Tom Hanks has been named the greatest actor in entertainment history, following a poll from film fans across the world.



It hardly comes as a surprise, because not only is he one badass actor, he also seems like a pretty sound guy.

Credit: BBC

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Actors and actresses were ranked by people throughout the globe on Ranker, having been posed the question: "Who are the best actors of all time?"

The rules also stipulated that the actors and actresses were to be rated based on their entire body of work, not just what they have done recently.

"Some of the greatest actors of all time have not necessarily acted in a project in the past 5 years, but they still deserve to be on this greatest actresses and actors of all time list," the rules said.

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That means Hanks had some seriously big competition, battling it out against acting legends from across Hollywood's long history.

Credit: Forrest Gump/Paramount Pictures

He's of course got some strong acting credits to his name, including Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Saving Private Ryan and Big.

More recently, he's even taken on the role of Walt Disney in 2013's Saving Mr Banks, as well as American pilot Chelsey Sullenburger in 2016 biograpical drama Sully.

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Something he's celebrated for mostly among younger audiences is voicing cowboy toy Woody in the Toy Story series. He did, however, reveal that he wasn't the only actor who voiced the character - and that whenever Hanks doesn't have the time, Disney often turns to his younger brother Jim to do the job instead.

We're not sure that means he should be stripped of his title, though, as the rest of his body of work is pretty much solid gold. Who can forget that scene of him playing 'Chopsticks' on the giant floor keyboard in Big? It went down in cinematic history - as did his 'Life is like a box of chocolates' spiel in Forrest Gump, and when he waved his basketball pal Wilson a tearful farewell in Cast Away.

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In second place of the poll was Bette Davis, an American studio-era actress who was known for roles in films like What Ever Happened To Baby Jane, All About Eve and Jezebel. After her came Marlon Brando - the Godfather himself.