# They Couldn't Have Picked A Better Actor/Actress For That Role **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2009, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455 "2009-07-18T17:28:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/61 "2009-07-19T17:12:39Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Jackie Earle Haley was a wonderful Rorschach in _Watchmen_. The face, the eyes, the delivery… a perfect fit. Seconding that, along with Patrick Wilson as Dan. Everyone else did a fine job (except for maybe the guy who played Ozy), but those two have completely replaced the vision of those characters in my mind. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/62 "2009-07-19T17:24:39Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Pretty much everyone in the Lord of the Rings movies and the Harry Potter movies. Even Viggo Mortenson? He’s a fine actor, but seemed… insubstantial. With his high, whiny voice and greasy looks, he just doesn’t strike me as being a king-in-waiting. ---
**Author:** ![Jennyrosity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/2bfe46/32.png) [@Jennyrosity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jennyrosity)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/63 "2009-07-19T18:06:29Z")
I thought Katherine Hepburn was a perfect Jo March in Little Women - broad shouldered, ungainly, not a classic beauty but attractive nonetheless. By contrast Winona Ryder in the '90s version was nothing like the book Jo, being petite and dainty and pretty. I did like Claire Danes as Beth in that version though. I also thought the three leads in “The Phildelphia Story” - Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart - were perfection. Mind you, I could be biased as those three would be my dream cast in pretty much anything. ---
**Author:** ![MonkeyMensch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@MonkeyMensch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MonkeyMensch)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/64 "2009-07-19T18:32:38Z")
Paul Scofield reprising his Broadway role of Thomas More in _A Man for All Seasons_. Boy do I like that movie. It’s a funny thing (funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha) that when I saw \*Quiz Show \*with Paul Scofield, playing Mark van Doren, I reflected on how much I had loved him throughout his career. I was astonished when I visited IMDB and saw that that was the **third** time I had seen him on screen! _The Train_, a personal favorite, was the only other movie I had seen him in. I suppose that shows how much great performances can affect you. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/65 "2009-07-19T19:44:54Z")
Tony Randall as Felix Unger Bill Murray as Carl Spackler Anthony Perkins as Norman Bates ---
**Author:** ![Blisters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Blisters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blisters)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/66 "2009-07-19T19:58:42Z")
When I saw the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, I thought Liam Neeson was perfect as the voice of Aslan…that’s just what he sounded like in my head when I read the books as a kid. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2009, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/67 "2009-07-19T21:32:03Z")
Sean Bean as Sharpe. Alan Rickman as the Sheriff of Nottingham. Colin Firth as Mr Darcy. Pretty much the entire cast of LOTR was A+, but Miranda Otto nailed Eowyn, and I’m surprised that no one has mentioned Andy Serkis’s spellbinding performance as Gollum. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/68 "2009-07-20T00:06:11Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > Bill Murray as Carl Spackler Ah yes, that well known literary character, I believe his works are taught in schools. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/69 "2009-07-20T00:44:41Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Ah yes, that well known literary character, I believe his works are taught in schools. At least he’s got that going for him. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/70 "2009-07-20T02:10:33Z")
Colin Firth as Mark Darcy in the Bridget Jones movies. The character was described as him in the books, if they hadn’t been able to secure him for the films then the films shouldn’t have been made, IMO. Also Kate Winslet as Sarah Pierce in _Little Children_. That’s the role that she should’ve won the Oscar for. ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/71 "2009-07-20T02:25:14Z")
Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man Jack Lemon as Ensign Pulver in Mr. Roberts ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/72 "2009-07-20T02:33:28Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Even Viggo Mortenson? He’s a fine actor, but seemed… insubstantial. With his high, whiny voice and greasy looks, he just doesn’t strike me as being a king-in-waiting. All that is gold does not glitter ;). I think he was a great look for the part. Whenever he opened his mouth, not so much, I’ll give you that. I always figured Aragorn would have a deep, James Earl Jones-ish voice, with just a hint of Nick Nolte gravel to it. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/73 "2009-07-20T02:33:34Z")
> [@](#): > > Paul Scofield reprising his Broadway role of Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons. Boy do I like that movie. > > It’s a funny thing (funny peculiar, not funny ha-ha) that when I saw Quiz Show with Paul Scofield, playing Mark van Doren, I reflected on how much I had loved him throughout his career. I was astonished when I visited IMDB and saw that that was the third time I had seen him on screen! The Train, a personal favorite, was the only other movie I had seen him in. I suppose that shows how much great performances can affect you. I loved him in all those as well. Scofield didn’t appear in many movies. I was surprised and delighted when he showed up in Brannaugh’s **Henry V**. Scofield preferred the stage. My Penguin edition of **Amadeus** has a picture of him as Salieri, a role he apparently originated. I’d loved to have seen that one. (I did see Frank Langella perform it, which was pretty damned good, too.) ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/74 "2009-07-20T02:46:45Z")
Ian Richardson as Francis Urquhart in the _House of Cards_ trilogy Dame Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers in _Rebecca_ Joe Pantoliano as Ralph Cifaretto in _The Sopranos_ Helen Mirren in lots of stuff, but especially as Jane Tennison in _Prime Suspect_ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/75 "2009-07-20T02:51:17Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally Posted by CalMeacham > I can’t imagine anyone besides Lotte Lenye as Rosa Klebb in From Russia with Love – which is too bad, in a way. She was considered an earthy and even sexy _singer_ in her day, and it’s a pity that she’s immortalized as a character Fleming described as “froglike”. > [@](#): > > She’s _also remembered for her singing as well_, sort of. She’s immortalized in the ever-changing English version of the lyrics of Mack the Knife. According to Wikipedia, she was in the studio when Louis Armstrong recorded his version and he improvised her name “Look out Miss Lotte Lenya.” When Bobby Darrin recorded his version, he used the name as well. The song was written by her husband, Kurt Weill, and Lenya had recorded it before Armstrong or Darrin. ??? I say she’s remembered as a singer and you say she’s “also remembered for her singing, as well” (redundantly). Am I missing something, or are you? I don’t see the point of your post. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/76 "2009-07-20T04:06:21Z")
Maia Morgenstern as the Mary in The Passion of the Christ ---
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/77 "2009-07-20T04:23:18Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > Whenever he opened his mouth, not so much, I’ll give you that. Especially at the very end, when he opened his mouth, stuck out his tongue and thrust it down Lady Arwen Undómiel’s throat. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/78 "2009-07-20T07:31:21Z")
Adam Arkin as Yossarian. Malcom McDowell as Alex in _A Clockwork Orange_. Yeah, and Gregory Peck is Atticus Finch. Mary Badham also nailed Scout. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/79 "2009-07-20T07:36:06Z")
> [@bup](#): > > **[Matthew Lillard](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000498/)** as Shaggy. YES! If the Oscars weren’t so biased against comedies in general and lite-fair in particular he’d have gotten a nomination; Anthony Hopkins never _became_ a character like he did Shaggy (and I’m not being sarcastic). ---
**Author:** ![Promethea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Promethea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Promethea)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2009, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455/80 "2009-07-20T07:47:35Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Clark Gable as Rhett Butler This is the one that lept to mind when I saw the thread but I also knew I’d be beaten to the punch. Just astonishing - I really do half believe he was put on earth just to play that role. Nothing against Robert Donat, but his missing out on the Oscar will always be the Academy’s biggest blunder. Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster and J.K. Simmons as J. Jonah Jameson were the other examples that again, I see others agree with. Simmons was SO perfect that when he appeared on screen, it was all I could do not to give a small cheer. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/they-couldnt-have-picked-a-better-actor-actress-for-that-role/503455.md?page=5)