Roles in films that were tailor made for actors and actresses?

rfonzorfonzo Posts: 11,771
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I have always felt that the part of Jules Winnfield in Pulp Fiction was perfectly played by Samuel L Jackson. His accent was authoritative and he really positioned himself into the role of a working class African American from Inglewood to the extent of complete plausibility. His performance was so believable that you imagine what Jules Winnfield's past was like and what his future would have been.

You could envisage Jules coming from a religious deprived and potentially violent background growing up in Inglewood and it was inevitable that he would end up in a life of crime. What was also interesting about Jules' character was that he was also intelligent and well read which is why he had the insight to leave his job as a hit man after he was nearly killed to which he called 'divine intervention.' That is where Jackson's brilliance as an actor came in, because whenever you see him in interviews he is very eloquent, intelligent and humorous which are also characteristics of Winnfield himself.

Is there any other roles that anyone can suggest where you just could not imagine any other actor playing the role than the one who was actually cast? It can be because physical attributes, voice, accent or dialect, acting style or even any actor's that you may know a lot about and felt that they may have brought their own personal experiences to the role? Any suggestions welcome?
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  • DandemDandem Posts: 13,260
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    I personally find it hard for any character to be portrayed by any other actor, because I become accustomed to the way it's done by whoever does it.

    Regardless of that though, here are a couple:

    - Richard Harris as Dumbledore. Maybe that's because I can compare it to Michael Gambon's inferior performances, but to me Harris WAS Dumbledore.

    - Matt Damon as Jason Bourne.

    - Marlon Brando as Vito Corleone.
  • jamespondojamespondo Posts: 6,040
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    Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa and Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley come to mind.
  • Mark AMark A Posts: 7,687
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    AJ playing Lara Croft. She was born for that role.

    Regards

    Mark
  • GortGort Posts: 7,460
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    John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich.
  • lightdragonlightdragon Posts: 19,059
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    Tobin Bell as John/ Jigsaw in the Saw series. I can't think of anyone else who could've made me root for him while being horrified at the same time.

    Every role Gary Oldman has done. :D
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,405
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    I'm looking forward to seeing Daniel Day Lewis as Abraham Lincoln.

    Alan Rickman as Professor Snape
    Emma Thompson as Professor Trelawney
    Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall
    Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher
    Marion Coitillard as Edith Piaf
    Rowan Atkinson as any vicar :D
    Also Holliday Grainger in Great Expectations is exactly how I imagined Estella Havisham.
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    jamespondo wrote: »
    Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa and Eddie Murphy's Axel Foley come to mind.

    Stallone was actually the first choice for Axel Foley :eek:
  • mialiciousmialicious Posts: 4,686
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    Peter falk as columbo
  • LMLM Posts: 63,327
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    Helen Mirren as The Queen
    Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf
    Julia Roberts as Vivian in Pretty Woman
    Kate Winslet as Rose in Titanic
  • cmq2cmq2 Posts: 2,502
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    Dunst as Justine in Meloncholia. Cruz was penciled in for the role. Hard to imagine how differently that movie would have turned out!?
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    Lee Marvin as Major Reisman in The Dirty Dozen
    Arnie as The Terminator
    Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry
    And they all got those roles after other actors turned them down or were rejected.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,405
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    Helen Mirren as The Queen[\b]
    Marion Cotillard as Edith Piaf
    Julia Roberts as Vivian in Pretty Woman
    Kate Winslet as Rose in Titanic

    I was thinking about this one last night and I actually thought her performance was kinda overrated. I think that Colin Firth in The King's Speech was way better.
  • kendogukkendoguk Posts: 13,800
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    Arnie in Terminator.
    Downey JR Iron Man
  • mialiciousmialicious Posts: 4,686
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    Patrick stewart - Professor Xavier
  • Barry WilsonBarry Wilson Posts: 1,048
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    Clint Eastwood would have made a great Judge Dredd, apparently Judge Dredd was inspired by Dirty Harry.
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 374
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    Peter O'Toole as T.E Lawrence.
  • Eddie BadgerEddie Badger Posts: 6,005
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    I always though the role Arnie was born to play was Tarzan, especially when he was swinging through the jungle in Predator.
  • Syntax ErrorSyntax Error Posts: 27,735
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    Arnold Schwarzenegger as The Terminator.

    Who else could play a monosyllabic, emotionless robot better than Arnie?
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 690
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    Adrien Brody in The Pianist - one of the best performances I've seen this year (yes, I'm behind the curve!)
  • CLL DodgeCLL Dodge Posts: 115,630
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    Keiko was born to play Willy.
  • rfonzorfonzo Posts: 11,771
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    Lee Marvin as Major Reisman in The Dirty Dozen
    Arnie as The Terminator
    Clint Eastwood as Dirty Harry
    And they all got those roles after other actors turned them down or were rejected.

    Who was initially chosen to play The Terminator?
  • AerickAerick Posts: 1,528
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    just saw "Lincoln" yesterday. Could not imagine anybody else. Daniel Day Lewis was magnificent. Tear worthy!

    another:
    Clark Gable as Rhett Butler.
  • wef0undl0vewef0undl0ve Posts: 6,460
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    Sandra Bullock in the blind side, thought she performed it superbly & it was made for her
  • lightdragonlightdragon Posts: 19,059
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    rfonzo wrote: »
    Who was initially chosen to play The Terminator?

    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088247/trivia

    Apparently OJ Simpson. :eek: (Considered, not chosen).
  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] Posts: 7,405
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    mialicious wrote: »
    Patrick stewart - Professor Xavier

    Oh yes! He IS Prof X!
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