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Judging what makes a great actor is easy. It's separating the great from the best of all time that's a struggle. What exactly is it that makes an actor stand out among the pack? Well for me it's a combination of the actor's consistency and their talent. Whereas some actors may give one or two amazing performances then slip off the radar, the following actors have created a body of work that will stand the test of time:

MARLON BRANDO: The most important actor of all time, Marlon Brando essentially created a new naturalistic style of acting that has played some part in shaping every performance since. His first major performance as Stanley in A Streetcar Named Desire is still a tour de force that electrifies. Never an actor in love with acting, over the years he took roles in many bad films and phoned in a lot of performances. Despite this he created some of the best characters in film history.

LAURENCE OLIVIER: While he never quite reached the heights of his on stage performances in film, this only goes to show how incredible an actor he was. His portrayals of Shakespeare's legendary characters are the bar at which all subsequent performances have been held to.

PETER O'TOOLE: One of the greatest actors ever to grace the silver screen. Best known for his legendary performance in the epic Lawrence of Arabia, O'Toole is still producing excellent performances today, most recently in Ratatouille, Venus and Dean Spanley.

ROBERT DE NIRO: Viewed as one of the best actors of all time, it's De Niro's collaborations with director Martin Scorsese that really stand out. Also of note are his roles in The Godfather II and The Deer Hunter. A method actor, De Niro's performances often feel raw and highly realistic. A mostly dramatic actor during his early years, later in his career he has turned to comedy, with less spectacular results.

JACK NICHOLSON: The most nominated actor in Oscar history, Jack Nicholson is a true Hollywood legend. His earlier films are full of iconic performances, from Five Easy Pieces to The Last Detail. He's known best for larger than life, angry and funny roles, but some of his best work is in smaller films that require more subtlety such as The Pledge and About Schmidt.

DANIEL DAY LEWIS: An actor committed to his craft and known for his exhaustive pre-film preparations, Day Lewis is without doubt the best actor of his generation. With no two roles alike he truly becomes the character, living inside their skin. His talents were first widely noticed when he played Christy Brown, a celebrated artist who suffers from cerebal palsy, in the film My Left Foot.

TOM HANKS: The beauty of Tom Hanks is that he can make you laugh and cry, sometimes simultaneously. Starting out in comedies, it was clear Hanks had a charm and wit that was unrivalled. Slowly he began to take more serious roles, and his true talents were finally seen in 1993's Philadelphia in which Hanks gave a dignified and powerful portrayal of a man suffering from AIDS.

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