Actors who 100% embodied character from book

[NEtoN10]

I was just thinking today about book to film adaptations and actors who I thought 100% embodied the character as I imagined them.

For me Helena BC as Bellatrix Lestrange, Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort, the whole cast of Matilda!

Who does it for you? Interested to hear !

Yuk Brynner in Westworld

Alan Rickman as Snape

Vivienne Leigh as Scarlet O'Hara
Jennifer Lawrence as Katnis Everdeen

No, no, no to Alan Rickman. He was fantastic, and really made the character his own, and his voice was wonderful, but film Snape and book Snape seem like very different people to me.

Matthew McConaughey as the Man in Back in The Dark Tower. He was perfectly sinister and charming at the same time. Literally perfection.

Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey in the Green Mile.

I also agree with Viggo as Aragon, Mckellen as Gandalf but would also like to add Brad Dourif as Grima Wormtongue from LOTR.

I also thought Tilda Swinton was the star of the Narnia film and definitely embodied the White Witch.

Mainly Potter and LOTR;

Alan Rickman as Snape
Maggie Smith as Mcgonagle
Emma Watson as Hermione
Ralph Fiennes as Voldemort

Sir Ian as Gandalf
Viggo as Aragon

And Billy Burke who plays Bella's dad in Twilight, Chief Swann; a small part but perfectly done.

Cheating because it’s not a book, but Robert Downey Jr IS Tony Stark completely and utterly and is irreplaceable

Book Snape is basically the magical equivalent of an awkward bullied geeky kid who becomes an incel and gets caught up with neo Nazis and spends the rest of his life trying to make up for it before getting killed by the neo Nazis while still in his thirties.

Alan Rickman's Snape is too sexy and dashing.

Joan Hickson as Miss Marple
Michael Sheen as Aziraphale from Good Omens

I've never read the Harry Potter books but Alan Rickman was inspired casting. He does the pain of longing in a way that breaks your heart. Only Matthew Macfadyen comes close.

Michael Sheen as Aziraphale for sure

I read the Harry Potter books before the films were made and always pictured Bellatrix as a snarling Elizabeth Hurley - all sharp lines and pointed nose. I didn't foresee Helena BC at all.

Michael Fassbender as Edward Rochester.
I don't usually fancy men in books, but he's the exception. Michael Fassbender was perfect in the role.

Disfordarkchocolate, you are right about Alan Rickmansworth as Snape. I don't think the longing and broken heart came across as strongly in the books compared to how he played him. Also his intonation was so original. He is a pleasure to watch as Snape.

Rickman. Stupid autocorrect.

Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes
Michael Kitchen as Foyle
Luca Zingaretti as Montalbano. I read the books first, and the book Montalbano is nothing like Zingaretti, but after watching the series I think he's fantastic.
Kevin Whately as Lewis, and Laurence Fox in almost anything.
Edward Fox and Cynthia Harris in Edward and Mrs Simpson

I loved Hugh Fraser as Captain Hastings. It's a pity we don't see him much in anything else.

Agree about Harriet Walter, but would love a new adaptation, too!

Loved the Inspector Montalbano series, the characters were pretty much as I had pictured them. Even more impressive was the prequel series when they cast the younger selves. Mimi in particular. The Young Montalbano actor even has slightly bandy legs, like Original Montalbano Actor! (Disclaimer- legs not mentioned in books!)

When I read the books now I see the actors.

Titus Welliver is not how Bosch is described in the books. Too short, eyes not dark and intense. I don't see him when I read the books, but I enjoy the TV show.

Crosspost with steam!

Charles Dance as Havelock Vetinari in Going Postal isn't bad, but he wouldn't dye his hair for it. Guy Henry (Henrik Hansen in Holby City) would be perfect. Hansen IS Vetinari, but without the goatee or scorpion pit.

Very tempted to but the books now @SlocombePooter

They are great dis!

There are Star Trek books but they don't predate the TV series. There were also many, many films before the current Chris Pine run! And for the avoidance of doubt Darth Vader is in none of them

Anyway I came on here to say David Tennant and Michael Sheen in Good Omens. To be honest I think the entire thing was perfect in more or less every way.

I like a bit of travel with my fiction, and have also enjoyed Donna Leon's Brunetti books, set in Venice. There has been a TV adaptation but only in German! Apparently the casting is very good, but I think not hearing Italian would ruin it for me.

Edward Petherbridge as Lord Peter Wimsey was just perfect to me.