The 7: From the Evergreen state, acting talent abounds

“Guardians of the Galaxy” director James Gunn recently was quoted as saying that Chris Pratt is the biggest movie star in the world right now. That may or may not be true, but what can’t be quibbled with is the fact that Chris Pratt is the biggest movie star in the world from the state of Washington. So in honor of the opening of “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” we look at our seven favorite living actors (sorry, Bing) who hail from the Evergreen State.

1. Chris Pratt. The guy who made us laugh as the doughy doofus Andy on “Parks and Recreation” is now a bonafide action star in two major franchises, “Guardians” and “Jurassic World” (the sequel of which is due out next year). He was raised in the Seattle suburb of Lake Stevens, is married to fellow Washington actor Anna Faris (“Mom,” “Scary Movie”), cheers for the Seahawks and quickly apologizes when he says dumb stuff on social media. What’s not to love?

2. Hilary Swank. With two Oscars to her credit, Swank is one of Washington’s most decorated performers. After a brief stint in Spokane as a young child, Swank moved with her family to Bellingham. She made her film debut in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” made a name for herself in “The Next Karate Kid” and won her first Oscar for her portrayal of the transgender man Brandon Teena in “Boys Don’t Cry.” Her Oscar for Clint Eastwood’s “Million Dollar Baby” has cemented her place in the Hollywood firmament. She’s featured in the upcoming Steven Soderbergh film “Logan Lucky,” due out this summer.

3. Jim Caviezel. Before he starred in the CBS series “Person of Interest,” before he starred as Jesus in Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ,” and before he played “The Count of Monte Cristo,” Jim Cavizel was a busy actor from Mount Vernon. His career began with a small role in Gus Van Sant’s cult classic “My Own Private Idaho,” and continued with small roles on television (“The Wonder Years,” “Murder, She Wrote”) and movies (“G.I. Jane,” “Wyatt Earp”). It was Terrence Malick who really put Cavizel on the map, with the lead role in his World War II epic “The Thin Red Line.”

4. Denis Arndt. This veteran actor was born in Issaquah and graduated from Rogers High School in 1957. On television he’s been in everything it seems, from “L.A. Law” and “Picket Fences” to “Gray’s Anatomy” and “The Good Fight.” His film credits include “Basic Instinct” and “Dolphin Tale 2,” but it’s the stage where he’s making a splash these days. Just this week, Arndt was nominated for a Tony for best actor in a leading role for his performance in “Heisenberg,” the play that marked his Broadway debut at age 77. Arndt is no stranger to the stage, however, having spent 11 seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, and having been a star in dramatics at Rogers. In an interview with the Daily Beast in October, Arndt credited Rogers drama teacher Dale Brannon with inspiring his acting career. “He really set me on fire,” he said.

5. Kyle MacLachlan. Another veteran of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival (he played Romeo in 1982), the Yakima native quickly became David Lynch’s favorite leading man. The pair survived the disastrous 1982 adaptation of Frank Herbert’s “Dune” and their partnership flourished in 1986’s dark masterpiece “Blue Velvet” and the 1990-91 television show “Twin Peaks,” which returns to Showtime with new episodes on May 21. In the 25 years between his visit to Twin Peaks, MacLachlan has maintained a busy career, with roles in “Sex and the City,” “Desperate Housewives” and, most recently, as the kooky mayor of “Portlandia.”

6. Carrie Brownstein. Speaking of “Portlandia …” OK, Brownstein is clearly and primarily a musician, one-third of the fabulous rock trio Sleater-Kinney. But we’ll give her her due as one-half of the lead acting team of this quirky cable comedy, set in a town that’s Portland, but not quite. Brownstein, who is from Seattle and Redmond and who graduated from The Evergreen State College, has created a number of memorable characters alongside castmate Fred Armisen: there’s the supportive Nance, the radical feminist Toni, outdoorswoman Kath, the bad boyfriend Lance, and of course Carrie, a version of herself.

7. Cheyenne Jackson. After spending his childhood in and around Newport, Jackson moved to Spokane and started lighting up stages here and in Coeur d’Alene. Before long, he moved to Seattle, then New York, where he made his Broadway debut in the leading role of the musical “All Shook Up.” He followed with Broadway performances in “Xanadu,” “Damn Yankees” and “Finian’s Rainbow.” He made his film debut as Mark Bingham in Paul Greengrass’ Oscar-nominated “United 93,” and has had recurring roles on the TV series “Glee” and “30 Rock.” He was a cast member for seasons five and six of “American Horror Story.” He’s also performed at Carnegie Hall, twice, released two CDs of music and performed on stage at the Fox in Spokane in 2014.