12 Actors Who Portrayed Their Iconic Roles So Well That We Hardly Recognize Them In Other Movies

To become a talented movie star, plenty of actors take on multiple roles, allowing them to flex their acting skills across different genres and demographics.

No matter how long their careers are, they will always be known for playing one character. Of course, these actors aren’t one-trick ponies as they have had some iconic roles throughout their careers. But, one of them become legendary. These actors portrayed their iconic roles so well that we might hardly see them in other roles.

These actors perfectly embody a particular character and catch the viewer’s attention, leaving lasting impressions. For example, Daniel Radcliffe and Tobey Maguire created legacies with their iconic roles as Harry Potter and Peter Parker respectively. Fans see these actors as synonymous with their career-defining roles and their characters will always stick in viewers’ minds.

Below are actors we will always see actors who performed iconic roles.

#1 James McAvoy

Source: © The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producer, © X-Men: Apocalypse / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

James McAvoy starred in “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”? Well, not many viewers recognized the Scottish actor in the peculiar costume. On the other hand, although he puts on simple outfits and shaved his head when staring in “X-Men”, the role leaves a great impression on viewers’ minds.

#2 Freddie Highmore

Source: © Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Warner Bros. and co-producers, © Bates Motel / American Genre Film Archive and co-producers

Freddie Highmore starred alongside Johnny Depp in “Finding Neverland” and had a perfect performance. He played an innocent boy who found the golden ticket in one of Wonka’s chocolates. but in “Bates Motel cast, he appeared with his unblemished looks and features.

#3 Logan Lerman

Source: © The Butterfly Effect / BenderSpink and co-producers, © Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters / Fox 2000 Pictures and co-producers

Logan Lerman starred as the protagonist Evan in “The Butterfly Effect” and 9 years later, the actor appeared in “Percy Jackson”. On one side, we see a child, and on the other, an adult.

#4 Henry Thomas

Source: © E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial / Universal Pictures and co-producer, © The Haunting of Hill House / FlanaganFilm and co-producers

Elliott, the lonely 9-year-old boy who forges a particular friendship with an alien, was portrayed by Henry Thomas. In Netflix’s project “The Haunting of Hill House”, the actor played Hugh Crain, a house salesman who along with his wife and 5 kids, experiences paranormal events in a particular mansion.

#5 Christopher Lloyd

Source: © The Addams Family / Orion Pictures and co-producers, © Back to the Future / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Many were shocked when they realize that the peculiar Uncle Lucas with a bald head, pale skin, and dark circles under his eyes in “The Addams Family” is the same person as Dr. Emmett Brown from “Back to the Future”. Movie magic is created.

#6 Joseph Mazzello

Source: © Jurassic Park / Universal Pictures and co-producer, © Bohemian Rhapsody / Twentieth Century Fox and co-producers

Joseph Mazzello fulfilled perfectly his roles in both “Jurassic Park” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”. From running away from dinosaurs to playing bass in the glorious band, he is actually a talented actor.

#7 Max Thieriot

Source: © The Pacifier / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producer, © Bates Motel / American Genre Film Archive and co-producers

At the age of 15, Max Thieriot appeared as a troublemaker in “The Pacifier”. Dylan Massett, Norman’s (Freddie Highmore) half-brother in Bates Motel, is none other than Max himself.

#8 Sarah Jessica Parker

Source: © Hocus Pocus / Walt Disney Pictures and co-producer, © Sex and the City 2 / New Line Cinema and co-producers

Because of makeup, we can’t recognize that Sarah Jessica Parker, who played the youngest of the 3 Sanderson sisters in “Hocus Pocus”, starred in a Disney project, “Sex and the City”.

#9 Elle Fanning

Source: © Daddy Day Care / Revolution Studios and co-producers, © The Roads Not Taken / Adventure Pictures and co-producers

Do you remember the eccentric blonde girl who called her mother on her cell phone in a moment of chaos in the nursery? The little girl was Elle Fanning, who later took part in some movies like “Super 8” and “Maleficent”.

#10 Andrew Lincoln

Source: © Love Actually / Universal Pictures and co-producers, © The Walking Dead / American Movie Classics (AMC) and co-producers

Andrew Lincoln had a good performance in the movie “Love Actually” when playing Mark. He continuously took on the role of Sheriff Rick Grimes, the man who fights against the zombie apocalypse in “The Walking Dead”.

#11 Lisa Edelstein

Source: © Daddy Day Care / Revolution Studios and co-producers, © House M.D. / Heel & Toe Films and co-producers

Lisa Edelstein’s character, Lisa Cuddy becomes iconic. The actress had a supporting role, the eccentric mother of Crispin in “Daddy Day Care”.

#12 Pam Ferris

Source: © Matilda / TriStar Pictures and co-producer, © Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban / Warner Bros. and co-producers

Pam Ferris nailed the role of Matilda’s school principal, Miss Honey’s wicked aunt, Miss Trunchbull. In “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban”, she portrayed Marge Dursley, the same amount of evil.