Casting actors against type has been responsible for some of the best film andTV showperformances of all time, from Tom Cruise in Michael Mann’sCollateralto David Hyde Pierce inThe Good Wife. Many actors can find themselves forever cast in a narrowly-defined role and, when something different comes along, seize the opportunity to prove their versatility. For many audiences, the mere novelty of seeing this change of direction alonecan attract them to new shows.
Seeingactors step out of their comfort zoneand into characters at odds with how their fans know them often opens an entire new chapter in their career. In a Golden Age of prestigious, cinematic TV series, various networks have given viewers some brilliant match-ups between actors and characters. While some of these were to be expected, others brought stars to new career heights in what seemed to many to be completely bizarre casting choices – only to be happy to be proven wrong.
10John Krasinski As Jack Ryan
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (2018-2023)
Whenthe American remake of British sitcomThe Officebegan, it cast John Krasinski in the role of Jim Halpert, a wholesome and optimistic office employee.For much of the show’s time on air, audiences obsessed over the will they/won’t they dynamic he had with Jenna Fischer’s Pam, which served as the heart of the series. However, when Amazon Video adapted the stories of Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, they had a different view of the actor.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Cast
A new adaptation of the popular book series, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan follows the titular character as he goes from CIA analyst to being thrust into the middle of a conspiracy that threatens to uproot the world and its status quo. When Jack stumbles upon strange bank transfers during routine analysis, he’s tossed from the comfort of his desk job into the world of action, espionage, and political intrigue to investigate. But, unfortunately, Jack’s search for answers will take him to the heart of a dangerous terrorist ring that seeks to destabilize the U.S. and its allies.
While Jack Ryan is, like Jim, a good man, the genre switch from sitcom to action-thriller gave Krasinski a great change of pace.From doting on Pam at Dunder Mifflin to fighting terrorists around the world, the actor proved himself versatile, and gave audiences the best iteration of Clancy’s heroic CIA analyst since Harrison Ford left the role in 1994.
9Jason Bateman As Martin Byrde
Ozark (2017-2022)
First garnering attention for his role as Michael Bluth inArrested Development,Jason Bateman became one of the best “straight man” comedy actors of the 2000s. FromHancockandHorrible BossestoIdentity ThiefandPaul, he perfected the part of a relatable, down-to-Earth character immersed in absurd situations.
Ozark
Ozark is a crime drama series released in 2017, focusing on a financial adviser who relocates his family from Chicago to the Missouri Ozarks. He must launder $500 million within five years to satisfy a drug boss, navigating the challenges and dangers of his new environment.
InOzark, he played Marty Byrde, a criminal money launderer who moves his family down to Missouri to try and make amends with his cartel employers. As one of the best crime shows of the 2010s,Ozarksaw great against-type performances from other stars, such as Laura Linney.
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However,Bateman’s change from audience surrogate in comedy moviesand shows to a criminal fighting to keep himself and his family alive gave viewers a gripping story – and a refreshing change for the star.
8Andre Braugher As Captain Raymond Holt
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013-2021)
Since movies likeGlory, Andre Braugher made his mark as a supporting actor, one who typically played serious dramatic roles in war movies and conspiracy thrillers.InBrooklyn Nine-Nine, he endeared himself to a younger generation in the role of Captain Holt, a no-nonsense cop who tries to bring order to an unruly precinct. Through his deadpan delivery of lines, Holt instantly became one of the most popular characters on the show.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.
Andre Braugher’s casting inBrooklyn Nine-Nineis actually a brilliant example of subverting typecasting, rather than going against it.Like Glenn Morshower, the actor had become synonymous with the supporting role of stern general, admiral, police chief, or politician. The police sitcom embraced this, using comedic situations to turn Braugher’s typecast into a brilliant gag for the show. Here, it was the genre switch, not the role itself, that completely changed how audiences looked at the actor.
7Bill Hader As Barry Berkman
Barry (2018-2023)
Throughout the 2000s and early 2010s, Bill Hader became recognized as a recurring comedy supporting actor, particularly in films likePaul,SuperbadandTropic Thunder.Through these movies, he often played exaggerated, loudmouthed roles, from absurd police officer to overzealous studio executive.In 2018’sBarry, however, he took on a more dramatic character as the titular hitman, Barry Berkman, as he pursues a passion for acting.
Barry
A hitman becomes captivated by an acting class and seeks to abandon his criminal past for a life on stage. As he struggles to balance his new aspirations with his violent profession, the series delves into his internal conflict and unexpected encounters within the world of theatre.
Bill Hader’s performance as Barry is still comedic, but the series tackles serious topics like depression and trauma, allowing the actor room to explore a realistic character.Ditching the loud and intense nature of past characters for a more subtle and grounded person, Hader turned in a career-best performance in this dark dramedy.
6Hugh Laurie As Gregory House
House (2004-2012)
In the United Kingdom, Hugh Laurie built his career ona wave of fresh British sitcomsthat began in the 1980s, fromJeeves and WoostertoBlackadder.Here, the actor typically played the role of a fool, something best seen in his portrayal of Prince George inBlackadder the Third. After spending almost two decades selling viewers on his persona as a buffoon, he was cast in the role of Sherlock Holmes-inspired physician, Doctor Gregory House. Ditching his refined English accent for an American one, he played the part of doctor and detective in one.
House
House is a medical mystery drama in which the villain is typically a difficult-to-diagnose medical malady. It follows Dr. Gregory House (Hugh Laurie), a world-renowned disabled diagnostician with a notorious substance abuse issue. With his team of world-class doctors, House has built a reputation as one of the most brilliant doctors in the world - an especially impressive feat when taking into account that he rarely actually sees his patients.
Housemakes great use of Laurie’s comedic timing, but transforms his persona from that of a witless fool to a brilliant medical genius with a dark, sometimes nihilistic sense of humor.Widely recognized by critics as one of the best TV performances of the 2000s, the actor traded loud and eccentric silliness for insults, tragic personal drama and gallows humor. For American audiences in particular, it became difficult to dissociate the star from his now signature character – and people can struggle to believe he’s the same man who played fools like George.
5Steve Buscemi As Enoch Thompson
Boardwalk Empire (2010-2014)
When it comes to popular popcorn flicks made between the 1990s and 2000s, few actors made as lasting an impression in supporting roles as Steve Buscemi.Often cast in the role of oddball comic relief, as seen in movies likeArmageddonandMr Deeds, the former firefighter’s inclusion in a project was often a sign that it couldn’t be taken too seriously. In HBO’sBoardwalk Empire, that all changed as he embodied Prohibition Era corrupt politician Enoch “Nucky” Thompson.
Boardwalk Empire
Based on Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s, Boardwalk Empire follows political heavyweight “Nucky” Thompson as he battles mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look to take him on. Now, with the federal government cracking down on bootlegging and other illegal activities, and everyone looking to take over control of the city, Nucky’s lavish lifestyle is in danger of collapsing.
Although Nucky Thompson has the occasional moment of dark irony on the show, Buscemi’s performance inBoardwalk Empireis anything but silly.Showing the audience that he was more than a side gag, the actor effortlessly slid into the role of a ruthless gangster, and it gave audiences one of the best performances of the 2010s. While Buscemi has since gone back to comedy roles, even films likeThe Death of Stalinprove he’s at his best when some drama is injected into his performance.
4Claire Danes As Carrie Matheson
Homeland (2011-2020)
Beginning her career through ’90s dramas and romances, Claire Danes found breakout success in her role as Juliet in Baz Luhrmann’sRomeo and Juliet.Her association with the romance genre only grew when she was cast as Yvaine inStardust, cementing the audience’s perception of her as a wholesome love interest. InHomeland, however, she played the role of Carrie Matheson, an erratic CIA agent struggling with Bipolar Disorder.
Homeland
Homeland is a suspenseful drama series centered on CIA officer Carrie Mathison, portrayed as a top agent despite her bipolar disorder. Released on July 15, 2025, the series follows her as she navigates the complexities of intelligence work with the guidance of her mentor, Saul Berenson.
Claire Danes' performance as Carrie Matheson has been praised as a realistic depiction of life with Bipolar Disorder, showing the struggle of maintaining personal relationships and a work life.Thanks to Danes' intensity in the role, Carrie became one of TV’s best counter-terrorist heroes since Jack Bauer. Without the actress in the leading role, the series never would have been as compelling as it was.
3Steve Coogan As Jimmy Savile
The Reckoning (2023)
Thanks to his iconic role as Alan Partridge, Steve Coogan became a face of British modern comedy, often satirizing and parodying entertainment figures. Movies likeThe Other GuysandTropic Thundertook this persona to Hollywood, casting Coogan as various ineffectual and incompetent characters used for comic relief. InThe Reckoning, he stepped out of the role of comedian and into the shoes of one of the most reviled figures in modern Britain: Jimmy Savile.
The Reckoning
The Reckoning is a biographical drama exploring the life of Jimmy Savile, an influential UK celebrity whose posthumous revelations of widespread abuse have shifted public perception. Released in October 2023, the film examines Savile’s complex legacy and the impact of his heinous actions on victims and society.
Once a children’s TV entertainer, Savile became a national disgrace when it was revealed he was a sexual abuser.Considering this reputation, it’s all the more impressive that Steve Coogan was able to convincingly portray him, even more so, that he captured the repugnance of the man. Taking on the role was a risky move, especially for a star whose career was built on comedy, but the actor did a brilliant job in the role.
2Matthew McConaughey As Rustin Cohle
True Detective (2014-Present)
Career revitalizations are nothing new in Hollywood, from dramatic actor Leslie Nielsen rebranding himself as the king of slapstick to Nicolas Cage leaving his 2010s-era slump.Few changes were as stark as Matthew McConaughey changing mainstream audiences' perception of him away from a handsome rom-com love interest to one of the best thriller actors of the 2010s. What started with 2012’sMudwas perfected in 2014’sTrue Detective, where the actor played the part of nihilistic detective Rust Cohle.
True Detective
True Detective is an anthology series exploring intricate criminal investigations through multiple timelines. Each season examines dark personal and professional secrets revealed during the course of solving complex cases, highlighting the impact of crime on individuals both within and outside the law enforcement community.
Matthew McConaughey’s acting inTrue Detectivehelped make the first season great, making his character so dark he was almost unrecognizable from the man who starred inHow to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.It should be noted that the change was just as true of co-star Woody Harrelson, who proved he’d come a long way from playing the simplistic bartender inCheers.
1Bryan Cranston As Walter White
Beforethe creation ofBreaking Bad, Bryan Cranston was overwhelmingly known for his work in sitcoms, namely as Hal Wilkerson inMalcolm In the Middle.That lighthearted persona was shattered when he stepped into the role of Walter White, a man whose life takes a turn from high school chemistry teacher to ruthless meth kingpin. With Jesse Pinkman at his side, the man alienates his family and pursues the idea that it’s better to be feared and respected than loved and pitied.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
Bryan Cranston’s transformation into Walter White actually plays out within the series itself. When the audience is first introduced to the man, they’re presented with a meek school teacher struggling to maintain the respect of those around him. By the end of the series, they’re left with little empathy for Walter after watching him turn into a full-blown monster – making it one of the greatest – and best-acted – character arcs inTV showhistory.
