From Adam Sandler to Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood is not missing examples of typecast actors who play the identical character in each movie. Such performances aren’t inherently unsatisfying, as a result of actors like Jesse Eisenberg or Nicolas Cage have entertaining characters, even when they’re the identical in most motion pictures. The characters turn into much less distinct with time, and our enjoyment stems from watching the actors.
Then some actors play such an iconic character, typically repeatedly, that the varied nature of their portfolios is well forgotten. Each Robert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman have taken on a variety of roles, however because of their portrayals of Iron Man and Wolverine, respectively, they’re actors inseparable from that one character they performed.
RDJ’s set to return to the MCU as Dr. Doom in 2026, 7 years after he left, and Jackman lastly reprised his position of Wolverine in 2024, 7 years after he final performed the character. Nevertheless, the actors reinvented themselves after being typecast as the identical character, and proved they may do one thing apart from their most well-known character.
10
The Farewell (2019)
Awkwafina
Comic Awkwafina is understood for her slapstick comedy and the awkwardness of her humor. Her position as Goh Peik Lin in Loopy Wealthy Asians made her a family title as a result of her impeccable comedian timing amplified the dramatic stress within the movie. She performed important characters in Ocean’s Eight and Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising, however Lin grew to become her most well-known character.
Then got here her Golden Globe-winning efficiency in The Farewell. Though she received within the comedy or musical class, The Farewell is a a lot drier drama with parts of darkish comedy. Awkwafina’s layered efficiency within the movie is arguably nonetheless her finest ever, and it showcases how properly she works with materials extra critical than what’s normally related together with her.
9
Gifted (2017)
Chris Evans
Marvel has introduced Steve Rogers can be recast, however it’ll be nigh on inconceivable to think about Captain America and never robotically image Chris Evans. Ever since his first look in 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger, the actor has turn into inextricably linked with Captain America. His cocky playboy characters, together with Implausible 4‘s Johnny Storm, weren’t related as a lot anymore.
Chris Evans’ final MCU look was in 2024, however not as Captain America, as a result of he reprised his position as Johnny Storm 17 years after his final look because the Human Torch.
Nevertheless, in 2017, a 12 months after Captain America: Civil Battle, Chris Evans starred in a very totally different position as the daddy of a gifted woman in Gifted. A heartwarming household drama, Gifted noticed Evans virtually seamlessly turning into an enthralling and caring father with none of Cap’s machismo or grandeur. It proved he has extra vary than given credit score for.
8
Tully (2018)
Charlize Theron
The motion style as we speak would look very totally different if Charlize Theron had caught to the romance and journey genres related together with her earlier years. A few years after her Oscar-winning efficiency in Monster, she appeared in Aeon Flux, taking her profession on a brand new trajectory, culminating in her most well-known position of Furiosa in 2015’s Mad Max: Fury Street.
Nevertheless, in 2018, she starred as a drained mom of three in Tully, demonstrating her vary as an actress in a dramatic position after over a decade of being closely related to motion cinema. The mushy efficiency in Tully is proof she will be able to make any character her personal, which she once more proved a 12 months later as Megyn Kelly in Bombshell.
7
The Vacation (2006)
Jack Black
The quintessential stand-up comedian of our technology, whose comedy retains fooling around, even when it could have misplaced a few of its attraction now, Jack Black is understood for his goofy shenanigans in low-grade comedies, his efficiency as Po in Kung Fu Panda. Nevertheless, within the 2000s, he was identified for enjoying Dewey Finn in Richard Linklater’s film, Faculty of Rock.
An eccentric down-on-his-luck music trainer with a coronary heart of gold, Finn represents the persona that Black portrayed in lots of his minor roles involving obnoxious and over-the-top silliness. Nevertheless, Nancy Meyers’ The Vacation sees Black taking part in a soft-spoken romantic hero. Reverse Kate Winslet, he’s surprisingly calm and comforting, proving he can play characters totally different from his most well-known ones.
6
Avatar: The Method of Water (2022)
Kate Winslet
The cultural influence of some motion pictures is so large that, years later, they’ll nonetheless outline total careers, and few actresses have skilled this greater than Kate Winslet. Whereas Everlasting Sunshine of the Spotless Thoughts‘s Clementine, The Vacation‘s Iris, The Reader‘s Hanna, and Revolutionary Street‘s April are memorable characters, Kate Winslet will all the time be Titanic‘s Rose to most of us.
A sci-fi film with an unimaginable ensemble solid, Avatar: The Method of Water options Kate Winslet as Ronal, whose solely similarity to Rose is the proximity to water. She’s a fierce warrior who goes to battle to guard her clan. Winslet proves she will be able to tackle action-heavy roles and broke the report for the longest underwater breath-hold by an actor.
5
Tropic Thunder (2008)
Tom Cruise
The Mission: Unimaginable theme track is simply as unmistakable because the picture of Tom Cruise working. Identified for performing his personal stunts, Cruise has reinvented motion cinema by pushing the boundaries with each new motion movie. So, whereas he was identified for dramatic roles within the ’80s and ’90s, his most well-known character will all the time be IMF agent Ethan Hunt.
Two years after the Mission: Unimaginable franchise bounced again after a disappointing second movie, Cruise appeared within the parody movie Tropic Thunder, which has, admittedly, not aged properly. He performs a short-tempered and profane studio govt who bears no resemblance to Cruise. Whereas he is displayed his fast wit elsewhere, Cruise’s comedian timing has by no means been showcased like in Tropic Thunder.
4
We are the Millers (2013)
Jennifer Aniston
Over three many years in the past, Jennifer Aniston broke by means of as Rachel Inexperienced in Buddies, which continues to be her most well-known character. Not solely is Rachel nonetheless an iconic character who finds new generations of followers each decade, she additionally has outlined Jennifer Aniston’s appearing profession. She grew to become such a heartthrob that she quickly grew to become considered one of Hollywood’s go-to romcom heroines.
Whereas The Iron Large, that includes among the best sci-fi film characters of all time, the place she voices the protagonist, is a novel position in Aniston’s repertoire, it is We are the Millers that allowed her to showcase her purely comedic skills. The short-witted writing highlights her comedian timing, which stays essentially the most underrated facet of her efficiency as Rachel Inexperienced.
3
Django Unchained (2012)
Leonardo DiCaprio
It’s significantly tough to call Leonardo DiCaprio’s most well-known position, as a result of, not like his Titanic co-star, he is not turn into inextricably linked together with his efficiency as Jack. He disappears into most of his roles whereas remaining recognizable, making lots of his performances his finest and most memorable.
Be it The Wolf of Wall Avenue, Shutter Island, Inception, or Catch Me If You Can, DiCaprio is understood for being likable even when portraying detrimental characters. Nevertheless, this development is admittedly challenged by Django Unchained. With considered one of his finest performances ever, as a racist plantation proprietor, he proves he can be simple to hate if he desires.
2
I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie
Whereas her breakout position in The Wolf of Wall Avenue largely relied on exhibiting her off as a intercourse image, Margot Robbie quickly tried shifting gears to turn into an motion star with movies like Focus and Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, with middling outcomes, till she landed the position of Harley Quinn in Suicide Squad, who continues to be her most well-known character.
A 12 months after Suicide Squad, although, she delivered a very totally different efficiency in among the best biopics made within the final decade. With an Oscar-nominated efficiency as Tonya Harding, Robbie proves she has the appearing chops for dramatic and critical roles. Not solely has her filmography diversified as an actress, however Margot Robbie is a powerful film producer as we speak.
1
The Darkish Knight (2008)
Heath Ledger
Whereas their tones are totally totally different, since Brokeback Mountain is a romantic tragedy, and 10 Issues I Hate About You is a romantic comedy, Heath Ledger had the picture of a romantic hero within the early 2000s. Patrick from 10 Issues I Hate About You was his most well-known character when he landed his position in The Darkish Knight.
It is an understatement to say he proved he might do different kinds of roles. Heath Ledger completely modified folks’s notion of him together with his career-best efficiency because the Joker. It is nonetheless thought-about the perfect live-action interpretation of the character as a result of psychotic physique language and dialogue supply. Ledger’s legacy as an actor is inextricably linked to The Darkish Knight.