Brendan Gleeson

Admittedly, Irish actor Brendan Gleeson has mostly appeared in smaller, supporting roles in films. So, understandably, it’s hard to gain the media attention and “celebrity-status” needed to really push a performance to the forefront. Despite this, Brendan is just so darn good. His ability to imbue both deep wisdom and levity to his characters really makes him stand out in those supporting roles. And he’s been in a lot of them—Braveheart, Gangs of New York, 28 Days Later, Troy, the Harry Potter series, etc. In Bruges was a true turning point for the actor, proving he can really carry a movie. Brendan was so, so good in that. We repeat: he’s just so, so good.