10 Actors and Actresses Who Can Play Both Good and Bad Characters Excellently
It might be tough to view an actor beyond their usual role in your favorite movie. This seems to be especially true when performers portray opposite ends of the moral spectrum. Not many of us can separate ourselves from someone who plays a really inspirational figure, such as Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker.
There are actors and actresses who have not only portrayed an iconic hero but have also played an iconic villain. And while we all like watching our favorite performers on screen, we might become bored if we see them portray the same characters again and again.
These performers excelled as both good and evil, transforming into figures that people root for in one movie and despise in the other. We break down our top 10 actors and actresses who can portray both good and bad characters in this article.
#1 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
#2 Angelina Jolie
Source: © Lara Croft: Tomb Raider/Paramount Pictures and co-producers, © Maleficent/Jolie Pas and co-producers
#3 Meryl Streep
Source: © Silkwood/ABC Motion Pictures, © The Devil Wears Prada/Fox 2000 Pictures and co-producers
Meryl Streep has since acted in a number of other films, including Mamma Mia! and The Devil Wears Prada. In the latter, she skillfully portrays a demanding and sometimes nasty boss at a major fashion magazine who makes rookie Andrea Sachs' (Anne Hathaway) tenure there extremely tough.
#4 Michael B. Jordan
Source: © Just Mercy/Warner Bros. Pictures and co-producers, © Black Panther/Marvel Studios and co-producers
Jordan also played the major villain in Black Panther, demonstrating his versatility as a performer. T'Challa's right to lead Wakanda is challenged by Erik Killmonger, who throws several impediments in his way.
#5 Margot Robbie
Source: © I, Tonya/LuckyChap Entertainment and co-producers, © Suicide Squad/Atlas Entertainment and co-producers
Robbie, on the other hand, is as compelling in more positive parts. Another character she portrays, Harley Quinn, is one with whom viewers may empathize, prompting many admirers to cosplay her famous appearance.
#6 Johnny Depp
Source: © Edward Scissorhands/Twentieth Century Fox, © Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street/Dreamworks Pictures
Depp was also equally believable as a malevolent major character in another Tim Burton film, 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
This isn't to say that Evans can't switch sides and play a villain. He portrays Ransom Drysdale, the primary antagonist, in the mystery thriller Knives Out.
#8 Rachel McAdams
Source: © The Notebook/New Line Cinema and co-producers, © Mean Girls/Paramount Pictures and co-producers
In the same year, she starred as Regina George in the comedy Cruel Girls, in which she played a mean role. Her effective depiction of the snooty yet clever and crafty adversary demonstrates her versatility.
#9 Matt Damon
Source: © The Great Wall/Legendary East and co-producers, © The Talented Mr. Ripley/Miramax and co-producers
In The Talented Mr. Ripley, Damon's brilliance is clearly evident. He plays Tom Ripley in this film, a devious, manipulative figure who would go to any extent to obtain what he wants.
#10 Heath Ledger
Source: © A Knight's Tale/Columbia Pictures and co-producers, © The Dark Knight/Warner Bros. and co-producers
In A Dark Knight, Ledger reprises his previous innocent and daring performance as the Joker. Joker is one of the worst villains of all time because he lacks empathy. He is, on the other side, a genius who opposes the film's hero, Batman.