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Films

Which actors are good at both comic and serious roles?

113 replies

MyCheeryPearlTraybake · 18/06/2025 13:21

Rowan Atkinson

OP posts:
RalphWiggumsCrayon · 18/06/2025 15:16

Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith immediately come to mind here.

MikeWozniaksMohawk · 18/06/2025 15:17

John Hamm

tedlassoforprimeminister · 18/06/2025 15:21

Siobhan Finneran

EveryKneeShallBow · 18/06/2025 15:22

Joanna Scanlan

TheOtherAgentJohnson · 18/06/2025 15:23

Adam Driver
Scarlett Johanssen
Kate Winslet
Melissa McCarthy
Kristen Wiig
Liam Neeson
John Hamm

TheBig50 · 18/06/2025 15:31

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 18/06/2025 14:18

Robin Williams.

This

Robin Williams - Awakenings. The Fisher King. Dead Poets Society and if you haven't seen it - One Hour Photo.

Nobody comes close.

PeggyMitchellsCameo · 18/06/2025 15:34

TheBig50 · 18/06/2025 15:31

This

Robin Williams - Awakenings. The Fisher King. Dead Poets Society and if you haven't seen it - One Hour Photo.

Nobody comes close.

Agree. The very best at both.
Awakenings vs Mrs Doubtfire - genius performances both.

MammaTo · 18/06/2025 15:39

Thegrants · 18/06/2025 13:50

Was coming here to say this. I had only seen him in comedies and then watched beautiful boy and he was so brilliant in it!

It was the first serious film I’d watched him in, I bawled my eyes out.

endofthelinefinally · 18/06/2025 15:44

Rory Kinnear. Just been watching some episodes of Count Arthur Strong and realised how good he is. I last saw him as a really nasty character in a drama series.

SillyMillie90 · 18/06/2025 15:50

PinkFlamingoCafe · 18/06/2025 13:53

Steve Carrell

Watch 'The Patient' on Disney+, he is excellent in it.

He’s also good in Little Miss Sunshine

Terrribletwos · 18/06/2025 15:51

Definitely Robin Williams, he gave so much to every role.

Definitely not Robert de Niro. He was absolutely shite in Meet the Fochers but then it was a shite film so I think he was just going through the motions tbh.

Hugh Grant is an excellent actor in both light hearted and serious films.

Also, Emma Thompson. She is a bit like HG in that she can absolutely play the part well and has massive talent that she puts forward to whatever part she plays.

Although, I do think, like with HG and ET, they are quite astute in only accepting good roles, most of the time.

7inchesFromTheMiddaySun · 18/06/2025 15:52

Brad Pitt

doofdoofdneighbour · 18/06/2025 15:53

Olivia Colman
Judi Dench
Maggie Smith

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 18/06/2025 15:53

Ah, you just beat me to Olivia Colman!

somethinggoodisgonnahappen · 18/06/2025 16:06

SwimSwamSwimSwam · 18/06/2025 15:07

Steve Coogan

This. Philomena was absolutely brilliant but heartbreaking.

@MyCheeryPearlTraybake he's a brilliant comic actor but I can't actually think of Rowan Atkinson in any serious roles?

somethinggoodisgonnahappen · 18/06/2025 16:12

Robert De Niro
Meryl Streep & Pierce Brosnan (thinking of him gamely trying to sing in Mamma Mia here!)

AndImBrit · 18/06/2025 16:14

Jim Carrey, I think he’s great in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And David Jason.

somethinggoodisgonnahappen · 18/06/2025 16:15

Dustin Hoffman

StarCourt · 18/06/2025 16:17

Thegrants · 18/06/2025 13:50

Was coming here to say this. I had only seen him in comedies and then watched beautiful boy and he was so brilliant in it!

came on here to say this too

somethinggoodisgonnahappen · 18/06/2025 16:18

AndImBrit · 18/06/2025 16:14

Jim Carrey, I think he’s great in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. And David Jason.

Edited

Yes and he was very good in The Truman Show.

LadyGrillingSole · 18/06/2025 16:40

Rick Mayall 😭

tazzy73 · 18/06/2025 16:40

Bradley Walsh.

Usually a comedian, in Law and order, he is excellent.

ClaredeBear · 18/06/2025 16:41

Lampzade · 18/06/2025 13:26

John Travolta

Yes! He’s brilliant at both.

LadyGrillingSole · 18/06/2025 16:41

Forgot Ricky Gervais. Unbelievably good in Afterlife.

Whataloadoffuss · 18/06/2025 16:43

David Schwimmer