I get that reasoning with tom hanks, but i think it depends on the script he is given, with woody that is tom hanks, same with turner in turner and hooch and his character in big. However in forest gump i dont see tom hanks, i see forest gump, and in phillidelphia he is that character, its not tom hanks with another name if you get what i mean.
I agree daniel day lewis is a chameleon, gangs of new york is a personal fave, but i feel christian bale is also like that, completely changing depending on the role. so is christian bale as good as daniel day lewis just because they are both method and go through those physical changes. does going through those changes effect there acting ability? or does it just help the viewer not see the person we see in every role so we think they are better than they are because they change there appearnce.
sorry about that essay response, just think its a interesting point, is someone like tom hanks a better actor if he can even for one role make us forget its him playing a role and we just see the character? or is someone like daniel day lewis a better actor because he never looks the same so all we ever see is the character he is portraying?