I used to be a huge fan of Robert DeNiro, but he's kind of become a caricature of himself. I always liked McQueen. Robert Shaw was a great actor, but did some mediocre movies and died too soon as well.
The more recent guys I like are actors like Leonardo DiCaprio. I really thought he was a knob when he first started acting. He may still actually be a knob IRL, but he's a helluva actor. Robert Downey Jr. is another who's really actually a good actor. Anthony Hopkins is another I almost always like, but he's started doing bad movies just to keep making money. Ed Norton is really good and isn't in much. Don't know who he pissed off. Cillian Murphy is good as well.
As far as actresses, Helen Miren. She's been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager and saw her in Excalibur. Rebecca Hall has been good in everything I've seen her in. Laura Linney is a great actress. Vera Farmiga is good as well.
The movies thing is too long to list, but some I can't change the channel on if they're on TV and usually derail a winter afternoon are:
Jaws
Goodfellas
Saving Private Ryan
Highlander
The Thing (1980's Kurt Russell version)
