Tom Waits in The Ballad of Buster Scruggs. Sure it wasn’t his first time acting but I’d argue he’s much more well known as a musical artist and his performance was great.
Tricia Helfer comes to mind first. In Battlestar galactica. I forget the story but it’s something like she was brought in for her looks(they wanted a knockout for the first scene cylon). Then she went on to blow them away with her acting. She was a model before if I recall.
She did a great job in her roles.
Eminem 8 Mile. When I first saw it I was convinced he’d become a superstar actor and stop making music, but that never happened. Even so, he’s fucking phenomenal in that movie.
R. Lee Ermey / Full Metal Jacket?
For those not in the know, Ermey was only ever meant to be a consultant to teach Tim Colceri, the actor playing the drill instructor, how to do so realistically. It was only after Ermey did a 30 minute demonstration in which he berated and insulted the “troops” of the film while stagehands beaned him with tennis balls and oranges that Kubrick realized that casting Ermey would essentially just be removing the middleman.
You best unfuck yourself or I will unscrew your head and shit down your neck! – Gunnery Sergeant Hartman
The IT guy in What We Were In The Shadows
Wait, I’m not sure I remember who ? I binged the show last year but that doesn’t ring a bell
The glorious Matt Berry plays Lazlo, BAATTT, and played Denholm Jr, the big boss, in IT Crowd. He’s also a pretty good musician.
Andy Buckley, the guy who played David Wallace on The Office. He was a financial advisor at the time and they wanted him because he looked/sounded like an executive. Totally knocked it out of the park.
In the same vein, Phyllis was just working behind the scenes before they decided to put her in the show
Dominique Tipper in The Expanse.
I mean, not everyone in the community thinks much of her acting, but on Season 5 she puts out a performance that puts a lot of veteran actors to shame.
I 100% only know her from The Expanse, what else does she do that I’ve been missing out on?
Until The Expanse she was more known as a dancer / singer, although even then she wasn’t super famous.
Cheers, I’ll look her up on YouTube or somewhere be interesting to see another side of her talent.
Oh wow, I had no idea she was known for something other than acting.
Her breakout role was really in The Expanse. Until then she was most known as a dancer and singer, even though she had a few very minor roles in a few films.
Vinnie Jones’ first acting role was in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels, and it was probably his best performance.
I thought Anthony Edwards did a great job playing the antagonist in Hustle.
Haven’t seen it yet but heard Kevin Garnett killed it in Uncut Gems.
Justin Timberlake usually do a really good job, as a lead i.e. In Time, or in a supporting role like in Social Network.
You must watch Uncut Gems. It’s a wild ride.
Unless you have problems with anxiety because that is one stressful movie.
At first I was like, what is Anthony Edwards famous for if not for his roles as Goose, or Dr. Green?
Revenge of the Nerds?
Björk in Dancer in the dark. I never want to see the film again (too emotionally taxing for me), but her performance was outstanding.
I know it’s not a film, but it’s wild to me that John Marston from Red Dead Redemption 1/2 is voiced by…a construction worker in Indiana.
But more accurate to the question, I thought 8 Mile was pretty good, though the last time I saw it I was like 15.
Here’s another more niche example:
Frank Silva as “Bob” on Twin Peaks. He was a set dresser who worked with David Lynch and Lynch liked his look so much they made the character for him. Now he’s regarded as one of the better tv villains.
fire walk with me
For me it was Steven Van Zandt as Silvio Dante in The Sopranos. His bottom lip is one of the best visual running gags in the series.
David Bradley in Kes.
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