From Adam Sandler to Ryan Reynolds, Hollywood isn’t lacking examples oftypecast actors who play the same character in every film. Such performances aren’t inherently unsatisfying, because actors like Jesse Eisenberg or Nicolas Cage have entertaining characters, even if they’re the same in most movies. The characters become less distinct with time, and our enjoyment stems from watching the actors.
Then some actors play such an iconic character, often repeatedly, that the diverse nature of their portfolios is easily forgotten. BothRobert Downey Jr. and Hugh Jackman have taken on a wide range of roles, but due to their portrayals of Iron Man and Wolverine, respectively, they’reactors inseparable from that one character they played.
RDJ’s set to return to the MCU as Dr. Doom in 2026, 7 years after he left, and Jackman finally reprised his role of Wolverine in 2024, 7 years after he last played the character. However, theactors reinvented themselves after being typecast as the same character, and proved they could do something other than their most famous character.
10The Farewell (2019)
Awkwafina
Comedian Awkwafina is known for her slapstick comedy and the awkwardness of her humor. Her role as Goh Peik Lin inCrazy Rich Asiansmade her a household name because her impeccable comic timing amplified the dramatic tension in the film. She played significant characters inOcean’s EightandNeighbors 2: Sorority Rising, but Lin became her most famous character.
Then came her Golden Globe-winning performance inThe Farewell. Even though she won in the comedy or musical category,The Farewellis a much drier drama with elements of dark comedy.Awkwafina’s layered performance in the film is arguably still her best ever, and it showcases how well she works with material more serious than what’s usually associated with her.
9Gifted (2017)
Chris Evans
Marvel has announced Steve Rogers will be recast, but it’ll be nigh on impossible to think of Captain America and not automatically picture Chris Evans. Ever since his first appearance in 2011’sCaptain America: The First Avenger, the actor has become inextricably linked with Captain America. His cocky playboy characters, includingFantastic Four’s Johnny Storm, weren’t associated as much anymore.
Chris Evans' last MCU appearance was in 2024, but not as Captain America, because he reprised his role as Johnny Storm 17 years after his last appearance as the Human Torch.
However, in 2017, a year afterCaptain America: Civil War, Chris Evans starred in a completely different role as the father of a gifted girl inGifted. A heartwarming family drama,GiftedsawEvans almost seamlessly turning into a charming and caring fatherwith none of Cap’s machismo or grandeur. It proved he has more range than given credit for.
8Tully (2018)
Charlize Theron
The action genre today would look very different if Charlize Theron had stuck to the romance and adventure genres associated with her earlier years. A couple of years afterher Oscar-winning performance inMonster, she appeared inAeon Flux, taking her career on a new trajectory, culminating in her most famous role of Furiosa in 2015’sMad Max: Fury Road.
However, in 2018, she starred as a tired mother of three inTully, demonstrating her range as an actress in a dramatic role after over a decade of being heavily associated with action cinema. The soft performance inTullyis proof she can make any character her own, which she again proved a year later as Megyn Kelly inBombshell.
7The Holiday (2006)
Jack Black
The quintessential slapstick comedian of our generation, whose comedy keeps being silly, even if it may have lost some of its charm now, Jack Black is known for his goofy shenanigans in low-grade comedies, his performance as Po inKung Fu Panda. However, in the 2000s, he was known for playing Dewey Finn inRichard Linklater’s movie,School of Rock.
An eccentric down-on-his-luck music teacher with a heart of gold, Finn represents the persona that Black portrayed in many of his minor rolesinvolving obnoxious and over-the-top silliness. However, Nancy Meyers’The Holidaysees Black playing a soft-spoken romantic hero. Opposite Kate Winslet, he is surprisingly calm and comforting, proving he can play characters different from his most famous ones.
6Avatar: The Way of Water (2022)
Kate Winslet
The cultural impact of some movies is so big that, years later, they can still define entire careers, and few actresses have experienced this more than Kate Winslet. WhileEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’s Clementine,The Holiday’s Iris,The Reader’s Hanna, andRevolutionary Road’s April are memorable characters,Kate Winslet will always beTitanic’s Rose to most of us.
Asci-fi movie with an incredible ensemble cast,Avatar: The Way of Waterfeatures Kate Winslet as Ronal, whose only similarity to Rose is the proximity to water. She’s a fierce warrior who goes to battle to protect her clan. Winslet proves she can take on action-heavy roles and broke the record for the longest underwater breath-hold by an actor.
5Tropic Thunder (2008)
Tom Cruise
TheMission: Impossibletheme song is just as unmistakable as the image of Tom Cruise running. Known for performing his own stunts, Cruise has reinvented action cinema by pushing the limits with every new action film. So, while he was known for dramatic roles in the ’80s and ’90s,his most famous character will always be IMF agent Ethan Hunt.
Two years after theMission: Impossiblefranchise bounced back after a disappointing second film, Cruise appeared in the parody filmTropic Thunder, which has, admittedly, not aged well. He plays a short-tempered and profane studio executive who bears no resemblance to Cruise. While he’s displayed his quick wit elsewhere, Cruise’s comic timing has never been showcased like inTropic Thunder.
4We’re the Millers (2013)
Jennifer Aniston
Over three decades ago, Jennifer Aniston broke through as Rachel Green inFriends, which continues to be her most famous character. Not only isRachel still an iconic character who finds new generations of fans every decade, she also has defined Jennifer Aniston’s acting career. She became such a heartthrob that she soon became one of Hollywood’s go-to romcom heroines.
WhileThe Iron Giant, featuring one of thebest sci-fi movie characters of all time, where she voices the protagonist, is a unique role in Aniston’s repertoire, it’sWe’re the Millersthat allowed her to showcase her purely comedic talents. The quick-witted writing highlights her comic timing, which remains the most underrated aspect of her performance as Rachel Green.
3Django Unchained (2012)
Leonardo DiCaprio
It is considerably difficult to name Leonardo DiCaprio’s most famous role, because, unlike hisTitanicco-star, he’s not become inextricably linked with his performance as Jack. He disappears into most of his roles while remaining recognizable, making many of his performances his best and most memorable.
Be itThe Wolf of Wall Street,Shutter Island,Inception, orCatch Me If you may,DiCaprio is known for being likable even when portraying negative characters. However, this trend is really challenged byDjango Unchained. With one of his best performances ever, as a racist plantation owner, he proves he can also be easy to hate if he wants.
2I, Tonya (2017)
Margot Robbie
While her breakout role inThe Wolf of Wall Streetmostly relied on showing her off as a sex symbol, Margot Robbie soon tried shifting gears to become an action star with films likeFocusandWhiskey Tango Foxtrot, with middling results, until shelanded the role of Harley Quinn inSuicide Squad, who is still her most famous character.
A year afterSuicide Squad, though, she delivered a completely different performance in one of the best biopics made in the last decade. With an Oscar-nominated performance as Tonya Harding, Robbie proves she has the acting chops for dramatic and serious roles. Not only has her filmography diversified as an actress, butMargot Robbie is an impressive movie producer today.
Heath Ledger
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight, directed by Christopher Nolan, is the second installment in the Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Batman. Released in 2008, the film follows Batman’s alliance with Jim Gordon and Harvey Dent as they combat the organized crime that threatens Gotham, facing the menacing Joker.
While their tones are entirely different, sinceBrokeback Mountainis a romantic tragedy, and10 Things I Hate About Youis a romantic comedy, Heath Ledger had the image of a romantic hero in the early 2000s. Patrick from10 Things I Hate About Youwas his most famous character when he landed his role inThe Dark Knight.
It’s an understatement to say he proved he could do other kinds of roles.Heath Ledger permanently changed people’s perception of himwith his career-best performance as the Joker. It’s still considered the best live-action interpretation of the character due to the psychotic body language and dialogue delivery. Ledger’s legacy as an actor is inextricably linked toThe Dark Knight.
