Connery and Dench Top Legend Poll

In a poll to celebrate Sunday's Academy Awards, we can reveal Britain's top ten actors and actresses.

Feb 25 2005

Sir Sean Connery and Dame Judi Dench are Britain's most popular screen legends, according to a new poll.

Connery, who was catapulted to fame in the 1960s as secret agent James Bond, has since starred in everything from big budget blockbusters like 'Highlander' and 'The Rock' to more serious fare like 'The Hill' and 'The Name of the Rose'.

Hannibal Lecter himself, Sir Anthony Hopkins, came second in the survey, while the late, great Sir Alec Guinness was third.

As for the ladies, Dame Judi Dench, star of 'Mrs Brown' and 'Shakespeare in Love', was understandably overjoyed at being named the number one female legend.

'I am very thrilled to hear this,' she said of her pole position, 'now I have something enormous to live up to.'

'Educating Rita' star Julie Walters came in second on the list, while Elizabeth Taylor was third.

More than 2,000 people were quizzed for the poll, which was carried out by YouGov for Sky to celebrate Sunday's Academy Awards.

Top British Actors

1. Sean Connery
2. Anthony Hopkins
3. Alec Guinness
4. Michael Caine
5. Laurence Olivier
6. Richard Burton
7. Cary Grant
8. John Mills
9. Richard Attenborough
10. Peter Sellers

Top British Actresses

1. Judi Dench
2. Julie Walters
3. Elizabeth Taylor
4. Helen Mirren
5. Julie Andrews
6. Maggie Smith
7. Thora Hird
8. Vanessa Redgrave
9. Kate Winslet
10. Emma Thompson.