10 Actresses Who Can Portray a Villain and a Sweetheart, and Stole Our Hearts At Both

Many actors are known for playing the same type of character all the time and can be called typecast actors. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is a pretty cool man who appears in different roles but the same type of muscular man resolving problems with his fists in The Scorpion King, Hercules, and The Fast and the Furious franchises. More interestingly, fans even figured out that the actor wore the same costume in unrelated movies. It doesn’t mean he isn’t good enough at acting, just due to acting orientation and he’s focusing on what he does best.
Many actors have spent their whole life to create their own image in the audience's minds, which can ensure a place or credit in the cinema world. Still, they often challenge themself in a new movie genre that is too different from their iconic role's. If these actors fail, they may lose everything they’ve built previously and struggle in having a new beginning. That shows how respectful actors who play both a villain and a sweetheart throughout their acting careers really are. Because they decide to take the risk of being out of the safe zone.
Below are 10 actresses who’ve challenged themself with both a villain and a sweetheart. Thankfully, these brilliant women just nailed it.

#1 Cate Blanchett

Source: © Elizabeth / Working Title Films, ©  Paramount Pictures

Cate Blanchett's career is truly enviable. She has dozens of different characters: she has played male and female roles, protagonist and villain. In addition to cinema, Kate also participates on the stage. Her list of best roles includes the Queen of England in Elizabeth and Agent Spalko in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Her list of best roles includes the Queen of England in Elizabeth and Agent Spalko in Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. By the way, Blanchett's character has become Spielberg's favorite villain of all the Indiana Jones movies.

#2 Jennifer Lawrence

Source: © Don't Look Up / Bluegrass Films, © X-Men: First Class / 20th Century Fox

At 31, Jennifer Lawrence has a standout filmography. She also has an Oscar and a Golden Globe under her belt. She has appeared on the Forbes celebrity 100 list for several years in a row. The actress starred in independent films and blockbusters. And all of her characters tend to be very different.
In the X-Men series, Jennifer plays Mystique and is almost unrecognizable under heavy makeup. But she looks completely different in the recent movie Don't Look Up. She plays a doctoral student in astronomy who discovers a comet approaching Earth. Both of these works were named by the tabloids as the most memorable of the actress's career.

#3 Nicole Kidman

Source: © Grace Of Monaco / YRF Entertainment, © Paddington / StudioCanal

Nicole Kidman has been one of the most sought-after actresses since the 1990s, and she has proven herself in a variety of genres: musicals, historical dramas, psychological thrillers, and dramas. blockbuster superhero movies. And her characters are equally diverse.
Kidman skillfully portrayed the character Grace Kelly in the movie Grace of Monaco. Critics wrote, "The camera will surely sigh with delight every time she appears on the screen."
But the actress also knows how to play the villain. In the film Paddington, she played the taxonomist Millicent, a bear hunter. It's worth mentioning that Kidman is excited to play a part in this movie because she's a childhood fan of Michael Bond books. She even learned to throw and spin knives and took grading classes while preparing for the role.

#4 Emma Thompson

Source: © Nanny McPhee / MGM, © Cruella / Walt Disney Pictures

Emma Thompson loves playing women who have to go through hardships in life. Whether playing the Queen of England, the Hogwarts professor, or the arrogant Baroness, her performance is often critically acclaimed.
One of Thompson's good heroines is Nanny McPhee in the movie of the same name. According to the plot, her character has to undergo certain transformations and the actress conveys those wonderfully.
And in 2021, Emma portrayed the villain in the movie Cruella. The actress revealed she had dreamed of playing the villain for many years. She especially likes the costumes she wears in the movie, she calls them works of art. When asked how the process of creating a villain goes, Emma joked: "Well, you know, obviously I've been drawing about my life. I mean, I think if my husband was in the room, he'd say, 'And there's really no need to act.'”

#5 Natalie Portman

Source: © V for Vendetta / Warner Bros., © Black Swan / Fox Searchlight Pictures

One of the key roles in Natalie Portman's career was Evey in V for Vendetta. For this role, the actress shaved her head and had to practice her voice very hard. The audience loved the movie. In an interview, Natalie mentioned that she would be happy to play Evey again if the filmmakers decided to shoot a sequel.
But it was her role as obsessed Nina Sayers in Black Swan that earned Natalie an Oscar. Portman beautifully delivered what a tortured artist must take to gain perfection.

#6 Imelda Staunton

Source: © Maleficent / Walt Disney Pictures, © Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix / Warner Bros.

Imelda Staunton portrays the character who becomes one of the main antagonists of the Harry Potter series. According to many magazines, it is clear that the actress really enjoyed playing the role of Dolores Umbridge.
But the British actress is also very good at playing the lover. In Maleficent, for instance, she plays a cute fairy who raised a little princess. According to critics, both of these roles are among her best.

#7 Tilda Swinton

Source: © The Human Voice / El Deseo, © Snowpiercer / Opus Pictures

According to tabloids, Tilda Swinton is undoubtedly among the best modern Hollywood actresses. She can portray a woman in love, a mad dictator, or a fallen angel. Almost all of her roles attract plenty of attention.
In 2020, Pedro Almodóvar released the film The Human Voice, starring Swinton. She portrays a woman talking on the phone with her ex-boyfriend. Critics praised her work and said the film was a "focused explosion of amnesiac passion".
But Tilda looks totally different in the post-apocalyptic thriller Snowpiercer, where she plays the crazy assistant of a train commander. The actress tried to make her character as disgusting as possible, and some of the features were her idea!

#8 Charlize Theron

Source: © Mad Max: Fury Road / Warner Bros., © Monster / Media 8 Entertainment

In 2003, the movie Monster premiered. And Charlize Theron had to change her appearance to the point of being unrecognizable to star in it. She gained 30 pounds and shaved her eyebrows. Her performance was praised by critics, who said she could convey her emotions using only gestures and a look.Still, Charlize was annoyed that the tabloids were paying more attention to her external transformation than her acting. But she proved her worth by winning an Oscar for the role.
Another famous character of Theron is Furiosa in the movie Mad Max: Fury Road. Furiosa is a brave warrior who risked his life to save others. Another famous character of Theron is Furiosa in the movie Mad Max: Fury Road. Furiosa is a brave warrior who risked his life to save others. According to tabloids, her character stole the show and even outshone Tom Hardy, who portrayed Max.

#9 Lena Headey

Source: © Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles / Warner Bros., © Game of Thrones / HBO

Lena Headey is best known for her role as Cersei Lannister in Game of Thrones, but her filmography also includes other badass characters too. Sarah Connor, for instance, who was played by Lena in the TV series Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, was loved by audiences. She is known as a "people's tough leader" who will overcome anything to achieve her goals.
In addition, Headey's best works include Sarah Trevanny in Ripley's Game, Julia Knight in Fighting with My Family, and Queen Gorgo in 300: Rise of an Empire.As for the role of Cersei, it brought Lena not only fame and money, but also fan hate. Headey portrays the role so convincingly that some fans are starting to think it's real. So during an autograph session at Comic-Con, some people actually snatched their books from her to stop her from signing.

#10 Helena Bonham Carter

Source: © Cinderella / Walt Disney Pictures, © Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 / Warner Bros.

According to tabloids, Helena Bonham Carter has built her own unique style. This also refers to her characters. Actresses tend to choose quirky female roles. The villain Bellatrix Lestrange in the Harry Potter series is one of her best works.
The character became iconic in part because of Helena's efforts. It was she who insisted on making Bellatrix look like in the movies. She also makes her character crazier than what is written in the script.But Carter is also great in good-natured characters. The fairy godmother, for example, in the 2015 film Cinderella was included in the list of the brightest roles of the actress