Some actors call it typecasting, while others tend to play themselves over and over. We call this one-dimensional. It isn’t necessarily bad, but we sometimes anticipate the performance before we’ve even seen the movie.
Let’s look at 18 actors who do a great job of playing themselves.
Tom Cruise
There’s no doubt that he does it brilliantly every time. But Tom Cruise in Top Gun, Mission Impossible, Jerry McGuire, and even Valkyrie offers his usual cocky demeanor and gratuitous hand-waving flip-out before genuinely jumping off a building.
Kevin James
He’s impossibly funny, but we’ve come to expect the loser-guy doe eyes in almost every role he’s played. Hitch, Grown Ups, and Paul Blart: Mall Cop; always the underdog but a loveable one.
Ryan Reynolds
Undeniably witty and great at playing the snarky guy, Ryan Reynolds tends to be on repeat in every movie. But his sarcasm is uncannily top-drawer British, which is probably why Wales welcomed him as Wrexham FC’s director.
Denzel Washington
There’s no disputing that he’s one of the best in the industry with his calm tones and intelligent performances. Has there ever been an occasion where we haven’t felt as though he’s about to give us a lecture?
Jack Black
Between every role he plays and his performances in the rock band Tenacious D, Jack Black plays Jack Black. The raised eyebrow, the bulging eyes, and the comedic yet highly talented musical outbursts are all the things we love about him. But it’s unlikely he’ll be cast in anything too serious anytime soon.
Liam Neeson
Whether it’s a British or a US movie, Liam Neeson always treats us to his furrowed brows, impossibly quiet voice, and famous one-liner. He’s uptight in every film, so you’ll never see him kicking back on a sofa. That will never happen.
Jackie Chan
We adore his cheeky grin and those wide, adoring eyes, but he flits between the underdog and the ninja master who clears the floor with a roundhouse kick.
Nicolas Cage
His endearing quirks are impossible to ignore, so much so that his talents are often misunderstood. Those distinctive mannerisms have even made him into a popular social media meme. He always looks pained, even when he’s happy. We still love him, though.
Seth Rogan
We love his work, but we’ve come to expect nothing less than Seth Rogan playing Seth Rogan. He’s usually a quick-witted, chubby stoner with James Franco prattling about in the background.
George Clooney
Whatever the movie or advertisement, he looks overly polished, like he’s just stepped out of a catalog. Even in From Dusk Till Dawn, he looked neatly disheveled. Get stuck in, George.
Jason Bateman
He’s displayed his versatility in flitting between numerous rom-com and a more serious role in Ozark, but he’s always the rational guy with the solution. If you have a problem, Jason Bateman will fix it. He’s that guy.
Emma Watson
Impeccably British and arguably wooden, she’s just a grown-up Hermione Grainger in every role she plays.
Steven Seagal
We can pretty much guarantee that he won’t be winning any acting awards. But he does what he does to the best of his ability—in an invincible, monotone, tank-like kind of way.
Gwyneth Paltrow
She always looks exhausted, as though she needs to indulge in a feast of carbs to power her energy levels up. Her quiet voice and vulnerability have remained constant throughout every movie, even when she played a man in Shakespeare In Love.
Melissa McCarthy
She’s undeniably one of the funniest women in the world and could make a cat laugh. That much is true. But there’s no differentiating between her roles besides a change in character names.
Adam Sandler
When he gets it right, he’s fantastic (Happy Gilmore, The Wedding Singer), but it’s so very wrong when he gets it wrong (Little Nicky). With a mouth that mirrors a ventriloquist’s and a walk that flits between a broken man and a stoned skater-boy, he’s just Adam Sandler playing Adam Sandler.
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson
He’s big, beefy, and a top guy in real life, so they say. Besides saving things in imminent danger, like people, planets, and burning buildings, he’s simply The Rock. But he’s adored by the masses, so that’s nice.
Kristin Stewart
From Bella Swan in Twilight to Sabrina in Charlie’s Angels, Kristin Stewart consistently looks like her mere existence pains her. She makes you want to make her a warm drink and encourages her to open up about her worldly problems.
