Best Actor/Actress in the Buffyverse

[Enisy]

Select up to FIVE options and try to restrain your character-related bias as much as possible. Poll's about best actors and actresses, not about best characters.

[Lukee]

SMG, Aly, A-Head, David and... Eliza...
I would say its more a toss up betwen SMG and Aly really. As soon as Aly begins to cry she has you dragged in

[Rachster]

Alexis- he can play stupid funny bad-ass smart its just amazing how many different roles he can play and he plays them so well

Emma- just plain awesome

Sarah/smg- her acting is amazing she can show so much emotion

David- the way he goes from angelus to angel is really cool its like two completely different people

Amy-she was Fred then she was illyria..nuff said

[ded1]

In no particular order

1.Alexis D.-As buffyfanforever has stated,very good range

2.Allison H.-My personal favorite.

3 Emma C.-Great deadpan humor,yet beliveable emotional outbursts.

4.James M.-The main reason I liked Spike was due to his performance.

5.S.M.G.-Outside of Buffy,I find her acting to be a little stiff(not bad,just a little dry).On Buffy,however,her range really shines

I liked most of the others as well

[Enisy]

I voted for:

Anthony Stewart Head: He tops this poll in every other forum I've been in, and for good reason -- I have yet to meet someone who's blind to that man's talent. Giles's father-daughter relationship with Buffy was my first love in the show.
My highlights: His scenes with Buffy in Innocence, his excitement about his night with Jenny in Passion climaxing in the "ecstasy of grief", his cold-blooded murder of Ben in The Gift, his scene with Buffy in Once More, With Feeling.

James Marsters: 30+ years of experience in theatre, Juilliard-trained, Method acting in Buffy so dedicated that he "would go home in tears" and eventually had to go to therapy over it... need I say more?
My highlights: The "Spike" he inserted in William in Fool for Love (and vice versa), his breakdown after Buffy's death in The Gift, his reaction to seeing Buffy again in After Life, the church scene in Beneath You.

Sarah Michelle Gellar: She carried the show on her back for seven years, she totally sold even those scenes she had personal issues with, and she made me fall in love with the lead, when I always root for the underdogs.
My highlights: Her scenes with Giles and Joyce in Innocence, her last minute with Angel in I Will Remember You, her whole performance in The Body, her humbled, shocked and (justifiably) a tad revolted reaction to Spike's willingly-acquired soul in Beneath You, her last scene with Spike in Chosen.

Alexis Denisof: "Alexis is twice the actor I am, and I've read too much Shakespeare not to know that with absolute brutal clarity". Coming from James Marsters... 'nuff said, really.
My highlights: His last scene with Fred in Billy, his inner debate over Lilah's death and her feelings for him in Salvage, his unhesitant murder of his "father" when he pointed a gun at Fred in Lineage, his death scene in Not Fade Away.

Runners-up:
David Boreanaz
Stephanie Romanov
Eliza Dushku
Julie Benz

[hitnrun017]

Alexis Denisof-

I always thought he was a good actor in Buffy Season 3 and Angel Seasons 1 and 2, he could do comedy great! But it wasn't until the final three seasons of Angel when his acting went from great, to amazing. The transformation he went through was extrodinary to watch! Looking back at Buffy, who would of expected that to happen? I think his best performance would be in Release, especially the scene between him and Eliza in the bar.

Amy Acker-

When she first came on the show, I liked her character, but I did not think Amy was a good actress for the majority of Season 3. I think it was when the character stepped up that Amy stepped up. I much preferred her lower voice than her high-baby voice. My favorite parts where when Fred got serious and down to buisness, not that I didn't love cute Fred, but Amy was better at the later. A Hole in the World really sealed the deal, it was painful to watch. BUT THEN she had her transformation to Illyria. Who would of thought Amy could of done that? Very talented actress.

Eliza Dushku-

Dark, dark, dark. Here is another one I wasn't impressed by until she went evil. I thought Eliza was very good before, but she picked it up a notch. She was just very good playing an evil, dark, sexy, psychotic character. Five by Five stands out the most to me, especially when she was torturing Wesley and begging Angel to kill her. Also, like Alexis, the scenes in Release. They both had amazing chemistry.

Sarah Michelle Gellar-

Easily the best actor out of the bunch and had to have the most range. Of course, there were times where it wasn't great, but overall... She was the best at making me feel something, I was always right there with her. She was fantastic at both comedy and drama, she derserved more nominations. The standout performance for me was in Listening to Fear, when she breaks down washing the dishes.

Stephanie Romanov-

Why? She wasn't the best developed character and didn't have a lot of range that we saw, but come on! She was amazing! Badass, sexy, scary, funny... I loved it all. It wasn't until she was starting to become a well developed character near the end of Season 3 and Season 4 where Stephanie shined, especially parts between her and Alexis. She was an evil character, but she also made me feel bad for her, and she's probably the only actress that has done that.

Honorable Mentions: (Yes, I'm stealing from you enisy)

Emma Caulfield- Funniest person on the show, but also good at breaking our hearts.
Alyson Hannigan- Probably the best cryer on the show.
Charisma Carpenter- Very funny, and great asset to Angel, character and show. You're Welcome stands out.
Julie Benz- Very good range. I love watching her epiphany in Lullaby.
Alexa Davalos- Only in three episodes, but one of my favorite characters. She made an impact.
Anthony Stewart Head: Great as a father figure, but had to deal with his own demons as well. Fantastic to watch.

[henzINNIT]

They all had their moments. David Boreanaz improved SO much over the course of the show. His acting at the end of "Youre Welcome" is great.

I can't think of a list at the moment but I think Alexis takes the crown.

[Enisy]

May 17, 2008 12:00:36 GMT -5 henzINNIT said:

They all had their moments. David Boreanaz improved SO much over the course of the show. His acting at the end of "Youre Welcome" is great.

I agree that no-one improved more than David over the course of Buffy and Angel. He was hands-down the worst actor among the main cast in Buffy ("didn't know what the hell I was doing", to quote the man himself), and he was one of the very best by the end of Angel.

[Wyndam]

1. Alexis Denisof: Probably pretty obvious that I would chose him. I rave about him any chance I get. Wesley became my favorite Buffyverse character all the way back in Season 3 of Buffy. He was a fantastic addition to that season, and I really enjoyed the mini-arc he went to, with all the credit going to Alexis's performance. Just really awesome to watch. I was ecstatic when I heard he was jumping over to Angel, and his character's progression on Angel was just marvelous.

2. Anthony Stewart Head: Besides Xander, Giles is my favorite character on Buffy, mostly due to ASH's performance. Just a wonderful actor that could vary from funny, witty, intelligent, serious, and deadly all within seconds. One of the best actors working today. His scenes in "Passion" are some of my favorite on the show; they are just so powerful.

3. Kristine Sutherland: Probably my favorite non-full time cast member on Buffy. I wish she had more screen time on the show, because was really excellent. Kristine was great at portraying Joyce's crazy, unconditional love for Buffy, and later Dawn, as well as some surprisingly funny moments as well.

4. David Boreanaz: Like others above me have said, David is easily the most improved actor from Buffy. He was pretty bad in the first few years of Buffy, but it seems as if a switch went off as soon as he was given his own show. After watching Bones for the last three years and watching David play someone closer to how he actual acts off the camera, it really impresses me whenever I got back and watch Angel, as that must have been an incredibly tough role for him to play.

5. Sarah Michelle Gellar: SMG has shown some really fantastic range over those years playing Buffy. Whenever she was emotional, heartbroken, worried, or scared, you could feel those emotions running off of her, which I think is very impressive. I don't think anyone else could have played Buffy the Vampire Slayer but her (yeah I know, Kristy Swanson did, but come on).

Honorable mentions:
- James Marsters
- Emma Caulfield
- Charisma Carpenter
- Amy Acker
- Andy Hallett

[Jsebold87]

Alexis Denisof - Really grew as an actor when he was on Angel. He had the humor, and yet he was able to go to those dark places in season 4.

Amy Acker - She went from a scared girl in Pylea to a powerful woman in season 5. She has quite an acting range, and her death scene was just amazing. She is also able to play Illyria as a completely different performance than Fred. It was amazing how in one scene she could be cheery Fred and the next serious Illyria.

David Boreanaz - Really held his own on his own show. He can do dry sarcastic humor better than anyone else.

Sarah Michelle Gellar - She amazing on BTVS, but her other roles aren't that great. She was meant to play Buffy and I can't imagine anyone else in that role.

Vincent Kartheiser - I think he's a fantastic actor. He plays the broody pain very well, and he can be funny and cheery as well. It's hard for an actor to do all that but he pulls it off tremendously. I think he's severly underappreciated.

[Wyndam]

May 17, 2008 19:59:23 GMT -5 Jsebold87 said:

Vincent Kartheiser - I think he's a fantastic actor. He plays the broody pain very well, and he can be funny and cheery as well. It's hard for an actor to do all that but he pulls it off tremendously. I think he's severly underappreciated.

Vincent really grew on me during Season 4 of Angel. In Season 3 I was more or less ambivalent to his acting, but many of his scenes near the end of Season 4 are just fantastic.

[hitnrun017]

Oh! I forgot to give a mention to Laurel Holloman. I know Justine isn't a favorite character in many people's eyes, I loved her, but even if you didn't, you have to admit she was a great actress. I still can't watch the scene where she kills Holtz and not cry. She truly amazing in that part.

[buffygrl678]

I picked Sarah M. Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Eliza Dushku, and idk who else. Lol!

[themaleslayer]

I chose Amber Benson, Steffanie Romanov (I loved the character Lilah), SMG, Eliza Dushku, and David Boreanez.

[SlayerLV]

these are mine in no order

Alyson Hannigan
David Boreanaz
Eliza Dushku
Sarah Michelle Gellar
James Marsters

[Kara]

These are mine

1)James Marsters
2)Sarah Michelle Gellar
3)Alyson Hannigan
4)Emma Caulfield
5)Eliza Dushku

[buffygrl678]

Faith, Alyson, Angel, SMG didnt die! Well, Angel, SMG did die once, but not Willow and faith.

[themaleslayer]

May 18, 2008 14:34:08 GMT -5 @buffygrl678 said:

Faith, Alyson, Angel, SMG didnt die! Well, Angel, SMG did die once, but not Willow and faith.

Buffy died twice.

[buffygrl678]

i meant, they are the only ones that died. Not how many times that they died. Lol.