My Favorite Actor in Hollywood
I used to think that my favorite actor was Leonardo DiCaprio.
In many ways, he still is.
I rarely see a bad DiCaprio film.
He has mastered the art of being charming, serious, and delivering his roles with precision.
His performance in Shutter Island was top-tier.
To this day, I’ll watch that movie multiple times.
I think DiCaprio has made some of the best movies I’ve ever seen.
He’s not married and doesn’t have kids, which allows him to dedicate his entire life to movies.
His co-stars have mentioned that while they’re with their families, DiCaprio is working in the studio.
He breaks barriers in film.
That’s why his collaborations with Scorsese are so successful.
Despite having a lot of respect for DiCaprio, I wouldn’t say he’s my favorite actor.
Who Is My Favorite Actor?
My favorite actor is Will Smith.
This may seem like a controversial choice, especially after the infamous slap incident.
But if you look past that moment and evaluate him without bias, you’ll understand what I mean.
What makes Will Smith great is his versatility.
He can be serious, funny, and emotional all with ease.
That’s not something you see every day.
As much as I admire DiCaprio, I don’t think he could nail a comedy role.
But I’m certain Will Smith can.
If you replaced Chris Tucker with Will in Rush Hour, I think he could still pull it off.
Will Smith succeeds in both TV shows and movies.
I recall watching The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air as a kid.
That show was phenomenal.
It wasn’t just a sitcom; it tackled deep storytelling themes.
From addressing racism to building connections with a potential stepdad and helping people who can’t help themselves, the show covered it all.
It was a unique sitcom.
What Makes Will Smith Versatile?
Will Smith is versatile because he excels in multiple fields.
Many people call his rap career corny, but let’s not forget that he was the first rapper to win a Grammy.
He’s one of the few people who can say they have both a Grammy and an Oscar.
That’s what makes Will great.
He’s not limited by labels.
Many people wouldn’t even think to explore both music and acting, but Will did it.
By being great in different fields, he’s able to apply skills from one area to another.
That’s why he brings a fresh perspective to his movies.
He doesn’t come across as stiff or rehearsed.
I think his music background plays a role in this.
When you know rhythm well, it translates to your voice and body language.
This looseness builds on-screen charisma.
Which Actor Do I Think Is Overrated?
I may get some backlash for this, but I think the most overrated actor is Denzel Washington.
I kid you not…he feels like he’s playing the same role in every movie.
He’s just that sarcastic, fed-up guy who moves his mouth a lot when he talks.
Don’t get me wrong though, he makes great movies.
But I don’t think he’s a particularly talented actor.
I know this is a hot take.
For me, it feels like he’s acting.
I want to momentarily forget that someone is acting when I watch a performance.
If I can tell you’re acting, it pulls me out of the experience.
That’s why I don’t enjoy many modern Disney Channel shows.
The acting feels forced and scripted, which ruins the magic for me.
Similarly, Denzel Washington’s performances just don’t feel natural to me.
Acting Isn’t Easy and Can Make You a Better Communicator
A few years ago, my public speaking coach told me that acting and singing can make you a better speaker.
He was both an actor and a singer.
He could do Broadway plays and musicals, which I found fascinating.
His voice was so smooth, and his facial expressions were always on point.
I doubt most people can drop their careers to become actors, but you can still practice.
Try signing up for an improv class or really get into character when playing a prank on a friend.
Make it believable.
When your friend falls for the prank, you’ll know you did a good job acting.
You can laugh about it later.
Just try to see why acting isn’t easy.
Letting go of one personality to adopt another can be challenging for most people.
Remembering the Acting Legacy of Will Smith
Many say Will ruined his career after the Chris Rock slap.
I don’t condone violence, but I’m not going to lie…
I still watch Will Smith movies.
He’s one of the actors that I get genuinely excited to watch.
Real ’90s babies remember Will Smith’s run from I, Robot, to Hitch, to The Pursuit of Happyness.
This guy can do it all.
I feel bad for the new generation of storytellers who have no clue how versatile Will Smith is.
I recommend watching some of his old films to see how well he adopts different roles.
When you understand the basics of acting, you’ll be able to create more believable characters for your stories.
So, check out some of Will’s classics!
Get jiggy with it, homie!
For more practical storytelling insights, be sure to check out the Art & Science of Storytelling!
✨Ebook
✨Paperback/Kindle
✨Audiobook
– ArmaniTalks 
