In 1997, Steven Spielberg directed an actor he surprisingly called “the best in the world”

Steven Spielberg called Pete Postlethwaite “the best actor in the world” after directing him in the 1997 film *The Lost World: Jurassic Park*. The praise highlights the high regard in which Postlethwaite was held by fellow performers and directors, despite his being less commonly named among cinema’s all-time greats.

Postlethwaite trained at Bristol Old Vic Theatre School and performed with the Royal Shakespeare Company before building a varied film career. He also worked with directors including Ridley Scott, David Fincher and Michael Mann; Julie Walters praised his originality, while Daniel Day-Lewis recalled repeatedly going to see him on stage.