I Was Unsure About These 10 Actors At First, But They Completely Won Me Over

Actors are defined by the characters they play and the projects they’ve been a part of, but that doesn’t mean they can’t transcend stereotypes and prove audiences and critics wrong. Being typecast as a certain kind of performer within TV shows and movies can stunt a performer’s career, but these actors have moved beyond this and become icons of the industry. It’s always a refreshing surprise when a comedy actor gives an amazing comedic performance and vice versa, which helps demonstrate the range and abilities of these artists.

Some of these performers even turned out to be the best actors of 2024 or were particularly memorable over the past ten years. The best way for an actor to showcase their talents and demonstrate their range is for them to pick scripts and filmmakers that will push them out of their comfort zone. This isn’t always easy, as there are always roadblocks to creating an ideal persona and reputation in the movie business. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well these performers have exceeded my expectations at every turn.

10

Robert Pattinson

Known for The Lighthouse (2019)

Close

The legacy and popularity of Twilight have followed Robert Pattinson for a long time, but it’s safe to say that the actor has differentiated himself from the vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen. Though many people adore Twilight for a reason, it wasn’t critically acclaimed or heralded for its performances. However, both Pattinson and his co-star, Kristen Stewart, have emerged from their association with Twilight to become undeniable indie darlings. Pattinson is now known for works like The Lighthouse, The Batman, and Mickey 17.

If he’s part of a project, I know it’s going to be unlike anything else I’ve seen.

The Lighthouse is one of Pattinson’s many movies that will make you say what did I just watch, as the actor has made a point of seeking out unconventional projects. This dedication to finding unique projects and working with innovative directors is how actors like Pattinson overcome being typecast and pigeonholed. While it’s impossible to forget Twilight, it’s no longer what I think of when I contemplate Pattinson’s career. If he’s part of a project, I know it’s going to be unlike anything else I’ve seen.

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

The Lighthouse

R

Horror

Fantasy

Drama

ScreenRant logo

7/10

8.5/10

Release Date

October 18, 2019

Runtime

110 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Robert Pattinson In The Dior Homme Menswear Spring/Summer 2025 show

    Robert Pattinson

  • Headshot Of Willem Dafoe

    Willem Dafoe

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Lighthouse (2019)

90%

72%

9

Maude Apatow

Known for Euphoria (2019–Present)

Close

After getting her start as a child actor working on projects with her parents, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow has successfully made a name for herself outside of this past. With early roles in the hit TV comedy Girls and eventually earning a place on the teen drama series Euphoria, Apatow has shown remarkable humor and self-awareness in her work. Euphoria season 2 asked more of the actress than ever, and she rose to the occasion to deliver.

In the film sphere, Apatow had a small role in the hit comedy movie One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, and Apatow was a strong part of the supporting cast. As Euphoria season 3 draws closer, it will be interesting to see where the show takes Apatow’s character and if she’ll continue making her mark on the series. While she’s been an asset within the comedy genre, Apatow’s more dramatic contributions to Euphoria could pave the way for her to expand her horizons in the future.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Euphoria (2019–Present)

88%

84%

8

Dave Bautista

Known for Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Close

Transitioning from being a professional wrestler to acting isn’t as nontraditional a path as it might seem, as Dave Bautista is far from the only performer to make this work. However, he might be the most successful and best at picking projects that demonstrate his considerable strengths. For many viewers, their introduction to Bautista was through action-adventure movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, but he’s proven himself to be an asset in exciting works like Glass Onion, Dune, and Knock at the Cabin.

Dave Bautista looking shocked while shirtless in Glass Onion

Related

Dave Bautista’s New Action Movie Continues A Rough Trend & Shows Why He’s Making A Career Pivot

The new action movie starring Guardians of the Galaxy’s Dave Bautista underscores a dismal trend for his career that could necessitate a major change.

Posts

6

Though In The Lost Lands was a box office disappointment, Bautista’s latest action fantasy film might come to be recognized as a cult classic and proves that he’s willing to work within the genre space again. While we’ve gotten used to seeing Bautista in fantasy and sci-fi projects, he’s sharp and funny no matter what character he’s bringing to life. Already, when I hear that Bautista is lending his talents to a new film, it makes me interested in seeing what he’ll do onscreen.

Glass Onion Knives Out Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery

PG-13

Comedy

Drama

Crime

Mystery

ScreenRant logo

8/10

12

7.9/10

Release Date

December 23, 2022

Runtime

139 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Dave Bautista In The Glass Onion A Knives Out Mystery' Premiere, part of the London Film Festival

    Dave Bautista

  • Headshot Of Daniel Craig

    Daniel Craig

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

92%

92%

7

Sofía Vergara

Known for Modern Family (2009–2020)

Close

When Sofía Vergara first started acting, she was typically pigeonholed into roles that were more focused on her looks than her work as an actress, giving audiences the wrong impression of her as a performer. Fortunately, this has changed for the better, and viewers are well aware of just how much Vergara brings to every project she’s in. The Netflix original, Griselda, was Vergara’s most dramatic work to date, centering her as the layered antihero at the heart of the narrative.

While she’s best known for the beloved sitcom Modern Family, this shouldn’t be an overlooked addition to her filmography either. Even within Modern Family​​​​​, it was exciting to see how Gloria evolved and was made into a more complex character as the seasons progressed, reflecting Vergara’s talent. Going on that journey with Vergara and seeing her rise to the challenge of Griselda has cemented her as an icon of her generation for years to come.

Modern Family Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Modern Family

TV-PG

Comedy

Mockumentary

ScreenRant logo

9/10

32

8.6/10

Release Date

2009 – 2020-00-00

Network

ABC

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Ed O'Neill In The Los Angeles premiere of FX's 'Clipped' at Regal LA Live

    Ed O’Neill

  • Headshot Of Sofía Vergara In The NBC's 'Carol Burnett: 90 Years Of Laughter + Love' Birthday Special

    Sofia Vergara

Showrunner

Christopher Lloyd, Steven Levitan

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Modern Family (2009–2020)

85%

90%

6

Timothy Olyphant

Known for Justified (2010–2015)

Close

Depending on what you’ve seen Timothy Olyphant in, you likely have a different perception of the actor’s long career. For a long time, Olyphant took on smaller roles in films that were quickly forgotten about, often playing a minor or supporting character. However, all of this changed with Deadwood, one of the best HBO TV shows of the early 2000s, which starred Olyphant. This led to his long-running role in Justified, which catapulted him to fame and cemented Olyphant as a hallmark of film and television.

Olyphant is a chameleon who can work within any character and story he’s given, but when he has a great script and dynamic role to bring to life, he’s unforgettable.

While it’s fun to associate Olyphant with these rugged cowboy characters from Justified and Deadwood, it’s easy to forget that the actor is also a strong comedic performer. His recent work in Santa Clarita Diet reminded me that there’s a lot more to Olyphant than meets the eye. Olyphant is a chameleon who can work within any character and story he’s given, but when he has a great script and dynamic role to bring to life, he’s unforgettable.

Justified TV Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Justified

Crime

Action

Drama

ScreenRant logo

8/10

9.7/10

Release Date

2010 – 2015-00-00

Network

FX

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Jere Burns In The Turner TBS TNT 2016 Upfront

    Jere Burns

  • Headshot Of Erica Tazel

    Erica Tazel

Showrunner

Timothy Olyphant

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Justified (2010–2015)

97%

95%

5

Monica Barbaro

Known for A Complete Unknown (2024)

Close

Monica Barbaro is an actor to watch in 2025, but when I first heard that she was cast as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, I was skeptical. With credits that primarily leaned into the action and adventure genres, like Top Gun: Maverick and FUBAR, I was hesitant to believe that Barbaro could embody the folk icon of Baez. However, I was happy to be surprised by the nuanced and vulnerable performance that Barbaro gave, deepening the characterization of Baez within the film.

Though A Complete Unknown is a star vehicle for Timothée Chalamet more than anything, Barbaro makes Baez into a fully realized character with thoughts and assertions of her own. Viewing her in this light has allowed me to return to her other projects and see that she lends this complexity to all her characters, not just Joan. I’m hoping that the attention she received for A Complete Unknown will lead to additional roles in a wide variety of genres.

A Complete Unknown Official Teaser Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

A Complete Unknown

Biography

Drama

Music

ScreenRant logo

6/10

171

9.2/10

Release Date

December 25, 2024

Runtime

140 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Timothée Chalamet

    Timothée Chalamet

    Bob Dylan

  • Headshot Of Edward Norton In The 10th Annual Breakthrough Prize Ceremony

    Edward Norton

    Pete Seeger

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

A Complete Unknown (2024)

82%

95%

4

Charles Melton

Known for May December (2023)

Close

While Riverdale is a great teen romance TV show that’s campy and fun to engage with, it’s difficult to take seriously the performers who got their start on the series. Charles Melton, who joined the cast in season 2 as a replacement for Ross Butler, was a hallmark of the show for many years. However, when I saw him in May December, it was clear that the actor was much more than a teen soap performer.

After breaking out of the Riverdale shell and being recognized as a skilled adult working in the industry, doors opened for Melton, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be underestimated again.

His recent work in Warfare, the intense and gripping A24 film about the Iraq War, has only further cemented Melton as a rising star to watch as the years progress. After breaking out of the Riverdale shell and being recognized as a skilled adult working in the industry, doors opened for Melton, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be underestimated again. There are already exciting announcements coming out about his involvement in prestige TV shows, like Beef season 2.

May December Poster

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

May December

R

Drama

Romance

ScreenRant logo

8/10

8/10

Release Date

December 1, 2023

Runtime

113 Minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Natalie Portman In The 2024 Film Independent Spirit Awards

    Natalie Portman

  • Headshot Of Julianne Moore In The 77th annual Cannes Film Festival

    Julianne Moore

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

May December (2023)

91%

65%

3

Zoe Saldaña

Known for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Close

Zoe Saldaña is known for her work within the blockbuster genre, as she’s been part of some of the highest-grossing movies of the 20th century. While she’s been an asset to all of these projects, from Guardians of the Galaxy to Avatar​​​​​, it can be difficult for actors to branch out from the archetypal roles and genres they typically work within. However, Saldaña has worked hard to find projects that speak to her as an artist, and it’s made me even more excited to see her onscreen.

Zoe Saldaña in Star Trek, Emilia Perez, and Guardian of the Galaxy

Related

Zoe Saldaña’s 10 Best Movies And TV Shows

Zoe Saldaña is one of the most successful Hollywood actors of all time, working on a variety of major movies and television shows in her career.

Posts

1

Though controversial, Emilia Pérez highlighted Saldaña’s strengths and pushed her to embody a role that most audiences had never seen her in. Additionally, the thriller TV series Lioness allowed Saldaña to use her existing skills in more action-oriented work and combine them with the grounded nature of Lioness. When engaging with Saldaña’s body of work as a whole, it becomes clear that she’s much more than a box-office success but a talented and nuanced performer.

01154248_poster_w780.jpg

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

Guardians of the Galaxy

PG-13

Action

Science Fiction

Adventure

ScreenRant logo

8/10

41

8.4/10

Release Date

August 1, 2014

Runtime

121 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Chris Pratt In The European Gala Event of Marvel Studios' 'Guardians of the Galaxy. Vol 3'

    Chris Pratt

    Peter Quill

  • Headshot Of Zoe Saldana In The 2024 KERING Women In Motion Awards

    Zoe Saldana

    Gamora

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

92%

92%

2

Victoria Pedretti

Known for You (2018–Present)

Close

Few could have predicted the breakout success of not only the thriller melodrama TV show You but of the season 2 addition to the cast, Victoria Pedretti. When she first joined the cast as Love Quinn, it seemed as if she would just be another body that ended up in Joe’s (Penn Badgley) closet. However, Love turned out to be a much more interesting character, and it was thanks to Pedretti that this worked in favor of the story. Pedretti was capable of being vulnerable and believably vicious all at once.

It was especially in The Haunting of Bly Manor that Pedretti won the hearts of audiences with her emotional performance as Dani, which left viewers in tears.

Her additional performances in both The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor have made it all the more clear that Pedretti is a star to watch within the next few years. It was especially in The Haunting of Bly Manor that Pedretti won the hearts of audiences with her emotional performance as Dani, which left viewers in tears. Though Pedretti has primarily worked within the TV space, I would love to see what she would do with additional roles in movies.

03146538_poster_w780.jpg

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

You

TV-MA

Drama

Romance

Thriller

8.5/10

Release Date

2018 – 2025-00-00

Network

Lifetime, Netflix

Cast

See All

  • Headshot of Penn Badgley In The YOU Premiere at Zengo Restaurant

    Penn Badgley

    Joe Goldberg

  • Headshot Of Elizabeth Lail

    Elizabeth Lail

    Guinevere Beck

Showrunner

Sera Gamble, Greg Berlanti

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

You (2018–Present)

92%

75%

1

Jack Quaid

Known for The Boys (2019–Present)

Close

For a long time, I was only peripherally aware of Jack Quaid and his work, as I had only seen him in passing in projects like The Hunger Games. He first rose to prominence for his role as Hughie in Prime Video’s grotesquely violent, action-packed thrill ride, The Boys. Though it’s easy to enjoy The Boys and be impressed by Quaid’s surprisingly nuanced performance, he still was pigeonholed into the action genre in my mind and into a specific archetype because he played Hughie.

Fortunately, the past few years have seen Quaid take on new, exciting roles and distinguish himself from the ensemble of The Boys. In Companion and Novacaine, Quaid shows his range as an actor, playing the villain and hero, respectively, and making me just as invested in the story either way. Now, I’m not just curious to see what Quaid will do next but excited to see where his career is heading and what he plans to do with his rising fame.

The Boys Season 4 Poster Showing Homelander with Victoria Neuman Surrounded by Confetti

Your Rating

close

10 stars

9 stars

8 stars

7 stars

6 stars

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Rate Now

0/10

Leave a Review

Your comment has not been saved

Like

Follow

Followed

The Boys

TV-MA

Action

Drama

Crime

Comedy

ScreenRant logo

7/10

155

8.7/10

Release Date

July 25, 2019

Showrunner

Eric Kripke

Cast

See All

  • Headshot Of Karl Urban In The Premiere Of Thor Ragnarok

    Karl Urban

    Billy Butcher

  • Headshot Of Jack Quaid In The 2024 Astra TV Awards

    Jack Quaid

    Hugh Hughie Campbell

Powered by

Expand
Collapse

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Boys (2019–Present)

93%

76%

Leave a Comment