Many actors and actresses play a character in a play, on television, but above all in a film, which is none other than the cinematographic art form offering entertainment to the general public. In a nutshell, acting means playing a character to entertain, teach or convey a message to viewers.
Many actors are immensely talented, but fail to gain recognition and success with the general public. In fact, the steps you need to take to make a film are numerous. So it takes courage and patience, as well as talent, to stand out from the crowd.
In this article, we'll take a look at the world's most famous actors and actresses since the dawn of cinema. Who had the most nominations and who won Best Actor or Best Actress. Does winning an Oscar make them the highest-paid actor/actress in the world?
The world's most famous actors and actresses
Daniel Day-Lewis and Clint Eastwood top the list of best actors. Among actresses, Katharine Hepburn and Meryl Streep stand out.
Who is Daniel Day-Lewis?
Born on in London, Daniel Day-Lewis is a British-Irish actor. He is one of the most selective international actors. In fact, he appeared in just six films between 1998 and 2017. In all, he received 13 prices out of 26 festival nominations.
He was the first to win three Best Actor Oscars in a leading role, he was rewarded in :
- My Left Foot in 1990;
- There Will Be Blood in 2008;
- Lincoln in 2012.
For his role in Phantom ThreadHe was named Best Actor at three ceremonies in 2018:
- 90e The 90th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles to honor films released in 2017. The ceremony was organized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
- 71e British Academy Film Awards (BAFA) ceremony, organized by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), at the Royal Albert Hall, also to reward films released in 2017.
- 75e Golden Globes ceremony to honor films and series broadcast in 2017. Organized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the ceremony took place at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.
Who is Clint Eastwood?
Born in San Francisco on May 31, 1930, Clint Eastwood is an American film actor, director, composer and producer. Self-taught, he got his start in B-movies before becoming a leading actor in such famous series as Francis in the Navy, Allen in Movieland and Revenge of the Creature. He triumphed in Hollywood at the 77th Oscars, with his film Million Dollar Baby, and was also the first actor to win an Academy Award. took home four of the most prestigious statuettes.
Who is Katharine Hepburn?
In her 62-year career, she has directed 53 films and series. She is the most Oscar-winning actress with four awards. Known as "Miss Kate", she is Hollywood's greatest actress and a legend of American cinema, having won 4 Oscars out of 12 nominations, Katharine Hepburn is the most popular actress in the world. the most awarded actress at the Oscars.
Born May 12, 1907 in Hartford and died June 29, 2003, she is counted among the great Hollywood myths. To this day, she remains an icon of cinematography with 4 statuettes.
Who is Meryl Streep?
Born on June 22, 1949 in Summit, Mary Louise Streep, also known as Meryl Strep, is an American actress and singer. She is a three-time Academy Award nominee for Best Actress in :
- Sophie's Choice (1983) ;
- Kramer vs. Kramer (1980) ;
- The Iron Lady" (2012).
She has left her mark on the history of contemporary cinema through her many roles, imbued with accuracy and emotion, and acclaimed by critics and audiences alike. In her 46-year career, she has received 20 awards and 89 nominations. In all, she has appeared in 86 films and 9 TV series. She is the interpreter in the history of the Oscars and Golden Globes (actors and actresses combined).
Who are the most famous and highest paid actors / actresses today?
Best actor and actress Oscar 2023
Brendan Fraser
At the final Oscars of 2023, the actor Brendan Fraser was named Best Actor. He is an American-Canadian actor. He was born in the United States on December 3, 1968. In his 31-year career, he has appeared in 53 films and 9 series.
After a more discreet period in his career, Brendan Fraser is back. In The Whale (2022), he played an obese 270kg man in search of redemption. He received his first Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations, and won the Oscar for Best Actor, for his performance in Darren Aronofsky's drama.
Michelle Yeoh
Born on August 6, 1962 in Ipoh, Malaysian actress and producer Michelle Yeoh specialized in martial arts films from the start of her career. In her 40-year career, she has appeared in 78 films and series and won 2 awards. She is the first actress of Asian origin to win the Oscar for Best Actress in 95 years of ceremonies.
Her real name is Yeoh Choo Kheng, and she made her mark with Ang Lee's magnificent Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which won an Oscar and box-office success. She went on to become a household name, playing one role after another with great success.
Who will be the highest-paid actor in 2023?
According to the Forbes ranking of the highest-paid actors in 2023, Adam Sandler tops the list. After paying the fees of his agent, manager and lawyer, he earned around $73 million last year. Exceeding $100 million in domestic box office with his films has become a habit for him.
He took his first steps as an actor on the stage of cafés-théâtres. In a career spanning 37 years, he has appeared in 70 films and series. He is one of America's greatest comedy stars.
Which of these actors made the biggest impression on you? Which film they played in has stayed in your mind? Still on the subject of actors, find out more about French actors top earners in our other article.
