Orson Welles Reveals His Surprising Pick for Century’s Top Actor

When film first began to establish itself as a true art form, a handful of performers quickly rose to iconic status, captivating audiences with unforgettable performances. Early stars like Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, drawing on vaudeville roots, used the unique possibilities of the camera to create moments that simply couldn’t be replicated on stage. Their inventive physical comedy and clever effects set a new standard for what acting could be on screen.

As Hollywood expanded, actors with a wide range of skills emerged. Some excelled in silent films, relying on expressive faces and gestures, while others experimented with new techniques to push their craft further. By the 1950s, method acting was gaining traction, though not everyone embraced it —some saw it as little more than chaos. No matter the approach, the decades brought a parade of unforgettable stars, from Marlon Brando and Laurence Olivier to Gena Rowlands and Daniel Day-Lewis, each leaving a lasting mark on the industry.

Welles’ Unconventional Choice

Orson Welles, celebrated for his groundbreaking work both in front of and behind the camera, is often mentioned among the greatest talents in film history. But when asked to name the finest actor of the 20th century, Welles didn’t choose a Hollywood legend. Instead, he pointed to a Russian opera singer who rarely appeared in movies but commanded the stage like no other: Feodor Chaliapin.

Chaliapin, born in 1873, made a rare film appearance in the 1933 adaptation of Don Quixote, but his true passion was live performance. He was close friends with composer Sergei Rachmaninoff, who helped shape his musical abilities. Chaliapin’s powerful presence and deep understanding of music allowed him to bring operatic roles to life, earning him worldwide acclaim and a reputation as an unstoppable force in the arts.

Unmatched Stage Presence

Known for his unforgettable portrayal of Boris Godunov, Chaliapin left a deep impression on Welles. In a conversation with Peter Bogdanovich for the book This Is Orson Welles, the director said,

“Chaliapin, an actor whose genius was equal to his enormous stature as a personality. And believe me, Peter, that’s really saying something. He was by far the biggest actor of our century.”

Welles went on,

“No contest; nobody could make his weight. And what was he onscreen? Just marginally impressive.”

Welles, who had played towering roles like Lear, Richard III, and Falstaff, admitted that even the greatest actors struggled to fully inhabit such massive characters.

“Those parts are too big for any actor—the very biggest never manage to completely fill them. The nearest I’ve ever seen was Chaliapin; nobody came near to him for size, for sheer density.”

Defying Expectations

Welles admired Chaliapin’s ability to completely transform himself, no matter how daunting the role. It’s telling that Welles, who often clashed with his Hollywood peers, chose someone outside the mainstream. He was famously critical of many contemporaries, even once mocking Marlon Brando by saying,

“his neck, which is like a huge sausage, a shoe made of flesh.”

For Welles, Chaliapin stood alone, unmatched in his ability to fill every role with depth and power.