In this day and age, when franchising is the grease that makes the gears of Hollywood churn, roles are rarely occupied by just one actor. Whether they are remakes constantly changing the face of our favorite superheroes seemingly every year or performers having to leave their projects due to scheduling conflicts, there are some roles that fans couldn’t picture anyone else giving their take on them.
Some actors portrayed their roles so perfectly that critics and movie buffs used the overused phrase “it was the role they were born to play!” to champion them. Although Hollywood has tried to recast them with new faces, there are some characters that are unimaginable without actors who occupy them.
Below are 14 talented actors who were born to play these iconic movie characters. Click here, here, and here to see more.
Some actors portrayed their roles so perfectly that critics and movie buffs used the overused phrase “it was the role they were born to play!” to champion them. Although Hollywood has tried to recast them with new faces, there are some characters that are unimaginable without actors who occupy them.
Below are 14 talented actors who were born to play these iconic movie characters. Click here, here, and here to see more.
#1 J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man trilogy
Source: Sony Pictures
"So nice they cast him twice". (BayCone)#2 Tom Hiddleston as Loki
Source: Courtesy Everett Collection
No one in here admitting no one could ever live up to Tom Hiddleston’s Loki. (thesk8rguitarist)#3 Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in Misery
Source: Columbia Pictures
I just saw that movie for the first time a couple of weeks ago and holy shit she was perfect. (Prestigious-Menu)#4 Dame Edith Evans as Lady Bracknell
Source: Jimmy Thatcher / Youtube
The actress who played the Aunt in the 1950s Importance of Being Earnest delivered the line "A HANDBAAAAG ?" so iconically that every portrayal on stage or screen has been forced to decide to mimick or avoid it deliberately. (VulcanHullo)
Dame Edith Evans played Lady Bracknell in the 1952 film. In her prime she was called the best British actress of the twentieth century. (Lakeland_wanderer)#5 Robert England as Freddy Krueger
Source: Alamy Stock Photo
Robert England is the only one who can play freddy krueger. Sorry to whoever played as him in the remake, but didn't stand a chance. (Golifr4u)#6 Julie Andrews as Marry Poppins
Source: Everett Collection
"In the sequel (Marry Poppins Returns) I couldn't let go of the fact that it wasn't the same person. While the sequel was good, Julie Andrews still made the original amazing." (Random_Loaf)#7 Danny Glover as Albert in The Color Purple
Source: Pinterest
For years, I hated that guy because of how well he played that role. I didn’t give a damn how many Lethal Weapons he did after that, to me he was always the sick bastard who abused Celie. (MarlaSinger36)#8 Robert Shaw as Quint in "Jaws"
Source: Universal Pictures
I don't think anyone else could have pulled off that level of unhinged sadness without looking completely over-the-top. (hockeyjoker)#9 Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen (2006)
Source: IMDb
Helen Mirren played a better Queen than the Queen herself ever could. (Lilmaggot)#10 Will Smith as Agent J in Men in Black (1999)
Source: Columbia Pictures
Noone could have played that roll was perfectly as he did. (_SUPERKONTIK_)#11 Imelda Staunton as Dolores Umbridge
Source: Warner Bros. Studio
She played it so well and we all hate her so much. (grainia99)#12 Tim Curry as Dr. Frankenfurter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show
Source: 20th Century Fox
Sorry to all those who try. (Runbunnierun)#13 R. Lee Ermey as Gunnery Sergeant Hartman in Full Metal Jacket (1987)
Source: Warner Bros. Studio
Such a perfect fit for the role that he was able to snag the role away from another actor. (Rockglen)#14 Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa or Black Panther
Source: Marvel Studios
He was so great in every roll he played: Black Panther, Jackie Robinson, James Brown. The list goes on but it's not nearly long enough. The world lost him way too soon. (alleghenysinger)