Help me decide who's cooler - Viggo Mortensen or Ian McKellen

[Screaming Lord Byron]

In honour of the release of ROTK, I thought I'd better poll this. I personally cannot decide who is coolest, Mortensen or McKellen.

Viggo Mortensen is a polymath - actor, poet, photographer, writer, artist. He embodies Aragorn perfectly in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, there is no other actor alive who could do the character more justice. His politics are impeccable, his comments (see Salon interview) eloquent. Little known fact - he played Kowalski in the TV remake of sixties cult movie Vanishing Point.

http://www.salon.com/ent/movies/int/2003/10/24/viggo/index_np.html

Ian McKellen is, quite simply the greatest actor of his generation. As someone who has first-hand experience of his stage performances (Richard III) I can say that unequivocably. A tireless campaigner for gay rights and left-wing causes, McKellen is a personal hero to myself and many.

http://www.mckellen.com

I cannot decide between the two. I lean towards McKellen, but can't bring myself to discount Mortensen. Decide for me, I'm that pathetic.

[joeybee12]

1. Tough call--should be "Both"; however, I voted for Ian largely because

his open sexuality has cost him many acting jobs in his life, as well as two Oscars that he was robbed of. He gave up a lot by admitting he's gay--don't think Viggo had to make the same personal sacrifice.

[joeybee12]

2. P.S., and you're right, Ian is the greatest actor of his generation...

...which makes my first point more valid.

[THUNDER HANDS]

3. Ian

I don't think he's done as many bad movies as Viggo has.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

4. Check out Viggo on IMDB, there's some real stinkers there.

[MoonAndSun]

5. Viggo is it for me, besides being very sexy, he has been a anti-war

spokesman and protester. He was at the last anti-war demonstration and he doesn't care what the freepers think of him

I love Viggo, but Ian is cool, too.

[CBHagman]

6. I love Sir Ian, but let's not rank one over the other.

Then again, do check out "Cold Comfort Farm" if you haven't seen that. McKellen is WONDERFUL.

"Drain the well. There's a neighbor missing!"

[joeybee12]

7. Shit! I wish I didnt know that he was in that....

I might have to see it--I was hoping it would bomb and we wouldn't have to see Nicole Kidman anymore!

[CBHagman]

11. "Cold Comfort Farm" came out years ago.

Did you think I was referring to "Cold Mountain"?

"Cold Comfort Farm" is a comedy and features, among others, Kate Beckinsale, Eileen Atkins, and Stephen Fry. I won't tell you a WORD about Sir Ian's role in it, but it's one of my favorite performances from him.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

8. For sure, it's just a trivial poll I made up off the top of my head

out of boredom.

[terrya]

9. Sir Ian for the reasons you gave, SLB. AND...

His film version of "Richard III". Superb.

AND his performance in "Gods and Monsters", which he SHOULD have won the Best Actor Oscar (given instead to Roberto Benigni)

I have the utmost respect for Sir Ian...an actor who can do almost anything.

[Screaming Lord Byron]

10. To be totally honest

I made this poll up as an excuse to get people to talk about Ian McKellen (and, to a lesser extent, Viggo). McKellen is extraordinary. I saw him in theatre aged 14 (and quite the theatre-hater at the time) and I can still remember it like it was yesterday.

[VelmaD]

12. Christopher Lee baybee

Talk about the king of the bad B movies. He's been the only good thing in a ton of really bad movies.

That said, I mostly voted for him just so he'd have a vote. I love all the choices on this poll. Sir Ian rocks and I don't care that he's gay and that he's considerably older than me - I still think he's a hottie.

Viggo turns me into a puddle of goo like he seems to do with a large number of the DU ladies (and gentlemen).

[SOteric]

13. Viggo

[KG]

14. viggo spoke at the rally in DC in oct. - so he's cooler.