14 Actors Who Nailed Their Characters So Perfectly That It Would Be Offensive To Ever Recast It

Annually, Hollywood has released plenty of good-quality movies and some of them become iconic. These successes are thanks to talented actors who nailed their characters completely.  So, we have enjoyed the great performances which provide us with interesting experiences.
Whether they are high-budget Hollywood stars or underrated indie darlings, there are plenty of actors out there whose characters really leave a great impression in viewers’ minds. They provided perfect performances that it’s hard to imagine anyone doing better. For instance, many believe that Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Iron Man or no one can be the wealthy gentleman Darcy except Colin Firth.
Today, here is the list of 14 actors who nailed their characters so perfectly that it would be offensive to ever recast it. Check out our previous articles here to see more of other big names.

#1 Glenn Close as Cruella DeVille – 101 Dalmatians (1996)

Source: Clive Coote/Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

After completing the script of “101 Dalmatians” (1996), John Hughes pitched the role of Cruella to Glenn directly. Initially, she almost turned it down but costume designer Anthony Powell convinced her to take it on and she succeed. The actress nailed the first live-action version of Cruella and was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance.

#2 Heath Ledger as The Joker – The Dark Knight (2008)

Source: Warner Bros. Pictures

Heath Ledger’s performance in “The Dark Knight” is cited as a masterpiece of acting. He combined the villain’s infamous frenetic energy with dark psychopathic vibes to have a great performance. For his work, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

#3 Whoopi Goldberg as Sister Mary Clarence – Sister Act (1992)

Source: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

Whoopi Goldberg is one of the actors who nailed their characters. Not one or two but every role she takes on. Although the character Sister Mary Clarence was written for Bette Midler, she made it iconic. It’s no wonder why she was nominated for several awards for her work on the film. These awards include a Kid’s Choice Award, an American Comedy Award, and a Golden Globe.

#4 Robin Williams as The Genie – Aladdin (1992)

Source: Buena Vista Pictures

The Genie becomes an iconic character in the world of Disney.  The actor who voiced this character is Robin Williams. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association literally created a brand new award just to honor him as The Genie. In an interview with Variety, Aladdin director Ron Clements shared, “Robin changed the way animated films were perceived... It was a Marvel to watch him do his thing. It’s a very fond memory of watching a true comic genius at work”.

#5 Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark – quite a few MCU movies

Source: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

It is believed that Robert Downey Jr. was born to play Tony Stark. It’s hard for an actor to express a character’s arrogance and altruism well but he did. His performance received a lot of positive reviews from film buffs and critics.

#6 Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy – Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Source: BBC One

His portrayal of Mr. Darcy in the 1995 adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice led to widespread attention. He took home a BAFTA and a National Television Award. Since then, audiences can find actors who fit the character more than Colin Firth.

#7 Jamie Lee Curtis as Tess Coleman/Anna Coleman – Freaky Friday (2003)

Source: Buena Vista Pictures

One of the main reasons for the movie’s success is Jamie Lee’s incredible performance as a teenager trapped in an adult’s body. For her work, she earned a Golden Globe nomination and a Saturn one.

#8 Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter – The Silence of the Lambs

Source: Orion Pictures

Anthony Hopkins had an incredible performance as a brilliant psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer in “The Silence of the Lambs”. Even some of his dialogue has become the most oft-quoted in film history. The actor won a Best Actor Oscar and a BAFTA and was nominated for a Golden Globe and a People’s Choice award.

#9 Carol Burnett as Miss Hannigan – Annie (1982)

Source: Columbia Pictures

Carol Burnett received a Golden Globe nomination thanks to her role in “Annie” (1982). The comedian absolutely nailed the part of the child-hating, alcoholic Miss Hannigan. She successfully brought superb lightness to the dark character.

#10 Michael Clarke Duncan as John Coffey – The Green Mile (1999)

Source: Universal Pictures/Warner Bros.

Michael Clarke Duncan brought John Coffey, an innocent death-row convict of Stephen King’s 1996 novel of the same name to life. He received the Best Actor in a Supporting Role nomination at the 2000 Academy Awards.

#11 Ian McKellen as Gandalf – The Lord of the Rings movies (2001-2003)

Source: New Line Cinema

Ian McKellen played Gandalf so well that we can’t pick up other names. The actor has said he’d reprise the role, and that he didn’t think he was too old to play the 7000 year-old-wizard.

#12 Catherine Zeta-Jones as Velma Kelly – Chicago (2002)

Source: Miramax Films

Catherine Zeta-Jones surprised auditions when playing Velma Kelly in “Chicago”. The New York Times compared Catherine to a “Corvette about to redline, but always knowing exactly when to stop short of throwing a piston”. For her work on the movie, she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

#13 Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka – Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971)

Source: Paramount Pictures

Although Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory flopped at the box office, Willy Wonka became a cult hit. Gene Wilder spent his spare time thinking about the character and it paid off big time with a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in 1972.

#14 Bette Midler as Winifred Sanderson – Hocus Pocus (1993)

Source: Buena Vista Pictures

After playing Winifred Sanderson in Hocus Pocus, Bette Midler has a huge number of fans. To fulfill her role, she even carried a dictionary of old curse words around on set so she could improvise historically accurate insults. For her performance, she was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Actress.