In some ways I have felt like I've been born in the wrong time. : ) (my friends think so too and tell me so *grin*) The majority of my favorite films, actors, and actresses are from the 1930s to the 1950s. I love Stewart Granger, of course, then there are your other great ones like Charles Boyer, Leslie Howard, Joseph Cotten, Tony Curtis, and Humphrey Bogart (though I still don't understand the big deal about Casablanca). The actresses of today can't hold a candle to the likes of Gene Tierney (The Ghost and Mrs. Muir!), Eleanor Parker, Janet Leigh, Lauren Bacall and Barbara Stanwyck.
For today I love Pierce Brosnan. However I'm beginning to wish he'd never gotten into the James Bond movies. I haven't liked his last few movies. I actually apologized for convincing my best friend to see Tailor of Panama. However- I still really like him.
Michael Caine is another actor I can generally count on to enjoy. In the last year or so I've come to really like Alan Rickman as well. I'd better not forget Kevin Spacey and Edward Norton. A few others I like are David Carradine and Rene Auberjonios- they are usually playing good odd and interesting characters in movies and series.
My favorite actresses- I'd say Emma Thompson, she's impressed me with everything I've seen her in. Oh and I love Judi Dench. I like her series As Time Goes By on PBS as well. Reese Witherspoon is a good American actress- I'm looking forward to The Importance of Being Earnest- especially as Judi Dench is in it too. Some of my favorite movies (in no particular order) are:
Mr. Johnson-Pierce Brosnan
Conspiracy Agent--Charles Boyer
The Ghost and Mrs. Muir--Rex Harrison and Gene Tierney
Scaramouche--Granger, Eleanor Parker, and Janet Leigh
Some Like It Hot--Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon
Many Rivers to Cross--Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker
Sense and Sensibility--Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman
When I made my lists of favorites I was very much surprised by how much easier it was to think of all my favorite books and authors. Again, in no particular order or genre:
Writings and Lyrics 1962-1986- Bob Dylan
The Harry Potter Series-J.K. Rowling
Watership Down-Richard Adams
Swiss Family Robinson-Johann David Wyss
Mornings on Horseback-David McCullough
In the Hands of Providence: Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain-Alice Rains Trulock, Alan T. Nolan
The Claw and the Spiderweb-Valerie Reddix
The Horse Who Lived Upstairs-Phyllis McGinley
(These last two books are children's books-unlike HP *s*)
Any books by Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, James Burke, or Jimmy Carter.