100. Linda Manz as Linda in Days of Heaven (1978)
99. Kim Hye-ja as Mother in Mother (2009)
98. Marisa Tomei as Pam/Cassidy in The Wrestler (2008)
97. Julianne Moore as Charley in A Single Man (2009)
96. Charlotte Gainsbourg as She in Antichrist (2009)
95. Jane Fonda as Bree Daniels in Klute (1971)
94. Thelma Ritter as Moe Williams in Pickup on South Street (1953)
93. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee Holloway in Secretary (2002)
92. Marilyn Monroe as Sugar Kane in Some Like It Hot (1959)
91. Cloris Leachman as Ruth Popper in The Last Picture Show (1971)
90. Ellen Burstyn as Sara Goldfarb in Requiem for a Dream (2000)
89. Catherine Deneuve as Séverine Serizy/Belle de Jour in Belle de Jour (1967)
88. Giulietta Masina as Maria 'Cabiria' Ceccarelli in Nights of Cabiria (1957)
87. Maggie Gyllenhaal as Sherry Swanson in Sherrybaby (2006)
86. Michelle Williams as Cindy in Blue Valentine (2010)
85. Ellen Burstyn as Chris MacNeil in The Exorcist (1973)
84. Isabelle Adjani as Anna in Possession (1981)
83. Holly Hunter as Ada McGrath in The Piano (1993)
82. Wendy Hiller as Pat Cooper in Separate Tables (1958)
81. Emma Thompson as Dora Carrington in Carrington (1995)
80. Rita Tushingham as Jo in A Taste of Honey (1961)
79. Laura Dern as Nikki Grace in INLAND EMPIRE (2006)
78. Bette Davis as Charlotte Vale in Now, Voyager (1942)
77. Jennifer Lawrence as Ree in Winter's Bone (2010)
76. Anna Karina as Nana Kleinfrankenheim in My Life to Live (1962)
75. Patricia Neal as Alma Brown in Hud (1963)
74. Norma Shearer as Kathi in The Student Prince in Old Heidelberg (1927)
73. Julianne Moore as Carol White in Safe (1995)
72. Anamaria Marina as Otilia in 4 Months, 3 Weeks & 2 Days (2007)
71. Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly in Breakfast At Tiffany's (1961)
70. Samantha Morton as Morvern Callar in Morvern Callar (2002)
69. Cate Blanchett as Jude in I'm Not There (2007)
68. Catherine Deneuve as Carole in Repulsion (1965)
67. Claudette Colbert as Ellie in It Happened One Night (1934)
66. Helena Bonham-Carter as Lucy Honeychurch in A Room with a View (1986)
65. Ingrid Bergman as Alicia Huberman in Notorious (1946)
64. Jeon Do-Yeon as Shin-ae in Secret Sunshine (2007)
63. Jean Hagen as Lina Lamont in Singin' in the Rain (1952)
62. Irene Dunne as Lucy Warriner in The Awful Truth (1937)
61. Mia Farrow as Cecilia in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985)
60. Julianne Moore as Laura Brown in The Hours (2002)
59. Nicole Kidman as Satine in Moulin Rouge! (2001)
58. Ingrid Bergman as Ilsa Lund in Casablanca (1942)
57. Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce in Little Children (2006)
56. Anjelica Huston as Gretta Conroy in The Dead (1987)
55. Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery (1990)
54. Anne Bancroft as Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate (1967)
53. Gena Rowlands as Mabel Longhetti in A Woman Under the Influence (1974)
52. Carey Mulligan as Kathy in Never Let Me Go (2010)
51. Irene Jacob as Veronika/Véronique in The Double Life of Veronique (1991)
50. Julie Christie as Laura Baxter in Don't Look Now (1973)
49. Kate Winslet as Juliet Hulme in Heavenly Creatures (1994)
48. Anna Karina as Odile in Bande a Part (1964)
47. Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story (1940)
46. Barbara Stanwyck as Lee Leander in Remember the Night (1940)
45. Thora Birch as Enid in Ghost World (2001)
44. Kate Winslet as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility (1995)
43. Vivien Leigh as Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind (1939)
42. Janet Leigh as Marion Crane in Psycho (1960)
41. Madeline Kahn as Lili Von Shtupp in Blazing Saddles (1974)
40. Louise Fletcher as Nurse Ratched in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
39. Lillian Gish as Letty in The Wind (1928)
38. Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann in Roman Holiday (1953)
37. Gena Rowlands as Myrtle Gordon in Opening Night (1977)
36. Audrey Tautou as Amélie Poulain in Amelie (2001)
35. Kim Novak as Madeleine Elster/Judy Barton in Vertigo (1958)
34. Naomi Watts as Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn in Mulholland Dr. (2001)
33. Reese Witherspoon as June Carter in Walk the Line (2005)
32. Gloria Swanson as Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (1950)
31. Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross in True Grit (2010)

100. Walter Matthau as Willie Gingrich in The Fortune Cookie (1966)
99. Paul Newman as Hud Bannon in Hud (1963)
98. Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (2010)
97. Bruce Campbell as Ash in The Evil Dead Trilogy (1981 - 1993)
96. Jason Robards as Murray Burns in A Thousand Clowns (1965)
95. Marlon Brando as Don Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972)
94. Albert Finney as Arthur Seaton in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1960)
93. Samuel L. Jackson as Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction (1994)
92. Orson Welles as Falstaff in Chimes at Midnight (1965)
91. Malcolm McDowell as Mick Travis in If..../O Lucky Man/Britannia Hospital (1968 - 1982)
90. Casey Affleck as Robert Ford in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
89. Klaus Kinski as Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald - 'Fitzcarraldo' In Fitzcarraldo (1982)
88. Humphrey Bogart as Rick Blaine in Casablanca (1942)
87. James Stewart as John 'Scottie' Ferguson in Vertigo (1958)
86. Henry Fonda as Tom Joad in The Grapes of Wrath (1940)
85. Paul Newman as 'Fast' Eddy Felson in The Hustler/The Color of Money (1961 - 1986)
84. Buster Keaton as Johnny Gray in The General (1926)
83. James Cagney as Cody Jarrett in White Heat (1949)
82. James Stewart as Jefferson Smith in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)
81. Warren Oates as Bennie in Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia (1974)
80. Christoph Waltz as Col. Hans Landa in Inglourious Basterds (2009)
79. Walter Matthau as Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple (1968)
78. Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's Monster in Frankenstein/Bride of Frankenstein/Son of Frankenstein (1931 - 1939)
77. River Phoenix as Mike Waters in My Own Private Idaho (1991)
76. Dirk Bogarde as Hugo Barrett in The Servant (1963)
75. Robert Duvall as Tom Hagen in The Godfather in The Godfather/The Godfather Part II (1972 - 1974)
74. Michael Caine as Jack Carter in Get Carter (1971)
73. Kurt Russell as R.J. MacReady in The Thing (1982)
72. Jim Carrey as Joel Barish in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
71. Steve Buscemi as Seymour in Ghost World (2001)
70. Gene Hackman as Harry Caul in The Conversation (1974)
69. Ben Johnson as Sam the Lion in The Last Picture Show (1971)
68. Tatsuya Nakadai as Lord Hidetora Ichimonji in Ran (1985)
67. Peter Mullan as Joe Kavanagh in My Name Is Joe (1998)
66. John C. Reilly as Officer Jim Kurring in Magnolia (1999)
65. Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting in Gangs of New York (2002)
64. Jack Lemmon as Felix Unger in The Odd Couple (1968)
63. Colin Firth as George in A Single Man (2009)
62. Song Kang-ho as Yoon Tae-goo/The Weird in The Good, The Bad, The Weird (2008)
61. Peter Falk as Nick Longhetti in A Woman under the Influence (1974)
60. Cary Grant as Dr. David Huxley in Bringing Up Baby (1938)
59. Alec Guinness as The Duke/The Banker/The Parson/The General/The Admiral/Young Ascoyne/Young Henry/Lady Agatha in Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949)
58. Marlon Brando as Terry Malloy in On the Waterfront (1954)
57. Paddy Considine as Richard in Dead Man's Shoes (2004)
56. Martin Sheen as Captain Benjamin L. Willard in Apocalypse Now (1979)
55. Roger Livesey as Clive Candy in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp (1943)
54. Max von Sydow as Antonius Block in The Seventh Seal (1957)
53. Jack Lemmon as Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot (1959)
52. Heath Ledger as The Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)
51. Robert Shaw as Sam Quint in Jaws (1975)
50. John Goodman as Charlie Meadows in Barton Fink (1991)
49. Harry Dean Stanton as Travis Henderson in Paris, Texas (1984)
48. Dustin Hoffman as Benjamin Braddock in The Graduate (1967)
47. Walter Matthau as Charley Varrick in Charley Varrick (1973)
46. Sam Rockwell as Sam Bell in Moon (2009)
45. Charles Grodin as Jonathan 'The Duke' Mardukas in Midnight Run (1988)
44. Jeff Bridges as The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998)
43. Bill Murray as Bob Harris in Lost in Translation (2003)
42. Jack Nicholson as R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)
41. Ulrich Muhe as Hauptmann Gerd Wiesler in The Lives of Others (2006)
40. Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men (2007)
39. Ian McKellan as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy (2001 - 2003)
38. Peter Lorre as Hans Beckert in M (1931)
37. John Wayne as Ethan Edwards in The Searchers (1956)
36. Kevin Spacey as Lester Burnham in American Beauty (1999)
35. Charles Chaplin as The Little Tramp in Modern Times/City Lights/The Circus/The Gold Rush/The Kid and More (1914 - 1936)
34. Toshiro Mifune as Sanjuro Kuwabatake/The Samurai in Yojimbo/Samjuro (1961 - 1962)
33. Tom Courtenay as Colin Smith in The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)
32. John Cazale as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather/The Godfather Part II (1972 - 1974)
31. Jack Nicholson as Robert Eroica Dupea in Five Easy Pieces (1970)


100. Hugh Laurie as Dr. Gregory House in House (2004 - Present)
99. Ray Wise as Leland Palmer in Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991)
98. Steve Zahn as Davis McAlary in Treme (2010 - Present)
97. Arthur Darville as Rory Williams in Doctor Who (2010 - Present)
96. Dean Stockwell as Al Calavicci in Quantum Leap (1989 - 1993)
95. Jerry Orbach as Lennie Brisco in Law & Order (1991 - 2004)
94. Julianna Margulies as Carol Hathaway in ER (1994 - 2009)
93. Chris Barrie as Arnold Rimmer in Red Dwarf (1988 - 2009)
92. Forest Whitaker as Jon Kavanaugh in The Shield (2006 - 2007)
91. Jessica Stevenson as Daisy Steiner in Spaced (1999 - 2001)
90. Rhys Darby as Murray in Flight Of The Conchords (2007 - 2009)
89. Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock in Sherlock (2010 - Present)
88. Sofie Grabol as Sarah Lund in - The Killing (2007 - Present)
87. Brad Dourif as Doc Cochran in Deadwood (2004 - 2006)
86. John Spencer as Leo McGarry in The West Wing (1999 - 2006)
85. Kelly Macdonald as Margaret Schroeder in Boardwalk Empire (2010 - Present)
84. Richard Ayoade as Moss in The I.T. Crowd (2006 - Present)
83. Jeremy Irons as Charles Ryder in Brideshead Revisited (1981)
82. Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos (1999 - 2007)
81. Michael Emerson as Ben Linus in Lost (2006 - 2010)
80. John le Mesurier as Sgt. Arthur Wilson in Dad's Army (1968 - 1977)
79. Steve Pemberton as Various in The League of Gentlemen (1999 - 2002)
78. Michael Hogan as Col. Saul Tigh in Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009)
77. David Cross as Tobias Funke in Arrested Development (2003 - 2006)
76. Tony Sirico as Paulie 'Walnuts' Gualtieri in The Sopranos (1999 - 2007)
75. Anthony Andrews as Sebastian Flyte in Brideshead Revisited (1981)
74. Rainn Wilson as Dwight Schrute in The Office (2005 - 2011)
73. Woody Harrelson as Woody Boyd in Cheers (1985 - 1993)
72. Vasili Livanov as Sherlock Holmes in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson (1979 - 1986)
71. Reece Shearsmith as Various Characters in Psychoville (2009 - Present)
70. Katee Sackhoff as Kara 'Starbuck' Thrace in Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009)
69. Harry H. Corbett as Harold Steptoe in Steptoe and Son (1962 - 1974)
68. Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm 'Mal' Reynolds in Firefly (2002 - 2003)
67. Wendell Pierce as Detective William 'Bunk' Moreland in The Wire (2002 - 2008)
66. Jon Pertwee as The Doctor in Dr. Who (1970 - 1974)
65. John Mahoney as Martin Crane in Frasier (1993 - 2004)
64. Nancy Marchand as Livia Soprano in The Sopranos (1999 - 2000)
63. David Tennant as The Doctor in Doctor Who (2005 - 2010)
62. Derek Jacobi as Claudius in I, Claudius (1976)
61. Julia Sawalha as Lynda Day in Press Gang (1989 - 1993)
60. Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto in The Sopranos (2000 - 2004)
59. Anthony Edwards as Dr. Mark Greene in ER (1994 - 2002)
58. Larry David as Larry David in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 - Present)
57. Patrick McGoohan as Number 6 in The Prisoner (1967 - 1968)
56. Alan Alda as Captain Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce in MASH (1972 - 1983)
55. James Callis as Dr. Gaius Baltar in Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009)
54. Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes in The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984 - 1994)
53. Matt Smith as The Doctor in Doctor Who (2010 - Present)
52. Dylan Moran as Bernard Black in Black Books (2000 - 2004)
51. Seth Gilliam as Sgt. Ellis Carver in The Wire (2002 - 2008)
50. Bryan Cranston as Walter H. White in Breaking Bad (2008 - Present)
49. Ted Danson as Sam Malone in Cheers (1982 - 1993)
48. Steve Buscemi as Enoch 'Nucky' Thompson in Boardwalk Empire (2010 - Present)
47.Jim Parsons as Sheldon Cooper in The Big Bang Theory (2007 - Present)
46. Sonja Sohn as Kima Greggs in The Wire (2002 - 2008)
45. Andre Braugher as Det. Frank Pembleton in Homicide: Life On The Street (1993 - 1998)
44. Damian Lewis as Maj. Richard D. Winters in Band Of Brothers (2001)
43. Arthur Lowe as Cpt Mainwaring in Dad's Army (1968 - 1977)
42. John Simm as Sam Tyler in Life on Mars (2006 - 2007)
41. Richard Wilson as Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave (1990 - 2000)
40. Jason Alexander as George Costanza in Seinfeld (1989 - 1998)
39. J.D. Williams as Bodie Broadus in The Wire (2002 - 2008)
38. Ardal O'Hanlon as Father Dougal McGuire in Father Ted (1995 - 1998)
37. Ian McShane as Al Swearengen in Deadwood (2004 - 2006)
36. Peter Capaldi as Malcolm Tucker in The Thick of It (2005 - 2010)
35. Keifer Sutherland as Jack Bauer in 24 (2001 - 2010)
34. David Jason as Derek 'Del Boy' Trotter in Only Fools And Horses (1981 - 2003)
33. Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap (1989 - 1993)
32. Robbie Coltrane as Dr. Eddie 'Fitz' Fitzgerald in Cracker (1993 - 2006)
31. Mary McDonnell as Laura Roslin in Battlestar Galactica (2004 - 2009)

Female Film Performances

100.
Linda Manz
as Linda
in Days of Heaven
(1978)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/LindaManzDaysofHeaven.png[/image]

On the basis of her work between 78 and 80, Manz should have become a huge star. Her most popular role sees her playing Linda, younger sister of Richard Gere's Bill, a migrant worker who becomes mixed-up in a plan to scam a sickly farm-owner. Manz's narration adds greatly to the beautiful and haunting atmosphere of the film.

Awards won:
None

Awards nominated:
None

Male Film Performances

100.
Walter Matthau
as Willie Gingrich
in The Fortune Cookie
(1966)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/WalterMatthauTheFortuneCookie.jpg[/image]

The performance that won him an Oscar sees Matthau playing unscrupulous, ambulance-chasing lawyer 'Whiplash Willy'. When his brother-in-law (Jack Lemmon) gets a minor injury in a collision with an American-football player, Willy sees the chance to scam the insurance companies.

Awards won:
Academy Award: Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Supporting Actor - Kansas City Film Critics
Supporting Actor - Laurel Awards.

Awards nominated:
Golden Globe: Best Motion Picture Actor - Musical/Comedy

Television Performances

100.
Hugh Laurie
as Dr. Gregory House
in House
(2004 - Present)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/HughLaurieHouse.jpg[/image]

The role that made Laurie a household name in America is a medical take on Sherlock Holmes. House is a bitter, cynical drug-addict. He's also one of the most brilliant medical minds in the world.

Awards won:
Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2007)
Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2006)

Satellite Awards: Actor in a Series: Drama (2006)
Actor in a Series: Drama (2005)

Screen Actors Guild: Actor in a Drama Series (2009)
Actor in a Drama Series (2007)

Awards nominated:
Emmy: Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2010)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2009)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2008)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2007)
Lead Actor in a Drama Series (2005)

Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2011)
Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2010)
Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2009)
Best Actor in a Television Series: Drama (2008)

Satellite Awards: Actor in a Series: Drama (2007)

Screen Actors Guild: Actor in a Drama Series (2011)
Actor in a Drama Series (2010)
Actor in a Drama Series (2008)
Actor in a Drama Series (2006)

Female Film Performances

99.
Kim Hye-ja
as Mother
in Mother
(2009)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/Mother2.jpg[/image]

The titular mother is devoted to her mentally disabled son. When a young girl is found murdered, blame soon falls on the boy. Convinced her son is being set up, she seeks to prove his innocence and shows that she's willing to go to any length to see him set free. The mother is a character without ego, defined only by her relationship to her son, so it's fitting that Kim Hye-ja throws herself so fully into the role that she almost disappears into the character. An unsettling performance, but a brilliant one.

Awards won:
Asian Film Awards: Best Actress
LA Film Critics: Best Actress

Awards nominated:
None

Male Film Performances

99.
Paul Newman
as Hud Bannon
in Hud
(1963)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/Hud.jpg[/image]

One of the greatest American actors of all time, Newman gives his all as the bitter, selfish and arrogant rancher, Hud. Hud's aversion to responsibility constantly sees him bang heads with his ethical father and wet behind the ears nephew, until a bad business by Hud threatens to ruin them all. Newman came to be regarded by many as a comforting, assuring face in cinema, which is a surprise because his early work marked him out as an actor perfect for roles that called for a sense of rebellious contempt for the world. Hud sees him giving one of the best performances of the 60s.

Awards won:
Laurel Award: Best Male Dramatic Performance

Awards nominated:
Academy Award for Best Actor
Bafta for Best Foreign Actor
Golden Globe for Best Actor: Drama

Television Performances

99.
Ray Wise
as Leland Palmer
in Twin Peaks
(1990 - 1991)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/LelandPalmer.png[/image]

The grief-stricken father of murdered Laura Palmer gave Wise a chance to make his mark in television history. The unstable Leland's slow self-destruction and mental deterioration saw Wise giving a career-best performance, and ultimately he would make Leland into one of the most chilling and disturbing characters in the series.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Female Film Performances

98.
Marisa Tomei
as Pam/Cassidy
in The Wrestler
(2008)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/MarisaTomeiTheWrestler.jpg[/image]

Despite winning an Oscar fairly early in her career, Tomei spent about a decade not really getting the respect she deserved. Victim of a rather pathetic rumour that Jack Palance read out the wrong name at the Oscars (The fact that people believed it showed a staggering contempt for both Palance and Tomei) it took until 2001's In the Bedroom (Her second Oscar nom') for many to realise what a fine actress she actually is. The Wrestler saw her getting her third Oscar nomination for the role of Pam/Cassidy. It could have been a cliched role, the single-mom/stripper with a heart of gold who could save a damaged man, but Tomei invests such depth and heart in the character that she feels all too real.

Awards won:

Ohio Critics: Best Supporting Actress
Florida Critics: Best Supporting Actress
Las Vegas Critics: Best Supporting Actress
Phoenix Critics: Best Supporting Actress
San Diego Critics: Best Supporting Actress
San Francisco Critics: Best Supporting Actress

Awards nominated:

Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Bafta for Best Supporting Actress
Broadcast Film Critics for Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globe: Best Supporting Actress

Male Film Performances

98.
Jeff Bridges
as Rooster Cogburn
in True Grit
(2010)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/JeffBridgesTrueGrit.jpg[/image]

He may have taken home his Oscar for Crazy Heart, but True Grit is where he really became one of the kings of Hollywood. John Wayne may not have had much range as an actor, but it takes someone special to step into a role he made famous and become so widely acclaimed for it. Bridges is magnificent here, there's no doubt that Cogburn is a drunk and surly grotesque, but he's also a good old-fashioned hero and there's few actors alive who could be make both aspects of the character so convincing.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:

Academy Award for Best Actor
Bafta for Best Actor
Broadcast Film Critics for Best Actor
Ohio Critics: Actor of the Year
Chicago Critics: Best Actor
Las Vegas Critics: Best Actor
London Critics: Actor of the Year
Phoenix Critics: Best Actor
Screen Actor's Guild: Best Actor
Washington Critics: Best Actor

Television Performances

98.
Steve Zahn
as Davis McAlary
in Treme
(2010 - Present)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/SteveZahnDavis.jpg[/image]

There's no doubt that Davis can be seen as a bit of poser, A white boy who desperately wants to be a black jazz musician. He's a bit of an idiot, excitable, has impulse control problems and has no clue when his mouth is getting him into trouble. It's the perfect role for Steve Zahn really. In many ways Davis feels like Ziggy from The Wire if Ziggy had grown up in New Orleans instead of Baltimore. But while James Ransone played Ziggy as an unsympathetic dick, Zahn rounds off Davis more. So while you may think he's childish and sometimes irritating, he's also quite loveable, and Zahn has never been better.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Female Film Performances

97.
Julianne Moore
as Charley
in A Single Man
(2009)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/JulianneMooreASingleMan.jpg[/image]

Best friend of Colin Firth's George, Charley is a lonely woman, still beautiful, but ageing and alone. There's a self-destructive, drunken sadness to Charley. The kind that leads her to try and seduce her grief-stricken, gay, best friend. Moore is one of the most remarkable actresses working today, able to take a character that could have been an Absolutely Fabulous style cliche and give her fragile layers beneath the brash exterior. Moore is excellent, as usual.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:

Broadcast Film Critics: Best Supporting Actress
Chicago Critics: Best Supporting Actress
Golden Globes: Best Supporting Actress
Washington Critics: Best Supporting Actress

Male Film Performances

97.
Bruce Campbell
as Ash Williams
in The Evil Dead Trilogy
(1981 - 1993)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/BruceCampbellAsh.jpg[/image]

Demon-fighter, wise-cracker, cowardly idiot, Ash is quite possibly the definitive 80s horror hero. Starting off in The Evil Dead as the kind of every-man who would often be killed off halfway through, Ash is shown to be willing to do whatever it takes to survive, from killing loved ones when The Deadites possess them to cutting off his own hand and replacing it with a chainsaw. Part Moe Howard, part cynical killing machine, Campbell plays the role like he's the most hardcore live-action Tex Avery creation imaginable, and he's one of cultdom's most beloved actors because of it.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Television Performances

97.
Arthur Darvill
as Rory Williams/The Lone Centurion
in Doctor Who
(2010 - Present)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/ArthurDarvill.jpg[/image]

Funny, likeable, and 100% devoted to Amy, Rory has become one of the most popular aspects of Moffat's time running Dr. Who. Rory has grown over his time in the series, changing from the somewhat nervous character we first meet to becoming one of the most unfailingly brave and loyal characters in the show. He's even been given the coolest moment so far of any character in the new series. You have to wonder if the vote had been taken after this weekend's episode if he'd have been even higher in the list. Darvill plays the role with the right kind of comedic edge it needs, and it takes a soulless individual not to be impressed with both the character and the performance.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Female Film Performances

96.
Charlotte Gainsbourg
as She
in Antichrist
(2009)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/CharlotteGainsbourgAntichrist.jpg[/image]

Following the death of her child, Gainsbourg's She and Willem Dafoe's He retreat to a cabin in the woods. Gainsbourg is grief-stricken over the role she played in the death and it's pushing her towards complete collapse. It's a fearless and raw performance, not just because of the explicit sex scenes, but because of how emotionally naked she is. Von Trier has a history of pulling astonishing, revelatory performances out of his female leads, Gainsbourg's is one of the very best.

Awards won:
Cannes Best Actress

Awards Nominated:
European Film Awards: Best Actress

Male Film Performances

96.
Jason Robards
as Murray Burns
in A Thousand Clowns
(1965)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/JasonRobardsAThousandClowns.jpg[/image]

Murray Burns is a happily unemployed writer, five months free from a soul-breaking childrens' show. He lives with his 12 year old nephew, Nick. The government have grown concerned about their living arrangements and offer Murray an ultimatum, get a job or lose Nick. Robards is the heart of this film, whether it's delivering the witty dialogue with such naturalism that it actually feels as if he's thinking it up on the spot, tormenting his neighbours with wake-up yells or seducing Harris to the tune of Yes Sir, That's My Baby (one of cinema's greatest musical moments) he's just breathtaking. It's one of the greatest performances in cinema history.

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:
Golden Globes: Best Actor: Musical/Comedy

Television Performances

96.
Dean Stockwell
as Al Calavicci
in Quantum Leap
(1989 - 1993)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/QuantumLeapAl.jpg[/image]

Quantum Leap is the story of Sam Beckett, a brilliant scientist who discovered a way to travel in time by leaping into the bodies of other people. Al is Sam's only link to his real time period, a holographic projection of Sam's best friend who is able to guide him to solve whatever tragedy or mystery each new episode presents. Al survived orphanages, Vietnamese p.o.w. camps, alcoholism and a string of failed marriages to become the real heart of the series. Scott Bakula's Beckett may have got all the flashy scenes, but several of the most powerful moments (The dance to 'Georgia', standing in the police cell softly singing 'We Shall Overcome') come courtesy of Al. Former child-star Stockwell came to the show fresh from a career revival (thanks to an Oscar nomination for Married to the Mob) and turned the character into a cult icon.

Awards won:
Golden Globes: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series: 1990

Awards nominated:
Emmy: Supporting Actor in a Drama: 1993
Supporting Actor in a Drama: 1992
Supporting Actor in a Drama: 1991
Supporting Actor in a Drama: 1990

Golden Globes: Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series: 1993
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series: 1992
Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series: 1991

Female Film Performances

95.
Jane Fonda
as Bree Daniels
in Klute
(1971)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/JaneFondaKlute.jpg[/image]

Awards won:

Academy Award: Best Actress
Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Drama
Kansas Critics: Best Actress
New York Film Critics: Best Actress

Awards nominated:

Bafta: Best Actress

Male Film Performances

95.
Marlon Brando
as Don Vito Corleone
in The Godfather
(1972)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/MarlonBarandoGodfather.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Academy Award: Best Actor
Golden Globe: Best Actor in a Drama
Kansas Critics: Best Actor

Awards nominated:
Bafta: Best Actor

Television Performances

95.
Jerry Orbach
as Detective Lenny Briscoe
in Law & Order
(1991 - 2004)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/JerryOrbachLawadOrder.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Screen Actor's Guild: Lead Actor in a Drama (2005)

Awards nominated:
Emmy: Lead Actor in a Drama (2000)

Female Film Performances

94.
Thelma Ritter
as Moe Williams
in Pickup on South Street
(1953)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/ThelmaRitterPickup.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:
Academy Award: Supporting Actress

Male Film Performances

94.
Albert Finney
as Arthur Seaton
in Saturday Night and Sunday Morning
(1960)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/AlbertFinneySaturday.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Bafta: Most Promising Newcomer
National Board of Review: Best Actor

Awards nominated:
Bafta: Best British Actor

Television Performances

94.
Julianna Margulies
as Carol Hathaway
in ER
(1994 - 2009)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/Marguiles.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Emmy: Supporting Actress in a Drama (1995)

Screen Actor's Guild: Best Actress in a Drama (1999)
Best Actress in a Drama (1998)

Awards nominated:
Emmy: Lead Actress in a Drama (2000)
Lead Actress in a Drama (1999)
Lead Actress in a Drama (1998)
Lead Actress in a Drama (1997)
Supporting Actress in a Drama (1996)

Golden Globe: Best Actress in a Drama (2000)
Best Actress in a Drama (1999)
Best Actress in a Drama (1998)
Best Actress in a Supporting Role (1996)

Screen Actor's Guild: Best Actress in a Drama (1996)

Female Film Performances

93.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
as Lee Holloway
in Secretary
(2002)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/MaggieGyllenhaal.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Boston Critics: Best Actress
Ohio Critics: Best Actress
Chicago Critics: Most Promising Performer
Gotham Awards: Breakthrough Award
National Board of Review: Breakthrough Award

Awards nominated:
Golden Globe Best Actress in a Comedy
Independent Spirit: Lead Actress
Phoenix Critics: Best Actress

Male Film Performances

93.
Samuel L. Jackson
as Jules Winnfield
in Pulp Fiction
(1994)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/SamJackson.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Bafta for Supporting Actor
Indie Spirit: Leading Actor

Awards nominated:
Academy Award for Supporting Actor
Golden Globe for Supporting Actor
SAG: Supporting Actor

Television Performances

93.
Chris Barrie
as Arnold Rimmer
in Red Dwarf
(1988 - 2009)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/Rimmer.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Female Film Performances

92.
Marilyn Monroe
as Sugar Kane Kowalczyk
in Some Like It Hot
(1959)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/MonroeSugarKane.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:
Golden Globe Best Actress in a Comedy

Male Film Performances

92.
Orson Welles
as Falstaff
in Chimes at Midnight
(1965)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/Orson.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated:
Bafta: Foreign Actor

Television Performances

92.
Forest Whitaker
as Jon Kavanaugh
in The Shield
(2006 - 2007)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/WhitakerShield.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None

Female Film Performances

91.
Cloris Leachman
as Ruth Popper
in The Last Picture Show
(1971)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/ClorisLeachman.jpg[/image]

Awards won:
Academy Award for Supporting Actress
Bafta for Supporting Actress
Kansas Critics: Supporting Actress
National Board of Review: Supporting Actress

Awards nominated:
Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress

Male Film Performances

91.
Malcolm McDowell
as Mick Travis
in If..../O Lucky Man/Britannia Hospital
(1968 - 1982)

[image]http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l620/empirecomedylist/MalcolmMcDowellIf.jpg[/image]

Awards won: None

Awards nominated: None