19 Hollywood heavyweights who are legends in their own right

There would be no movies without movie stars. Over the years, there have been several actors who have graced the silver screen with their talent. But to be an iconic actor, one must stand apart through their versatility, the ability to embody their characters, and to command the scene. From Tom Hanks to Meryl Streep, here are 19 Hollywood actors who are rightfully crowned as legends. Please note that this article is entirely based on the writer's perspective. Readers' discretion is advised.

1) Tom Cruise

One of the most popular exports of Hollywood, Cruise ruled during the 80s and 90s and has continued his success in contemporary times. The actor splashed on the screen with movies like Risky Business, Top Gun, and others. Since the early aughts, his portrayal as Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible series, has garnered him further acclaim as Hollywood’s leading man. The actor has been nominated several times and is the recipient of multiple Golden Globes.

2) Tom Hanks

The actor is considered Hollywood royalty and has proved his mettle by starring in a variety of genres. Hanks started in the 80s with comedy movies like Big and The Money Pit. He then pivoted towards more serious roles in movies like Philadelphia, Forrest Gump, and Saving Private Ryan. Concurrently, he also starred in a range of rom-coms with Meg Ryan. The actor has won Oscars, Emmys, and Golden Globes, and is one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.

3) Meryl Streep

Streep is considered one of the finest actresses of her generation and has an expansive body of work. The actress began in the late 70s with hits like Kramer vs Kramer and continuous hits in the next decades. In the early 2000s, the actress became a cultural icon as she starred in light-hearted movies like The Devil Wears Prada and Julia and Julia. She is one of the most nominated actors at the Oscars and Golden Globes and has won multiple times.

4) Julia Roberts

Roberts is one of the most bankable Hollywood stars as she has produced many hits over her career. The actress started with films like Steel Magnolias and became a leading woman when she starred in Pretty Woman. In the 90s, she worked in rom-coms like Notting Hill. And garnered her first Oscar for her work in the movie Erin Brockovich. In the following decades, she continued to stay successful with varied movies like Ocean’s Eleven and Eat Pray Love.

5) Harrison Ford

Ford is one actor who defined the adventurous and futuristic spirit of the 80s. He gained success for his role as Han Solo in the Star Wars franchise and further cemented his position by portraying the title character in the Indiana Jones series. A cultural icon, his other popular movies include Blade Runner and Presumed Innocent. The actor is a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and an Honorary Palme d’Or.

6) Jack Nicholson

Considered one of the finest actors of the 20th century, Nicholson has won various accolades like the Oscars and Golden Globes over his five-decade career. The actor began in the 70s and his popular films include One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, A Few Good Men, and The Shining. He is one of the most nominated male actors at the Oscars and has also directed films. In the later decades, he starred in successful movies like The Departed.

7) Hugh Grant

The British actor became famous across the pond and began his career portraying the charming romantic man in a string of romances. During the 90s, his breakthrough movies was Four Weddings and a Funeral. Grant continued his success with Notting Hill and Bridget Jones’s Diary. In the following decades, he took method roles in movies and series like Heretic and The Undoing. The actor has won a BAFTA, a Golden Globe, and honorary César, and is an Emmy-nominated actor.

8) Anne Hathaway

Hathaway got early breakthrough success by starring in the movie, The Princess Diaries. During the 2000s, she worked in other successful movies like Brokeback Mountain, The Devil Wears Prada, Love and Other Drugs, and Bride Wars. While some of her more critically acclaimed roles were in the movies, Rachel Getting Married, Les Misérables, and The Intern. The actress is considered a cultural icon and has won an Oscar, a BAFTA, and an Emmy.

9) Morgan Freeman

An actor, producer, and narrator, Freeman’s career spans five decades and he has acted in a range of movies. He was a theatre actor before he began working in movies. Some of his famous films over the years, include, The Shawshank Redemption, Driving Miss Daisy, Seven, Million Dollar Baby, and Wanted. The actor has also lent his voice to various documentaries and has won an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and is venerated with the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

10) Sandra Bullock

Bullock is an acclaimed actress who has worked in both comedy and drama and was one of the highest-paid actresses in 2010 and 2014. Her breakthrough movies in the '90s were Speed and While You Were Sleeping. During the 2000s she gained further acclaim with Miss Congeniality, The Proposal, and Ocean’s 8. For The Blind Side, she even won an Oscar. The actress was named America’s Sweetheart and also has a Golden Globe to her name.

11) Leonardo DiCaprio

The famous actor is one of the most influential actors of the present generation and has a massive fan following due to his impressive career. After gaining success from the movie, Titanic, DiCaprio worked in critically acclaimed movies like Catch Me if You Can, The Departed, Inception, The Wolf of Wall Street, and The Revenant, for which he won an Oscar. The actor is one of the highest-paid actors and is considered a living legend for his acting prowess.

12) Robert De Niro

A revered actor, De Niro has contributed substantially to cinema. His collaboration with Martin Scorsese in the 70s is famous as he delivered hits like Mean Streets, Raging Bull, and Taxi Driver. The actor is known for mafia films like Goodfellas and The Irishman. Other movies include Cape Fear, Silver Linings Playbook, and comedic roles in The Intern and Meet the Parents. The actor has won Oscars, Emmys, Screen Actor Guild, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

13) Brad Pitt

Known for his good looks, Pitt found Hollywood success in the 90s by starring in movies like Thelma & Louise, A River Runs Through It, and Seven. His following roles in movies like Ocean’s Eleven, Troy, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith, made him a leading man. His more critically acclaimed movies include The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Moneyball, and Fight Club. The actor has won multiple Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and an Emmy.

14) Nicolas Cage

An actor and film producer, Cage began his career in the 80s. The actor’s early movies include Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Moonstruck. The actor found success as an action star and starred in movies like Con Air and Ghost Rider. His dramatic work includes City of Angels and The Wicker Man. The actor is consistently voted as one of the most powerful people in Hollywood and has won the Oscars, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globes.

15) Matthew McConaughey

The actor has an interesting career graph as he began with serious roles in the 90s with A Time to Kill and Contact. But in the 2000s, Matthew became a romantic actor and starred in rom-coms like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. However, the actor shed that image by taking on dramatic roles in Dallas Buyers Club—for which he won an Oscar—True Detective—which garnered an Emmy nomination, and Interstellar.

16) Samuel L Jackson

Jackson is one of the highest-grossing actors and is an influential artiste. The actor began his career on stage and then did movies in the late 80s. A collaboration with Spike Lee garnered success with hits like School Daze and Jungle Fever. But his breakout role was in Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction, leading to further pairings in Django Unchained. His other movies include Die Hard with a Vengeance and Unbreakable. The actor has won a BAFTA and an Oscar nomination.

17) Robert Downey Jr

Another highest-grossing actor, Robert worked throughout the 80s and 90s in movies like Weird Science and Chaplin. However, the early 2000s were a difficult time as he struggled with drug addiction. He did movies like Zodiac and Tropic Thunder, but revived himself with the movie Iron Man, which led to a successful collaboration with Marvel. Other roles include, Oppenheimer and The Judge. The actor is the recipient of an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA, and is Emmy-nominated.

18) Denzel Washington

Considered the greatest actor of the 21st century by The New York Times, Washington is immensely popular and is known for his versatile roles. A winner of several awards like the Oscars, Golden Globes, and Tony, the actor has also received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. After starting in theatre, he shifted to movies in the late 80s and 90s with films like Glory, Malcolm X, and Crimson Tide. His other famous works include Training Day, Inside Man, and Unstoppable.

19) Jamie Lee Curtis

An actor and a children’s author, Curtis began her career in horror movies and was titled The Scream Queen. She became famous with the movie Halloween in the late 70s and continued working in other horror films. But she also gained acclaim in comedy with A Fish Called Wanda, True Lies, and Freaky Friday. Her accolades include the Golden Globes, BAFTA, and the Oscars. She is considered a living legend.