Okay, I Need You To Be Brutally Honest: Did These Celebs Play These Roles Really Well Or Did They Play Themselves?

They say some people are born to a play a specific role. (WARNING: bad jokes ahead)

I think most of us, at one point or another, have thought about which character, celebrity, or historical figure we resemble or relate to the most...or maybe it's just me. But whether you've thought about it or not, I know for a fact that you've watched a movie where an actor absolutely BODIED a role.

Warner Bros. Pictures

This is precisely the conversation that has been popular on Twitter this past week when @ThatEricAlper asked:

Eric Alper 🎧 @ThatEricAlper

What film role was 100% perfectly cast?

12:30 AM - 31 Mar 2023

Twitter: @ThatEricAlper

So, I'll be highlighting the responses that contain the best cast Black roles as we have been severely underrepresented and underappreciated in Hollywood since its beginnings.

1. Angela Bassett in What's Love Got to Do With It as Tina Turner:

Royalty @chris_royal

@ThatEricAlper

11:23 PM - 03 Apr 2023

Amanda Edwards / Getty Images, Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo / Via Twitter: @chris_royal

Buena Vista Pictures

2. O'Shea Jackson Jr. entered himself into the running for his role in Straight Outta Compton, where he played his father Ice Cube as they created the iconic rap group, N.W.A:

O’Shea Jack(Nichol)son @OsheaJacksonJr

@ThatEricAlper

06:09 PM - 03 Apr 2023

VH1 / Via Twitter: @OsheaJacksonJr

Universal Pictures

3. Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin in RESPECT:

The Princess of Soul @princessofsoul_

@ThatEricAlper Jennifer Hudson, famously handpicked by The Queen of Soul herself, completely embodied Aretha Franklin — from her speech, to her walk, to her mannerisms, to her singing and performance style. She even learned to play the piano for the role. A master class portrayal!

04:14 PM - 03 Apr 2023

Neon, MGM / Via Twitter: @princessofsoul_

MGM

4. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles in Ray:

J! @MzJojoB

@ThatEricAlper Jamie Foxx did an incredible job

04:41 AM - 05 Apr 2023

Universal / courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @MzJojoB

Universal Pictures

5. Denzel Washington as Malcolm X in Malcolm X:

Aaricka Washington @aarickawash

@ThatEricAlper My uncle Denzel as Malcolm X

12:05 PM - 03 Apr 2023

Warner Bros.,  NBCUniversal Archives / Via Twitter: @aarickawash

Warner Bros.

6. Every actor who portrayed a member of New Edition in BET's The New Edition Story:

xxLexus🇯🇲 @cassiexxlexus

@ThatEricAlper New Edition Story, from the kids to the adults, everyone understood the assignment.🔥🔥

10:46 PM - 02 Apr 2023

BET / Via Twitter: @cassiexxlexus

BET

7. James Earl Jones as Darth Vader in Star Wars:

AJ @aj_zavala

@ThatEricAlper James Earl Jones as Darth Vader. Absolute perfection and iconic

10:00 PM - 01 Apr 2023

20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures / Via Twitter: @aj_zavala

SBN Enter

8. Don Cheadle as Mouse in Devil in a Blue Dress:

The Gourmet Goober @JJOutlaw

@ThatEricAlper Don Cheadle should have won an Oscar for his portrayal of Mouse in Devil in a Blue Dress. He owned that role.

01:48 AM - 04 Apr 2023

Bruce Talamon / © TriStar / courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @JJOutlaw

Sony

9. Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan as Carter and Lee in the Rush Hour franchise:

yuzu™ @FLOB0UND

@ThatEricAlper them

03:06 AM - 03 Apr 2023

New Line Cinema/Courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @FLOB0UND

New Line Cinema

10. Another duo: Bernie Mac and Samuel L. Jackson in Soul Men:

Rius @atp_rius

@ThatEricAlper Shouldn't even have to say nun 🤣

12:41 PM - 03 Apr 2023

MGM / Via Twitter: @atp_rius

MGM

11. The cast of Notorious — the biopic about Biggie Smalls — well, everyone except Anthony Mackie as Tupac, according to this Twitter user.

Lil Jordo_ @Jordo2Skinny_

@ThatEricAlper Except for them casting Anthony Mackie as 2pac😂😂😂

02:03 PM - 04 Apr 2023

Fox Searchlight / courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @Jordo2Skinny_

Fox Searchlight

12. Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, and Anika Noni Rose in Dream Girls:

Jay🤑🤑😂😛🖕🏾🙄 @JacorvenC

@ThatEricAlper The Blend of the Voices, The chemistry, The looks, EVERYTHING ABOUT DREAMGIRLS CAST WAS SPOT ON!!!! 1000/10🥳🥳

03:14 PM - 03 Apr 2023

DreamWorks / courtesy Everett Collection / Via Twitter: @JacorvenC

DreamWorks

13. Of course, someone had to mention Chadwick Boseman as T'Challa in Black Panther:

Nicole Nichelle is Innocent 😇 @alamanecer

Chadwick Boseman as Black Panther without question. https://t.co/EQ7AN7yTAg

01:44 AM - 03 Apr 2023

NBC / Via Twitter: @alamanecer

Marvel Studios

14. Aaliyah as Queen Akasha in Queen of the Damned:

Ben Affleck's Back Tattoo @NickleLush

Say what you want about this movie but this casting was perfect. #queenofthedamned https://t.co/9IweVuCmSl

02:48 AM - 03 Apr 2023

Warner Bros. / Via Twitter: @NickleLush

Warner Bros. / Via youtube.com

15. Donald Glover as Lando in Solo: A Star Wars Story:

sage⁵⁰¹ 💌 mando era @ahsokasgoggles

minimal screen time, maximum impact https://t.co/WNeS5YGRyQ

05:42 AM - 03 Apr 2023

Lucasfilm Ltd. / Via Twitter: @ahsokasgoggles

Lucasfilm Ltd.

16. This film hasn't even come out yet, but the most popular response I saw was Halle Bailey as Ariel in The Little Mermaid:

La_Morena @La_Morena0736

PERFECTION. #TheLittleMermaid #ariel #HalleBailey #ursula https://t.co/uZs3LvEoC1

04:49 PM - 03 Apr 2023

Walt Disney Studios / Via Twitter: @La_Morena0736

Walt Disney Studios

In my opinion, there's are a lot missing! Which role do you think was 100% perfectly cast? Let me know in the comments