Turns out that some of our favorite movie and TV actors are really as great to work
with in real life as we all had hoped.
From Tom Hanks to Robert Downey Jr, here are the top Hollywood stars that everyone loves
working with.
Jim Parsons
Portraying Sheldon Cooper on the mega-hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory transformed the
once-unknown Jim Parsons into an Emmy Award-winning star, the highest-paid actor on TV, and one
of the most well-liked actors in the entertainment industry.
"He's a genius.
He's a comic genius."
Mayim Bialik , who plays the actor's on-screen love interest, told Parade,
"He's fantastic.
He's very professional.
He gives a lot of room for trying new things."
While presenting Parsons with a GLAAD award in 2014, director Ryan Murphy, who first worked
with Parsons on HBO's film adaptation of The Normal Heart in 2014, said,
"Jim is America's f---ing sweetheart."
Murphy had previously told Variety,
"He's what you expect, what you want him to be.
He's such a gentleman, so creative.
[...] He has a real purity and simplicity.
[…] There's never a false note with Jim."
Sterling K. Brown
Ever since the hit NBC drama This Is Us premiered in 2016, Sterling K. Brown has become a household
name and one of the most in-demand actors in Hollywood - all while making history as
he's raked in awards.
Given the charismatic TV star's well-deserved success, crossover talents in comedy and drama,
humility, and big heart, it's no surprise that Mandy Moore, who plays his mom on the
show, once admitted on Instagram that Brown is someone their cast and crew "gush about
endlessly."
The Black Panther star also won the respect of Ryan Murphy while working on the acclaimed
series American Crime Story: The People versus O.J. Simpson.
In 2017, the writer-director told IndieWire,
"[Brown is] an iconic actor, a trailblazer, and an incredible role model [who was] always
the most prepared."
Tom Hanks
Known as one of the nicest, classiest acts in Hollywood, veteran actor Tom Hanks is not
only well-liked in the industry, but he's remained an unstoppable force on and off the
big screen for over three decades.
[Laughter]
Having starred in some of the greatest films of the 20th and 21st centuries, his sets are
said to be among the happiest in show biz.
According to Emma Watson, who worked alongside Hanks in 2017's The Circle, the Oscar-winner
totally lives up to the hype.
"He's so generous and funny and easy-going and he's all the things you would want him
to be."
It sounds like sometimes it does pay to meet your idols.
"He's like a hero, you know?
You want people to live up to what you hope they're going to be."
Hugh Jackman
If there's one actor who might give Tom Hanks a run for his money as the nicest guy in Hollywood,
it's Hugh Jackman.
The triple-threat is as at home playing Wolverine in the action-packed X-Men films as he is
singing and dancing his way through The Greatest Showman.
And you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who's said anything remotely negative about
the guy.
The actor is known to downplay this reputation, telling News Australia in 2015 that being
down to earth, nice, and respectful simply "feels normal" to him.
According to CBR, Jackman's longtime X-Men co-star, stage icon Sir Patrick Stewart, said
at the Emerald City Comic-Con in 2013,
"He is sweet-natured, lovely, and funny every day."
Meanwhile, Eddie Redmayne, who acted alongside Jackman in Les Misérables a year prior, told
Flaunt,
"He's incredibly talented, ridiculously hardworking, and unbelievably generous."
David Tennant
Broadchurch star David Tennant instantly became one of Britain's most beloved actors when
he debuted his iconic turn as the Tenth Doctor on Doctor Who in the mid-2000s.
Known for his affability, humble nature, work ethic, and penchant for being game for just
about anything, the fan-favorite Scotsman has three pieces of advice when it comes to
pursuing acting:
"Turn up on time, learn your lines, and be nice.
I just think that's all, that's it!"
They may be simple, but they've certainly served him well, earning him a glowing reputation
in the industry.
"There's no excuse for being an a------, I just think it's, it makes my skin crawl."
When the Jessica Jones star was surprised with the Special Recognition Award at the
2015 National Television Awards, several of his friends and collaborators gushed over
him in a moving tribute video.
First up was his former Doctor Who co-star Billie Piper, who said:
"He is a special actor and a decent human being."
Meanwhile, Broadchurch co-star Olivia Colman said that Tennant had a "complete lack of
ego," describing him as a "joy" to be with on set and saying, quote, "he is an utterly,
utterly good human being."
Tennant appeared to be overwhelmed with emotion as numerous past collaborators sang his praises.
Dwayne Johnson
After establishing himself as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time as "The Rock" in the
'90s, semi-retired WWE star Dwayne Johnson has since been ranked among the world's highest-paid
actors.
Having starred in several movies, he's become well-known for being hardworking, talented,
gracious, and undeniably cool - in other words, a dream to work with on set.
Johnson's longtime stand-in Alvin Streeter told CNBC in 2017,
"He's grinding every day.
There's an intensity when you're working around him."
Meanwhile, Baywatch co-star Zac Efron told Entertainment Weekly,
"He's always expanding, and he just gets better as he goes, like a flower that never stops
blooming."
Johnson claims he's improved his acting chops by applying the same discipline from wrestling
to acting, telling Esquire in 2015 that this meant he's needed to surround himself with
great acting coaches.
He added,
"I need great actors around me to help me raise my game; I don't know what the f---
I'm doing."
Chris Colfer
Back in 2009, Chris Colfer rose to fame as Glee's fashionable soprano Kurt Hummel.
While breaking new ground in LGBTQ+ representation on television, the multi-hyphenate's sheer
talent, professional attitude, and unique qualities as an actor immediately made him
one of the show's most adored and respected breakout stars.
Mike O'Malley, who played the actor-writer's dad on the hit musical comedy series, told
Vulture in 2011,
"Chris Colfer is such a talented actor.
He's a gifted performer who's thoroughly prepared always."
When the Emmy-nominated TV star made his feature film debut with 2012's Struck By Lightning,
which he also wrote and executive produced, his new co-workers were equally impressed.
As Oscar winner Allison Janney, who played Colfer's mom in the film, rhetorically asked
the Associated Press,
"How can he be so talented and accomplished and charming and be so impossibly young?"
Colfer has spent most of his post-Glee career focused on writing books, including the acclaimed
children's series The Land of Stories.
But with this kind of reputation as an actor, we're pretty sure anyone in Hollywood would
want to hire Colfer in a heartbeat.
Adam Scott
For nearly 20 years, Adam Scott was essentially known as "Oh yeah, that guy" before landing
his breakthrough role as lovable nerd Ben Wyatt on Parks and Recreation in 2011.
Since then, his career has skyrocketed.
Besides starring opposite Reese Witherspoon on HBO's hit drama Big Little Lies, he's also
co-created the Adult Swim series The Greatest Event in Television History, led the comedy
series Ghosted alongside Craig Robinson, and launched Gettin' Rad Productions with wife
Naomi.
According to Scott's colleagues, his wide-ranging mainstream success comes down to his impressive
work ethic, undeniable talents in the realms of comedy and drama, and the fact that he's
a genuinely great person to be around.
Close friend and frequent collaborator Paul Rudd told Backstage in 2010,
"He's a humble guy and self-effacing to a fault.
He's also one of the funniest people I know, yet this great dramatic actor."
Meanwhile, Amy Poehler told Vulture,
"Adam is such a rare combination of a tremendously real actor and a very facile, comedic performer.
He is really generous and kind and like a real pro."
Robert Downey Jr.
Throughout his nearly five-decade career, Robert Downey Jr. has become one of the most
beloved movie stars Hollywood has to offer - and it's easy to see why.
The industry vet, who was the third highest-paid actor in 2018, has been coined one of the
greatest actors of his generation.
While his co-stars and directors often speak highly of his undeniable talent, charisma,
genius, and generosity, it'd be difficult to find anyone who loves the so-called "Godfather"
of the Marvel Cinematic Universe more than the rest of the franchise's cast.
According to ComicBook.com, when Captain America star Chris Evans was asked who he'd consider
to be his mentor at the 2018 ACE Comic Con, he said,
"It's low-hanging fruit to say Downey.
[...] He's such a wonderful guy and is so talented, so experienced, and so supportive."
The love is definitely mutual.
Downey, who is known to take care of everyone on set, gave Evans a custom-built 1967 Camaro
after wrapping Avengers: Infinity War - you know, because he can.
Evans continued,
"He really just opens his arms.
And it sounds so cheesy, but he makes it a family and none of this would happen without
him."