Who is your favorite screen actor and/or actress and why.

(The Lixy approach or Long Way Around )
Today I watched 'Contact' with Jodi Foster, on the stupid-tube. Because of the book (and it's author) I made a point to get to a pre opening before any review could shade my own considerations. While I told myself I was interested in seeing how many of the concepts presented in the book would be done by Hollywood, I guess my mind was not as accepting as I wanted to believe and didn't give it as high a rating as I did today. I was shocked to find it's been 10 years and perhaps that is why today's viewing was much more acceptable.

Now! All this is to qualify 'my' perception of what constitutes a Great actor/actress. I personally find the 'paparazzi industry' not only disgusting and insulting, but distracting from the one thing a personality is exceptional at doing. As I watched Contact today, I became totally engrossed in the character Jodi Foster was portraying and recalled her roll in 'Nell'. A performer that can make me COMPLETELY 'feel' ONLY the image presented is a superb actor to me.

Jodie Foster joins my ancient and not the most popular short list with Anthony Quinn, Humphrey Bogart, Al Pacino, and a few others.

So who are some of your favorites and why?

__________________