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?

@JovialNickname

Barry from Eastenders is literally known as that. I don't think even his family call him Shawn anymore.

He was in an episode of Sooty where he was Barry! I think he embraces it now.

Ryan Reynolds is always the same character. I'm not complaining because I worship the man, but he's always the foul mouthed goofball with the heart of gold.

As far as only seeing actors as that one iconic role, Nicholas Lyndhurst is split between two for me. Rodney from Only Fools and Gary from Goodnight Sweetheart.

Actually scrap that. Thomas Brodie-Sangster will always be the kid from Love Actually to me. Though I read an interview with him around Christmas where he addressed that. Apparently it's quite common.

www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/thomas-brodie-sangster-queens-gambit-dragon-rider-interview-b918467.html

Meryl Streep!?

I agree that Hugh Grant can actually act different roles.

I was going to say David Schwimmer. I’ve seen him in a few things and he always does the same facial expressions and mannerisms as Ross.

Hugh Grant doing something other than bumbling isn't recent - eg in An Awfully Big Adventure a year after 4W.

It took me a while to see David Suchet as Poirot, as he was Blott before that.

I've heard a few actors say in interviews that they want the audience to be so immersed in the character that they don't even notice that it's them playing it. That must be very hard to do well. Mind you, David Jason has been mentioned, and OK, the first time I watched Frost I couldn't stop thinking of him as Del Boy, but now I believe in him as Frost just as much, so I think he's very gifted. Clint Eastwood though is just...Clint Eastwood, whether he's the 'man with no name' or Dirty Harry or whatever.

I think Kirsten Stewart is currently playing Diana. I can't help but wonder how bad it will be, but maybe she will surprise me.

I saw Daniel Radcliffe in a rom com movie. His acting wasn’t good. I mean it wasn’t awful but all I could see was Harry Potter. He just didn’t fit

Hugh Grant’s better than Colin Firth. Colin Firth just plays the same character to varying degrees of poshness

It’s Patrick Stewart for me, he is such an amazing actor who has played some fantastic parts but no matter what I see him in my initial thought is there is Captain Picard he must of left no.2 in charge in his absence
patrick stewart captain picard

Jennifer Aniston. Always the swishy-haired girl-next-door. She tried something different with Cake, but I dunno... She’s good at the funny girl routine! Although, in Marley & Me, when she had the baby and back at work (from home) she declared “I’ve never been so tired!” while glowing with California girl health / having a completely flat stomach, I had to laugh...

Clearly, many of you haven’t seen Jennifer Anniston in The Morning Show.

She’s fantastic in that, and plays a completely different type of character.

Hugh Grant was great in The Gentleman.

David Schwimmer was also really good in a dramatisation of OJ Simpson, playing the Kardashian chap.

@23PissOffAvenueWF

Clearly, many of you haven’t seen Jennifer Anniston in The Morning Show.

She’s fantastic in that, and plays a completely different type of character.

Hugh Grant was great in The Gentleman.

David Schwimmer was also really good in a dramatisation of OJ Simpson, playing the Kardashian chap.

Yip totally agree....

Jennifer is brilliant in The Morning Show 🌺

David Schwimmer was also really good in a dramatisation of OJ Simpson, playing the Kardashian chap.

I didn't think he was great. He just did the same old Ross hangdog expressions as usual.

For what it's it's worth, I loved Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle, but when I saw him in Breaking Bad, I didn't once think of Hal. He was just such a completely different character. I think he's a great actor, so it can be done. Actors don't need to be typecast.

Controversially -
Olivia Coleman hasn't blown me away with a vast range, especially in The Crown when she kept slipping into her jolly upper middle class self. Vastly overrated IMO

I don't agree that Jim Carrey always plays the same role. Ace Ventura is a long way from 13 or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or even Yes Man.

Kelsey Grammer = Dr Frasier Crane. Nobody else could play this role. My all time favourite show. It wasn't as good after Niles and Daphne finally got together though. The most brilliant moments involved his secret pining for her.

Someone up thread mentioned Martin Freeman is Tim from the office, I see Frodo from the Shire working in an office.

For me it’s the actors who seem to bring the same mannerisms and facial expressions to each role. Once I spot that, I’ll always just see them as the first character they ever played (or I ever saw them play). So that list includes;

Martin Freeman
Keeley Hawes
Keira Knightley
Bill Nighy
Stephen Fry
Nicola Walker
Sarah Lancashire
Richard E Grant
Rebel Wilson
Melissa McCarthy
Diane Keaton
Jack Nicholson
Meg Ryan

I think Hugh Grant knew exactly what he was doing when he starred as Bumbling Posh Chap in so many rom coms. His recent roles have been so different.

I also don’t think the actors are necessarily at fault. As someone else said it’s lazy casting and cashing in on an actor’s success.

Pippapotomus
Someone up thread mentioned Martin Freeman is Tim from the office, I see Frodo from the Shire working in an office.

It’s funny because I see Tim Freeman in Bag End complaining about dwarves in his kitchen 😂

I didn't think he was great. He just did the same old Ross hangdog expressions as usual.

Maybe that’s just his face!

In terms of characterisation, in that, he played an intelligent, reasonable, serious person - not the neurotic, controlling, slightly nutty Ross. Anyway - agree to disagree.

I thought Matt smith was brilliant in the crown ..
Tom cruise is always Tom cruise as is Jennifer Anniston
Most of them really aside from Jonny depp who is always someone different and jacquoin Phoenix or how ever you spell it

Gwyneth Paltrow always plays the part of an icy and aloof pretty person with all the charisma of a bag of spuds.

High Grant was excellent in The Gentlemen.