10 Times Actors Surprise Everyone By Playing Roles That Are Nothing Alike Their Typical Ones

There are times when actors surprise everybody by playing characters who are nothing alike their typical roles. Many good actors and actresses nailed their roles so hard that they became synonymous with their iconic characters. These mesmerizing characters became the first things that pop up in our minds when we think about these celebs. It’s so shocking to see them play roles that are the total opposite of their iconic ones.
So let’s put these roles side by side and see how much these celebrities have changed for their characters. Do these actors surprise you as much as they surprise us?

1. Steve Carell in The Office vs Foxcatcher

Source: NBC/ Sony Pictures Classics/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

People are used to seeing Steve Carell as the sassy boss in The Office, or the quirky lovable guy in other comedy movies. His character in Foxcatcher is nothing like that. He is dark, intense, and unsettling. Despite being the opposite of what he usually portrayed on the screen, Steve Carell still nailed this role perfectly.

2. Will Smith in action comedies vs The Pursuit of Happiness

Source: Sony Pictures Releasing/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Before The Pursuit of Happiness, most of us knew Will Smith through his funny heroic characters. However, his performance in The Pursuit of Happiness has completely destroyed us. The ugly crying people have to experience after watching the movie is solid proof of how great he portrays his character in this film.

3. Emily Blunt in A Quiet Place vs Mary Poppins

Source: Paramount Pictures/ Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

The bathtub scene in A Quiet Place is one of the most intense moments of the movie, and it’s probably one of the most intense moments in the movie history of this generation. Emily Blunt did a great job in that scene, so great that we just couldn’t believe the mother in A Quiet Place and Mary Poppins were both played by the same actress.

4. Zac Efron in Baywatch vs Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile

Source: Universal Pictures/ Netflix/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Zac Efron has had many roles in his acting career, but they were mostly characters in comedies and family Movies like Baywatch or High School Musical. However, his portrayal as the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy in Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile is nothing like those movies. It’s very shocking to watch, but he nails the role.

5. Rachel McAdams in Mean Girls vs The Notebook

Source: Paramount Pictures/ New Line Cinema/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Remember, these movies were released in the SAME YEAR. Just look at these two characters! Nobody can believe the mean queen bee in Mean Girls can be the same sweet girl in The Notebook.

6. Robin Williams in Mrs. Doubtfire vs One Hour Photo

Source: 20th Century Fox/ Fox Searchlight Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

We are so used to seeing Robin Williams in heart-warming comedies like Mrs. Doubtfire. The actor even became the definition of wholesome and funny to a lot of people. Yet in One Hour Photo, he played a completely different type of role. Be warned, his performance in this movie will leave you feeling unsettled and scared.

7. Emilia Clarke in Game of Thrones vs Me Before You

Source: HBO/ Warner Bros. Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Emilia Clarke nails the role of the strong and somewhat terrifying Mother of Dragon in Game of Thrones. She also does a great job playing a quirky girl in Me Before You, who is the total opposite of Daenerys Targaryen.

8. Bryan Cranston in Malcolm in the Middle vs Breaking Bad

Source: Fox/ AMC/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Speaking about the times when actors surprise people by taking roles that are nothing like their typical ones, we gotta mention Bryan Cranston. He’s a legend. Before Breaking Bad, people know him as a funny guy who plays Hal in Malcolm in the Middle cast. After Breaking Bad, people know him as a legendary drug lord. Need to say more?

9. Stanley Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada vs The Lovely Bones

Source: 20th Century Fox/ Paramount Pictures/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

Stanley Tucci nails his role as a sassy guy in The Devil Wears Prada and we love his character Nigel so much. And then we see him in The Lovely Bones as a creepy murderer who commits the worse crimes that ever exist. His transformation from comedic and lovable to creepy, serious, and disgusting is 10 out of 10.

10. Jim Carrey in Liar Liar vs Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Source: Universal Pictures/ Focus Features/ Courtesy of Everett Collection

We were so used to seeing Jim Carrey doing silly things in his movies. So when Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind was released, it crushed so many people. It's just hard to see him as a goofy guy after that movie. His range of acting is amazing.
So those are the times when actors surprise everybody by playing roles that are completely different from watch we used to see them portraying. However, they aren’t the only people who are brave enough to take on roles that can make them become unrecognizable. We bet that you didn’t know these actors played these characters.