Actors are defined by the characters they play and the projects they’ve been a part of, but that doesn’t mean they can’t transcend stereotypes and prove audiences and critics wrong. Being typecast as a certain kind of performer within TV shows and movies can stunt a performer’s career, but these actors have moved beyond this and become icons of the industry. It’s always a refreshing surprise when a comedy actor gives an amazing comedic performance and vice versa, which helps demonstrate the range and abilities of these artists.

Some of these performers even turned out to be the best actors of 2024 or were particularly memorable over the past ten years. The best way for an actor to showcase their talents and demonstrate their range is for them to pick scripts and filmmakers that will push them out of their comfort zone. This isn’t always easy, as there are always roadblocks to creating an ideal persona and reputation in the movie business. However, I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how well these performers have exceeded my expectations at every turn.

10

Robert Pattinson

Known for The Lighthouse (2019)

The legacy and popularity of Twilight have followed Robert Pattinson for a long time, but it’s safe to say that the actor has differentiated himself from the vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen. Though many people adore Twilight for a reason, it wasn’t critically acclaimed or heralded for its performances. However, both Pattinson and his co-star, Kristen Stewart, have emerged from their ᴀssociation with Twilight to become undeniable indie darlings. Pattinson is now known for works like The Lighthouse, The Batman, and Mickey 17.

If he’s part of a project, I know it’s going to be unlike anything else I’ve seen.

The Lighthouse is one of Pattinson’s many movies that will make you say what did I just watch, as the actor has made a point of seeking out unconventional projects. This dedication to finding unique projects and working with innovative directors is how actors like Pattinson overcome being typecast and pigeonholed. While it’s impossible to forget Twilight, it’s no longer what I think of when I contemplate Pattinson’s career. If he’s part of a project, I know it’s going to be unlike anything else I’ve seen.

9

Maude Apatow

Known for Euphoria (2019–Present)

After getting her start as a child actor working on projects with her parents, Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, Maude Apatow has successfully made a name for herself outside of this past. With early roles in the hit TV comedy Girls and eventually earning a place on the teen drama series Euphoria, Apatow has shown remarkable humor and self-awareness in her work. Euphoria season 2 asked more of the actress than ever, and she rose to the occasion to deliver.

In the film sphere, Apatow had a small role in the hit comedy movie One of Them Days, starring Keke Palmer and SZA, and Apatow was a strong part of the supporting cast. As Euphoria season 3 draws closer, it will be interesting to see where the show takes Apatow’s character and if she’ll continue making her mark on the series. While she’s been an ᴀsset within the comedy genre, Apatow’s more dramatic contributions to Euphoria could pave the way for her to expand her horizons in the future.

8

Dave Bautista

Known for Glᴀss Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)

Transitioning from being a professional wrestler to acting isn’t as nontraditional a path as it might seem, as Dave Bautista is far from the only performer to make this work. However, he might be the most successful and best at picking projects that demonstrate his considerable strengths. For many viewers, their introduction to Bautista was through action-adventure movies like Guardians of the Galaxy, but he’s proven himself to be an ᴀsset in exciting works like Glᴀss Onion, Dune, and Knock at the Cabin.

Though In The Lost Lands was a box office disappointment, Bautista’s latest action fantasy film might come to be recognized as a cult classic and proves that he’s willing to work within the genre space again. While we’ve gotten used to seeing Bautista in fantasy and sci-fi projects, he’s sharp and funny no matter what character he’s bringing to life. Already, when I hear that Bautista is lending his talents to a new film, it makes me interested in seeing what he’ll do onscreen.

7

Sofía Vergara

Known for Modern Family (2009–2020)

When Sofía Vergara first started acting, she was typically pigeonholed into roles that were more focused on her looks than her work as an actress, giving audiences the wrong impression of her as a performer. Fortunately, this has changed for the better, and viewers are well aware of just how much Vergara brings to every project she’s in. The Netflix original, Griselda, was Vergara’s most dramatic work to date, centering her as the layered antihero at the heart of the narrative.

While she’s best known for the beloved sitcom Modern Family, this shouldn’t be an overlooked addition to her filmography either. Even within Modern Family​​​​​, it was exciting to see how Gloria evolved and was made into a more complex character as the seasons progressed, reflecting Vergara’s talent. Going on that journey with Vergara and seeing her rise to the challenge of Griselda has cemented her as an icon of her generation for years to come.

6

Timothy Olyphant

Known for Justified (2010–2015)

Depending on what you’ve seen Timothy Olyphant in, you likely have a different perception of the actor’s long career. For a long time, Olyphant took on smaller roles in films that were quickly forgotten about, often playing a minor or supporting character. However, all of this changed with ᴅᴇᴀᴅwood, one of the best HBO TV shows of the early 2000s, which starred Olyphant. This led to his long-running role in Justified, which catapulted him to fame and cemented Olyphant as a hallmark of film and television.

Olyphant is a chameleon who can work within any character and story he’s given, but when he has a great script and dynamic role to bring to life, he’s unforgettable.

While it’s fun to ᴀssociate Olyphant with these rugged cowboy characters from Justified and ᴅᴇᴀᴅwood, it’s easy to forget that the actor is also a strong comedic performer. His recent work in Santa Clarita Diet reminded me that there’s a lot more to Olyphant than meets the eye. Olyphant is a chameleon who can work within any character and story he’s given, but when he has a great script and dynamic role to bring to life, he’s unforgettable.

5

Monica Barbaro

Known for A Complete Unknown (2024)

Monica Barbaro is an actor to watch in 2025, but when I first heard that she was cast as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, I was skeptical. With credits that primarily leaned into the action and adventure genres, like Top Gun: Maverick and FUBAR, I was hesitant to believe that Barbaro could embody the folk icon of Baez. However, I was happy to be surprised by the nuanced and vulnerable performance that Barbaro gave, deepening the characterization of Baez within the film.

Though A Complete Unknown is a star vehicle for Timothée Chalamet more than anything, Barbaro makes Baez into a fully realized character with thoughts and ᴀssertions of her own. Viewing her in this light has allowed me to return to her other projects and see that she lends this complexity to all her characters, not just Joan. I’m hoping that the attention she received for A Complete Unknown will lead to additional roles in a wide variety of genres.

4

Charles Melton

Known for May December (2023)

While Riverdale is a great teen romance TV show that’s campy and fun to engage with, it’s difficult to take seriously the performers who got their start on the series. Charles Melton, who joined the cast in season 2 as a replacement for Ross Butler, was a hallmark of the show for many years. However, when I saw him in May December, it was clear that the actor was much more than a teen soap performer.

After breaking out of the Riverdale shell and being recognized as a skilled adult working in the industry, doors opened for Melton, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be underestimated again.

His recent work in Warfare, the intense and gripping A24 film about the Iraq War, has only further cemented Melton as a rising star to watch as the years progress. After breaking out of the Riverdale shell and being recognized as a skilled adult working in the industry, doors opened for Melton, and it’s unlikely that he’ll be underestimated again. There are already exciting announcements coming out about his involvement in prestige TV shows, like Beef season 2.

3

Zoe Saldaña

Known for Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Zoe Saldaña is known for her work within the blockbuster genre, as she’s been part of some of the highest-grossing movies of the 20th century. While she’s been an ᴀsset to all of these projects, from Guardians of the Galaxy to Avatar​​​​​, it can be difficult for actors to branch out from the archetypal roles and genres they typically work within. However, Saldaña has worked hard to find projects that speak to her as an artist, and it’s made me even more excited to see her onscreen.

Though controversial, Emilia Pérez highlighted Saldaña’s strengths and pushed her to embody a role that most audiences had never seen her in. Additionally, the thriller TV series Lioness allowed Saldaña to use her existing skills in more action-oriented work and combine them with the grounded nature of Lioness. When engaging with Saldaña’s body of work as a whole, it becomes clear that she’s much more than a box-office success but a talented and nuanced performer.

2

Victoria Pedretti

Known for You (2018–Present)

Few could have predicted the breakout success of not only the thriller melodrama TV show You but of the season 2 addition to the cast, Victoria Pedretti. When she first joined the cast as Love Quinn, it seemed as if she would just be another body that ended up in Joe’s (Penn Badgley) closet. However, Love turned out to be a much more interesting character, and it was thanks to Pedretti that this worked in favor of the story. Pedretti was capable of being vulnerable and believably vicious all at once.

It was especially in The Haunting of Bly Manor that Pedretti won the hearts of audiences with her emotional performance as Dani, which left viewers in tears.

Her additional performances in both The Haunting of Hill House and The Haunting of Bly Manor have made it all the more clear that Pedretti is a star to watch within the next few years. It was especially in The Haunting of Bly Manor that Pedretti won the hearts of audiences with her emotional performance as Dani, which left viewers in tears. Though Pedretti has primarily worked within the TV space, I would love to see what she would do with additional roles in movies.

1

Jack Quaid

Known for The Boys (2019–Present)

For a long time, I was only peripherally aware of Jack Quaid and his work, as I had only seen him in pᴀssing in projects like The Hunger Games. He first rose to prominence for his role as Hughie in Prime Video’s grotesquely violent, action-packed thrill ride, The Boys. Though it’s easy to enjoy The Boys and be impressed by Quaid’s surprisingly nuanced performance, he still was pigeonholed into the action genre in my mind and into a specific archetype because he played Hughie.

Fortunately, the past few years have seen Quaid take on new, exciting roles and distinguish himself from the ensemble of The Boys. In Companion and Novacaine, Quaid shows his range as an actor, playing the villain and hero, respectively, and making me just as invested in the story either way. Now, I’m not just curious to see what Quaid will do next but excited to see where his career is heading and what he plans to do with his rising fame.