The Perfect Face: 17 Television Actors Who've Mastered the Art of Facial Expression

By Cindy Davis | Lists | January 13, 2014 |

By Cindy Davis | Lists | January 13, 2014 |

After last night’s Golden Globes celebrated television and film’s “best” actors, I watched the season three finale of Sherlock, and continued to marvel at Martin Freeman’s absolutely brilliant ability to convey every emotion with merely a look. We all have a tendency to froth at the mouth over Cumberbatch’s panty-dropping voice and perfectly tousled locks—and the man is a fine actor—but Freeman’s face is simply sublime. With just one camera shot near *Spoiler? Swipe to read: Sherlock’s grave, hearts the world over were simultaneously broken. So let’s take a moment, shall we, to honor those who give good face.

1. Claire Danes: The Cryface

2. Martin Freeman: Broken-Hearted

3. Iain Glen: Broken-Hearted and Humiliated

4. Jack Gleeson: I Passed What Satan Calls Wicked at Age Eight

5. Jeremy Davies: Dumb, or Stoned…or Both

6. Lena Dunham: The Dim Pout

7. Laura Dern: Dim Enthusiasm

8. James Spader: You Bore Me. I’m So Much Better Than You.

9. David Tennant: Say Wot?

10. Timothy Olyphant: Are You Fucking Kidding Me?

11. Lena Headey: The Bitchface/I Need to Get to the Ladies Room Now

12. Katey Sagal: Fuck You

13. Aaron Paul: “Bitch!”

14. Dean Norris: I Want to Kill You, But I Know I Can’t

15. Aden Young: Broken

16. Mads Mikkelsen: Detached

17. Andrew Scott: Psychopath

Cindy Davis, (Twitter) No spoilers in the comments please, but His Last Vow has left me positively giddy.