5 Underrated Actors Who Don’t Get Enough Credit

Sure, you've got your Brad Pitts, your Robert Downey Jr.s, your Johnny Depps. And yeah, there's that chameleon-woman Meryl Streep, the wonderful Helen Mirren, and the now-everywhere Jennifer Lawrence rounding it out on the female side. So what do all these players have in common? They're stars. They're the best of the best. They sell tickets. And though we appreciate the great performances they've given over the years, sometimes the big stars just get too much credit. I mean, yeah, these guys are brilliant, but what about the other people acting in the movies? The people who you just kind accept are just there time after time. So what's the big deal, you ask? That's their job, right? They're not supposed to overshadow the stars.

T.J. Barnard

Published: Nov 29, 2012 11:54 am

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3) John C. Reilly

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John C. Reilly is a rare case in Hollywood, a versatile actor who can flit effortlessly between extremely broad, over-the-top comedy performances, and roles in serious dramas. Reilly himself has made a conscious decision to mix it up throughout the course of his career (as showcased in this brilliant song at the 79th Oscars), though it’s easy to mistake him for a simple gag man.

As Jim Kurring in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Magnolia, Reilly showed us an intense and vulnerable character, though he failed to be nominated for any solo awards. Recently, in Roman Polanski’s Carnage, he held his own against three Academy Award-winners (Christoph Waltz, Kate Winslet, Jodie Foster). Reilly’s big frame and bulldog-looks make him perfect for comedy, but his dramatic turns remain vastly underrated.

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T.J. Barnard