Creating an iconic character isn’t a piece of cake. Some actors are born to play certain roles and it seems that they fit perfectly their assigned characters and no one can replace them. However, this hasn’t always been the case. Sometimes, iconic characters have been portrayed by more than one performer and these roles aren’t in prequels or sequels, but in totally different films.
After Heath Ledge’s Oscar-winning performances as the Joker in “The Dark Knight, it was so hard to imagine other actors portraying the character. 11 years later, Joaquin Phoenix took on the role and made it his own. This is the second time that two actors won an Academy Awards for the same character after Marlon Bradon and Robert De Niro did it emboriing Vito Corleone.
Below are 11 times actors made it hard for us to choose “who played it better”.
#1 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson
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Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson have been seen as the ultimate partners. Their relationship is far deeper than anything, they mean more to each other than just a business partner or friends. According to Guinness World Records, there are 250 adaptions of the beloved duo on screen alone.
#2 The March sisters in “Little Women” (1994, 2017, and 2019)
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“Little Women” has been adapted to the screen more than a dozen times, including two silent films released in 1917 and 1918 and multiple TV serials between the 1950s and 1970s.
#3 The Doctor in “Doctor Who” (1963 - present)
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There are 13 doctors’ performances and all received praise from fans and critics. Therefore, it’s so hard to choose which is the best.
#4 Cinderella
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Being a Cinderella is a dream of every girl and for some, the dream comes true. Many actresses took on the role of the princess throughout the years and each of them had different ways to sing “A dream is a wish your heart makes…”.
#5 Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in “Pride and Prejudice” (1995 and 2005)
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Jane Austen's iconic novel “Pride And Prejudice” has been adapted to movies and TV shows many times and each of the screenplays and lines hit differently.
#6 Mary Poppins
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We have a strange feeling when seeing our favorite many, Mary Poppins, turn on seen once again. Actresses who played the characters shined in their ways.
#7 Paul Atreides in “Dune”
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Kyle MacLachlan and Timothée Chalamet, who played Paul Atreides in two versions of “Dune” of them delivered the character’s emotions on-screen superbly.
#8 Spider-Man
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If you’re a fan of
Marvel, you must be watched three versions of Spider-man. Andrew Garfield, Toby Maguire, and Tom Holland portrayed the character well in different ways but there is a commonality that they are so handsome.
#9 Wonder Woman
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Wonder Woman is one of the most loved superheroes from comics to movies. The character symbolized women’s empowerment and feminism since the day she was created, so the character has become an inspiration. Two of the most popular Wonder Women appeared on-screen together in the 2020 movie.
#10 Cruella
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Through the years, the Cruella character has been featured in some adaptations, including two Disney animated films, an animated TV series, and two live-action "101 Dalmatians". The character is cool, heartless, and fur-obsessed.
Emma Stone cast Cruella in the 2021 adaptation but she was judged not to fit with the character’s personality, compared to actress Glenn Close, who played Crulle in the 1996 feature.
#11 James Bond
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James Bond has captivated audiences for over half a century and was portrayed by multiple actors. Fans have a tough time choosing who did it the best