Performances that have ruined films/tv shows

[GlummyMcGlummerson]

I'm watching Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version not the Keira Knightley version). P&P is my favourite book and I've watched the show loads but I almost have to fast forward the bits with Alison Steadman (Mrs Bennet). Yes, she's meant to be a bit ridiculous and dramatic but she plays her like an overly- shrill screeching pantomime dame. Ruins the show. Brenda Blethyn did a much better job.

And YES to Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher. Too short, too slight, too smarmy.

Jodie Whittaker as Doctor Who. I've watched them since Jon Pertwee (70s) and she's completely ruined it. It's not the fact she's a woman doctor - it's the fact she's so wooden, artificial and patronising.

Anna Friel and Olivia Colman. Both subscribe to the ‘talk quickly in a loud whisper and look around a lot’ school of acting.

Anyone who can’t do the accent, so Vera leading actress, and the chap from line of duty in that current Jeremy Bamber show. It’s just so distracting.

Agree with the comments on the Harry Potter films. I don’t like the books anyway, but have never made it through more than 20 minutes of a film. They are so bad!

Ok, I don't think anyone else has mentioned it, so I will.. Elizabeth Berkley - Showgirls. I know it's a very famous case of the most dire acting ever seen but I didn't think this thread should go by without giving it it's due.

Yes to Daphne’s brother in Frasier. He ruins a fantastic programme with his hammy, mockney accent. It’s horrendous. Astonishingly his portrayal won him a best supporting actor Emmy!

With you on Stephen Graham in White House Farm. He's BRILLIANT usually. I put it down to bad casting...

Dominic West - hmm. Just finished The Affair. So bad in the later series. Or was it just the later series? (Needs a thread in itself). Something to do with his mouth??

Talking of that, Dracula actor in The Affair? Why oh why?

Russell Crowe in everything (apart from
Master & Commander)

Re PP and Soldier Soldier - was that actor called Holly Aird? (I loved her!)

I do sometimes think it's not the acting as much as the casting. Or they get a 'big' name in order to get the film/TV in production or funded. And it isn't the right person...

There's a film with Nicholas Cage called Adaptation. He is really, really good in it. I know it's almost impossible to believe but he's great.

I will make it my life's mission to find & enjoy it.

Thank God someone else hates Aiden Gillen, he is crap in everything! Yy to Daphne's awful brothers, what were Robbie Coltrane and Richard E Grant thinking? However I loved Alison Stedman as Mrs Bennet, I thought Brenda Blythan a bit timid and not quite spiteful enough.

I've yet to meet someone who likes Keira knightly or considers her a good actress. How did she get so successful?

QueenofOversharing That’s the spirit 🤣

@nibdedibble I have already googled it. It's got great ratings. Thank you! I love the NC.

Winona Ryder in almost anything when she was younger - The Crucible, Dracula, Night on Earth. Her performances always felt so affected and cringey.

But then she’s so good and believable in Stranger Things!

Imelda Staunton in Vera Drake was just Mrs Overall from acorn antiques. Shockingly bad!
Emma Watson actually does Joey Tribbiani's smell the fart acting if you look closely.

Nicholas Cage was great in the film Leaving Las Vegas. Think he might have been nominated an Oscar? He was playing an alcoholic though so might not have been much of a stretch for him.

Nicolas Cage in City of Angels - he should be arrested for making what should've been a gorgeous, romantic film into a film about a creepy stalker

He was playing an alcoholic though so might not have been much of a stretch for him.

As a (recovering) alcoholic I really shouldn't have laughed as much as I did at this. 😂

Keanu in Coppola’s Dracula - god love him, he takes one hell of a running jump at a 19th century English accent (seems like a lovely man IRL though. And beautiful, which doesn’t hurt.)

Ewan MacGregor in anything other than trainspotting

As well as hamming her way through four weddings, Andi macdowell also nearly ruins Groundhog Day.

Orlando bloom in anything other than lord of the rings (ie when required to do anything other than wander around looking ethereal)

Stephen Tomkinson in anything. He's so awkward and wooden.

Is it still acting...I hadn't noticed

I think Keanu Reeves is a terrible actor, but agree, he was at his most wooden in Dracula. It was staggeringly bad.

In Price and Prejudice, the Keira Knightly one, the actor who played George Wickham (Rupert Friend) walked around really woodenly with short steps like he was trying not to shit his pants.

All of the actors and actresses in Grease....what a load of old shite.

In Price and Prejudice, the Keira Knightly one, the actor who played George Wickham (Rupert Friend) walked around really woodenly with short steps like he was trying not to shit his pants.

Keira Knightly herself would be a candidate too. In everything.

Not a performance thing, but the trailer for the new version of Emma seems as if they’ve cast/styled a Harriet Smith who isn’t obviously chocolate box pretty. Again! (See also, the Paltrow version, Clueless). The whole point of Harriet is that she’s Barbie doll pretty. If she isn’t then Emma’s actions make no sense.

Helen Baxendale in Friends.
David Morrissey in anything.
Anna Friel in anything.