I personally love it when an actor I assumed was “meh” comes out with an incredible performance that forces me to question my assumptions and become a dedicated fan.
Recently, someone online asked for recommendations on “actors you didn't expect to be ‘good' but surprised you.”
Movie-buffs took to the comments with their favorite actors who surprised them with their exceptional talent.
1. Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell is known for his skills in portraying diverse characters from a range of genres, though many weren't sure about his acting talents at first. Colin Farrell has been in movies like Saving Mr. Banks, Horrible Bosses, and The Lobster.
“For some reason, I really didn't care for Phone Booth, but In Bruges made me a fan and now I love just about everything he's in,” said u/Preambulance.
2. Robert Pattinson
This talented actor's first claim to fame was his role as Edward Cullen in The Twilight Saga, which instantly branded him a teen heartthrob with a pretty face and hardly any acting talent. But that couldn't be farther from the truth.
“I only knew him from Twilight and judged him way too early until I saw Good Times and was completely blown away then followed by High Life and The Lighthouse. He’s got some serious range! He also absolutely killed it as Batman,” wrote u/Haumting_opinion90.
“In my eyes, he went from “that dude in those bad vampire movies nobody will remember in a decade” to one of my favorite actors,” added u/DanWillHor.
3. Ray Romano
Most famous for his role as Ray Barone in Everybody Loves Raymond, Ray Romano's acting skills aren't limited to cheese sitcoms.
“Ray Romano in The Irishman and Bad Education. I had only seen him in Everybody Loves Raymond and really did not like the show,” shared u/epa_89. “I found Ray annoying in it and not funny at all but in these two movies he surprised me by playing more serious characters and well too.”
4. Bill Burr
Bill Burr is famous for his hilarious standup, but less so for dramatic performances. However, he still rocks it in those roles.
“I only know him as a comedian and I didn’t expect him to be able to give such a convincing dramatic performance in the Mandalorian,” shared u/VerbalChains.
5. Dolly Parton
Did you know that Dolly Parton started her career as both an actor and a singer? Fans reminisce on her incredible performances from back in the day.
“I remember Dolly Parton when she was just a TV singer. I always felt like, “Holy s***, this lady can sell it all.” There's something about her eyes, movement, and traditional Southern accent. I wish she'd done more acting,” wrote u/Slummish.
“I was an 11-year-old boy when Steel Magnolias came out and Dolly was a big reason why this has always been my biggest “unexpected favorite movie” since the first day I saw it,” added u/TheThirdStrike.
6. Matthew McConaughey
Many actors who start out their careers making romantic comedies don't get the credit they deserve, just like Matthew McConaughey. Some of his most famous rom coms include How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Failure to Launch, and The Wedding Planner.
“I always thought Matthew McConaughey was just a pretty face that liked to take his shirt off in romantic comedies, like How To Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Fool's Gold, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, etc,” said u/TripleSingleHOF.
“Then, all of a sudden it was like he decided that he was really going to act, and killed it in movies/TV like The Lincoln Lawyer, Dallas Buyer's Club, Interstellar, and True Detective.”
A thread inspired this article.
This article was produced and syndicated by Wealth of Geeks.
Featured Image Credit: Focus Features.
Maya (she/they) is a queer entertainment and culture journalist. They cover interviews, reviews, roundups, news, and more. She loves horror, history, and creativity. They hope their writing both entertains readers and inspires them to think critically. Her favorite pastimes include needle felting, gaming, and drawing.