It's helpful to keep in mind that an actor's personality and image contribute to his/her audience appeal and ultimately to the value they bring to a film. Some directors have made a useful distinction between an "actor" and a "movie star." For example, Olivier was regarded as a great actor because of his native talent and the versatility of the roles he played. But Gable was a real "movie star"--it was often said of him that he basically played himself in every role, but people loved him and accepted "Gable" as the character, whether it was Rhett Butler or Fletcher Christian.
IMO, Tom Cruise is basically a "movie star," though I thought he gave a superior acting performance in "Collateral," an out-of-character role for him. Anthony Hopkins is an "actor."