A few weeks back, C.D. Gallant-King tagged me in a challenge to come up with my top ten favorite screen characters. Now, if you know me in person, you know I don’t get much screen time because of work, children, and house-cleaning. But I brainstormed with my husband and managed to come up with a list.
Movies
1. Geoffrey Chaucer (Paul Bettany) in A Knight’s Tale
If I was to classify my favorite movie, this would be it, with Chaucer being my favorite character. He’s witty, he’s flawed, and he pulls through as a loyal friend despite not having the established friendship like the other three guys.
Chaucer: A wha- a what? A writer. You know, I write, with ink and parchment. For a penny I’ll scribble you anything you want.
2. Gracie Hart (Sandra Bullock) in Miss Congeniality
This is another movie I’ve watched dozens of times. Gracie is nerdy, sexy, strong, and cute. She’s dedicated, knows how to tease, and doesn’t quite fit in, but is accepted nonetheless. I might be able to relate… you know, just a little. 🙂
Gracie: You think I’m gorgeous, you want to kiss me… You want to hug me… You want to love me… You want to hug me… You want to smooch me… You want to…
3. Sherlock Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) in Sherlock Holmes
I’ll admit there are some actors who I love regardless of role, and Robert Downey Jr. is one of them. Sorry, Benedict, but I prefer Robert when it comes to playing Sherlock. He’s scruffy, a troublemaker, and yet charm seems to ooze off of him. Not to mention he’s brilliant.
Sherlock Holmes: My mind rebels at stagnation! Give me problems! Give me work!
4. Hudson Hawk (Bruce Willis) in Hudson Hawk
Maybe I have a thing for characters who play in self-named movies? All this guy wants is a cappuccino, but he gets stuck with a lot more. What’s not to love about a thief who times his actions by song? He may have his priorities wrong, but I can’t help but smile at how thwarted he is, and yet he rolls with the punches.
Hudson Hawk: Hey, this doesn’t taste like cappuccino.
Anna: Oh. I guess I put too much ethyl chloride in it.
5. Domino Harvey (Keira Knightley) in Domino
This movie was trippy. Not to mention based on a real person (albeit loosely). Heads you live, tails you die… She intrigued me, and it was one of the few movies that held my attention despite not having much humor. Even though I haven’t seen this movie in years, I still hear her voice in my head from time to time with the following line.
Domino: My name is Domino Harvey. I am a bounty hunter.
Television
Okay, so I split my ten into 2 fives. I don’t have quotes for the second half. Truthfully, Daniel ranks up there with Chaucer as my favorite, and I didn’t want him to have a low number, so he’s #1 in television!
1. Daniel Jackson (Michael Shanks) in Stargate SG-1
There’s just something about smart guys who can handle their own in a tense situation that really makes me squeal. Honestly, I haven’t even seen every episode of Stargate SG-1 because I don’t get to sit still long enough to take it in. But I’d pop in on whatever episode my husband was watching, and Daniel has always been my favorite. When my husband and I were talking, he said Jack was his favorite. I guess this show has many good characters to offer.
2. Neal Caffery (Matt Bomer) in White Collar
He’s a not-quite reformed criminal, smooth dresser, and a softy at heart. He can con his way out of any situation, keep his friends and enemies on their toes, and has the brains and skill to pull off a heist beneath his handler’s nose. I wish I was that good.
3. Codex (Felicia Day) in The Guild
Okay, so technically this doesn’t play on television, at least not that I know of. But since I watch all of my TV online, I figure it counts. I’ve got a girl crush on Felicia Day. She owns her geekdom. And as a former WoW player, I can totally relate. 🙂 Not to mention they have music videos too!
4. Shawn and Gus (James Roday and Dulé Hill) in Psych
Actually, I love the whole cast in this one. They’ve all got that silly side that’s just a little off. But Shawn and Gus go hand in hand, knowing exactly what the other means, even though it’s totally off base from what the audience expects. They’re childish but talented, and I love the many names Shawn comes up for Gus.
When it came to the last spot, I was torn. Castle? I adore Nathan Fillion. Buffy? Spike? I love the humor. Henry from Forever? There’s something about smart men… Galavant? A musical parody? I am so there. Castiel from Supernatural? I’m only in season 7 so who knows if I’ll like him later in the series. Sterling or maybe Elliot from Leverage? So many choices.
But who do I put down as my favorite?
I’ve decided that I can’t decide. Maybe you can cast your vote.
Out of my runner ups, which is your favorite?
Now I’m supposed to tag people. I feel inclined to tag Alex J. Cavanaugh, since he’s a movie buff, and I’d like to know what his favorites are. I’m also tagging M.J. Fifield, Aldrea Alien, and Sarah Foster. And if you want to participate in this challenge but haven’t been tagged, feel free to run with it!
Eek! It’s going to take me about ten years to come up with this list, LOL. 😀
I like Buffy the most from your runner ups. No wait, Spike. No! I don’t know!!!
Psyche, SG-1, AND Hudson Hawk? You completely rock. Hudson Hawk is such an underrated movie and those two series are at the top of my list for all time favorites.
I also really dig Downey as Sherlock Holmes.
Paul Bettany as Chaucer was fantastic! and Downey got Sherlock Holmes down! I haven’t heard of Domino so I’ll have to look that one up.
I don’t watch much of anything anymore either, but at least I knew half of these characters! I loved Buffy and Angel. I also loved House. My fave is Big Bang Theory now though. Those guys are hilarious!!
A lot of those I didn’t know or hadn’t seen. I do love Castiel from Supernatural, though. 🙂
I have not seen that Kiera Knightly movie.
SG-1! I miss that show. I’ve watched all those shows except the last. I wish they’d make another episode of The Guild. Love it.
I vote for Henry from Forever. That smile 🙂 Great choices – especially Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock!
What a cool idea for a challenge! I agree with Sarah – it would have taken me forever to come up with that list, so unless someone tags me, I might not have the guts to try it 😉
I can’t vote, because I am embarrassed and yet happy to admit that I don’t know most of those shows! Embarrassing to be ignorant, but cool because there’s now so much good new stuff for me to watch from your list!
As a Buffy fan it’s hard to choose. But I’m going to be perverse: Nathan Fillion for his role in Buffy as Caleb, then as Mal in Firefly, and of course as Castle. Three very different characters, yet all memorable. Versatile?
I can bet I get less screen time in than you–my last movie watched in theaters was Harry Potter #6. That’s how much I can’t handle movies lol. But I think my fav screen characters always will be the Friends gang 🙂
SPIKE!
I totally didn’t have a thing for him in my youth. Totally didn’t… I love A Knight’s Tale. Although it’s been a while since I’ve seen it. Is it bad I can still repeat so much of it?
Eep! Been tagged… Will get on it once I’ve finished rewriting the 13k I apparently lost a week ago.
Chaucer! And Codex!!!
I think my favorite Chaucer line goes something like “I will eviscerate you in fiction. Every boil, every pimple. I was naked for a day. You’ll be naked for eternity.”
Wonderful choices! I love Shawn and Gus from Psych. I miss that show so very much, although I do own all the seasons and tie-in books and can watch/read them when I want. It’s just not the same knowing there isn’t a new episode coming.
Interesting choices! I liked Paul Bettany as Dustfinger in Inkheart. I can’t imagine Keira Knightley as a bounty hunter. I’ll have to look up that movie. Stargate was a great show. As far as the runners up, I’d have to choose Nathan Fillion, not because of Castle, though, but from Firefly. I haven’t watched Castle.
Oog… Marvel has owned my movie and TV watching for years, as that’s about all I follow these days. >_< A friend of mine tried to get me started on Leverage, but I couldn't get into it. Ah, well.
Wow. Not sure I’d be able to do this. But Caleb is a grand (if not disturbing) choice. He was fantastic. So many brilliant actors in the Buffyverse. Great list. You want to hug me and then to marry me 😀
It’s awesome you added in Felicia Day! Yay for geeky women! 🙂 As for my vote, I have to go with Nathan Fillion. It was a difficult choice, but he is fantastic.
If I only could choose one, I’d take Sandra Bullock in Miss Congeniality! She cracks me up.
love, love, love all those movie actor choices!
but there are so many tv shows out these days, i don’t know those… amazing isn’t it? too many options!
btw, i just saw paul bettany in Transcendence, love that guy and esp in knight’s tale, such a great movie!
ps – loved your facebook photos!
There is so much television out there these days… I don’t think I’ve seen most of those shows you mention. Hell, I haven’t even heard of some of them. Let’s just go with Castle because I know who Nathan Fillion is.