34 Times Actors Took On A Role Totally Different To Their Usual Ones, And It Really Worked

Proof Robin Williams could do it all.

We asked members of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about the times actors pleasantly surprised them by taking on a role different to the ones we were used to seeing them in. Here's what they said!

1. Marilyn Monroe in Don’t Bother to Knock

20th Century Fox

"I just saw this movie and I can’t believe it’s not well known. Very suspenseful…she plays an unstable woman and does it well."

—rgzym71

2. Will Ferrell in Stranger than Fiction

Sony Pictures Releasing

"I never liked his comedies, and then he does this, and it turns out he's good at drama! And I end up loving a Will Ferrell movie!"

—j1z1

"It’s much more real and existential than any of his comedies, and it’s such a great movie. Plus, when he buys 'flours' for Maggie Gyllenhaal’s character, it gets me every time. So clever."

—lorins2

3. Robin Williams in August Rush

Warner Bros. Pictures

"I still struggle to watch that movie because I hate seeing Robin Williams as a bad guy. But he did such a good job and added so much to that amazing movie."

—marissaa4ce2b3666

4. And his role in One Hour Photo

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"This will forever and always be top of my list."

—meganhueser

5. Bill Hader in IT: Chapter Two

Warner Bros. Pictures

"His acting was SO amazing. His mix of comedic and dramatic performances? *chefs kiss*"

—booknerd320

6. Ryan Reynolds in The Amityville Horror

MGM Distribution Co.

"I read one time that he made the kids leave him alone between filming for preparing for the role and that they were scared of him. I love him in everything, especially The Change Up, and it's a huge difference to see him that serious."

—lynzzeerae

7. And his role in Buried

Warner Bros. Pictures

"Just watched that for the first time the other day. His acting was impeccable and it’s not easy to hold the whole attention of an audience for that long, seeing the only visible character was him, and the only location was a box, lol. But he hit each mark of the film perfectly."

—jessicam41c056c1c

8. Daniel Craig in Logan Lucky

Fingerprint Releasing / Bleecker Street

"I'm used to seeing him in serious roles but I loved him as the wild Joe Bang."

—a487fb74c2

9. Steve Carrell in Little Miss Sunshine

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"He never loses his signature charm, but this role as a man barely hanging on after a suicide attempt is so stellar. He has some amazing monologues and emotional moments in this."

—emmajanep3

10. Jason Statham in Spy

20th Century Fox

"I know he basically played a caricature of all of his normal roles, but he was so gloriously hilarious. It's delightful to see him be funny on purpose."

—huffletough

"He is usually all action and serious but Spy cracked me up and still does."

—keoma

11. Tilda Swinton in Trainwreck

Universal Pictures

"It was refreshing to see her in a comedy playing kind of a trashy character. I thought she was brilliant in it."

—silentword

12. Melissa McCarthy in Can You Ever Forgive Me?

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"She plays a cynical, aggressive, alcoholic, struggling writer in 1990s New York. Totally unrecognisable. It's a shame she is more known for being the token comedic sidekick because she is OUTSTANDING in this."

—ailsafoley14

13. Octavia Spencer in Ma

Universal Pictures

"When I saw the trailer I was surprised to learn that Octavia was playing the villain – I was so used to seeing her in roles where she played someone super caring, so this was refreshing."

–hanifahrahman

14. Jim Carrey in The Truman Show

Paramount Pictures

"It was refreshing to see him step out of pure comedy and explore drama/dystopia. Plus, he nailed it because it's one of my favourite movies."

—hiitsnicetomeetyou

15. And of course, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Focus Features

"It's easily my favourite movie of all time, and definitely shows that humour isn't his only advantage when it comes to acting. In The Truman Show, he still used a lot of humour, but in Eternal Sunshine he became quite the opposite of himself, playing a boring and quiet guy. It was refreshing to see him so calm and collected, using his dramatics very well."

—skylerisnotinteresting

"He really showed a not-so-often seen side of his acting."

—jmkdm

16. Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls

DreamWorks Pictures / Paramount Pictures

"I'm so used to Eddie playing hilarious slapstick roles, so it was unexpected to see him take on something so dark, and do it so well."

–valezabakolli

17. Robert De Niro in Stardust

Paramount Pictures

"He was legendary in it."

—kebmillbrae

18. Kate McKinnon in Bombshell

Lionsgate

"I've only ever seen her play completely comedic roles, so I didn't expect to see her in such a serious film, but she totally pulled it off."

–hanifahrahman

19. Jennifer Aniston in The Good Girl

Fox Searchlight Pictures

"Such a great movie that pulled her in the complete opposite direction from 'Rachel'."

—emilyjoon

20. Awkwafina in The Farewell

A24

"I think everyone was a bit surprised she was cast but she really killed it and proved she could do more than comedies."

—melonette000

21. Mo'Nique in Precious

Lionsgate

"I mean, obviously."

—guyincognito

22. Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Focus Features

"She allowed to let rip emotions that some of their other characters had to suppress with incredible results."

—annas42f20b794

23. Sacha Baron Cohen in The Trial of the Chicago 7

Netflix

"The film is great, and he blew me away – I could not believe he was the same guy that played Borat. He is a seriously underrated actor."

—katelinrene1988

24. Chris Evans in Knives Out

Lionsgate

"It was fun to see him in a murder mystery."

—pplpwrawesome

25. Cher in Mask

Universal Pictures

"Watching her play a mother like that was awesome."

—samanthahermanson

26. Jack Black in Bernie

Millennium Entertainment

"I didn't really care for him before and then after seeing Bernie I gained so much respect for him as an actor. Now I love him!"

—ijustliketocomment

27. Donald Glover in The Martian

20th Century Fox

"He is one of the funniest people on Community, but then he showed us his serious acting skills."

—savvymarie

28. Adam Driver in Logan Lucky

Fingerprint Releasing / Bleecker Street

"He was HILARIOUS!"

—shellbell1130

"Any time Adam Driver does comedy it blows my mind how rangey he is."

—lindsayh23

29. Chris Tucker in Silver Linings Playbook

The Weinstein Company

"Can we talk about his performance? Totally shocked. SO many levels removed from Friday or Rush Hour."

—jimmym432b3c32f

30. Samuel L. Jackson in Unicorn Store

Netflix

"We're so used to his badass persona that that role was a total shock, but I loved it."

—duct_tape_heart

31. Meryl Streep in Mamma Mia!

Universal Pictures

"It’s such a departure from the gritty, period pieces she’s known for like Sophie’s Choice, Silkwood, and The Iron Lady. Instead, she’s this fun, singing dancing badass and she's clearly having the time of her life playing Donna."

—yaaasgawd

32. Adam Sandler in Reign Over Me

Tracy Bennett

Adam Sandler in. It's one of my favorites and it is absolutely moving.

—martincopelandi

33. Kristin Wiig in The Skeleton Twins

Stage 6 Films[2]

"She was soooo good... a depressing and surprisingly heavy film but really well done! I was very impressed with her departure from comedy. If you haven’t yet, go watch it!"

—maggien7

34. John Travolta in The Taking of Pelham 123

Sony Pictures Releasing

"For me it’s John Travolta as a bad guy. His performance in that and Face/Off are FANTASTIC (even if Face/Off isn’t the best movie ever made). He is an AMAZING villain.

—chelseaoakes

Some submissions have be edited for length and/or clarity!

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