The five greatest actors of all time, according to Quentin Tarantino

Quentin Tarantino once named who he believed are the top five best actors of all time.

As one of the most-talked about directors and considered by many as one of the best of all time, it's not surprising Quentin Tarantino has subsequently worked with some of the best acting talent on the planet too.

And he once revealed who he personally believes to be up there in the top five.

Tarantino has returned to work with a plethora of actors, from Samuel L. Jackson to Uma Thurman, Michael Madsen, Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt.

However, does that mean they're up there with who the director believes to be the most talented at their profession?

Well, in an interview with Charlie Rose upon the release of Jackie Brown back in 1997, Tarantino revealed who he believed to be the top five actors at that time.

The film sees Pam Grier star in the titular role and other veteran names include Samuel L. Jackson, Bridget Fonda, Robert Forster and Michael Keaton.

Quentin Tarantino has worked with a whole host of well-known and highly acclaimed actors. (Miramax)

Oh and the crime flick features none other than Robert De Niro as Louis Gara.

And it's De Niro's acting Tarantino honed in on in discussion with Rose.

The director said: “He deserves his reputation as probably the greatest actor of his generation.

"I think he is the best actor in the world. I’ve never seen an actor so completely consume himself in character, in true character work during the work.

"And what I mean by that is when Robert is playing Louis… he is working moment to moment. De Niro has that down. He is so in character."

Are you surprised at Tarantino's mentions? (Miramax)

There are, of course, other stars that Tarantino respects, having previously told Jim Hoberman about the greatest actors of his lifetime

He explained: "I’m a big fan of wild behavioural actors. I think Michael Parks [The Hitman] is one of the greatest actors that’s ever been produced in our lifetime! He ruined most of the breaks he got. He’s in From Dusk Till Dawn."

When asked about standout stars from his ‘generation’, Tarantino replied: "Sean Penn, Tim Roth, and Nick Cage. Tim because of his versatility and ferociousness. He’s got this chameleon quality. Sean out of sheer sexual-violence charisma.

"And Nick Cage just for fearlessness. I don’t think that I’ve ever seen another actor in the history of film that made a career of being miscast and rising to the occasion."

• Diane Keaton's cause of death confirmed as pneumonia as family release heartbreaking details
• Uma Thurman accused Quentin Tarantino of ‘trying to kill’ her while filming famous scene in ‘Kill Bill’
• Martin Scorsese names the three 'greatest' actors of their generation
• Quentin Tarantino announces he's killed off one of his beloved movie characters