A Very Varied Assembly
September 2nd 2007 19:08
As a follow-up to my last post of type-cast actors, I am now listing the actors I believe to be astoundingly diverse. The men and women below have performed a range of roles in all types of styles and genres.
Philip Seymour Hoffman
In my mind, he is a genius. He has been a back-stabbing student in Scent of a Woman, the crude and pompous comic figure who ‘sharted’ in Along Came Polly, a sex-obsessed preacher with a violent death scene in Cold Mountain, a terrifying villain in Mission: Impossible-3, and the selfish but brilliant writer in Capote. It was in this role – his first lead – playing Truman Capote that he left audiences gaping. His voice and expression were entirely different and he had every effete mannerism down-pat.
Dustin Hoffman
Is there something about having the last name ‘Hoffman’? This particular Hoffman played a 21 year-old when he was 30 in the riveting social comedy The Graduate, was a homeless man in the utterly bleak Midnight Cowboy, masqueraded as a woman in Tootsie, was unforgettable as autistic savant Raymond opposite Tom Cruise in Rain Man, played a seedy Hollywood producer in satirical film Wag the Dog, and was hilarious as the wacky father of Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) in Meet the Fockers.
Hillary Swank
She already has two Oscars, but I think she’s just getting started. She was Sensei’s first female protégé in The Next Karate Kid, a transgendered FTM in the tragic true story Boys Don’t Cry, a detective in the thriller Insomnia, a trailer-raised boxer who suffers severe injuries in Million Dollar Baby, a compassionate teacher in Freedom Writers, the star of horror flick The Reaping, and is soon to portray a grieving widow in romantic comedy PS, I Love You.
Robin Williams
He is predominantly known for his comic roles and penchant for improvisation, but even in that he has scope, and has proved his abilities with several thrillers and other more serious parts. Among his many offerings: an unorthodox teacher in Dead Poets Society, a gay father in The Birdcage, a psychologist in Good Will Hunting, Peter Pan in Hook, a sociopathic writer in Insomnia, a cross-dressing nanny in Mrs Doubtfire, a doctor who revives catatonic patients in the true story Awakenings, the voice of two different penguins in Happy Feet, and the scarily obsessive and psychologically disturbed film processor in One Hour Photo.
David Wenham
One of my favourite Australian actors, and a man who only takes parts he really believes in. These include the short-tempered Audrey in Moulin Rouge!, where he is almost unrecognisable, a friar in horror/action movie Van Helsing, the commanding Faramir in The Lord of the Rings, an accidental sleuth in fantastic Aussie politicomedies Stiff and The Brush Off where he plays a character slightly reminiscent of his role of Diver Dan in SeaChange, an hilarious loser with a mullet in Gettin’ Square, and a pyromaniac in an mental hospital in Cosi.
Nicole Kidman
Nicole likes to support a variety of projects and often appears in blockbusters and obscure independent films alike. She played a …strange woman in Kubrick’s last production, Eyes Wide Shut, had the starring role in BMX Bandits, was a courtesan in Moulin Rouge!, wore a prosthetic nose as Virginia Woolf in The Hours, was a victim of mass abuse in the Lars Von Trier movie Dogville, which was filmed on bare soundstage, played a vulnerable gentlewoman in period drama Cold Mountain, plus has been a Stepford wife, a witch, a tattooed janitor, a Russian scam artist, an African UN interpreter, a breathy voiced penguin and created controversy when filmed naked with a ten-year-old boy. (From: Stepford Wives, Bewitched, The Human Stain, Birthday Girl, The Interpreter, Happy Feet and Birth.)
Johnny Depp
Depp often does quirky films and is a favourite of idiosyncratic director Tim Burton. He was a victim of Freddy Kruger in Nightmare on Elm Street, Edward Scissorhands in the film of that name, Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, a gypsy in Chocolat, a plastic faced Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Peter Pan creator James Barry in Finding Neverland, a policeman in Sleepy Hollow and a murderous writer in the thriller Secret Window.
Hugh Laurie OBE
Laurie is best known for his work in two completely different TV shows – as a cynical, derisive and emotionally inept doctor in American series House, and as various characters in the British ‘historical sitcom’ Blackadder. In both he is impressive in utterly different ways. He has also appeared in Emma Thompson’s adaptation of the classic Sense and Sensibility, was the king’s advisor in Man in the Iron Mask, and has put his mastery of the American accent to good use in the Stuart Little movies. He is also set to play internal affairs officer in upcoming movie The Night Watchman, has genuine musical talent and has written two books.
Michaelie Clark
Philip Seymour Hoffman
In my mind, he is a genius. He has been a back-stabbing student in Scent of a Woman, the crude and pompous comic figure who ‘sharted’ in Along Came Polly, a sex-obsessed preacher with a violent death scene in Cold Mountain, a terrifying villain in Mission: Impossible-3, and the selfish but brilliant writer in Capote. It was in this role – his first lead – playing Truman Capote that he left audiences gaping. His voice and expression were entirely different and he had every effete mannerism down-pat.
Hoffman as 'Capote'. Courtesy of indiewire.com
Dustin Hoffman
Is there something about having the last name ‘Hoffman’? This particular Hoffman played a 21 year-old when he was 30 in the riveting social comedy The Graduate, was a homeless man in the utterly bleak Midnight Cowboy, masqueraded as a woman in Tootsie, was unforgettable as autistic savant Raymond opposite Tom Cruise in Rain Man, played a seedy Hollywood producer in satirical film Wag the Dog, and was hilarious as the wacky father of Gaylord Focker (Ben Stiller) in Meet the Fockers.
Hillary Swank
She already has two Oscars, but I think she’s just getting started. She was Sensei’s first female protégé in The Next Karate Kid, a transgendered FTM in the tragic true story Boys Don’t Cry, a detective in the thriller Insomnia, a trailer-raised boxer who suffers severe injuries in Million Dollar Baby, a compassionate teacher in Freedom Writers, the star of horror flick The Reaping, and is soon to portray a grieving widow in romantic comedy PS, I Love You.
Robin Williams
He is predominantly known for his comic roles and penchant for improvisation, but even in that he has scope, and has proved his abilities with several thrillers and other more serious parts. Among his many offerings: an unorthodox teacher in Dead Poets Society, a gay father in The Birdcage, a psychologist in Good Will Hunting, Peter Pan in Hook, a sociopathic writer in Insomnia, a cross-dressing nanny in Mrs Doubtfire, a doctor who revives catatonic patients in the true story Awakenings, the voice of two different penguins in Happy Feet, and the scarily obsessive and psychologically disturbed film processor in One Hour Photo.
David Wenham
One of my favourite Australian actors, and a man who only takes parts he really believes in. These include the short-tempered Audrey in Moulin Rouge!, where he is almost unrecognisable, a friar in horror/action movie Van Helsing, the commanding Faramir in The Lord of the Rings, an accidental sleuth in fantastic Aussie politicomedies Stiff and The Brush Off where he plays a character slightly reminiscent of his role of Diver Dan in SeaChange, an hilarious loser with a mullet in Gettin’ Square, and a pyromaniac in an mental hospital in Cosi.
Wenham - A reluctant sex symbol. Courtesy of provocateuse.com
Nicole Kidman
Nicole likes to support a variety of projects and often appears in blockbusters and obscure independent films alike. She played a …strange woman in Kubrick’s last production, Eyes Wide Shut, had the starring role in BMX Bandits, was a courtesan in Moulin Rouge!, wore a prosthetic nose as Virginia Woolf in The Hours, was a victim of mass abuse in the Lars Von Trier movie Dogville, which was filmed on bare soundstage, played a vulnerable gentlewoman in period drama Cold Mountain, plus has been a Stepford wife, a witch, a tattooed janitor, a Russian scam artist, an African UN interpreter, a breathy voiced penguin and created controversy when filmed naked with a ten-year-old boy. (From: Stepford Wives, Bewitched, The Human Stain, Birthday Girl, The Interpreter, Happy Feet and Birth.)
Johnny Depp
Depp often does quirky films and is a favourite of idiosyncratic director Tim Burton. He was a victim of Freddy Kruger in Nightmare on Elm Street, Edward Scissorhands in the film of that name, Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean, a gypsy in Chocolat, a plastic faced Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Peter Pan creator James Barry in Finding Neverland, a policeman in Sleepy Hollow and a murderous writer in the thriller Secret Window.
Hugh Laurie OBE
Laurie is best known for his work in two completely different TV shows – as a cynical, derisive and emotionally inept doctor in American series House, and as various characters in the British ‘historical sitcom’ Blackadder. In both he is impressive in utterly different ways. He has also appeared in Emma Thompson’s adaptation of the classic Sense and Sensibility, was the king’s advisor in Man in the Iron Mask, and has put his mastery of the American accent to good use in the Stuart Little movies. He is also set to play internal affairs officer in upcoming movie The Night Watchman, has genuine musical talent and has written two books.
Michaelie Clark
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Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
You named some great actors here, interesting stuff.
Tracy
Comment by JohnDoe
Film & TV on DVD
Some good ones mentioned (Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Dustin Hoffman and Depp)...Nicole Kidman though i find falls flat on her face whenever she goes outside the bimbo box, the only performance I rank is To Die For.
A few I think qualify-
Billy Bob Thorton (Sling Blade, man Who wasn't There, Bad Santa)
Robert Downey Jnr (Chaplin, Kiss Kiss bang bang, Less Than Zero etc)
Viggo Mortensen (History of Violence, Indian Runner, A Walk on the Moon, Carlito's Way)
Sean Penn (At Close Range, Carlito's Way, 21 Grams)
Catherine Keener (Lovely & Amazing, Capote, Living in Oblivion, being Johmn Malkovich)
Jennifer jason Leigh (Last Exit to Brooklyn, The Hitcher, Kansas City, Georgia)
tons more but I gotta go...fun post
Comment by Kellie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
JohnDoe,
I know what you mean with Nicole, and I knew I'd find resistance with her. I put her up because she does TRY and I like that she's open to films that might otherwise fall below people's radar. I think she's made a few mistakes with some of the bigger budget movies she's done, but I think her vulnerability in Birth was apt, and that she took a big risk with Moulin Rouge! - and it paid off.
I appreciated your suggestions too - Viggo and Sean are very good. I can't get past Billy Bob's drawl and Yokel essence. Maybe I haven't seen enough of him to realise his diversity? Catherine Keener - I think she's a talented actress, but to me she brings a kind of aloof flippancy to all her roles.
Thanks very much for your input.
Michaelie
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
"Don't wanna live in the city..."
I wanna live in Pearl Bay! Lol. Wonder what the rent's like in fictional towns these days. I might have to go and find myself a new 'Hovel'.
Michaelie
Comment by Tracy
Movies and Life
No probs, I didn't add much more to my comment because you included all the ones I could think of....if I think of any more I'll pop back.
Byee
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Michaelie
Comment by Cibbuano
Hunt Famous
Orble Post of the Day
Fat Cult
Techbreak
Comment by Michaelie
Flick Wit
Nicole has done some pretty awful movies. Bewitched was appalling! I remain loyal through her crap though, even if I don't know why sometimes!
Thanks for the comment, Cibbuano
Michaelie