Actors who have impressed me and where

This is also the list of my favourite male characters.

If an actor shows on this list, it means he has not only impressed me with his acting of at least one specific character, but he's also played it so well that said character is who I remember the most from a series or movie long after I finished it.

I have kept the best support performances at the bottom.

The characters/actors (apart from my top 8) are added in random order.

bluexxangel Dec 6, 2018

34 People 3 Loves Report

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Kang Ha Neul

South Korean

I cannot pick his best acting job, because each and every one of his performances was stellar and flawless. He doesn't have to talk to express a myriad of emotions yet he can crush me with a broken smile or a subtle change in his body language. This actor can play any character with unbelievable skill and he has never, ever disappointed me, hence why he's my top favourite.
Yang Se Jong

South Korean

He completely blew me away in Duel (main) and enchanted me in My Country. His acting is so subdued, so realistic, so full of vulnerability, he wins my heart in seconds. Wow, this man can act.
Kim Bum

South Korean

In Tale of the Nine Tailed Fox (main). How could I resist my favourite type of character: the broken villain? He commits horrible things but it is impossible to hate him when you see the unfairness he had to endure all his life, and how happiness seems denied to him until the very end. I didn't know this actor before I watched him here, but he impressed me from the get go: his expressions were always on point, from smug or triumphant to defeated or lost. Damn he was good also in Hidden Identity (main).
Woo Do Hwan

South Korean

For Sweet Stranger and Me (support). His role of a complex, wicked character made me want to watch more of him, especially as a lead role. In Mad Dog (main), he played a scammer with cool and flair. But his best role was in My Country: The New Age (main): his performance of an unloved, lost, conflicted man stirred me hard.
Kim Young Kwang

South Korean

The Guardians (main) is his best work. His expressions are very him, very unique, and he breathes the characters he plays. He's even improving as his experience grows, because he's taking on more difficult roles. However, his choices recently have not been original, instead of him pursuing some more complex plots. He may drop from my top 5 should he carry on playing the stereotype rom-com character.
Hong Jong Hyun

South Korean

For Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo. Played a villain with all the inner darkness necessary, but with enough subtlety that he rang surprisingly true. In Alice: Boy in Wonderland, he was just mesmerising and eerie. I wish he'd get more parts.
Lee Seung Gi

South Korean

In A Korean Odyssey (main). He played a hot headed, cheeky, funny, confident character I immediately fell for, and I liked him even more as the drama progressed to develop a full on crush! He's maybe not the best actor out there but I just can't help having a mega soft spot for him (the killer smile and killer looks help a lot...)
Edit: brilliant performance in Mouse. I think he's both maturing as an actor, but he's also choosing more complex scenarios
Park Sung Woong

South Korean

I've watched him in many dramas, and he was on point for all of them. However, to me, his best role was in Remember: War of the Son (main). He plays an attorney who repents on his past misdeeds. An experienced, wonderful actor who impressed me more and more as the series progressed. He is my official guilty crush!
Lee Dong Wook

South Korean

For Strangers from Hell (main) where he plays the most chillingly cruel, softly spoken, always calm psychopath. He managed to create this uncomfortable yet mesmerising aura around him. His character was fascinating, and truly terrifying.
Lee Joon Gi

South Korean

In Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (main) and Flower of Evil (main). This man nails his facial expressions: he doesn't have to say anything to convey all his feelings. Just...wow. Wow. Superb actor.
Namkoong Min

South Korean

In Beautiful Gong Shim (main), he was confident, goofy and appeared genuinely warm and friendly. In Remember: War of the Son (main), he played a sadistic, entitled villain that I hated from his first appearance and the horrid aura remained in all his scenes. A born actor and a joy to watch.
Yamashita Tomohisa

Japanese

In Algernon ni Hanataba O (main), he was astonishing, and hit me right in the feels. His best performance by far.
Lee Jun Ho

South Korean

In Just Between Lovers (main). I watched him in Twenty (main) too, but he impressed me most in JBL. This character hid his lack of confidence behind a careless, mouthy front, but his broken soul shone through his empathy and selfless behaviour. This suited this actor perfectly: he managed to breathe life and realistic pain in his role. I just wanted to hug him and comfort him every time he showed.
Jang Hyuk

South Korean

In My Country: The New Age (main). This man is a scene stealer. The character he plays there showcases this man's natural authority and charisma. A born leader, able to show cold, vicious ruthlessness, yet capable to stir enough emotions in us that we can't help but feel sorry for him. Impossible character to love, yet impossible to hate.
Yoo Seung Ho

South Korean

For I'm not a Robot (main) and Remember: War of the Son (main). He nails the emotional scenes, this one, but he can also deliver funny lines perfectly. He has the same natural sensitivity as Kang Ha Neul, which is a huge attraction to me. A well rounded actor.
Park Hae Jin

South Korean

In Bad Guys (main). PHJ portrayed an apathetic, mysterious character with a huge amount of charisma. He didn't talk a lot but his expressions were clear and powerful, enough to highlight a darkness within him, yet sensibility, determination and loneliness still came through to make you wonder for a long while about the true personality of this complex character.
Han Seok Kyu

South Korean

In Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim 2 (main). Maybe he was lucky to play such an unforgettable character, written with such finesse, but this actor also input his own charisma and demeanour to the role. He literally owned it: he shone brighter in his scenes than any of the actors around him (and they were all talented). An incredible actor.
Jung Kyung Ho

South Korean

For Prison Playbook (main). This actor shows his experience and maturity. Very likeable and realistic character, far from the perfect, bland hero. Natural acting. He made me want to watch more of his work.
Kim Jae Wook

South Korean

For The Guest (main). The charisma this guy has is unbelievable. His acting was raw, gritty and multi-layered.
Satoh Takeru

Japanese

In Inuyashiki (main), where the inner conflict and the aloofness of his character really got me. Very captivating actor.
Yeo Jin Goo

South Korean

For Hotel del Luna (main) and Circle (main). In both dramas, he played the sweet, kind man in a soft, natural way. Both characters were realistic (especially in HDL): no perfect hero or Alpha male, just a real, friendly and engaging lead, which is refreshing in drama land.
Park Seo Joon

South Korean

In Midnight Runners (main). I've watched him in a few rom-coms too, but I think he handles comedy more naturally than sad or lovey dovey scenes. His best performances are of sarcastically funny, tough and confident characters: he looks more at ease on screen and his comedic timing is spot on. On the other hand, I'd love to see him in a gritty action thriller, just to take him out of his comfort zone: I'm sure he'd be awesome. (edit: watched him in Divine Fury. Shame for the unoriginal plot, but this character suited him to a T)
Ryu Deok Hwan

South Korean

In Faith (main), he played a wise, modest King and he stole the show from the 1st lead. In Miss Hammurabi (support), he was funny and geeky. Extremely natural acting, and an actor that never disappoint.
Sung Dong Il

South Korean

For Miss Hammurabi (main), where he gave a stellar performance of a quirky, temperamental judge with so many layers he was unforgettable. Safely one of the great Korean actors out there.
Seo Kang Joon

South Korean

In When the Weather is Fine (main). He completely suited the mellow, soft atmosphere of this drama, and played a big part in adding onto that feeling of cosiness and warmth with his acting. His character had this inane innocence and vulnerability hard to resist: his whole demeanour was touching to the point I wanted to cross the screen and give him a big hug.
Joo Sang Wook

South Korean

For Good Doctor (main). Such a complex character. I didn't particularly like him at first, but the depth of his personality pierced through little by little, and I ended up adoring him. The typical cold exterior, warm interior character, played to perfection. Very charismatic too.
Joo Won

South Korean

For Good Doctor (main). Such a cute, lovable character,. Joo Won managed to portray autism with finesse. His character was maybe given too many heroic deeds, but it fits the feel good storyline. Joo Won and his co-stars made the whole drama touching, engaging and vibrant.
Lee Yi Kyung

South Korean

In Children of Nobody (main). I have watched him only in comedic roles, but boy do I prefer him in serious ones, such as the cop in CON. He showed emotion without going overboard, behaved naturally and realistically. He was a character with a lot of rawness and honesty.
Nishikido Ryo

Japanese

For Zenkai Girl (main). Very realistic and down to earth acting. He was adorable in this drama.
Park Jong Hwan

South Korean

In Strangers from Hell (support), he played psychotic twins, one of which had a mental impairment, and he was incredible at it. Not sure why he hasn't been offered more jobs, because this guy would deserve it
Kubota Masataka

Japanese

For Algernon ni Hanataba wo (support). Plays a rough, hot headed man with a big heart, and his character's growth in that series is flawlessly acted.
Jung Hae In

South Korean

For Blood (support). His character enchanted me, and he stole the whole series, which was otherwise pretty rubbish. Very dynamic and natural on screen.
Lomon

South Korean

For The Guardians (support). Played a psychopath teenager. He was chillingly believable. Hopefully, it's the start of a fulfilling career.
Li Yan

Chinese

In Guardian (support). While the series ended up being a disappointment, his character is the one that remains my firm favourite. He could have been pretty irritating and boring, as Li Yan played an overly clumsy, naive, weak young man, yet I found him touching, sweet and puppy like adorable.
I always admire actors who are talented enough to manage to turn around a character you should hate on paper into one you like. Kudos.