10 Actors Who Are Like a Chameleon, Portraying Good and Bad Characters To Perfection

Acting is never a piece of cake, requiring actors to be talented enough to embody their characters. Many actors specialize in a certain type of role they take on and this way will cater to specific fan bases. However, some have the guts to step out of their comfort zone, taking on many different forms. That not only shows the range of an actor when they can play the ultimate good in one film and the evil in another but also helps them reach wider fans. Of course, sometimes, both sides fall into a bit of a grey area. These actors provide us with convincing performances that make us wonder if good roles and bad one were played by the same actor. Even some viewers could realize them until the end credits rolled.
Below is a list of 10 actors and actresses who can transform into good and bad characters like a chameleon. You can see more talented actors and actresses in these articles: 10+ Actors that All of Us Take Our Hats Off to Them, 12 Times Actors Cast For a Movie Ended Up Winning Over Millions of Fans, and 14 Actors Who Stole International Attention for Their Film or TV Debuts.

#1 Meryl Streep

Source: © Silkwood/ABC Motion Pictures, © The Devil Wears Prada/Fox 2000 Pictures and co-producers

It is undeniable that Meryl Streep is one of the most talented actresses in Hollywood. In the movie “Silkwood”, she embodied Karen Silkwood, an activist who dared to investigate the wrongdoings at the factory she worked at. For her great performance, she was nominated an Oscar for the “Best Actress” award.
The actress continuously gives us more convincing performances, particularly her role as Miranda Priestly, a cruel boss at a popular fashion magazine in “The Devil Wears Prada”.

#2 Heath Ledger

Source: © A Knight's Tale/Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © The Dark Knight/Warner Bros. and co-producers

The movie “A Knight’s Tale” starred Heath Ledger as William Thatcher, a peasant squire posing as a knight. His character competes in tournaments and wins accolades. In contrast to his naive role, in “A Dark Knight”, the actor portrayed Joker, who lacks all empathy. Joker maybe is one of the worst villains ever.

#3 Margot Robbie

Source: © I, Tonya/LuckyChap Entertainment and co-producers, © Suicide Squad/Atlas Entertainment and co-producers

Over the years, Margot Robbie has played different types of roles, proving that she is a talented actress. She was famous for her role as the real-life controversial figure skater, Tonya Harding. The character goes to great lengths to assure her victory on the ice rink.
Viewers were surprised by her character, Harley Quinn in the movie “Suicide Squad”. Most of the viewers sympathize with the character.

#4 Michael B. Jordan

Source: © Just Mercy/Warner Bros. Pictures and co-producers, © Black Panther/Marvel Studios and co-producers

Michael B. Jordan’s performance in “Just Mercy” was acclaimed by critics and movie buffs. In the movie, he embodied Bryan Stevenson, a defense attorney working to free wrongfully convicted prisoners. The actor proves to be a great actor when portraying the main villain in “Black Panther”.

#5 Ian McKellen

Source: © The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring/New Line Cinema and co-producers, © X-Men/Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

Ian McKellen was famous for his role of Gandalf from “The Lord of the Rings”. He portrayed a wise old man but a powerful wizard. Not only the good guy, but the actor can also play the bad guy as well, like in the series “X-Men”, he took on the role of Magneto, a supervillain who can manipulate magnetic fields for his own gain.

#6 Johnny Depp

Source: © Edward Scissorhands/Twentieth Century Fox, © Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street/Dreamworks Pictures

In his career, Johnny Depp has portrayed multiple roles. In 1990, he appeared as Edward Scissorhands in the movie of the same name. His character is an artificial man who lives alone until a kid lady welcomes him into her home. We can also see him play a villainous main character in the movie “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street”.

#7 Chris Evans

Source: © Avengers: Infinity War/Marvel Studios and co-producers, © Knives Out/Lionsgate and co-producers

Chris Evans is loved thanks to his role as Captain America, a superhero who willingly sacrifices anything to save the world. It doesn’t stop that. He surprised viewers when playing the main antagonist, Ransom Drysdale in the mystery thriller “Knuves Out”.

#8 Rachel McAdams

Source: © The Notebook/New Line Cinema and co-producers, © Mean Girls/Paramount Pictures and co-producers

In “The Notebook”, Rachel McAdams successfully makes viewers empathize with her character when playing a woman who cannot stay with the man she loves.
In the same year, the actress took on the role of Regina George in the comedy “Mean Girls”. Regina George is mean but intelligent and manipulative.

#9 Matt Damon

Source: © The Great Wall/Legendary East and co-producers, © The Talented Mr. Ripley/Miramax and co-producers

The actor successfully persuades us that he is a talented actor. In “The Great Wall”, he portrayed a mercenary who eventually becomes a hero, protecting locals from supernatural monstrous creatures. However, in “The Talented Mr. Ripley”, he became a scheming, manipulative man who is willing to do anything to get what he wants.

#10 Angelina Jolie

Source: © Lara Croft: Tomb Raider/Paramount Pictures and co-producers, © Maleficent/Jolie Pas and co-producers

Angelina Jolie can play a wide range of roles equally well. The Oscar-winning actress took on the role of Lara Croft, who fights villains while recovering ancient artifacts. But in the Grimms’ Fairy Tales-inspired fantasy movie, “Maleficent”, she appeared as the main villain, who curses a newborn princess out of revenge.