• 3Sep 08

  Number 96

  Even though I have a hundred actors I can choose for my list it is becoming increasingly hard to narrow it down each week. Every time I start on someone I want to list another ten pop in my head. After much thought I decided to pick another younger female actor and just had to have this actress on my list.

  Jessica Biel

  

  Jessica Claire Biel was born March 3, 1982 in Ely, Minnesota. She moved around a lot when she was younger but she calls Boulder, Colorado home. When she was 12 she was discovered by an agency when she attended The International Modeling and Talent Association Conference in Los Angeles. She initially did modeling work in print ads and also did commercials for various products including Pringles and Deluxe Paint. She got her first big break when she was cast as the oldest daughter on a show called 7th Heaven when she was 14. Her first feature film Ulee's Gold {1997}was released the following year. She went on to star in various roles in movies such as I'll Be Home for Christmas {1998} with Jonathan Taylor Thomas and Summer Catch {2001}with Freddy Prinze Jr.

  

  Unhappy with the effect her role was having on her career she wanted out of her contract with 7th Heaven. She says she lost the role in American Beauty because her image was too wholesome. She decided to do a photo shoot with Gear magazine and appear semi-nude even though she was underage. Apparently this angered some of her fans (not me) and the producers of the show. She has later commented how it wasn't one of her better decisions but chalked it up as a learning experience.

  

  She eventually left the cast of 7th Heaven at the end of it's sixth season to concentrate on feature film roles. She then starred in one of my favorite movies that she is in The Texas Chainsaw Massacre {2003}. The movie cost less than $10 million to make and made over $107 million world-wide even though it didn't get very great reviews.

  

  She followed that movie up with a couple of not so successful films Blade: Trinity {2004} and Stealth {2005} and some really good roles in The Illusionist {2006} and I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry {2007}. I am really looking forward to her role in Power Blue which should be released sometime in 2008. If you would like to learn more about this talented actress you can try http://www.pathconnect.com/JessicaBiel and tv.com's profile of her at http://www.tv.com/jessica-biel/person/1669/summary.html?q=Jessica%20Biel&tag=search_results;title;1

  

  • Posted Sep 3, 2008 8:59 am GMT
  • Category: Movies
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• 26Aug 08

  Number 97

  I have been doing this list for three weeks now and really enjoy it. There are so many actors out there which I really like. This is not necessarily a list of the 100 most talented actors. It is a list of my 100 favorite actors. With that in mind I have added someone to my list that many won't like and many more will say is a terrible actor. I may agree with you on both points but I had to add him because I have watched a lot of his movies and liked them for their entertainment value. Please don't look down upon me....we all have things we aren't proud of. So without further adieu here is my number 97 pick -

  Steven Seagal

  

  He was born on April 10, 1951 in Lansing Michigan. At the age of seven he says he started his martial arts training and earned belts in aikido, kendo, judo, and karate by the time he was a teenager. After graduating at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, California he moved to Japan and through his in-laws he operated an aikido dojo. He eventually moved back to the states and opened a dojo with one of his students, Haruo Matsuoka in California. After working as a martial arts coordinator and celebrity bodyguard he impressed a Hollywood agent Michael Ovitz with his abilities and financed Steven's screen test for Warner Bros. He made such an impression that they signed him for his first film Above the Law in 1988.

  

  Steven had several successful movies in the late 80's through the mid 90's including Hard to Kill {1990}, Marked for Death {1990}, and Out for Justice {1991}. His most popular film of that time period was Under Siege {1992} which grossed over $156 world-wide. After this his movies started a decline in popularity. He even went as far to do a buddy cop movie with Keenan Ivory Wayans in the Glimmer Man {1996} which did nothing to improve his career.

  

  After several not so successful films over the next couple of years his contract was not renewed with Warner Bros. He started doing several direct-to-video movies such as The Patriot {1998} and Ticker {2001}. His last financially successful movie came from Exit Wounds with DMX which made over $80 worldwide.

  

  My favorite movie of his to date is Executive Decision {1996} because up to this point in his career he was the headliner in all of the movies he was in. Taking a supporting role that had a very surprising turn, for the time, was nice to see from him.

  

  Steven is currently active in many different areas. He is a huge supporter of Native American issues, solar power, and animal rights. His movies even include several of his positions on these topics. On Deadly Ground {1994} included his views on alternative fuel sources and Native American issues while Fire Down Below {1997} was about environmental issues. He also practices Tibetan Buddhist beliefs and says he is the guardian of the only child of the 10th Panchen Lama of Tibet.

  

  If you are interested in him check out his profile on movietome.com and his official website at http://www.stevenseagal.com/.

  • Posted Aug 26, 2008 9:34 am GMT
  • Category: Movies
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• 18Aug 08

  Number 98

  I thought it was time to include an actress to my list and the first one that popped out at me was Hilary Swank. Mostly because I happened to just watch one of her movies moments ago. She is a very talented actress and this position in no way reflects badly on her. She's a real down to earth person that doesn't think of herself as a celebrity or take herself too serious.

  

  Hilary Swank was born on July 30, 1974 in Lincoln, Nebraska (the state I'm from). Hilary became involved in acting at nine years old starring in school and community theater programs. She made her big screen acting debut in a very small part in Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1992) and then moved on to her first staring role as Julie Pierce in The Next Karate Kid (1994). In that role her training in swimming and gymnastics helped her out.

  

  Her first huge role was that of Brandon Teena in the movie Boys Don't Cry (1999) which won her an Oscar for Best Actress. This award was well deserved because her performance was just amazing. She really shined in the movie portraying a person who was murdered by those who couldn't understand or accept her. What makes it more incredible was that she was only paid about $75 a day for the role and made a total of about $3,000.

  

  She again won the Oscar for Best Actress in 2004 for her performance in Million Dollar Baby. It was another inspiring performance in another very good movie. This has to be my favorite of her roles up to this point. Hilary proved again that she has the skills to give any character life.

  

  Some other films of interest you may want to see are Insomnia (2002), Freedom Writers (2007), and The Reaping (2007). I look forward to her playing Amelia Earhart in the film Amelia set to be released in 2009. If you would like to learn more about Hilary Swank try this website http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/hilary_swank_biog.html.

  

  • Posted Aug 18, 2008 11:51 am GMT
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