Which Broadway Actor/Actress do you think can best act different types of characters...?

BELIEVABLY!

I watched the movie Finding Neverland with Johnny Depp last night and realized how much I really do love his acting. He's always been my favorite actor, being able to really transform himself into ANY role, and after Finding Neverland I was really just blown away and realized it for good. From Edward Scissor Hands - Blow - Sleepy Hollow - Pirates of the Carribean - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Secret Window - Finding Neverland and others.... he's never "Johnny Depp", he's his character and he's so effin good at it.

Sooo... wanted to know, who do you think is the best at different roles on Broadway??

I personally think this would just mean best actor period, but there are many times great actors/actresses who just a more type casted and play the same type of roles everytime they act (whether movie or show or what not).

Also, add to this who you think does the best at this in movies as well (like I said Johnny Depp) just curious to what people think and which Broadway Actors/Actresses have the best range in characters and can really make themselves believable in each and every one, no matter how different they are from each other.

Now... go!

oh and PS: Sorry for the somewhat long post, dunno if you guys mind, but many times some messageboards seem to complain cuz they are filled with lazy people who despise reading anything more than a few sentences long.

I'll have to agree with you about Mr. Esparza.

An actor's body of work is what gains my respect most of all.

Ok I know she isn't know for her Broadway acting-but she has done a few Broadway shows and some movies based on plays. But Meryl Streep can transform into anything and anyone. She has played a holocaust survivor, a woman going through a divorce, a morman mother and ethel rosenburg just to name a few. And in every movie she is so convincing as every role she plays. I wish she would come back to Broadway because I'm sure she would be entrancing to watch live

For actors definitely Raul Esparza and perhaps Mandy Patinkin. I think that the most versatile actress on Broadway is Bernadette Peters just because she can convey so many different emotions and attitudes on stage.

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Kristin Chenoweth

I have to disagree with Kristin to a certain extent. If you look at the roles she's done, they're almost all somewhat ditzy and "blonde". She may have great comic timing and such, but her roles really haven't been that varied.

That said, I do have to agree with Raul.

Anthony Rapp & Raul Esparza.

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My vote goes to Donna Murphy.

She has played both Fosca and Helen of Troy. She was a poignant Vera in 'Pal Joey' and a wacky Rose of Rangoon in 'Song of Singapore.' She has played a whore in 'Hello Again', a frighteningly funny psychiatric patient in 'Twelve Dreams' and Anna Leonowens. She played a man as Edwin Drood and a woman looking for a man, and respect as Ruth Sherwood.

This is just a sample of the three-dimensional, always believable characters Ms. Murphy has created on stage. So she has my vote.

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Kristin? Versatile? I am a fan of her work, but the roles she has had to date have not exactly been very different from one another. Vocally, I would argue, she is quite versatile, but not in terms of acting. She has been type-cast as the little ingenue.

Donna Murphy, like others have said, is very versatile.

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I agree that Chenoweth, while very good, hasn't had a great variety of roles.

However, I do think Idina Menzel is worth mentioning.

Donna Murphy hands-down. She has done so much. Bernadette too, her turn in Sunday in the Park with George is what wins me over for her. And yeah again hoping not to get shot but Idina Menzel, her best performance in my opinion to date is Kate in Lippa's Wild Party, that's how she won me over.

YES to Donna Murphy
I also think Alan Cumming has proven on stage and screen he can do alot.

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Carol Channing