Aren't there always those actors that just have that extra something that make them more memorable? Of course I'm referring to their voices. What else would I be talking about? (You people are sick.) Taking a page out of
Ruth's book, I examine a few of
my personal favorites.
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| Richard Burton |
I have a weakness for actors who have elegant voices and play not-so-elegant roles. Mr. Burton is one such actor. He had a self-loathing tone in his voice, which add a certain air to his performances. Oh, if there were more actors like him today.
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| Benedict Cumberbatch |
When I first saw him, I didn't think much of him. You can imagine my surprise when I saw him act and, most importantly, heard him speak in
Sherlock (which is pretty much the best show on the air right now). Now he's an actor I'm keeping a close eye on. (Oh, and his
reading of "Ode to a Nightingale" is to die for.)
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| Colin Firth |
I couldn't help but notice the slight irony of casting Firth in the title role in
The King's Speech. I mean, here's an actor who has a wonderful voice, and he can't bring himself to speak. I can't be the only one who saw that.
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| Henry Fonda |
His voice possessed an assertive tone that always made him the voice of reason. (
12 Angry Men and
The Ox-Bow Incident are prime examples.) It just
worked.
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| Burt Lancaster |
Mr. Lancaster has, without a doubt, the smoothest vocals I ever heard. Personally I'm not too surprised that most of the films I saw him in had his character delivering a speech or a monologue of some sort. What can I say? Hollywood liked the way he spoke.
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| Jude Law |
He's a smooth talker, no doubt about that. Several of his roles emphasize that trait. Personally I like how he can be charming and a bastard in the same movie.
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| James Mason |
Like Mr. Burton, Mr. Mason had an elegant Welsh accent yet he played parts that were anything but elegant (ie,
Bigger Than Life,
Lolita). Like I said, it's a weakness of mine.
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| Robert Mitchum |
If there was one person who could personify the "I don't give a fuck" attitude, that person was Robert Mitchum. His drawl, as well as his mannerisms, best embodied this behavior, and is best seen in the many noirs he was in.
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| Laurence Olivier |
Not gonna lie, this man made Shakespeare interesting to me. And that's saying a lot. Oh, and he's also a marvelous actor.
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| Peter O'Toole |
Many of his roles had him as aloof and indifferent to the society he was a part of. Yet his voice suggests otherwise. Oh, contradictions, how I love thee.
Runners-Up
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| Humphrey Bogart |
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| Robert Downey, Jr. |
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| Ralph Fiennes |
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| Cary Grant |
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| Tom Hiddleston |
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| William Holden |
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| Jack Lemmon |
