Top 10 Actors Who Are Chameleons

You could try to pigeonhole Emma Thompson as a period drama or Shakespeare movie actress. You could try, but you wouldn't be successful. Granted, roles in films such as “Howards End”, “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Sense and Sensibility” helped her rise to prominence. However, she’s continued to fly far away from that pigeonhole. Thompson has portrayed the likes of Professor Sybill Trelawney in some “Harry Potter” films and Agent O in a couple “Men in Black” movies. And who could forget her work as Nanny McPhee? It’s all in a day’s work for the actress so impressive she earned a damehood and the title of Dame Emma Thompson!

What do Lee Harvey Oswald, Count Dracula, and Winston Churchill all have in common? Probably not a whole lot, except for the fact that they’ve all been portrayed in the movies by the great British actor, Gary Oldman. Oldman possesses an intensity that lends itself perfectly to fleshed out roles, as evidenced by his work in “Mank” and “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy,” among others. His portrayal of Sirius Black in the “Harry Potter” movies is also something to behold, with the character standing out as one of the franchise’s most notable. Oldman isn’t bound by archetypes or genre, which guarantees that each performance he gives will be something brand new.

For a long time, the example that was used when discussing actors drastically transforming their bodies for roles was Robert De Niro in “Raging Bull”. These days however, there’s a new king of the physical transformation hill, and it’s Christian Bale. The actor lost about 60 pounds for his starring role in the 2004 film “The Machinist”. And it wasn’t long before he put it all back on and more, bulking up for 2005’s “Batman Begins.” He demonstrated that same commitment to literally looking the part in films like “Exodus,”“Vice,” and “Ford v Ferrari,” among others. Couple that with his acting skill, and you get an artist who’s mesmerized a generation of movie-goers.
The Machinist = https://youtu.be/p4JRdhFJoVU

Actor James McAvoy has repeatedly shown off his chameleon-like talents, going from one end of the spectrum to the other. As superhero Charles Xavier in a number of “X-Men” movies, he proved that he could bring a force for good to life. But he also portrayed Kevin Wendell Crumb, an antagonist with dissociative identity disorder in “Split” and “Glass.” And none of those characters are anything like Robbie Turner, whom he memorably portrayed in 2007s “Atonement”. Yet for avid viewers of “His Dark Materials” McAvoy may always be Lord Asriel Belacqua. No matter which of his roles you prefer, we can all agree that his believable performances are full of impressive technique.

Kristen Stewart got her big break when she was cast as Bella Swan in “Twilight”. And she probably could’ve made a successful career out of teen romances. But instead, Stewart seemingly made a decision to take on indie projects and roles that required her to further explore her range as an actress. She notably gave us “On the Road”, which she made right at the height of her “Twilight” popularity. And of course, it all led to her playing Princess Diana in “Spencer” almost a decade later. Bella Swan will always be part of the conversation about Stewart’s career. However, thanks to her talent as an actress, it won’t be the only role that defines her.

Considering his distinct look, you might assume that it would be hard for Dafoe to disappear into various roles. After all, he’s insanely recognizable. But that’s exactly what he’s done so brilliantly over the course of his decades-long career as an actor. He’s been Vincent van Gogh, the Green Goblin, a Sergeant in the Vietnam war, and a lighthouse keeper. And those are just a few examples! Dafoe inhabits each character to the fullest, and does it with a presence on screen that few can match. Did we forget to mention he also played Jesus? We can only imagine what he might treat us to next.

Casting the guy who played Lola in “Kinky Boots” as Solomon Northup in “12 Years a Slave” might seem like an odd choice. But director Steve McQueen knew it was the correct one. The actor proved him right, earning acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for his performance. There’s also no denying his stellar work as Okwe in the 2002 social thriller “Dirty Pretty Things.” Marvel fans, however, will likely be partial to his portrayal of Karl Mordo. And yes, it was his character Peter’s wife Juliet on the receiving end of those cue cards in “Love Actually.” There’s no shortage of varied Chiwetel Ejiofor roles to admire, which is a true testament to his talent.

When you gain recognition as a teen heartthrob, it can be difficult to be seen as anything else. And there are surely those who will always see Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano. But the versatile work he’s done since “My So-Called Life” has proven that he’s also much more than that. He played an addict in “Requiem for a Dream” and the Joker in “Suicide Squad” and “Zack Snyder's Justice League.” We also can’t forget his controversial performance as Rayon, a trans woman, in “Dallas Buyers Club.” More recently, Leto portrayed disgraced businessman Adam Neumann in Apple TV+’s “WeCrashed” series, making it clear that there’s no role he can’t take on.

It’s hard to believe that Rose DeWitt Bukater and Iris Simpkins were portrayed by the same person. One is a 17-year-old girl from a high-society family who boards the Titanic with a man she doesn’t want to marry. The other is a columnist of more modest means, who’s heartbroken and needs a change of scenery. Yet somehow, they’re both Kate Winslet. The actress has also transported us to olden times with period pieces, and grabbed our attention with dramatic works. In other words, Winslet has repeatedly shown us that she’s no one-trick-pony. And her ability to do a perfectly convincing American accent has also lent credence to her chameleon-esque career!

We can likely all agree that “The Sixth Sense”, “Little Miss Sunshine,” and “Knives Out” were hit movies. Yet Toni Collette probably isn’t the first person you think of when any of those films are discussed. The fact that many in the general public probably can’t name 5 of her projects is proof of how incredibly well she transforms into each character. It’s literally hard to recognize her, because that’s how good she is! She might not physically transform, but Collette has the ability to fully bring her characters to life in a deep and meaningful way. She makes them so memorable that we forget there’s an actress behind each role.