De Niro the best alive

A new pole has named Robert de Niro as the greatest living actor.

11:02 29 October 2004

A new pole has named Robert de Niro as the greatest living actor.

The multi-Oscar winning star topped a list including acting legends like Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Lauren Bacall and Morgan Freeman.

Around 10,000 readers of movie magazine Empire were asked to vote on who they believe is the best actor still walking the planet, provided they are over 50 (thereby ruling out younger stars like Kevin Spacey, Tom Hanks and Kevin Costner).

De Niro, who won Academy Awards for his roles in Raging Bull and Godfather: Part II, came in ahead of fellow Godfather: Part II actor Al Pacino.

Another Godfather old boy, Marlon Brando (who died before voting was complete), came fifth in the poll.

Jack Nicholson and Paul Newman round off the top five - coming in at third and fourth respectively.

The only Brit to make it into the top ten was Sir Anthony Hopkins - who came in at sixth. Sean Connery (13) was voted as the second greatest British actor.

The highest ranked female on the list was Sigourney Weaver at tenth.

The top 30 has ten Britons and one Irishman, as well as five women, included.

Colin Kennedy, Empire magazine editor, noted: "It is very hard to maintain a high level of performance throughout your acting career.

"Actors who are able to do that are rarer, and the likes of Hopkins and Connery are the exceptions.

"I don't think this list is a bad reflection of British acting talent. It reflects the fact that American actors are dominant in the movies.

"It is a bit of a surprise to find that Michael Caine isn't in the list. He's would definitely be in my top 30," he added.

The top 30 greatest living actors:
1 - Robert De Niro
2 - Al Pacino
3 - Jack Nicholson
4 - Paul Newman
5 - Marlon Brando - alive while voting was underway
6 - Anthony Hopkins
7 - Morgan Freeman
8 - Dustin Hoffman
9 - Clint Eastwood
10 - Sigourney Weaver
11 - Gene Hackman
12 - Harrison Ford
13 - Sean Connery
14 - Meryl Streep
15 - Ian McKellen
16 - Christopher Lee
17 - Sidney Poitier
18 - Robert Redford
19 - Alan Rickman
20 - Judi Dench
21 - Samuel L Jackson
22 - Peter O'Toole
23 - Bill Murray
24 - Albert Finney
25 - Woody Allen
26 - Helen Mirren
27 - Christopher Walken
28 - Ben Kingsley
29 - Lauren Bacall
30 - John Hurt