Actors who can only play one part

[Brokenchair1]

By that I don't mean that they are bad actors but that they are so attached with one character that they always seem to become a caricature of themselves.

So for example yesterday DD and I watched Christopher Robin the movie. As soon as Mark Gatiss came on, despite playing a serious character, all I could see/hear was "Yes Mrs Levinson".

Now watching Night at the museum. Ricky Gervais always sounds like David Brent.

Can anyone think of any other actors that you struggle to see in other roles?

[BorderlineHappy]

Daniel Radcliff.he will only be Harry Potter.
David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst will be forever Delboy and Rodney.

[Brokenchair1]

Agree with Harry Potter. David Jason was great in The Darling Buds of May and Open all Hours. I think that's a testament to his acting skills.

[Sparklingbrook]

Paul Mescal who played Connell in Normal People. His first role and he was brilliant in it, he's been filming a couple of movies, but I fear he'll always be Connell.

[ArmsClary]

Can't think of his name, but the actor who plays 'Will' in The Inbetweebers and is almost identical in Friday Night Dinner.

Would love to see him as a serial killer in some ITV drama

[PreyingMantlepiece]

I always saw Robin Williams as Mrs Doubtfire.

Jim Carrey will always be Ace Ventura.

[CormoranStrike]

@Brokenchair1

Agree with Harry Potter. David Jason was great in The Darling Buds of May and Open all Hours. I think that's a testament to his acting skills.

He was also an excellent Inspector Frost.

[LunaHeather]

I thought you meant actors with a limited range....but you mean actors who have been typecast?

I love Mark Gatiss but I don't know that line.

[Sparklingbrook]

@ArmsClary

Can't think of his name, but the actor who plays 'Will' in The Inbetweebers and is almost identical in Friday Night Dinner.

Would love to see him as a serial killer in some ITV drama

He seems to be doing A LOT of voiceovers lately.

I think all of The Inbetweeners will always be The Inbetweeners.

[BorderlineHappy]

Kevin Kennedy as Curly Watts is up there.

It must be awful as an actor to be never to be able to shake it.

[TerribleCustomerCervix]

Emma Watson- she has the dramatic range of a Bag for Life.

Same as Daniel Radcliffe tbh.

Seth Rogen as well, but as he does mainly comedic roles it’s a bit more forgivable.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

Hugh Grant as the bumbling posh guy

[terrywynne]

There a couple of actors where they are strongly identified with more than one role so it depends which you see first. So David Jason I can see why he would be associated with Only Fools and Horses but I watched A Touch of Frost first so for me he is always Frost.

I struggle with Emma Watson as anything other than Hermione.

[Respectmyauthoritah]

Sheldon from Big Bang Theory will always be Sheldon from Big Bang Theory. I think if I saw him in a drama or thriller I'd spend the whole time thinking 'what's wrong with Sheldon?'

[PilatesPeach]

Danny Dyer not that Mick is exactly acting.

[JesusHRooseveltChristAgain]

I find Jennifer Aniston always seems to play the same characters, I do enjoy her movies though.

[Brokenchair1]

@lunaheather I mean typecast i guess. Mark Gatiss has an unusual face and his characters were so strong in the League of gentleman where that line is from. That's all I see in him now. It doesn't mean the actor is bad. It means that you just keep association that actor with a particular character so struggle to suspend disbelief and see them as anything else.

Like i said. Ricky Gervais just always sounds like/acts like David Brent IMO.

[UhtredRagnarson]

Hugh grant for me too. But not because he reminds me of one character- because all his characters are identical.

Alan Rickman will always be the sheriff of Nottingham and likewise Kevin Costner will always be Robin Hood for me.

[peak2021]

Bill Nighy. I refer to him as playing the part of Bill Nighy, as his performances are all the same it seems. I saw him in a bookshop a few years ago, and he was on the phone to someone, sounding like a script where he plays Bill Nighy.

[craigsgirlfriend]

I think this applies to a lot of soap actors. Quite unusual to forge a more successful career in differing roles, exceptions being Sarah Lancashire and Suranne Jones.

[Brokenchair1]

I used to think Steve Coogan always sounded like Alan Partridge in all films but he's actually done some great movies and.broken that mould I think.

I think it's harder for comedic actors to go serious eg Mark Gatiss.

[Notonthestairs]

I thought Hugh Grant did a good job in a very English Scandal and Paddington 2 - posh yes, bumbling no.

Agree with Jennifer Anniston, Jim Parsons and a lot of the Harry Potter cast.

[tootyfruitypickle]

Lily James. Always simpering posh girl

[LunaHeather]

[quote Brokenchair1]@lunaheather I mean typecast i guess. Mark Gatiss has an unusual face and his characters were so strong in the League of gentleman where that line is from. That's all I see in him now. It doesn't mean the actor is bad. It means that you just keep association that actor with a particular character so struggle to suspend disbelief and see them as anything else.

Like i said. Ricky Gervais just always sounds like/acts like David Brent IMO.[/quote]
That's what I thought.

Pet hate when people phrase it like this....sounds like the actor is crap.

[CandyLeBonBon]

I think people are mistaking the actor who imprinted a role in their minds that they can never see them as anything else, vs an actor, who effectively just plays themselves or their primary character, no matter what film it is.

I agree about high grant as the posh bumbling English food.

I also think Richard E Grant was very much in a similar category, after Withnail and I.

I think Nicholas Cage brings exactly the same character to the screen, regardless of the film.

I think female actors have to work harder to bring something fresh but male actors are often allowed to be a lot lazier (fir a while methyl Streep was accused of this until she actively went out of her way to bring difference time her roles).

It's lazy casting, mainly, as well as a nod the fact that as a man in the acting biz, you often don't have to work as hard.

[CandyLeBonBon]

Sorry - Hugh Grant as posh bumbling English FOOL!!!