10 Actors Who Prove It’s Never Too Late To Reinvent Yourself

When working in Hollywood, actors have to actively fight against being typecast. It is because once they get locked into a certain type of role, it becomes harder for actors to break out with each new project. For example, we always see Joe Pesci as a scary gangster on the screen or Zooey Deschanel often is thrown a role described as a “manic pixie dream girl”.
While directors and producers opt for taking a chance on letting actors reinvent themselves, plenty of actors actively shed their stereotypes, accepting roles that are completely opposite of parts they’ve portrayed before. Starring in totally opposite characters helps keep their careers interesting. Not only does it take major talent and effort to pull off such a feat but also a lot of guts.

#1 Melissa McCarthy

Source: © Identity Thief / Aggregate Films, © Can You Ever Forgive Me? / Fox Searchlight Pictures

Melissa McCarthy has a successful career as a comedic actress. She impressed people with great performances in movies like Mike & Molly, Bridesmaids, and Identity Thief. In 2018, many viewers were surprised by her appearance in the serious drama “Can You Ever Forgive Me?” which helped her receive an Oscar nomination.

#2 Liam Neeson

Source: © Schindler`s List / Universal Pictures, © Taken / Europa Corp.

The actor was great at dramatic roles. He was nominated for an Oscar in the movie “Schindler’s List”.  He also fulfilled his roles well in other movies like Before and After, Les Misérables, K-19, and so on.
However, when getting older, he decided to try different kinds of roles. You can see him in some action movies like Taken, Non-Stop, and The Commuter.

#3 Emma Stone

Source: © Easy A / Olive Bridge Entertainment, © The Favourite / Element Pictures

Many might not know that Emma Stone began her career as a comedic actress. She played a funny, cute girl in ‘Superbad”. 4 years later, she landed a role in the serious movie “The Help”. After that, she was offered to star in other projects like “Birdman” where she was nominated for an Oscar, and “La La Land” where she won it.

#4 Matthew McConaughey

Source: © Contact / South Side Amusement Company, © True Detective / Anonymous Content

At the beginning of his career, Matthew McConaughey was seen as a sweet guy with a beautiful smile due to his performances in films like Edtv, The Wedding Planner, and Boys on the Side. However, after starring in “The Lincoln Lawyer”, he proves that he is a talented dramatic actor. His work in Dallas Buyers Club, Interstellar, and True Detective really impress many viewers.

#5 Jennifer Aniston

Source: © Just Go with It / Happy Madison Productions, © Cake / Cinelou Films

The actress was famous for the role of Rachel in the sitcom “Friends”. For years, she did the same kinds of comedic flicks like She’s the One, The Object of My Affection, and The Good Girl.
However, in 2005, she stepped out of her comfort zone when starring in “Derailed”. But her most unexpected and strongest role was in the psychological drama, Cake.

#6 Kate Hudson

Source: © Bride Wars / Firm Films, © Marshall / Chestnut Ridge Productions

Kate Hudson was first known as a comedic actress and starred in many romantic comedies like How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Bride Wars with Ann Hathaway, and Raising Helen. Later, she changed up her career by acting in the musical Nine and dramatic movies like A Little Bit of Heaven, and Wish I Was Here.

#7 Jonah Hill

Source: © The Wolf of Wall Street / EMJAG Productions, © Don`t Worry, He Won`t Get Far on Foot / Anonymous Content

Viewers were familiar with Jonah Hill as a funny, fat guy in comedies. But years later, he started choosing more serious projects. We can see his performances in War Dogs, Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot, and The Beach Bum.

#8 Sandra Bullock

Source: © Miss Congeniality 2: Armed & Fabulous / Castle Rock Entertainment, © Bird Box / Bluegrass Films

First known as a comedy actress, her career was not actually successful. Not many people remember her in the movie: The Thing Called Love, Love Potion No. 9, and Religion. Although she received praise for her part in Miss Congeniality, her most prominent movies were drama, particularly her role in The Blind Side, where she won an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

#9 Steve Carell

Source: © Bruce Almighty / Universal Pictures, © Foxcatcher / Annapurna Pictures

Viewers remembered Steve Carell as a comedic actor. But in 2014, after playing in the movie “Foxcatcher”, in which he was nominated for an Oscar, he proved he could play multiple types of roles.

#10 Robert Pattinson

Source: © Twilight / Twilight Productions, © Good Time / Elara Pictures

It was hard to get away from his images as the handsome vampire Edward from “Twilight”, but he did. First, he did Water for Elephants with Christoph Waltz and then starred in Cosmopolis along with the thriller, Mission: Blacklist. Most recently, Pattinson starred in the movie, High Life.