Is there a better living, English-speaking actor today?

I agree totally. I must of watched this film when I was about 9 or 10, and even back then watching him perform blew me away. Gangs of New York was a rubbish film but he was the best thing in it, showing up anyone who was unfortunate enough to share screen time with him.

DeNiro is a classic, there's no doubt about that, but he certainly isn't among the world's best actors. He has turned in some horrible performances, and really seems to have topped himself with Taxi Driver (or Mean Streets; I can't decide)

if i had to name my favourite actor, i'd very probably answer DD Lewis.

How is he underrated? If you ask anybody what they think of Day-Lewis as an actor 99% will say he's excellent. The fact that he hasn't been in many movies is he's picky with what roles he chooses. The guy almost gave up working with Scorsese for *beep*'s sake. He's great but I can't call him the best...I can't call anybody the best.

He won the oscar in my opinion. You just can't compete with any holocaust propoganda. They have a grip on everything that's entertainment. Make a movie about Jews and your guaranteed nods.

Yes, D D Lewis is not nearly as good an actor as Steve Zahn

cyclone, i know exactly what you mean, Day Lewis is absolutely 'Real' in this film, its a heartbreaking and uplifting performance from a greatly talented person, its not a 'Hollywood' performance but for me it is such a moving performance that it absolutely shows a guy like Hanks up for what he is, an amatuer .... Day Lewis is a cut above anybody in the last 20 years, he is on a par with De Niro, Pacino and Nicholson of the late 60s and 70s, just so real and so brilliant ........ Hanks, Cruise, Pitt, Clooney are movie stars not real actors, big props to Jack Lemmon too, im a big fan of Jack i think people underrate him

Gary Oldman anyone? He's just as much if not more of a chameleon than Daniel Day-Lewis.

I think Daniel Day Lewis is often overated and corny and gets such recognition from the academy because he chooses parts that are almost guaranteed oscar nominations, for example, playing a real life character seems to almost guarantee you an oscar if you do it well.

having said that I've liked him in a few things.

but in terms of my favourite living, english speaking actor my top ones are

1.De Niro
2.Edward Norton

Then any of Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, Johnny Depp

Jack Nicholson,Al Pacino and Robert Deniro in the prime of course

Today
Norton,Bale,P Hoffman and Depp have a good chance depending on the next 10 years

I think Gary Oldman is better then Lewis

I agree with the one post that Lewis is very talented but most his movies suck

agreed!

Day Lewis is awesome. The mark of a great actor is not only to be convincing, but to be versatile. Every character Day Lewis plays is different. Now, I think Jack Nicholson is a good actor, and a very charismatic actor, but he has nowhere near the same versatility. He is not in Lewis's league. De Niro is great, but his roles are too often similar - and when he goes for something different we get a weird gay pirate from Stardust - but still an amazing actor none-the-less. I feel the same about Pacino, I liked him a lot more before he got shouty, but the guy can do subtlety like few others.

Gary Oldman of course is a masterful actor, who transforms for each role. He is in the same league as Lewis for definite.

I think Di Caprio is a totally average actor (though his performance in What's Eating Gilbert Grape was fantastic). Bale is good, need to see more from him. Matt Damon is average. Russel Crow is alright, but doesn't vary it enough.

Phillip Seymour Hoffman is usually pretty good.

But for me, in terms of screen charisma, subtlety, conviction and versatility it's about Day Lewis and Oldman.

Just my opinion.