Hollywood can be both finicky and uninspired. A lot of the same actors get choice roles and a lot of the same actors get typecast. Some actors just never get used enough or aren’t given nearly enough quality roles. It was very easy to compile a list of underrated actors. I mean, take your pick: Jeff Bridges, Peter Sarsgaard, Toni Collette, Jennifer Jason Leigh, etc. Then you have those who were underrated for so long that it became hip to recognize them to the point that they are now no longer underrated (see: Johnny Depp and Paul Giamatti). The point is this is an ever-changing, recyclable list. In fact, one of the actors on this list I used to think was underrated, then he went through a period when he wasn’t, but now he is again.

Here are five actors I felt like giving a shout-out to today.

Laura Dern

Dern is one talented actress, so it continues to amaze me how she isn’t considered for more roles. Last time I saw Dern was in the quality HBO film Recount where she played Katherine Harris with every ounce of nuttiness she could muster. It was great stuff. We just need more great stuff from this underused actress.

src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/9/6/7/4/26004769-26004773-minithumbnail.jpg" alt="Isla Fisher" width="78" height="78" border="0" align="left" hspace="6">Isla Fisher

Fisher has proven herself pretty well in dramatic fare and is usually on fire in comedies. So how many films does she have currently in production? None. OK, she does lend her voice in Gore Verbinski‘s 2011 release, Rango, but this young lady deserves better than that, no?

src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/5/9/9/5/26585995.jpg" alt="Ian McShane" width="221" height="118" border="0" align="left" hspace="6">
Ian McShane

Mr. McShane can’t catch a break. He starred in one of the best shows on TV in the last 10 years, in David Milch’s Deadwood. And what kind of thanks did he get? Cancellation. Kings, an interesting and ambitious (if not entirely successful) show on NBC also got the hook recently. These days he’s known mainly for his signature voice work (Shrek the Third, Kung Fu Panda). I don’t understand why major directors haven’t given him more parts worthy of his talents. In the meantime, I await that Sexy Beast sequel, 44 Inch Chest.

src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/6/9/6/3/21653696-21653699-thumbnail.jpg" alt="Gary Oldman" width="120" height="80" border="0" align="left" hspace="6">
Gary Oldman

I was going back and forth with putting Oldman on this list because he has gotten some recognition with stints in franchise films like the Potter and Batman series. But here’s the thing: Oldman shouldn’t necessarily be relegated to secondary, underplayed roles in major franchise films. He should be treated with respect similar to that of a Daniel Day-Lewis and he just isn’t. Let’s all work on improving the earth’s ecosystem, but let’s make Oldman our second priority.

src="http://i.realone.com/assets/rn/img/0/1/8/5/19545810-19545811-minithumbnail.jpg" alt="Sam Rockwell" width="78" height="78" border="0" align="left" hspace="6">
Sam Rockwell

His upcoming film, Moon, may finally remove “underrated” from his status, but as it stands this guy doesn’t get nearly enough props. Even my friends who are pretty big film buffs have trouble remembering this guy’s name. I usually have to resort to “The guy who played ‘Wild Bill’ in The Green Mile.” That usually does the trick.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Dre writes two times a week for Film.com. Email him!

Tags: gary oldman, isla fisher, laura dern, sam rockwell