For most actors, it is enough to be as good as the material they're working with. If the script for a movie is bad, its plot or characters poor, it is going to make an actor's job harder, delivering a coherent, believable, or liked performance out of it.
Other actors, however, spit in the face of the rest of the film's quality. Regardless of how good any of the rest of it is, they take their part, however poor the material might be, and they deliver a good performance anyway. Some few even elevate their role or the film through their sheer acting, making it memorable regardless of how thin what they're working with is.
10 As Good As Material: Emilia Clarke Excels In Well-Written Roles
Emilia Clarke shot to prominence as a public name with her performance as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, her performance anchoring the entire Essos storyline. She has also been well-received for her role in Solo: A Star Wars Story, as Han Solo's untrustworthy former flame.
The key thing about both of those projects is that, for the most part, they were well-written. Emilia Clarke was able to hold Daenerys' role together despite Game of Thrones' contentious final seasons. With projects that are panned throughout, such as Terminator: Genysis or Me Before You, her acting is considered to suffer.
9 Good Regardless: Deadpan Or Hammy, Jeremy Irons Can Delight
Jeremy Irons has turned in numerous beloved roles in well-regarded films, including Die Hard with a Vengeance or The Lion King, where his performance is always noted as a highlight of the film. However, the same is true of the films he stars in that don't connect with audiences, which is a lot of them.
In Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, Jeremy Irons' depiction of Alfred Pennyworth as Bruce's deadpan moral guide was enjoyed by fans despite the film's flaws, and he has turned in renownedly hammy performances that serve to make films such as The Man in the Iron Mask, Dungeons and Dragons, and Eragon memorable, if not enjoyable.
8 As Good As Material: Jennifer Aniston Has Redeemed Her Reputation
For a time after Friends, where Jennifer Aniston won public renown from her role as Rachel Green, Jennifer Aniston was not considered to be the sign of a good movie. She often ended up typecast in poor-quality romantic comedies, where she served as the seemingly-unattainable object of the protagonist's affections.
Viewers often considered Aniston a weak link in already-poor movies. In recent years, however, projects such as We're the Millers and Horrible Bosses have shown her to be a versatile and comedic actor when allowed out of her typecast, with her role in Horrible Bosses surprising some with how darkly funny it was.
7 Good Regardless: Christopher Lee Brought Gravitas To Any Role
Few actors commanded anything like as much respect as Christopher Lee over his immensely long film career. His roles stood out even in films with stellar casts, such as Lord of the Rings or Corpse Bride, with his demeanor and delivery being beloved by fans.
However, even in bad movies, Christopher Lee steadfastly remains the best thing about them, especially when playing villains. The character of Count Dooku remains a fan-favorite due to Lee's performance, which elevated the weak writings, similar to his role as Francisco Scaramanga in the Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
6 As Good As Material: Hayden Christensen Suffers With Poor Writing
Despite Anakin Skywalker's status as a fan-favorite character in Star Wars, Hayden Christensen's performance as the character has been oft-mocked, with his line delivery considered by fans to go between stilted and unnatural, and melodramatic and unnatural, with few lines hitting the mark.
Despite his high-profile poor acting as Anakin, and also in movies like Jumper, Hayden Christensen has shown good acting ability in films such as Shattered Glass, with fan hopes high for his return in Disney+ Star Wars TV shows.
5 Good Regardless: Anna Kendrick Is Fun In Any Film
Anna Kendrick is one of the few actors from the Twilight franchise to receive a career boost as a result of the films, springboarding it into numerous other roles. Her tendency to be enjoyable regardless of the quality of the material she's in began in Twilight, with her character of Jessica being noted as an amusing and slightly self-aware aversion of the films' typical self-seriousness.
The films that perhaps best indicate Anna Kendrick's ability regardless of quality are the Pitch Perfect series. The first film is well-enjoyed by audiences, with Anna Kendrick's performance receiving notes. The later films in the series are regarded as a serious step-down, but with Anna Kendrick's performance remaining just as good.
4 As Good As Material: Halle Berry Has Good & Bad
Halle Berry has proven her acting chops in several films, particularly of the more action-packed variety, turning in good performances in X-Men, John Wick: Parabellum, and The Call, fitting in well with the rest of the talented cast of those films.
Many of the films in Halle Berry's filmography, however, have been much worse-received, and her performance is noted to suffer as a result. The nadir is likely Catwoman, where she is given a thin and stereotypical role that restricts her abilities, contributing to the film's notorious reputation.
3 Good Regardless: Maya Rudolph Is Sometimes The Only Good Thing
There is plenty of good in Maya Rudolph's back catalog, including projects such as Bridesmaids, Big Hero 6, and The Good Place, with her performances noted for being engaging and funny, but also having more depth than it first appears.
There is also quite a lot of bad, such as The Emoji Movie, The Grown-Ups, and Shrek the Third. In spite of often receiving roles considered poorly written in these films, Rudolph manages to at least bring her wit and her excellent delivery to the roles, in some cases being considered one of the few good things in the entire film.
2 As Good As Material: Keanu Lives & Dies By The Script
The most staunch defenders of Keanu Reeves nonetheless admit that he does not have the most range as an actor. Nonetheless, he has built a career off of playing stoic characters, often those who serve as more of a surrogate for the audience to explore a concept or a world—only diverging somewhat from this with his angry, bitter assassin, John Wick.
The result of this is that Keanu tends to be good in movies that are well-written, and with this sort of protagonist in mind. Notably, his performance in The Matrix is enjoyed by fans, but is considered to have worn thin by The Matrix Revolutions, with other films like The Neon Demon also seeing him panned. In well-written movies that suit his style, however, Reeves is considered one of the best, and beloved by audiences.
1 Good Regardless: Raul Julia's Performances Are Legendary
Raul Julia was well-decorated in his time for his roles in acclaimed movies, beside other acting legends such as Al Pacino and Clint Eastwood, being nominated for two Golden Globes in his lifetime, and winning several awards posthumously.
One of his most fondly-remembered roles is in the Street Fighter movie, largely known for its unintentional comedy and campy tone. Nonetheless, Julia's role as M. Bison was acclaimed widely, with his acting considered to not just elevate his role but the film as a whole.