Some people are thought of as romantic actors. However, occasionally actors are able to buck the trend and do something fresh. They frequently play notable parts. Look at this collection of "serious" performers that delivered hilarious performances.
1. Vivien Leigh
Source: Gone with the Wind, Caesar and Cleopatra, © Ship of Fools
From a tease and an heiress of a wealthy fam who has to work through the anguish of the Civil War to The Egyptian queen then plays a middle-aged rich woman in Ship of Fools (1965)2. Frances McDormand
Source: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, Relativity Media, Blueprint Pictures
A brave police officer to Linda Litzke, a fitness club manager in Burn After Reading (2008) then in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) she gave life to Mildred Hayes, a miserable mother who lost her daughter3. Catherine O’Hara
Source: 20th Century Studios, Shangri-La Entertainment, CBC
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - For Your Consideration (2006) - Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)4. Stanley Tucci
Source: Paramount Pictures, Lionsgate, Walt Disney Pictures
Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013) - Beauty and the Beast (2017)5. Renée Zellweger
Source: Killer Films, Focus Features, Artemis Rising Foundation
Jerry Maguire (1996) — Cold Mountain (2003) — Judy (2019)6. Milla Jovovich
Source: Gaumont, Gaumont, Nostromo Pictures
The Fifth Element (1997) — Joan of Arc (1999) — Paradise Hills (2019)7. Julianne Moore
Source: Killer Films, Focus Features, Artemis Rising Foundation
Safe (1995) — Far from Heaven (2002) — The Glorias (2020)8. Sarah Jessica Parker
Source: Walt Disney Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, Warner Bros.
Hocus Pocus (1993) — Ed Wood (1994) - Mars Attacks! (1996)9. Kathy Bates
Source: Castle Rock Entertainment, 20th Century Studios, FX Network
Misery (1990) - Titanic (1997) - American Horror Story (2011–2022)10. Anne Hathaway
Source: HanWay Films, Universal Pictures, Warner Bros.
Becoming Jane (2007) — Les Misérables (2012) — The Witches (2020)11. Geoffrey Rush
Source: Universal Pictures, Walt Disney Pictures, FilmNation Entertainment
Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007) - Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - The King’s Speech (2010)12. Sharon Stone
Source: Carolco Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, 20th Television
Total Recall (1990) - Last Dance (1996) - Ratched (2020)13. Matt Damon
Source: Miramax, Scott Free Productions, 20th Century Studios
A humorous crook, to the astronaut, then the Knight Jean de Carrouges.14. Jennifer Jason Leigh
Source: Castle Rock Entertainment, Castelao Producciones S.A., FilmColony
From a New York reporter to prisoner Daisy Domergue15. Rami Malek
Source: 20th Century Studios, Gamechanger Films, 20th Century Studios
From The Egyptian pharaoh, Ahkmenrah in Night at the Museum to a former guard, Jonás Cueyatl, then the frontman of Queen.16. Carrie-Anne Moss
Source: Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Davis-Films
From a hacker and officer of the hovercraft, Nebuchadnezzar then a housewife, Helen Robinson comes across a zombie, and finally the high priestess of the sacred cult, the Order17. Matthew McConaughey
Source: Voltage Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Iconoclast
From an unhealthy Texas cowboy in Dallas Buyers Club to a farmer, widowed engineer, and former pilot then, in The Beach Bum play a weird poet, Moondog18. Eva Green
Source: 20th Century Fox, Antena 3 Films, Warner Bros.
From Sibylla, Queen of Jerusalem in the Kingdom of Heaven to a weird teacher in Cracks then a envious witch in Dark Shadows (2012)19. Cate Blanchett
Source: Walt Disney Pictures, Netflix
From a wicked stepmother in Cinderella to the Asgardian goddess of death in Thor: Ragnarok, then a charming TV presenter in Don’t Look Up (2021)