Best Actor/Actress Who Has Played A Superhero
We all know that we're awash is a sea of superhero movies and TV shows. Why? Because they make money. Why do they make money? Largely because they have a built-in, pre-sold audience, often referred to as fanboys. Superhero programming is a lot like porn. It doesn't have to be very good. It just has to be, and the fans are happy. And, like porn, the actors don't really have to be very good. They might be movie stars, like Chris Hemsworth or Scarlett Johansson, but most fans don't care that they're not much in the acting department. A lot of folks who've played X-Men haven't really been much of anything and the fans still bought it. I am NOT decrying this situation; but what I am saying is that there have been a few really good actors who have played supers, and this topic is here to recognize them.
I think Michael Shannon is an exceptional actor and that his General Zod was the best thing in Man of Steel. Terrance Stamp's General Zod was not the best thing in Superman II, but he was ONE of the best things in a movie that, even with the studio changing the directors mid-steam, is in every way better than Man of Steel. Stamp is an actor who has shined over decades.
I nominate James McAvoy as Professor X, and also Patrick Stewart, playing the same role, and Ian McKellan as Magneto, and Michael Fassbender as Magneto. Interesting that the two eminance grise of the X-Men movies have been so carefully cast, isn't it?
I nominate Edward Norton as The Hulk, and Tim Roth as The SuperHulk.
If we can agree that James Bond is a superhero--and, if Batman is, then so is Bond--I nominate Sean Connery.
Although her appearances have been, to date, limited, I nominate Gal Gadot for actually making me believe that she IS Wonder Woman. She just inhabits the role.
But the one I think is the best? The one who brought literally everything the role required, has been loved long after his death, and was a real, multi-faceted actor, and who was, not for nothing, a real-life superhero? You already know who I mean: Christoper Reeve, Superman. I have four words: what courage, and dignity.
Now it's your turn. They don't really have to be heroes. They just have to be super.