Maybe it was just bad writing, but that was one of the fakest things I'd ever watched. 😀
 
Alexis- I'm Slightly in love with him for his portrayal as Wesley. He really made me care for him.

Amy Acker-Effortlessly switching from Fred to Illyria, and subtly brilliant.

Those two really stood out for me, shame they've not done much more acting 🙁. Also liked, Alyson,Juliet, Anthony, Julie and Charisma.

Dollhouse gets a mention for Enver and Franz <3 I love them both.
 
Bluebird
Bluebird
[No message]
Sweetescape said:
Alexis- I'm Slightly in love with him for his portrayal as Wesley. He really made me care for him.

Amy Acker-Effortlessly switching from Fred to Illyria, and subtly brilliant.

Those two really stood out for me, shame they've not done much more acting 🙁. Also liked, Alyson,Juliet, Anthony, Julie and Charisma.

Dollhouse gets a mention for Enver and Franz <3 I love them both.
Click to expand...

I love Charisma and Real!Cordy, but I think she's noticeably less talented than the other major leads...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom