Popular actors are some of the most divisive public personalities—and that’s a fact that’s even more accentuated on social media. The sheer amount of vitriolic discourse that an average Twitter thread can produce is something that has to be seen to be believed. That’s why it’s so refreshing to see that there are still some actors and actresses that nobody hates.
10. Jackie Chan
One of the most recognisable martial arts stars in the world, Jackie Chan (one of the greatest action stars of the 90s) has been proving his unmatched mettle as a stunt artist since 1962. Although his first roles were mostly as extras or stunt doubles, Chan soon rose to prominence as a talented actor who combined daring acrobatics with thrilling comedic timing.
Even though the actor is steadily approaching his 70s, Jackie Chan continues to appear in martial arts films to this day. He even had a cartoon in the mid-2000s: a veritable proof of Chan’s popularity with any age demographic. Nobody hates Jackie Chan.
9. Emilia Clarke
The entire cast of Game of Thrones seems to be composed of nice people. Ironically, one of the nicest of them is one of the show’s meanest: Emilia Clarke. The actress who plays Daenerys Targaryen is nothing like her character. She is as laid-back as possible and has a unique sense of humour during interviews.
In a word, Clarke is radiant: she exudes a positive aura that can cheer up anyone who hears her, and maybe that’s why she’s considered one of the most influential actresses of the moment. During the pandemic, Clarke also helped fundraising for those in need, and also began charities to help theatre workers who were affected by the lockdowns.
8. Peter Dinklage
Yet another Game of Thrones star, Peter Dinklage, is known for his deep voice and powerful dramatic performances over the years. He played the scheming Tyrion Lannister in the show, and fans quickly named him their favourite character in a series well-known for its amazing personalities.
Dinklage has never let his dwarfism limit the roles he can take. He’s also done some voice-acting roles in the past, mainly in animated comedies. That’s another thing people love about Dinklage: he seemingly has no issue sprinkling some deeply dramatic characters with a hint of comedy.
7. Willem Dafoe
Despite his many roles as a villain, most people just can’t bring themselves to hate Willem Dafoe. Perhaps it’s something about how effectively well he plays evil characters, but Dafoe is one of the most popular baddies in the entertainment business. Even when he isn’t playing a bad guy, you can’t help but feel like he’s the member of the cast that’s going to go ballistic by the end of the film.
One of his most recognizable roles is that of Norman Osborn, aka the Green Goblin, in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man. Recently, Spider-Man: No Way Home had Dafoe reprise his role as one of the leading villains, and it was every bit as awesome as fans were expecting.
He is definitely an actor nobody hates. Also, Willem Dafoe would be perfect as Joker. Just sayin.
6. Chadwick Boseman
The king of Wakanda himself, Chadwick Boseman (who died too soon), had a tragically short life that left fans wishing for more of the charismatic actor. Though he began his career acting in theatre and television, Boseman came to mainstream audiences when he starred in the immensely popular Black Panther.
His death in 2020 felt like a punch to the gut of his fans. For those who were just noticing Boseman’s acting chops thanks to Black Panther, it seemed like the actor went away just as his career was taking off. Fortunately for fans, he left behind a legacy for the MCU and a spectacular performance in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to remember him by.
5. Betty White
The current holder of the Guinness World Record for the longest TV career by an entertainer, Betty White’s illustrious 79 years of performances turned her into an icon for the entertainment business as a whole. At 99 years old, White was still the talk of social media from time to time, who simply couldn’t get enough of the entertainer’s sweetness.
White passed away on December 31, 2021, leaving behind a legacy of successes and a legion of adoring fans. In preparation for her 100th birthday, a movie titled Betty White: A Celebration is set to be released as a commemoration of White’s exemplary life.
4. Idris Elba
It’s inconceivable to hate someone with a voice like Idris Elba’s; it’s just physically impossible to do so. Elba has been one of the leading drama/action British actors for quite a while now, starring in movies like Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Beasts of No Nation, and The Harder They Fall.
Currently, there’s a fan petition going on asking the producers of the next Bond film to cast him as the iconic British spy. It’s still too early to tell whether we’ll get to see Elba as the new 007, but there’s no denying that he’d be amazing in that role.
3. Jeff Goldblum
From Jurassic Park to The Fly and everything in between, there’s something magical about Jeff Goldblum’s acting style, something that makes him impervious to any form of hatred, you might say. The actor’s unusual delivery has made him popular since the early days of his career, and over time, it became his most recognizable feature. He is definitely an actor nobody hates.
Goldblum is best remembered for his role as Dr Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park series. In fact, his brief cameos in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom might be the best parts of the movie – or even the best part of the film. Goldblum is set to reprise his role in 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion, where he’ll share the screen with his two Jurassic Park co-stars, Laura Dern and Sam Neill.
2. Patrick Stewart
Captain of the USS Enterprise and leader of the X-Men, Sir Patrick Stewart, is one of the most beloved actors in geek culture. His performance as Captain Jean-Luc Picard has been a fan-favourite among “Trekkies” for years and now is finding a new audience thanks to the ongoing Star Trek: Picard series.
When he’s not filming, Stewart spends most of his time doing charity work and advocating for misunderstood pit bulls. Thanks to his role as Professor Charles Xavier, he currently holds the record for the longest career as a live-action superhero, a role he frequently reprises in the X-Men franchise.
Patrick Stewart is definitely an actor nobody hates.
1. Keanu Reeves
Good guy Keanu Reeves (one of the nicest actors in Hollywood) will always be the number one least disliked actor that’s ever existed. It’s impossible to hate Keanu, no matter how much you try. The actor has starred in some of the most critically acclaimed sci-fi and action movies of the last three decades and has seen a resurgence in his popularity in recent times thanks to the John Wick franchise.
Keanu’s good-guy persona (although he did go full rage on a fan once) has become something of a meme in and of itself. Everyone knows him as the cool guy who’s genuinely approachable and who simply looks out of place next to the rest of Hollywood’s elites. Simply put, no one hates this man.
Can you think of other actors nobody hates? Also, check out our list of 10 actors nobody cares about anymore.
Despite what you might think of his acting ability (he was painful to watch in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, especially in scenes with Gary Oldman but so was Winona Ryder), you cannot help but to like the guy personally. He is affable, humble, self effacing, approachable, and compassionate.
I met Patrick Stewart when I was in college around 1995 in Orlando at the Peabody Hotel. We were in separate groups sitting in the lobby watching the ducks and just hanging out. This was pre X-Men and was known mostly for all of the Star Trek stuff. I didn’t watch the series but I was well aware of who he was and I definitely recognized his distinctive voice as he was telling stories and jokes to his companions. He actually voluntarily spoke with me when it became apparent that I recognized him but I didn’t approach him (I’m from Chicago’s Southside, we don’t really do the whole fanboy/fangirl thing, we acknowledge someone famous subtly with a head nod and maybe a smile. I mean if we didn’t lose our minds when Janet Jackson visited our school, I’m not gonna go gaga over Jean-Luc Picard). He was very nice and even kind of included us in his story telling. He had a great, effusive voice that was as rich and timbred as if he was on a stage doing Hamlet.
Also, loved Patrick Swayze. I worked in the arts and he and his wife spent an afternoon with us. We thought they would leave after their official appearance, film screening, q&a, and autograph session. But they hung around and they were really at home and completely approachable and seemed to be in their element among other dancers. He was a really good guy. But I did notice that, like most dancers and models, they really smoked A LOT.