Note: I originally wrote this article for Qool Media in 2007. And since it’s awards season once again, I figured it’s time for me to publish this on this blog. Just edited it a little for updates. Remember that this is a PERSONAL list and that it was written in 2007, three years ago. But feel free to add other actors that you think are underrated.

Life isn’t fair. Some people get too much while others get so much less that what they deserve. Like life, Hollywood is unfair, too. It is home to many celebrities who enjoy fame for absolutely no remarkable work. And then, there are those who have exerted so much effort and unparalleled talent but never really received any significant recognition.

From brilliant actors who are refused to be given a break to those who rock their roles no matter how small they are, you can produce a list of celebrities who are not given what they are due. Here is a list of ten FAMOUS actors and actresses in Hollywood but criminally underrated.

10. Sandra Bullock

Although many people would disagree that Sandra Bullock is overrated for all the fame and glamor she enjoys right now, it has to be noted that she CAN act. All the talk about her in tinsel town was not about how good an actress she was. Aside from her dazzling beauty and head-turning attitude that always make her top every most beautiful celebrities list there is, she is a total scene-stealer when it comes to acting.

Unfortunately, not all people realize that. Her portrayal of a woman in jeopardy in Speed isn’t a performance that Cameron Diaz, Kate Hudson or Jennifer Aniston can deliver. She even completely kicked out Matthew McConaughey from the spotlight with her outstanding performance in “A Time to Kill.” Heck, even her very tiny role in “Crash” was well-celebrated.

(Update: Thanks to The Blind Side, Sandra got a challenging, heavy role in a good material and hopefully it pays off this year and be regarded as among her contemporaries such as Julia Roberts and Nicole Kidman in the acting department.)

9. Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh may have lost a number of important roles in huge movies like The Terminator (to Linda Hamilton) and Hannibal (to Julianne Moore) but she’s definitely here to prove her worth as an actress. She has shown her acting prowess in several films, from Mrs. Parker and eXistenZ but she is surprisingly still not well-known in Hollywood and is yet to reach the dizzy heights of Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts. Still, she continues to give us brilliant performances but most of them are barely noticed.

8. Gary Oldman

Another great mystery in Hollywood is why Gary Oldman has never received any nod from either the Golden Globes or the Oscars. He isn’t named “The Chameleon” for no reason. Like Johnny Depp who looks so different in all his movies, Gary has already made a name for portraying a wide range of unusual characters varying international backgrounds. He delivers every performance with unmatched intensity that overpowers those of his co-stars every single time.

He is an incredibly talented actor who is still waiting for that moment when his formidable acting skills be recognized by any major award-giving body. Before that day comes, he will continue giving life to supporting characters and will remain one of the most underrated actors in the history of cinema.

7. Mark Ruffalo

In everything he does, Mark Ruffalo is at the top of the game. However, in everything he does, he never succeeds to get the attention that he deserves. To many people especially critics, he is just another boy next door trying to give his shot at fame. But the truth is, he is definitely more than that. He has shown so much potential and prowess in many of the roles he has portrayed. He even failed to woo the Academy despite the brilliant portrayal of a man struggling to decide whether to face the consequences of a crime he committed in the movie “Reservation Road.” Even in “Zodiac,” he is able to make a supposedly boring role as a detective whose career is at risk.

6. Maggie Gyllenhaal

She may not be the hottest female star in tinsel town today but Maggie Gyllenhaal is one heck of an actress. Although her entrance to showbiz was nowhere near grandiose, she proved she deserves a spot in Hollywood by 2002. In fact, he displayed stunning talent much earlier than his real-life brother Jake did in movies such as “Adaptation,” “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” and “40 Days and 40 Nights.”

But the performance of her career was her courageous and powerful portrayal of a nervous woman working for an imperious lawyer. It was with this performance that she earned the admiration of many critics and solidified a fanbase across the globe. She even impressed everyone when she starred as an opportunistic singer in “Happy Endings.” But she just can’t win everyone over.

5. Joaquin Phoenix

Even Philip Seymour Hoffman might have gotten scared of Joaquin Phoenix’s portrayal of Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.” Joaquin was Philip’s closest contender for the Best Actor trophy in 2006 Oscars, which became a battle of underrated actors. Joaquin even made Jamie Foxx’s impersonation of Ray Charles pale in comparison.

Like Maggie Gyllenhaal, he isn’t the hottest stuff in showbiz today but he doesn’t run out of roles to play. This is because of his sheer versatility and range as an actor. He never fails to amaze the audiences with strong portrayals of wildly interesting characters such as Commodus in “Gladiator.” He is also very effective in any genre especially in horror that he became one of M. Night Shyamalan’s favorites.

4. Edward Norton

Undoubtedly one of the finest and most brilliant actors of this generation but sadly underrated, Edward Norton is yet to receive his first Oscar. His acting skills can be succinctly described in one word: crazy. Yes, it’s just crazy.

He is one of the few actors today who can play characters that are so passive and meek in one film and those intimidating and strong in another. His range and versatility is incredible. See his performance as a lawyer in “The People vs Larry Flint,” as an insane insomniac in “Fight Club,” and as a neo-Nazi white supremacist in “American History X” and they will turn you crazy. They are very different characters and Edward was able to play them so convincingly with so much power and intensity.

3. John Cusack

If you think John Cusack is just one of those actors who can only smile in their movies, you’re wrong. He is an amazingly brilliant and versatile actor who plays his role with so much depth. If you don’t believe this, all you need to do is watch “Grosse Point Blank” and you will surely appreciate his acting skills. His facial expressions are enough for anyone in his right mind to conclude that he has a gift as an actor.

If it’s not enough, take a good look at his superb performances in “Runaway Jury,” “High Fidelity,” “Identity,” and “1408.” He has also done movies in almost every genre from romantic comedies to dramas to horror and that says so much about his range. And yeah, he is one handsome man.

2. Naomi Watts

Her best friend Nicole Kidman has already established a name in the industry but Naomi Watts remains underrated up to now. This is something that is so difficult to understand. How can someone as gorgeous and as talented as Naomi Watts often gets overlooked by many award-giving bodies around?

Not only does she deliver an incredibly riveting performance in each movie, she also outshines everyone else in it. It doesn’t matter how bad or mind-boggling the movie is, as long as Naomi is in it, you should expect to be entertained. Her performance in “21 Grams” almost won her an Oscar. And who would forget about her excellent portrayal in “Mulholland Drive.” She even made “King Kong” and “The Ring” tolerable. This stunning piece of beauty does not deserve being ignored.

1. Christian Bale

Christian Bale is the very definition of underrated brilliant acting. You don’t need to dig history just to realize how underrated he is. In 2007 alone, he was able to deliver three unforgettable performances — “I’m Not There,” “3:10 to Yuma,” and “Rescue Dawn.” Yet, this brilliantly versatile actor did not even merit a yawn from the Golden Globes or the Oscars. But then again, what’s new?

This is the same man they overlooked for his mind-blowing performances in “The Machinist” and “American Psycho.” And since they have screwed him over twice before, why not screw him again this year by not giving him the nominations he deserves?

It makes us wonder, “how come Tom Cruise has earned three nominations while Christian Bale, the great Christian Bale, has not received any of those nods ever?” He gives a 5-star performance in each of his movies with so much passion, dedication and intensity that you would forget it was the same man behind the batsuit. He has been doing it since he starred in “Empire of the Sun” when he was 13. Since then, he has been making a name for himself as one of the most important actors of all time but none of them have ever been recognized. Aside from that, he’s just irresistibly hot.

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Oh yes, life isn’t fair. The sad fact is, there’s nothing these actors can do about it because fame and recognition are not in their hands. If the public and critics can’t recognize talent, then expect to see a lot more from Jessica Alba, Tom Cruise and Keanu Reeves in the future. Our only wish is that these criminally underrated actors won’t get tired of delivering riveting performances in their movies.

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