Actors who just "play themselves"

[Colonel Angus]

In the past few days, it's been mentioned a couple of times about actors who just "play themselves" in movies. No matter what character they are, they just do a variation of the same role.

Do you see this, too? Which actors? Does it bother you?

I've noticed this w/ a lot of big name stars. Robert Downey Jr. & Johnny Depp have been mentioned elsewhere. I also find Jack Nicholson doing this as well.

[Jinx]

Jessica Lange, for sure. Don't get me wrong: I mostly love (not crazy about her this season of AHS) but yeah.

At first I thought this thread was going to be about actors who play fictionalized versions of themselves. James van der Beek playing a fictionalized version of himself in Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 is like the greatest thing ever.

[Ergroilnin]

I actually love most of actors that actually don't have to "act" since it actually feels like they are being themselves. Why should I feel better about people that have to pretend being someone else, when I can have people act like they would if they actually were the character?

To me it's like they are basically living the role instead of being a fictional character having some real face put together with it.

[Jdeadevil]

Russel Crowe, the man who's accent changes every five minutes and turns every movie into "Russel Crowe; The Movie".

[Vyk]

Not so sure about Johnny Depp. He's had some varied roles. Will Smith and Chris Rock get this a lot though. Same with that other black guy who reminds me of Chris Rock... sad that I can't think of his name. Arnold Schwarzenegger usually plays the same character, it may not be Arnold he's playing as, but it's the same character he's playing as. Jingle All The Way is just Conan who's submitted to corporate materialism

I'm kinda with Ergro in this. It really doesn't bother me if it works. Its not a tragedy, and if the script calls for that particular type of character, then why not have someone well versed in it play that character. At least it's not like the people who get type-casted. Like, they can play lots of varied roles, and play them well, and want to play other characters, but are never given the opportunity. I don't feel this is what happens to people like Chris Rock. Will Smith has at least tried to branch out. But it's more a case of him growing as a person, so the characters he plays have changed a bit, but I think he's still trying to play himself. Or at least an idealized version of himself. Also I like every character Justin Long plays as. And probably the same with Keanu Reeves. But yeah, I'm just rambling the same point. I see it happening, but I don't mind it. Actors get to play make-believe. How awesome is it to not have to play someone else as the hero. You get to play yourself as the hero. Hell yeah

[Shlup]

Johnny Depp
I think people are getting confused between "actors who always play themselves" and "actors they're so used to seeing that they can't see past who it is." I had the latter problem when watching Saving Mr. Banks--all I saw was Tom Hanks with a mustache. The variety of characters Johnny Depp plays is pretty huge. Usually they're weird, but the variety is wide.

For Robert Downey Jr. I think it's less that he plays himself and more that he's become more like Tony Stark. In fact, I've heard him say that.

[Vyk]

It was hard to believe he was the black guy in Tropic Thunder back in the day. Now it's still hard to believe, but for a totally different reason. But yeah

[Pumpkin]

Arnold Schwarzenegger

[Shorty]

It depends on the person. I feel like Bill Murray just plays himself, but he is a hero, so I don't mind.

[Lone Wolf Leonhart]

Russell Brand has this down pat. Or maybe it's because he has such a vibrant personality that it shows in every role. He poked fun at this idea in his 2013 comedy special.

[Night Fury]

Michael Cera.

[Sephex]

Alright, I have another one. Johnny Depp plays a mentally unstable jewel thief named Dee P. Ouver that gets busted by the authorities. For example, the movie trailer will show a scene where he is hanging upside down Mission Impossible style, looking for the next big score. Something goes wrong with his cable and he ends up falling directly onto his testicles. One of the cops that busts him says with a smug smirk on his face, "Should have been paying more attention to the jewels you already got, homeboy!"

It looks like Ouver is going to jail for life...but *record scratch* a bigger jewel thief, which also happens to be Ouver's rival, has been spotted! He is close enough for the authorities to track him, but too far away to bust him through conventional means. Looks like Dee P. Ouver has to go into...Deep Cover. He refuses--jail for life. He fails to bust his rival--jail for life.

Ouver must completely disguise himself in order to not be detected by his rival (which is played by Sacha Baron Cohen by the way). Normally, Ouver is a manly, man. The trailer also shows Ouver scowling, drinking beer, and driving a Ford F-150 to signify that fact. However, his testicular troubles has caused Ouver's voice to be unusually high! So a fun and wacky unit that includes a token gay man, a frumpy but firm woman, an offensive racial stereotype, and a prissy British woman apply makeup, give him a FABULOUS outfit, and partake in acting lessons!

No longer is Ouver a grizzled man that chews glass for bubble gum, but a quirky fellow that sways a lot, used many hand gestures, and generally looks like a flamboyant drunk person!

But the trailer shows a part that you know is near the end of the movie when--UH OH--Ouver's voice starts to revert back to normal! You can see the wheels turning in the rivals face as he puts it all together!

Coming this summer...Go in Deep Cover with Johnny Depp!

Cut me a f***ing check, Hollywood.

[Ergroilnin]

Sounds like your classical B comedy/action mix movie.

[Lone Wolf Leonhart]

Coming this summer...Go in Deep Cover with Johnny Depp!

Cut me a f***ing check, Hollywood.

Go in Depp Cover.

I want 5%

[Jdeadevil]

Michael Cera.

This too, and even though I kinda liked Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World, the only thing separating him from all his other characters was that he was also a raging hipster.

[Jessweeee♪]

And then there was Crystal Fairy and the Magical Cactus where Michael Cera was himself if he were a huge asshole (or maybe just himself, it's not like I actually know the guy).

[Rocket Edge]

Michael Cera.
Good answer. A lot of comedians use the same formula though.

Denzel Washington. I love him in films but you know what your gonna get.

[chionos]

Perhaps this should be a thread about actors who break the mold and don't just play themselves.

I'm with Shlup about Johnny Depp. Maybe you babies never saw Edward Scissorhands or Benny & Joon or What's Eating Gilbert Grape.

I like character actors like Stephen Root. He's one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. When you look at all the characters he's played, it's kind of astounding how broad his ability is.

[Wolf Kanno]

I see this all the time and it does bother me a little but this largely comes down to who the actor is, for instance I love John Cusack but he's been playing the same character all of his life. Whereas seeing Michael Cera, Owen Wilson, or Vince Vaughn in a flick pretty much tells me I will not like the movie because I can't really stand their one trick pony style characters.

[escobert]

It's pretty much everyone in Hollywood now. they all do the same roles in the same movies all the time. everyone is type casted hardcore.

[Mirage]

you guys have clearly not seen enough arnold movies

[Shiny]

Anne Hathaway - Looks like she's about to break out in show tunes any second, slightly neurotic, doe eyed, brainy, dorky I can't take her seriously when she tries to play anything else hence my confusion over her casting as Cat Woman.

Vince Vaughn

Adam Sandler

[chionos]

The one good thing about some of these people that always play themselves is that when they do go against type, it often makes for some great movie magic. I'm thinking things like Punch Drunk Love, Eternal Sunshine, Stranger Than Fiction.

I don't understand Hollywood's fascination with Anne Hathaway either. Or for that matter, Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, and another half dozen other youngish actresses who inexplicably keep getting fawned over by fans and Hollywood execs, etc. despite proving themselves to be pretty faces with not much underneath (at least not as far as acting goes).

[Vyk]

Adam Sandler surprised me in Spanglish. And I think he's done a few other non-type-casted movies in recent years. But I also got the impression that through most of his career he wanted to be type-casted. He made his own studio for it

[chionos]

Well, yeah, it worked for him. Can't blame him for that. And that's what makes those exceptions so great. I liked Spanglish too, and some of his movies where he toned it down, but even then he doesn't stray too far. I can understand him making the movies he wants to make, even if they become repetitive after a while.

Mike Myers is another comedic actor who, though he played some wildly different characters, somehow they were all played with the same shtick which got old after a while. Or maybe they just got progressively worse as movies.

[Bubba]

It's weird this thread being on here because I just recently watched Being John Malkovich which is quite apt.

I have no idea who the guy in the lead role was but I very much enjoyed the film.

[Shiny]

Jim Carrey - Most comedians can't play anything outside of their own media personas. He's tried to not be the crazy persona he depicts in serious films, but I think he really only nailed it with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Samuel L. Jackson - I love him but he seriously cannot play anything other than angry black man scorned. More of a typecasting problem than an acting problem probably.

Natalie Portman is an amazing actress though. gtfo and watch The Professional.

[chionos]

Natalie Portman is an amazing actress though. gtfo and watch The Professional.

I have! And based on everything else I've seen, I have to assume it was an accident, or amazing direction. So I'm just going to ST[F]O. StayTheFudgeOn.

[Shorty]

Jim Carrey - Most comedians can't play anything outside of their own media personas. He's tried to not be the crazy persona he depicts in serious films, but I think he really only nailed it with Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Samuel L. Jackson - I love him but he seriously cannot play anything other than angry black man scorned. More of a typecasting problem than an acting problem probably.

Natalie Portman is an amazing actress though. gtfo and watch The Professional.

Yes on all three accounts. Yes yes yes.

[Ayen]

RDJ as a character is better than any of the characters directors cast him as.

[Shiny]

Natalie Portman is an amazing actress though. gtfo and watch The Professional.

I have! And based on everything else I've seen, I have to assume it was an accident, or amazing direction. So I'm just going to ST[F]O. StayTheFudgeOn.

Having seen other many other people work with children, I can say you can't really direct children. They either have it or they don't. She was also really good in Black Swan and V for Vendetta sans the "okay" British accent that didn't really bother me.

[escobert]

Samuel L. Jackson - I love him but he seriously cannot play anything other than angry black man scorned. More of a typecasting problem than an acting problem probably.


The best part of this is he's the exact opposite irl.