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1->''"The roles that one is offered at this age, quite frankly, you're either in a nursing home, you're in a hospital bed dying, you're suffering from dementia, or in fact, in two cases, I was offered two characters who'd actually died and come back to life. When this role came along, I thought well, I won't get another chance like this before I die, and that's why I took it. It was absolutely wonderful."''
2-->-- '''Melissa Jaffer''' on accepting a role as [[NeverMessWithGranny the Keeper of the Seeds]] in ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad''
3
4Some actors [[CreatorBacklash hate their past gigs]] because they [[TookTheBadFilmSeriously seriously misjudged the quality at the time]], [[MoneyDearBoy only did them for the paycheck]], or [[ContractualObligationProject were required by contract to do so.]]
5
6But some did the movie because they got to be vampires or superheroes, [[UnflinchingWalk walk away from explosions in trenchcoats]], ride motorcycles and ''fly through the air swinging a frickin' samurai sword''. '''With Creator/SamuelLJackson'''. This trope is when an actor took the part based on its [[RuleOfCool cool factor]]. They want it to be on their résumé for their next job. Or, they'll be brushing over it on their résumé, but wrecking the set with {{fight scene}}s, [[StuffBlowingUp explosions]] and [[ChewingTheScenery over-acting]] sounded like great fun.
7
8Contrast and compare with MoneyDearBoy, DoingItForTheArt, and SoMyKidsCanWatch. Frequently overlaps with PromotedFanboy. See also VacationDearBoy, where the location is part of the awesomeness.
9----
10!!Examples:
11
12[[foldercontrol]]
13
14[[folder:Advertising]]
15* The reason why website-hosting company Squarespace hired Creator/MartinScorsese to direct their [[https://musebycl.io/super-bowl/martin-scorseses-squarespace-commercial-has-landed 2024 Super Bowl ad]] was because, after getting multiple big-name directors to do their previous Super Bowl commercials, they decided the only way they could top themselves was to get Scorsese and that it was worth a shot to contact him. Scorsese, in turn, agreed to direct the commercial because it was rare at this point in his long, celebrated career to have a directorial debut in something[[note]]While Scorsese has directed and starred in several commercials, this is the first time he's directed a Super Bowl ad[[/note]] and because he found the premise to be interesting and markedly different from his usual work.
16[[/folder]]
17
18[[folder:Anime and Manga]]
19* Dub voice acting for anime tends to pay less than voice work for western animation. Many anime voice actors, like Creator/KyleHebert, still do it for the love of the craft. One of the biggest pieces of early advice newcomers get is to always love what you do, since the job is infamous for its low paygrade.
20** The dub cast of ''Anime/PantyAndStockingWithGarterbelt'' had a blast playing foul-mouthed, sex-obsessed angels and demons who regularly cause massive property damage. It's also said to be a fun writing process adapting the filthy scripts.
21** Many actors new to the scene can be positively ecstatic, as several who do so spend years in fan projects typically with a background in fandubbing or covering anime songs, so for many, it's a dream come true. Creator/JulietSimmons was so overcome with joy when she got the lead role as Chiyo Sakura in ''Manga/MonthlyGirlsNozakiKun'' she would write in all caps for several days after and couldn't wait to watch the series to see how it turned out.
22* The ''Anime/PrettyCure'' franchise:
23** Creator/NanaMizuki, a well-known voice actress and singer, was a big fan of ''Pretty Cure''. To say that she was happy when she won the role of [[Anime/HeartcatchPrettyCure Tsubomi Hanasaki]] would be an understatement. She even expressed joy at voicing her once more when she was called back for a few brief lines in ''Anime/PrettyCureAllStars New Stage''.
24** Creator/HitomiNabatame, another popular voice actress, had been there during the auditioning of ''Anime/FutariWaPrettyCure''. Another fan of the series, she literally burst into tears when she got the role of [[Anime/DokiDokiPreCure Mana Aida]] and even got congratulatory calls from Creator/MisatoFukuen ([[Anime/SmilePrecure Miyuki Hoshizora]]) and Creator/AmiKoshimizu and Creator/FumikoOrikasa ([[Anime/SuitePrettyCure Hibiki Hojo and Kanade Minamino]]).
25* Creator/MonicaRial's reasoning for playing Saki on ''Manga/SteelAngelKurumi''? "I wanted to play the lesbian!"
26* Creator/JasonGriffith originally auditioned for the role of Chris Thorndyke in ''Anime/SonicX'' because he wanted to know what it was like to be Sonic's best human friend. [[PromotedFanboy He wound up getting the role of Sonic, instead]].
27* When Hayao Miyazaki's localization team first approached Creator/ChristianBale about taking a role in the dub of ''Anime/HowlsMovingCastle'', Bale didn't even let them ''finish asking him'' before he agreed--and he didn't know what role he'd be playing, either. As soon as he heard the word "Miyazaki," he was on board. That he got to play the title character was just an added bonus.
28* While preparing for the role of Piccolo in ''Film/DragonballEvolution'', Creator/JamesMarsters had become a fan of ''Franchise/DragonBall'' himself. So much so that, years later, he would again become involved in the series, voicing breakout villain Zamasu in ''Anime/DragonBallSuper'' under an alias (as he had to work a non-union job below his pay grade to take the role). His enthusiasm for the role is evident, as his performance is arguably the best in the history of the ''Dragon Ball'' franchise's English dubs.
29* ''Anime/ScottPilgrimTakesOff'': The cast of the Film/ScottPilgrimVsTheWorld had such a great time together that when approached to reprise their roles as voice actors more than a decade later for a film that bombed at the box office, everyone immediately agreed despite many of them becoming big names in the years since.
30* Creator/AkiraToriyama originally didn't have much involvement with ''Anime/DragonBallDaima'', but as he gave out advice and feedback to the production crew, he ended up enjoying it so much that he officially took over art and story direction. Many subsequent interviews about ''DAIMA'' showed that Toriyama was nothing but enthusiastic and passionate about the new series, up until his tragic passing on March 2024.
31[[/folder]]
32
33[[folder:Film -- Animation]]
34* Creator/VincentPrice took the role of Professor Ratigan in ''WesternAnimation/TheGreatMouseDetective'' because he'd always wanted to voice a villain in a Creator/{{Disney}} movie.
35* Creator/TomHanks signed up for ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory1'' when Creator/{{Pixar}} showed him a rough skit featuring a wireframe Woody. He said he knew the film was going to be unlike any other and signed on when they pitched him.
36* Taye Diggs said that being in an animated movie was "on [his] bucket list," which is why he took the role of TheArtfulDodger Capper from ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyTheMovie2017''.
37* Creator/EdwardJamesOlmos called his single scene in the film ''WesternAnimation/{{Coco}}'' "a career highlight" and accepted almost instantaneously when Creator/{{Pixar}} offered it.
38* This is why Creator/JamesWoods agreed to play Hades in ''WesternAnimation/{{Hercules}}'' and all of its various spinoffs. He's gone on record as it being the one role he would agree to play again anytime, anywhere, for any amount of money (and he has, to this day, played that character every time he has appeared, with only one exception due to a focus on singing: ''[[WesternAnimation/HouseOfMouse House of Villains]]'', where instead Hades was voiced by Creator/RobPaulsen.)
39* Part of the reason why Creator/DwayneJohnson agreed to the role of Maui in ''WesternAnimation/{{Moana}}'' was the thrill of seeing his Polynesian ancestry get so beautifully depicted in a major motion picture, and he admitted to crying TearsOfJoy over it many, many times during production.
40* A double dose of this led to Creator/KristenBell having a cameo in ''WesternAnimation/{{Zootopia}}''. Not only has Kristen been a [[PromotedFanboy life-long fan of Disney]], she absolutely ''adores'' sloths. When the filmmakers were discussing who would voice the two words spoken by a sloth character, someone remembered Kristen's CutenessProximity reaction to one from an appearance on the ''[[Creator/EllenDeGeneres The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]''. According to the casting director, Kristen responded in less than three minutes after they sent her a note about the role, "the quickest deal ever made in Hollywood."
41* Rosie O'Donnell had always wanted to voice a character in a Disney animated movie. She got her wish when she was cast as Terk the gorilla in ''WesternAnimation/{{Tarzan}}''.
42* Creator/ZacharyLevi was thrilled to voice Flynn Rider in ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'', partly because he got to star in a Disney animated film, and partly because of the chance to reprise his role in the ''Franchise/KingdomHearts'' series. Nine years later, he would get his wish in ''VideoGame/KingdomHeartsIII''.
43* ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory2'': The reason Creator/JonathanHarris was cast as the cleaner who fixes Woody, after he previously played Manny in ''WesternAnimation/ABugsLife''. As explained by Andrew Stanton in the DVDCommentary, "He wanted to work with us again, and we wanted to work with him again!"
44[[/folder]]
45
46[[folder:Film -- Live-Action]]
47* According to Creator/KevinSmith, Creator/BenAffleck absolutely loved being in his movies. Kevin was fully aware of this and has joked over the fact that he would make Ben work for scale. It should be noted that this was before ''Film/{{Gigli}}'' when Ben could easily get an eight-figure check in any other role. He agreed to appear in ''Film/JayAndSilentBobReboot'' despite not having spoken to Smith in years and rekindled their friendship. Smith also reminisced that Creator/StanLee was always itching to work with him. This was because unlike his [[TheCameo/StanLee usual cameos which were often just him showing up as a joke at the time]], Lee was always delighted that Smith gave him the chance to actually perform and read lines, having wanted to be an actor when he was younger.
48* Almost every actor who has worked on a Creator/WoodyAllen film has done so despite low pay, Allen's unusual working methods (never showing the actors a complete script, never talking to them unless they screw up), and the low box-office receipts his films usually get, just because they want to work with Allen.
49* Same can be said about Creator/DavidLynch to the point that interviews with his actors talk of him as some form of pure and mystical benevolent cult leader and never complain about the comparatively low pay, the polarizing nature of his movies, the probable [[TypeCast type casting]], or his methods similar to [[Creator/WoodyAllen Allen's]] of never showing the full script, this all because he's "not a dick".
50* ''Franchise/{{Batman}}:''
51** Much of ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy'' is composed of people who grew up with the Batman mythos. They simply happen to be award-winning actors and actresses as well.
52** Creator/ChristianBale said something to the effect of no matter how hard he worked out or how miserably uncomfortable the Batsuit was, it was all worth it because he got to be [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy Batman]].
53** Related to the above, Creator/GaryOldman, Creator/TomHardy, and Creator/JosephGordonLevitt have all mentioned in interviews that they were speechless after first seeing Christian Bale in the Batsuit.
54** Creator/CillianMurphy's reason for joining Nolan's ''Film/BatmanBegins'': "Just to be near the Batmobile".
55** Creator/TomHardy apparently didn't even know what ''character'' he would play, only that he was asked to play a bad guy in one of Nolan's ''Batman'' movies and get to play with a lot of guns and explosions. The phrase "giddy as a school girl" may or may not have been used before it came out he was going to be Bane.
56** Even United States Senators aren't immune to this trope. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) is a lifelong Batman fan, and has cameoed in ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' (as the party guest who tells Joker he's not intimidated by thugs like him), ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'', ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'', and even ''Film/BatmanAndRobin''. In ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'', where he also appears, a Michigan senator even asked Leahy to get her a cameo (after all, the movie was being shot in Detroit).
57** Before Creator/ChristopherNolan's [[Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy trilogy]], this was Creator/JackNicholson's reason for playing ComicBook/TheJoker in Creator/TimBurton's ''Film/Batman1989'', although the record-setting payday[[note]]In addition to his upfront fee he got a cut of the grosses ''and'' the merchandising revenues - totaling an estimated $60 million ''in 1989 dollars''; still probably the all-time record after adjusting for inflation[[/note]] certainly sweetened the pot.
58* Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse:
59** Creator/EzraMiller was vocal from the start about how excited they were to play Barry Allen/The Flash.
60** ''Film/ZackSnydersJusticeLeague'':
61*** In Zoom meetings on [=YouTube=] fan channels, Creator/RayPorter has expressed no shortage of enthusiasm about taking on the role of Darkseid, be it the fact that he loves what he learned about the character, working with Snyder, the prospect of having action figures themed after a character that he played or that he came after some big names like Creator/MichaelIronside.
62*** Creator/JaredLeto parted ways with Creator/DCFilms due to the extensive ExecutiveMeddling that considerably reduced the screentime of his character, [[Characters/BatmanTheJoker the Joker]], in ''Film/{{Suicide Squad|2016}}''. He was then replaced by a FakeShemp in ''Film/{{Birds of Prey|2020}}''. However, he later accepted to appear as the Joker once more in ''Zack Snyder's Justice League'' at Snyder's own request. Interviews show that he did so because he loved the idea of working with Snyder (calling him "a warrior", "a madman" in endearing terms), also knowing that the director's creative freedom would be respected this time around, unlike what happened to Creator/DavidAyer.
63*** Creator/JoeManganiello was in a similar position as Leto above, having admitted to growing disillusioned about playing Deathstroke after multiple projects he'd been tapped to reprise the role in were either cancelled or put in DevelopmentHell. And much like Leto, he got enthusiastic again when Snyder called him up to shoot new scenes.
64* Actors like Creator/JohnMalkovich, Creator/FrancesMcDormand, and Creator/JohnTurturro have worked with Creator/MichaelBay, despite his reputation for LowestCommonDenominator action movies, due to his image as a guy who's always having fun on his film sets and knows how to fill them with energy. [[SubvertedTrope On the other hand]], his reputation as a tough general on set has caused many other actors (including Creator/BruceWillis and Creator/KateBeckinsale) to swear off ever working with him again.
65* Music/TheBeatles:
66** The band claimed years later that part of the reason they wanted to make the Film/JamesBond parody ''Film/{{Help}}'' [[VacationDearBoy was to shoot in exotic locales (the Swiss Alps, the Bahamas, etc.) and take a paid vacation from Beatlemania.]] [[RefugeInAudacity It probably didn't hurt]] that they allegedly took many opportunities to [[SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll smoke pot]] offscreen between takes.
67** Music/GeorgeHarrison didn't just cameo in ''Film/MontyPythonsLifeOfBrian'' -- he provided the finances to complete it when the Pythons' original backers bailed. He did this by mortgaging his BigFancyHouse; if the movie didn't turn a profit, he'd have to give it up. Both he and they like to joke that it was "the most expensive movie ticket in history". He was ''that'' big a fan.
68* Creator/HalleBerry originally said that she did ''Film/Catwoman2004'' because she wanted the awesome experience of playing a woman beholden to no one. However, in an illustration that Hollywood acknowledges the power of this trope, it turned out that [[SubvertedTrope she was only saying this for publicity's sake]]; she later gave an interview saying that she mainly did it because [[ContractualObligationProject she was under contract]] (thus beholden to people).
69* Creator/PaulBettany did ''Film/{{Legion}}'' because he got to play with guns and got to be the ''good'' guy in an action film for once.
70* Creator/CateBlanchett largely took the role of Galadriel in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'' because she wanted to wear the elf ears.
71* Music/DavidBowie appeared in ''Film/{{Yellowbeard}}'' pretty much because he just wanted to work with the Pythons.
72* Creator/NicolasCage was a PromotedFanboy for his role as Film/{{Ghost Rider|Duology}}. Basically, anytime you ask Cage to play a superhero, he's there. [[JustForFun/OneOfUs He named his kid]] ''[[ComicBook/{{Superman}} Kal]]-[[WhoNamesTheirKidDude El]]!'' Not to mention naming ''himself'' after ComicBook/LukeCage. He also plays a superhero in ''Film/KickAss''.
73** To elaborate on how much of a Ghost Rider fan Cage is, the production crew had to cover up one of his tattoos because it would have been unusual for his character to sport a tattoo of himself.
74** This is also the reason he did ''Film/SeasonOfTheWitch''. He always wanted to play a knight.
75** Nicolas Cage almost never takes supporting roles but made an exception for ''Film/{{Renfield}}'' because he got to play Dracula.
76** There's a degree of this to ''every'' role Nic Cage takes, which is part of what makes him so awesome - he's ''always'' DoingItForTheArt.
77** Though after his bankruptcy, MoneyDearBoy has also been a driving factor.
78* When it was announced that a ''[[Film/FantasticFour2005 Fantastic Four]]'' film was in the works, Creator/MichaelChiklis, a huge fan of the comics, was the first man in line to audition. He even learned to talk through the heavy prosthetics and fake teeth even though the director said that he could ADR his lines because he felt that being able to perform his part live would better convey the character's pain. His anecdote was that, when casting was announced, he walked up to Creator/StanLee and introduced himself as Ben Grimm.
79* Creator/PeterCullen was invited to voice the ''Film/{{Predator}}'', and was reluctant, since he injured his throat voicing Kong in ''Film/KingKong1976''. Then he saw the unmasked creature and accepted.
80* In interviews, Creator/JamieLeeCurtis has stated that she took her role in ''Film/EverythingEverywhereAllAtOnce'' because she wanted to work with Creator/MichelleYeoh. When her agent first mentioned the role, she said, "I'll do it," even when her agent warned that the film concept was "out there".
81** She has said similar things about working with Creator/MichaelShannon in ''Film/KnivesOut'':
82--->''"Michael Shannon? I would have done the movie if it had just said, 'Knives Out: Michael Shannon'. I would have done the movie just to literally stand in a room with Michael Shannon."''
83* Creator/MattDamon, on why he took the role in ''Film/SavingPrivateRyan'':
84-->"It was offered to me. When [[Creator/StevenSpielberg Spielberg]] says jump, bitches say how high?"
85** On ''Film/BehindTheCandelabra'':
86--->"My agent used quite a bit more words, but the only thing I remember hearing was 'Do you want front row seats for Creator/MichaelDouglas doing Music/{{Liberace}} and being paid for it?' and the answer had to be YES."
87* Creator/ViolaDavis has said this was her reason for agreeing to play Amanda Waller in ''Film/SuicideSquad2016''. She was a fan of Franchise/WonderWoman as a child, and thus thought it'd be cool to play a Creator/DCComics superhero (well, AntiHero).
88* Much like Damon, Creator/DaneDeHaan took a tiny role in ''Film/{{Lincoln}}'' because "when you get the phone call of 'do you want to spend a night with Creator/DanielDayLewis and Creator/StevenSpielberg?', the answer is yes."
89* Creator/VinDiesel took a voluntary pay cut to jump-start the production of ''Film/{{Riddick}}'' with an R rating and to avoid ExecutiveMeddling.
90* During interviews, many of the actors of the movie ''Film/AllAboutEve'' were impressed with the script and knew that acting in the film would be a great opportunity for them.
91* Creator/JohnnyDepp said he did ''Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl'' because he, like every little boy, has always wanted to be a pirate and this would let him. And then he proceeded to totally [[SpotlightStealingSquad steal the movie]] from its intended leading pair of Will and Elizabeth, mainly because he just thought that it would be fun to channel Music/KeithRichards. [[HilariousInHindsight Made funnier]] by the fact that they did, indeed, eventually get Keith Richards to play his dad.
92* Creator/StephenFry in ''Film/VForVendetta'', said of his opportunity to be cast: "I hadn't been beaten up in a movie before and I was very excited by the idea of being clubbed to death." He also was quite fond of the movie; it helps that it's generally considered to actually be a good one.
93* Apparently, this is why half of the cast of ''Film/GIJoeTheRiseOfCobra'' signed up in the first place. According to the producers, once they started casting they had so many applicants that actors actually started ''fighting each other'' to try and get in on the movie.
94** Creator/JosephGordonLevitt signed on when he saw concept art for the costume that he'd be wearing. Needless to say, [[HamAndCheese he had a blast]]. Creator/ChristopherEccleston also signed on so he could play a supervillain. However, neither actor liked the final cut of the movie and both refused to return for the sequel.
95** This was ''almost'' inverted by Creator/ChanningTatum, who was skeptical of signing on to the film because he thought it would be a pro-war, gung-ho propaganda piece. Then he read the script and [[DoNotDoThisCoolThing realized that it was none of that,]] and this trope was played straight. Many years later he confessed that he was forced to do the film due to a contract he signed with Paramount and he'd have been sued if he tried to back out.
96* Most of the AllStarCast of the film adaptation of ''Film/GlengarryGlenRoss'' agreed to be paid less than their usual asking prices because the script was so good. Enthusiasm was so high during production that cast members would come down to the set on their days off simply to watch the other performances.
97* A behind-the-scenes example: Gareth Edwards stated in an interview that when he went looking for special effects artists, casts and crew for a film he was doing, reception was cool... until he revealed that the film in question was ''Film/{{Godzilla 2014}}'', at which point the formerly cautious recruits jumped in eagerly.
98* Regarding the ''Film/XMenFilmSeries'', Creator/KelseyGrammer loved playing Beast so much [[Film/XMenTheLastStand the first time]] that when Creator/PatrickStewart and Creator/IanMcKellen let him know the band was being put back together for ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'', he immediately called Creator/BryanSinger to get him in the movie, somewhere, and was flown in on Singer's private jet in secret for a last-second cameo.
99* ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' was full of it: actors who wanted to play superheroes (Caleb Landry Jones even said there would hardly be another freckled redhead like Banshee for him to play), Creator/JamesMcAvoy being a fan of ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'', and the prospect of working with Creator/MatthewVaughn and an AllStarCast.
100* Music/DaveGrohl was willing to go through extensive makeup and prosthetics to play Satan in ''Film/TenaciousDInThePickOfDestiny'' because he grew up listening to death metal, so getting to appear in a movie looking like he belonged on the cover of a death metal album was worth it.
101* The ''Film/HarryPotter'' films:
102** Creator/JasonIsaacs[='s=] primary reason for doing the films seems to be getting to play a hammy evil wizard. He even convinced the filmmakers to throw out their original banal design for Lucius Malfoy so that he could have such things as a badass long, blond wig, black cloak to swirl dramatically, and a [[SwordCane snake-headed cane which conceals his wand]]. [[http://www.reddit.com/r/IAmA/comments/2y2zn2/we_are_actor_jason_isaacs_and_show_cocreator/cp5qt4u Which he tried (and failed) to steal]].
103** Creator/BillNighy likewise signed on as Rufus Scrimgeour (despite the role amounting to only about ten minutes of screen time) because he didn't want to be the only actor in Britain who hadn't been in a ''Harry Potter'' movie.
104** Creator/RalphFiennes on taking the role of Lord Voldemort:
105--->"One of the things that made me want to do the role was Creator/MikeNewell showing me these drawings, artwork about the suggested looks of Voldemort. I got a real buzz off it and that's pretty much when I thought this would be cool to do."
106** [[Music/{{Pulp}} Jarvis Cocker]], who headed the FakeBand in the fourth movie, accepted the part because "[[http://www.uncut.co.uk/features/jarvis-cocker-on-pulp-harry-potter-and-life-in-paris-72785/4 What other chance would I get to be in a Hollywood blockbuster?]]".
107** When asked what some of their biggest regrets were, both Creator/IanMcKellen and Creator/PatrickStewart said that not being in the ''Harry Potter'' movies was pretty high up there. [=McKellen=], however, did get a tiny cameo in the form of a Gandalf portrait appearing in Dumbledore's office in ''Chamber of Secrets''.
108** Creator/EvannaLynch was famous for being a ''Potter'' superfan even [[http://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/evanna-let-out-of-hospital-to-get-potter-book-27111256.html before]] she was cast as Luna Lovegood. When she showed up to the audition, she wore an outfit just as kooky as Luna's, including a pair of earrings that she made herself -- which she was allowed to wear in the film itself.
109** It eventually came out in interviews that Creator/EddieRedmayne once tried to get into the Harry Potter films (either as a Weasley sibling or the young Tom Riddle/Voldemort) because he found the idea of "an entire family of ginger people" great. While he never got in the main films, he eventually managed to land the lead role of Newt Scamander in the spin-off ''Film/FantasticBeastsAndWhereToFindThem'' (and he's giddy as hell whenever he talks about it).
110* When auditions began for ''Film/TheHebrewHammer'' ([[BlaxploitationParody a Jewish twist on Blaxploitation]] taken to extremes), Adam Goldberg, who played the titular hero, was given the script and wound up opening to a page with the epic line "Shabbat Shalom, motherfuckers!". He immediately agreed to do the film.
111* Several actors turned down the lead role in ''Film/TheFly1986'' because they were put off by the prospect of having to perform through layers upon layers of hideous prosthetic makeup (ultimately reaching PeopleInRubberSuits levels) in the story's second half. Creator/JeffGoldblum by comparison adored the screenplay, was eager to take on the acting challenge, was a big fan of Creator/DavidCronenberg's previous film ''Film/TheDeadZone'', AND wanted to play a romantic lead in a movie. The result was his StarMakingRole.
112* Creator/JonahHill agreed to be paid only $60,000 (the lowest possible SAG-AFTRA rate) for ''Film/TheWolfOfWallStreet''; he simply wanted the opportunity to work with Creator/MartinScorsese.
113* Creator/AnthonyHopkins said that the only reason he took a role in ''Film/{{Freejack}}'' was because he had always wanted to meet Music/MickJagger.
114** ''Both'' of them [[HamAndCheese hammed in the ordeal like the world was ending]]. Perhaps the opposite was also true? The producers told Hopkins that Mick Jagger was involved so he'd sign on, and at the same time told Jagger that Anthony Hopkins was involved so '''he'd''' sign on.
115** Hopkins took the role of Don Diego, the retired Zorro, in ''Film/TheMaskOfZorro'' because he wanted to do an action movie.
116** Hopkins has a reputation for inverting a standard formula: most actors would take roles in over-the-top blockbusters so they can get recognized and afford to do their pet projects in serious, lower-profile films. Hopkins does the serious stuff so that he has credibility as a serious actor before running off to have fun in something like ''Film/{{Thor}}''. His alleged favorite role he's ever played was in ''Film/TheWorldsFastestIndian'' for how cool he found it.
117* Creator/BobHoskins has said one of his motivations behind starring in ''Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit'' was that he'd get to be onscreen with WesternAnimation/BugsBunny.
118* Creator/JackHuston basically outright stated that he did ''Film/{{Outlander}}'' -- the movie about Beowulf-meets-alien-monsters -- basically for this reason: because playing a Viking is "every boy's dream."
119* ''Film/IntoTheWoods'':
120** Both Creator/ChrisPine and Creator/JamesCorden have admitted that the entire reason they pursued parts in the film (as Cinderella's Prince and the Baker, respectively) is because they heard that Creator/MerylStreep was playing The Witch From Next Door.
121** Streep herself had consistently refused to portray witches in film for a long time but made an exception for this film because she wanted to be in a Music/StephenSondheim musical.
122* Creator/KatharineIsabelle was so keen to do ''Film/AmericanMary'' that she went to her father to "make sure I wasn't crazy for loving this".
123* ''Film/TheIslandOfDrMoreau1996'' attracted Creator/RonPerlman, Creator/ValKilmer, and Creator/DavidThewlis based on the opportunity to work with Creator/MarlonBrando. Thewlis also thought the trip to Australia and [[MoneyDearBoy the paycheck]] would make it a worthy experience. Unfortunately, it [[TroubledProduction went disastrously for all involved]], as Brando and Kilmer's [[ThePrimaDonna clashing egos]] led Creator/RichardStanley to drop out and Thewlis to disown the film. Thewlis recounts the experience [[https://web.archive.org/web/20130827072734/http://davidthewlis.net/index/press/1997-2/total-film-1997/ here]].
124* Speaking at the 2006 AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony, Creator/EddieIzzard said that she took a role in ''Film/TheAvengers1998'' in order to meet Creator/SeanConnery.
125* Creator/SamuelLJackson:
126** He was in ''Film/SnakesOnAPlane'' just so he could act in a film called "[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin Snakes on a Plane]]". He also said it was the type of film he loved when he was a kid, and argued for the producers to keep the name when they were considering changing it to something less cheesy.
127** Jackson barely thought once he was offered ''Film/KongSkullIsland'' - "When they said 'Film/KingKong, we want you', I was like 'Awesome!'" - and co-star Creator/TomHiddleston liked the prospect of an adventure movie "like the ones that we grew up loving as a child".
128** Also why he got on ''Franchise/StarWars''. He was willing to even be nothing more than a Storm Trooper just so he could brag about having been in the movie. Fortunately, he was given a much bigger role.
129* This is why the 78-year-old Melissa Jaffer (who provides the page quote) took the role of an elderly warrior woman in ''Film/MadMaxFuryRoad'': when else is she going to get a role that epic at her age? Even better, she and the other elderly women did all of their own stuntwork.
130* Anyone doing a Film/JamesBond film has this as justification (due to either being part of the series or winning a free trip).
131** Creator/DanielCraig said that, had he turned down the role of Bond, he'd [[NeverLiveItDown forever be branded a "fucking idiot"]] by his mates at the pub.
132** In a non-acting example, when Music/{{Garbage}} were offered the chance to do the theme for ''Film/TheWorldIsNotEnough'', Shirley Manson reportedly squeed for a good minute straight.
133** Amusingly inverted by Music/DavidBowie, who chose not to play Max Zorin in ''Film/AViewToAKill'' because, besides hating the script, "I didn't want to spend five months watching my stunt double fall off cliffs." Creator/ChristopherWalken ended up doing the part and had a hell of a time.
134** Samuel L. Jackson always wanted to be in a James Bond movie and took his role in the AffectionateParody ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService'' because he thought it was the closest he'd ever get. This may be why his character is a James Bond fanboy.
135* Creator/AngelinaJolie agreed to do ''Film/LaraCroftTombRaider'' because of the locations she got to visit. She fell in love with Cambodia and ended up moving there to avoid the paparazzi and help with mine cleanup. Jolie adopted her first child while making the film.
136* Creator/RaulJulia was in the SoBadItsGood ''Film/StreetFighter'' movie as a combination of this, MoneyDearBoy, and SoMyKidsCanWatch. He already knew that he was dying of cancer, so he wanted to do a well-paying film to provide for his family's financial security. Among several well-compensated roles, he chose the ''Street Fighter'' role because his sons were fans of the game series -- and then he [[SpotlightStealingSquad completely stole the movie]]. [[HamAndCheese M. Bison's scenes]] are the best parts of the film. Similarly, he took the role of Gomez Addams because he enjoyed the passionate and theatrical nature of the character, and wanted to be in a comedy after doing several serious dramas, saying the role gave him the opportunity to be "as theatrical as I want to be ... he sings, he dances, he sword fights. I've always wanted to do those swashbuckling things. It's one of the reasons I became an actor, to do those things, and I get to do them as Gomez."
137* Creator/BenKingsley said his appearance in ''Film/BloodRayne'' was partly because he'd never had a chance to play a vampire before. Since ''[=BloodRayne=]'' was an Creator/UweBoll movie, it was ''not'' generally considered a good one, but Sir Ben clearly enjoying himself is one of the film's few redeeming qualities. Indeed, a surprising number of quality actors have worked for Uwe Boll, partially because of this and partially because he is apparently a nice person to work for.
138* By his own report, when Spielberg offered Creator/ShiaLaBeouf the role of [[Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull Indiana Jones' son]], he was unable to speak properly for a solid minute.
139* To this day, Creator/FrankLangella remembers his role as Skeletor in ''Film/MastersOfTheUniverse'' as one of his favorites, and can be seen [[LargeHam having the time of his life playing it]]. When he takes time out of an interview promoting ''Film/FrostNixon'' to reflect on his time as a world-conquering skeleton monster, you know the awesome was there in spades. He also speaks fondly of his role as Dawg, the villain of ''Film/CutthroatIsland'', because he got to not only be a pirate but a scenery-chewing over-the-top bad guy pirate. Apparently, the man loves being able to just go for broke in a role.
140* ''Franchise/JurassicPark'':
141** When an interviewer asked Creator/WilliamHMacy why he accepted a role in ''Film/JurassicParkIII'', he replied: "Because I'm 50 years old and I get to fight a dinosaur."
142** [[spoiler:Zara's]] brutal and drawn-out death scene in ''Film/JurassicWorld'' was originally meant to go to an extra, but her actress found it to be [[GreatWayToGo such an awesome way to go]] that she requested that her character suffer it instead.
143* The film adaptation of ''Theatre/MammaMia'':
144** Creator/MerylStreep did ''Mamma Mia'' because she took her daughter Louisa and some of Louisa's friends to see it for her eleventh birthday -- which was in the immediate aftermath of the September 11th attacks -- and wrote a fan letter to the crew. When the time came for the movie, the girls-in-charge asked her to play Donna, and she accepted eagerly. Also, she wanted to have fun and kick up her heels for awhile.
145** Creator/PierceBrosnan, meanwhile, summed up his reason for doing the film as this: "Meryl Streep is starring." He also referred to Meryl as "that gorgeous blonde I had a terrible crush on in drama school."
146* The Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse:
147** Part of Creator/RobertDowneyJr's reason for taking the role of ''Film/IronMan1'' was being a fan of the comics as a kid. He also once watched ''Film/TheMatrix'' with his wife (who is also a Hollywood producer) and simply said, "I could do that." And thus set the plan in motion to have him headline a blockbuster action film once he proved he could be reliable and his old habits were behind him for good. He was asked once whether he'd prefer to win an Academy Award for Best Actor or to star in a blockbuster movie and said, without hesitation (paraphrased):
148--->"Blockbuster movie. Because when you win an Oscar, it's all very nice, you dress up, you get the statue, you make a speech. But when you're in a blockbuster action film, for just one moment, you are '''God."'''
149** Creator/JeffBridges, too. Not only was he a fan of the comics, he also wanted an excuse to shave his head bald.
150** When the character of ComicBook/NickFury was being reimagined for the ''ComicBook/UltimateMarvel'' line, Creator/MarkMillar and Bryan Hitch approached Creator/SamuelLJackson for likeness rights ([[BatmanGambit knowing full well]] that Jackson was [[JustForFun/OneOfUs an avid comic-book fan]]). Jackson's only conditions were that he get original prints of a few of the pages and that he'd get first crack at playing Nick Fury in a movie... which he did.
151** Creator/JeremyRenner has stated that he pursued the role of ComicBook/{{Hawkeye}} in ''Film/{{The Avengers|2012}}'' after seeing ''Film/IronMan1'' and deciding that he desperately wanted to play a superhero.
152** Polish arthouse director Jerzy Skolimowski said that he accepted the tiny acting role of Colonel General Luchkov in ''The Avengers'' (he's the guy leading the Russian thugs in Black Widow's introductory scene) because he just wanted to see how a blockbuster movie was made. (As for why he was offered the role to start with, he speculated that his role as a KGB officer in ''Film/WhiteNights'' had "put him on someone's list of Russian villains".)
153** Creator/AnthonyMackie chose to play ComicBook/TheFalcon in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' because he was a major fan of the character (he's expressed a desire to wear [[https://terrigen-cdn-dev.marvel.com/content/prod/1x/014fal-com-mnt-ca171-04.jpg the Falcon's original red costume]]), that being a superhero was too good an opportunity to pass up, and [[SoMyKidsCanWatch he felt it would show black kids that they can be superheroes too]].
154** Creator/RobertRedford claims he took a part in the same film both because a comic book film would be a new experience for him and, more importantly, [[spoiler: [[PlayingAgainstType he NEVER gets to play villains]] in his movies]].
155** Creator/GlennClose said that she [[http://www.vulture.com/2014/08/glenn-close-on-guardians-of-the-galaxy.html didn't hesitate for a moment]] when being offered ''Film/GuardiansOfTheGalaxy2014'', saying she always wanted a movie like that, and to play an authority figure similar to Nick Fury or [[Film/JamesBond M]]. She later said she needed the money for smaller personal projects but, by all accounts, she enjoyed working on the film very much. Given how many things she's done -- theater, television, and both independent and high budget films -- Mrs. Close says her career is fueled by this trope.
156--->[[http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2014/08/04/glenn-close-guardians-of-the-galaxy-movie/13580449/ "I just have to let people know that I always have been up for anything. I love to do stuff that's different. That's what I love."]]
157** After spending past MCU films voicing J.A.R.V.I.S. for the [[MoneyDearBoy money]], Creator/PaulBettany was more invested in playing ComicBook/{{the Vision}} in ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''.
158--->"I used to be in a studio for 45 minutes and do J.A.R.V.I.S. and get a huge bag of cash and go my way like a burglar, and now they want me to work for my money. Which is great and sweaty and hot, which you'll realize once they unveil everything. It's really f***ing cool. It's great to join this train which is on really clear tracks."
159** Creator/StanleyTucci took the role of Dr. Abraham Erskine in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger'' for one very simple reason: he'd get to use a German accent, and he'd never done that before.
160** Creator/TomHolland is a big ComicBook/SpiderMan fan and was absolutely ecstatic when he got the role.
161** Creator/ChadwickBoseman was diagnosed with cancer by the time he was cast as Film/{{Black Panther|2018}} in 2016 for ''Film/CaptainAmericaCivilWar'', but he was highly enthusiastic about the role, and knew that he and the character would become an icon for black audiences. If the action figure memorials made in his honour since he succumbed to the illness in 2020 were any indication, he succeeded.
162--->[[https://comicbook.com/news/black-panthers-chadwick-boseman-says-hed-rather-have-an-action-f/ "When it comes down to it, I’d rather have an action figure than a Golden Globe,"]]
163** Creator/BrieLarson has said she's very particular about which projects she chooses, and that the awesomeness of getting to play a superhero and be a role model for young girls was a major part of why she decided to play Film/{{Captain Marvel|2019}}.
164** Creator/LaurenceFishburne said he was interested in playing Bill Foster in ''Film/AntManAndTheWasp'' because he was a massive comic book fan when he was a child. He previously provided the voice of the title character in ''Film/FantasticFourRiseOfTheSilverSurfer'', and also played Perry White in ''Film/ManOfSteel'' and ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice''.
165** Creator/JoshBrolin accepted the role of Thanos simply for the opportunity to fight ''all'' the Avengers on the big screen.
166** Creator/JKSimmons eagerly agreed to return to the role of J. Jonah Jameson in ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and again in ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. The latter movie also saw Creator/WillemDafoe, Creator/AlfredMolina and Creator/JamieFoxx reprising their roles from [[Film/SpiderManTrilogy previous]] [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderManSeries iterations]] of the franchise because they wanted another chance at playing the villains.
167* Creator/MalcolmMcDowell starred in and helped produce the low-budget Christian film ''Film/SuingTheDevil'' because he wanted to play {{Satan}}, and [[HamAndCheese he had a glorious time doing so]]. He also took the role of Tolian Soran in ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' [[spoiler:precisely because he'd be playing the man who killed James T. Kirk.]]
168* Creator/SethMacFarlane has admitted that part of the reason he cast himself as the lead in ''Film/AMillionWaysToDieInTheWest'' -- a small part, but a part -- was that it afforded him a chance to make out with Creator/CharlizeTheron on-camera, and who wouldn't want a shot at that?
169* Speaking of Creator/CharlizeTheron, the reason the actress agreed to do ''Film/AMillionWaysToDieInTheWest'' is that apparently she just doesn't get offered that many comedies, and she prefers them to the dramas she's always cast in.
170** This is also the reason she agreed to appear in Creator/SethRogen's 2019 romantic Comedy ''The Longshot.''
171** Also, [[http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20151523,00.html Theron says she accepted]] ''Reindeer Games'' despite not liking the script solely to work with director John Frankenheimer (in what would turn out to be his last movie).
172* ''Film/TheMatrixResurrections'' scored a few cast members just by being part of the storied ''Franchise/TheMatrix'' franchise, with Creator/PriyankaChopra and Creator/JessicaHenwick both cheerfully admitting that they would have quite happily played a piece of furniture if it meant being in the film.
173* In a feature in Empire magazine, Creator/StephenMerchant had this to say about his appearance in the notorious ''Film/Movie43'':
174-->"I make no apologies for the film because I just did it for the fun of being in a scene with Creator/HalleBerry. [[TakeThatAudience I didn't do it for your amusement.]] So much of what I do is governed by my thinking, 'I don't want to go to my grave not having seen Halle Berry [[ItMakesSenseInContext wearing a prosthetic boob, mixing up guacamole]].' That's on my bucket list. And there it is. Ticked off."
175* Creator/HelenMirren loved working on ''Film/Red2010'' so much, thanks to the action-heavy role she had in the film, that she said "I'm there!" to any planned sequel. And she did indeed return for ''Red 2''. She later revealed that she really wanted to star in the ''Franchise/TheFastAndTheFurious'' series, purely because it looked like so much fun. And sure enough, she was later cast in ''Film/TheFateOfTheFurious''.
176* ''Film/TheMuppets2011'':
177** When it was announced that they were bringing the Muppets back to the screen, so many celebrities asked for cameos that they couldn't actually fit all of them into the movie.
178** Creator/ChrisCooper, when asked why he agreed to perform a rap song in that movie:
179--->"Are you kidding? This is a Muppet movie! I'm in a movie with the Muppets! I'd have tapdanced in my underwear if they'd asked me to."
180* Creator/EdwardNorton appeared in ''Film/TheScore'', despite not particularly liking the script, because it was likely the only chance he'd ever have to work with both Creator/MarlonBrando and Creator/RobertDeNiro. As it turned out, it was Brando's final onscreen role.
181%%* This is why Creator/JohnTravolta did ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'' in spite of its TroubledProduction and [[BoxOfficeBomb results]], which made him lose ''$10 million'' in backend profits.
182* Creator/SimonPegg, [[JustForFun/OneOfUs geek superstar]], feels this way about his [[Recap/DoctorWhoS27E7TheLongGame guest role]] in ''Series/DoctorWho'', his cameo in ''Film/LandOfTheDead'' and his starring role in ''Film/StarTrek2009''. He faced a battle of the awesome when the ''Doctor Who'' role initially offered clashed with ''Land of the Dead''. He went with Romero, because "when you've just spent three years of your life essentially writing [[Film/ShaunOfTheDead a love letter]] to someone, you ''have'' to come when they call you." And then came ''Franchise/StarWars: Film/TheForceAwakens'', [[http://www.empireonline.com/movies/features/long-time-ago-just-now-simon-pegg-star-wars/ which Pegg had to write a whole article about]], and endured [[DyeingForYourArt the hot costume worn for a minor alien role]] just by thinking he was acting in ''Star Wars''.
183* Creator/RonPerlman lobbied for the lead role in ''Film/Hellboy2004'' because he wouldn't get to play the romantic lead in a ''Series/{{Beauty and the Beast|1987}}'' story again. Plus he would get to kiss a woman half his age. He also appreciated the movie (and director Creator/GuillermoDelToro, with whom he had worked in ''Film/{{Cronos}}'' and ''Film/BladeII'') as well.
184* Creator/MillaJovovich, according to her Instagram, wanted to work on ''Film/Hellboy2019'' due to being a fan of both ''Series/StrangerThings'' and ''Series/{{Deadwood}}'', both of which had Creator/DavidHarbour and Creator/IanMcShane, respectively.
185* Creator/PatriciaQuinn accepted the role of Magenta in ''Film/TheRockyHorrorPictureShow'' because she fell in love with the song "Science Fiction". Her agent pointed out that she hadn't even seen the script and she may have a total of five lines. Patricia said she didn't care and wanted to sing that song no matter what. When she got the script, Magenta had... five lines. Patricia Quinn had previously appeared in the stage version, so she knew exactly what she was getting into with the movie. Except that in the movie Creator/RichardOBrien sang "Science Fiction/Double Feature", which had been her song on stage.
186* Creator/BasilRathbone, on playing Literature/SherlockHolmes in 1939's ''Film/TheHoundOfTheBaskervilles'':
187-->"Ever since I was a boy and first got acquainted with the great detective I wanted to be like him ... To play such a character means as much to me as ten 'Theatre/{{Hamlet}}s'!"
188* Creator/RyanReynolds would ''not stop'' auditioning for superhero movies and talking himself up as the perfect casting choice for any superhero you could shake a stick at. He clearly wanted to be a superhero so very badly and got to be "[[Film/XMenOriginsWolverine Deadpool]]", Film/{{Deadpool|2016}}, and [[Film/GreenLantern2011 Hal Jordan]] for his persistence.
189* ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'':
190** ''Film/{{Aliens}}'': Creator/SigourneyWeaver had turned down offers to do sequels to ''Alien'' for years, afraid of {{Sequelitis}}. However, once she saw the script - particularly the motherly bond between Ripley and Newt - she signed on immediately.
191** ''Film/AlienResurrection'':
192*** Creator/WinonaRyder has said that she took the role in this before even reading the script, because she had always wanted to be in an ''Alien'' movie and could brag about it to her brothers. She joked that she'd still do it even if she was killed off in the first scene. She also jumped at the chance to appear alongside her idol Creator/SigourneyWeaver.
193*** Creator/SigourneyWeaver was reluctant to do a fourth movie, after the rather final ending of the third. However, when she read the script, the scene where Ripley sees the seven failed attempts at cloning her was enough to make her sign on. But she also gave other reasons:
194----> "They basically drove a dump truck full of [[MoneyDearBoy money to my house]]."
195* Creator/AdamSandler has [[http://www.avclub.com/article/adam-sandler-confirms-his-movies-are-just-paid-vac-204952 stated]] that pretty much every movie he's done since ''Film/FiftyFirstDates'' is [[VacationDearBoy an excuse to go on a paid vacation with his buddies]] to some exotic locale like Hawaii, South Africa, or Cape Cod. Many actors who've worked with him have also cited this as their reason for doing so: to chillax for a few months in a nice resort with one of the nicest guys in Hollywood.
196* Creator/MNightShyamalan wanted to direct the ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' [[Film/TheLastAirbender movie]] because he was a fan ([[SoMyKidsCanWatch his kids got him into the show]]).
197* Some of the cast of ''Film/SinCity'' signed on after seeing the test footage which would eventually become the opening scene. In the making-of, it's noted that a lot of them had wanted to play FilmNoir characters for a long time, such as Creator/BruceWillis. Also, many cast members signed on due to other actors being in talks. Considering the [[AllStarCast large cast of famous faces]], this seems reasonable.
198* Creator/JudeLaw, Creator/AngelinaJolie, and Creator/GwynethPaltrow all signed on for ''Film/SkyCaptainAndTheWorldOfTomorrow'' immediately after watching Kerry Conran's six-minute film, which he produced on a home computer. They were all impressed with his vision and wanted to see the film to its completion. (Also, it allowed Jolie to wear an eyepatch and a bubble-helmet, two things she'd always wanted.)
199* ''Everyone'' involved in ''Film/SpeedRacer'' got involved because of this, and it shows. Every single frame of the film is slathered in overwhelming joy and love for the silly '60s anime series.
200* ''Franchise/SpiderMan'':
201** Creator/AndrewGarfield has said he wanted to play ''ComicBook/SpiderMan'' in the [[Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan reboot film]] because he apparently was a lot like Peter Parker as a kid, and because, well, he ''really'' wanted to play Spider-Man. He was in tears upon finding out he got the role.
202** Creator/TobeyMaguire in the Film/SpiderManTrilogy had a similar experience. Despite his reputation as a [[PrettyBoy scrawny Hollywood pretty-boy]], he pursued the role of Spider-Man aggressively, and made a point of [[DyeingForYourArt bulking up and taking stunt training]] just to audition for the role.
203** Creator/PaulGiamatti was a fan of comic books as a child and wanted to play a villain since before he got into acting. He got his chance to become a PromotedFanboy when he was cast as the Rhino (one of his favorite childhood bad guys) in ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2''.
204** Creator/TomHolland was already a big Spider-Man fan before he was chosen to portray the character in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse.
205* Much like the TV show, the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' movies have also seen actors sign on simply because of the title.
206** Creator/KimCattrall took the part of Lieutenant Valeris in ''Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry'' because "How many times would I be given a chance to play a Vulcan?"
207** Creator/MalcolmMcDowell actually ''hated'' the script of ''Film/StarTrekGenerations'' until the producers said eight little words: "How would you like to [[spoiler:[[DroppedABridgeOnHim kill Captain Kirk]]]]?"
208** Creator/JohnCho has stated that he strongly wanted the role of Sulu in ''Film/StarTrek2009'' because it had meant a lot for him as a kid to see a rare non-stereotypical Asian face on television. In one interview he was asked if this was one of those times where he had aggressively pursued a role, and Cho emphatically responded: "It was the ''only'' time."
209** Averted with Stephen Collins, who played Decker in ''Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture''. Collins says he was practically the only guy at the audition who viewed it as just another part and was not interested in being part of ''Star Trek''. However, he was excited about working with Creator/RobertWise.
210* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
211** Most of the cast of ''Film/ThePhantomMenace.'' Reportedly, after a lightsaber scene, Creator/EwanMcGregor could be overheard muttering, "'Do I want to be in ''Franchise/StarWars?''' Fuck yeah!"
212** In some documentary footage, Liam Neeson was talking about the first day of lightsaber training. And how both he and Ewan were making lightsaber noises while swinging the practice sabers.
213** Likewise, there's a story that Creator/LauraDern couldn't help making "Pew! Pew!" noises when she fired her blaster.
214** From the original trilogy, Creator/MarkHamill took interest in playing Luke Skywalker because he thought the project sounded amazing. Bear in mind that this was long before any visual effects were released for the film, [[AndYouThoughtItWouldFail and during a time when interest in making the film was pretty low]].
215** A [[{{Mook}} random Stormtrooper]] extra summed up his experience filming ''Film/TheForceAwakens'':
216--->"I can die now."
217** Due to the nature of Stormtrooper armor, it's easy for someone who wants to be in a Star Wars movie to have a part in a ''Star Wars'' movie. Creator/DanielCraig got to be the trooper Rey uses the Mind Trick on in ''Film/TheForceAwakens'', and among the Stormtroopers in ''Film/TheLastJedi'' are assorted actors, musicians, and Princes William and Harry.
218** Sir Creator/AlecGuinness had stated in several interviews that when offered the script for ''A New Hope'' he almost passed on it since he didn't think science-fiction was for him, but changed his mind after being told it was being done by George Lucas, who had impressed Guinness as an up-and-coming filmmaker. After reading the script, while he admitted that he felt the dialogue needed a lot of work, he was so drawn into the story that he couldn't put the script down, and this convinced him to join the cast.
219** Among the older and more experienced actors, Creator/PeterCushing enjoyed his role as Grand Moff Tarkin so much he regretted the fact that Tarkin dies in his debut, making Cushing unable to appear in the sequels. This ironically serves as stark contrast to Alec Guinness, whose character is a hero but never liked the film , while Cushing, whose character is a villain (and the BigBad, no less), actually liked it.
220** While resurrecting [[BigBad Emperor Palpatine]] in ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' proved a divisive choice among viewers, there was one person that was certainly on board with it: Ian [=McDiarmid=], the man who plays him, who says that he had to "contain himself" from devolving into giddy excitement when approached with the offer to reprise the role [[HamAndCheese he so loves getting to play.]]
221* Creator/MerylStreep in addition to ''Film/MammaMia'' and ''Film/IntoTheWoods'' (mentioned above) has even more:
222** ''Film/SheDevil'' came about because she was getting sick of OscarBait dramas and longed to do a comedy. It was her first out and out comedy.
223** ''Film/DeathBecomesHer'' was in her words "too original to pass up".
224** She signed on to do ''Rendition'' immediately because she was rarely offered scripts for political thrillers.
225* The live-action Film/TransformersFilmSeries:
226** This is why Creator/PeterCullen auditioned to reprise his role as Optimus Prime, although at first, he didn't realize how awesome this was. His kids had to convince him that Optimus is kind of a big deal.
227** This is also why Creator/MichaelBay agreed to do all the films. With ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'', he said a movie with Dinobots was worth it given "[[RuleOfCool dinosaurs are cool]]".
228** Creator/SophiaMyles took a role in ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction'' because she watched the ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' cartoons as a child and wanted to work with Creator/StanleyTucci.
229* Regardless of how the final product turned out, most of the actors involved in ''Film/VanHelsing'' jumped at the chance to be in an homage to the [[Franchise/UniversalHorror classic Universal monster movies]]. Shuler Hensley related a story where a friend asked him if it bothered him that no one would recognize him under his makeup. His response, "I'm playing ''Frankenstein's Monster!''" The director was even reluctant to ask Creator/KateBeckinsale if she wanted to do the film, as she had just done ''Film/Underworld2003''. But when he was persuaded to send her agent the script, she immediately signed on. Likewise, the three actresses playing the brides signed on because they wanted to fly - even Silvia Collocca who is terrified of heights.
230* This is part of the reason why Creator/PaulVerhoeven did ''Film/RoboCop1987''. He initially rejected the opportunity to direct the film when he read the script and thought it was silly and stupid. He changed his mind when his wife convinced him that there were more layers to the story than he initially thought (such as the [[MessianicArchetype Jesus parallels]]), and because the writers pointed out the amount of {{Gorn}} there was, to which he responded "Well, I've never seen the hero [[{{Fingore}} get his hand blown off]]!"
231* While not because he thought it was cool, Creator/MarkWahlberg stated he accepted his role in ''Film/TheHappening'' because it gave him the opportunity to play something other than a cop or a crook.
232* Creator/HugoWeaving was once quoted as wanting to play [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Elrond]] and [[Film/TheMatrix Agent Smith]] so that he could get action figures of himself and make them fight each other. Averted in the case of [[Film/CaptainAmericaTheFirstAvenger Red Skull]] and [[Film/Transformers2007 Megatron]] however, claiming that Red Skull was interesting, but something he'd rather not do again; while Megatron was outright the only role he never cared about.
233** ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'' gave him the chance to prove his point, and sure enough, he passed on the opportunity to reprise the Red Skull role.
234* Creator/BenicioDelToro and Creator/RickBaker jumped at the chance to work on the remake of ''Film/{{The Wolfman|2010}}'' because both men are huge fans of [[Film/TheWolfMan1941 the original]].
235* When the producers of ''Film/{{Chicago}}'' began casting, they approached Creator/CatherineZetaJones and asked her to play the role of Roxie, the movie's star. Reportedly, Jones asked if Roxie got to sing "All That Jazz"; when told that that number was sung by Velma Kelly, she demanded the part of Velma, even though it was smaller, just so she could sing that song. Jones was so eager to be in the musical that she even cut her long brown hair in a TwentiesBobHaircut, so that critics couldn't accuse her of having a double perform her singing and dancing.
236* Creator/TaoOkamoto was originally known more for her modeling and didn't have much interest in acting. That all changed when her agent informed her that if she agreed to be in ''Film/TheWolverine'', she'd get to act opposite Creator/HughJackman. As she'd had a crush on Jackman ever since seeing him in ''Film/XMen1'' back when she was a teenager, she jumped at the opportunity.
237* ''Film/{{Divergent}}'':
238** How did Creator/ShaileneWoodley convince her friend Creator/MilesTeller to take the role of Peter? By saying he'd get to punch her in the face.
239** Creator/KateWinslet played dictator Jeannine Mathews precisely because she wanted to do something radically different from her usual stuff - also enjoying the benefits of impressing her children, who became very popular at school when word got out that their mother was Jeanine.
240* ''Film/TheCabinInTheWoods'' has The Director played by [[spoiler: Creator/SigourneyWeaver]] in a cameo. What convinced her to sign on? She wanted to be in a scene with a [[spoiler: werewolf]].
241* TNA Knockout Wrestling/GailKim starred in the low budget film ''Royal Kill'' because she had always wanted to be in an action movie.
242* Creator/SalmaHayek joked that she starred in ''Tale Of Tales'' purely because she got to play a Queen, which doesn't happen a lot when one is Mexican.
243--> "The closest I ever got was playing the queen of a drug cartel in ''Film/{{Savages}}''."
244* Creator/DanielDayLewis had been planning to take a year's hiatus from acting when he heard about the film version of ''Theatre/NineMusical''. He sent director Rob Marshall a tape of him singing, and he was immediately cast as the lead. Marshall later said he didn't offer him the part initially because he never imagined he'd say yes.
245* Creator/BurtLancaster eventually took the role of Happer in ''Film/LocalHero'' because he wanted a comedic role for once in his career. His salary was still non-negotiable, though.
246* Creator/RyanGosling and Creator/RussellCrowe accepted ''Film/TheNiceGuys'' specially to work together, in a role [[PlayingAgainstType they never expected the other to take]] (Gosling even said that by reading the script with Crowe in mind, "the movie just immediately became so funny.").
247* Creator/ColinFirth said he had always wanted to play a Bond-like spy. He got to do so, awesomely at that, in ''Film/KingsmanTheSecretService''.
248* Creator/HughGrant retired from acting to work on behind-the-scenes production and political causes; but he came out of retirement to appear in ''Film/FlorenceFosterJenkins'' in part because the opportunity to work opposite Creator/MerylStreep was just too good to pass up. This ended up working in his favor, as his acclaimed performance was the start of a CareerResurrection that would lead to him developing a new persona as a character actor and discover a genuine appreciation for acting after many years of being apathetic towards the profession.
249* When Creator/AaronEckhart received the script for ''Film/BattleLosAngeles'', he wasn't very pleased with it only to become extremely excited when the director explained to him that the goal was to not make a standard sci-fi movie but rather a war movie where the enemy just happened to be aliens, going so far as to show him footage of U.S. soldiers in Fallujah and saying "this is what I want the movie to look like".
250* Creator/GeorgeClooney was so excited at the chance to work with Creator/TheCoenBrothers, he didn't even read the script for ''Film/OBrotherWhereArtThou'' before signing up.
251* Creator/BillyBobThornton was so excited at the chance to work with Creator/TheCoenBrothers, he didn't even read the script for ''Film/TheManWhoWasntThere2001'' before signing up.
252* Deliberately invoked when Creator/SidneyLumet was casting ''Film/MurderOnTheOrientExpress1974''. He thought the best way to assemble an AllStarCast was to hire the biggest star first; at the time, that was Creator/SeanConnery. It worked; Richard Widmark signed on to play [[spoiler:the victim]] for no other reason than to meet the other stars, who by then included Hollywood and West End royalty such as Creator/LaurenBacall, Creator/IngridBergman, Sir Creator/JohnGielgud, and Creator/AnthonyPerkins.
253* Creator/DeborahKerr was typecast playing ladies in period pieces like ''Film/KingSolomonsMines'', ''Film/ThePrisonerOfZenda'' and ''Film/YoungBess'' when her agent suggested she try ''Film/FromHereToEternity'' after Joan Crawford dropped out. She was convinced Fred Zinnemann would never cast her but luckily he intentionally wanted the film's female leads to be cast [[PlayingAgainstType against type]]. Sure enough she embraced the opportunity to shake up her wholesome image - and it got her a second Oscar nomination.
254* In the 1930s when an adaptation of ''Literature/OfHumanBondage'' was being produced, many starlets turned the part of Mildred down - terrified of harming their glamorous images. Creator/BetteDavis meanwhile saw an opportunity to rebel against the studio's attempts to turn her into "the next Jean Harlow" - and happily played the scheming Mildred. She even designed Mildred's make-up for her death scene herself, wanting her to look like someone who'd actually died of an illness and not "a deb who'd missed her afternoon nap".
255* Music/JohnWilliams was not a big fan of ''Film/FamilyPlot'', but did not want to pass up the opportunity to work with Creator/AlfredHitchcock.
256** When ''Film/HomeAlone1'' was looking for a composer, Creator/ChrisColumbus thought there was no way the great Williams would be interested in a modest family film. To his surprise, Williams loved the rough cut of the film and was looking for the opportunity to create a Christmas-tinged score and quickly signed up.
257* Creator/JamesWan wanted a famous British actress to provide the voice of the Karathen, a kaiju-sized sea monster in ''Film/{{Aquaman|2018}}'' and approached the agent of Creator/JulieAndrews to see if she'd be interested. She immediately accepted. Similarly, Arthur's mother Atlanna is played by Creator/NicoleKidman because she got to play a kick-ass action heroine in a superhero film.
258* Creator/RichardHarris was watching ''Film/HighPlainsDrifter'' when his agent called to offer him the part of "English Bob" in ''{{Film/Unforgiven}}'' and dropped everything for the chance to appear in a Creator/ClintEastwood-western.
259* Said on the ''Film/JohnWick'' commentary track: “Basically, if you want Creator/KeanuReeves in your movie, tell him he gets to shoot guns, do judo, and drift cars.”
260** Speaking of Keanu Reeves, he agreed to do a cameo [[spoiler:as the voice of the titular cat]] in ''Film/{{Keanu}}'' because he loved the film when someone showed him a rough cut.
261* Creator/DavidHasselhoff said that the hearing the pitch for ''Film/KungFury'' was enough to get him on the project: "I saw six seconds of it and said 'I'm in.'"
262* ''Film/TheHungerGames'':
263** Creator/DonaldSutherland [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z25N9pg4AxU wrote a personal letter]] to director Gary Ross so he could be cast as President Snow, having seen the script by accident and being moved by the character.
264** Creator/ElizabethBanks actively sought her part and has stated a few times in interviews how much she loved working in the film. She is also a huge shipper of Effie Trinket hooking up with Haymitch Abernathy, going so far as naming her character in ''Film/PitchPerfect'' (which she co-produced) Gail Abernathy.
265* Creator/BillMurray had a particularly odd case of this that resulted in him becoming the titular character of the ''Film/{{Garfield}}'' movie. By his own admission, he jumped on the offer after being told it was written by a "Joel Coen" as he loved Creator/TheCoenBrothers and was excited to work with them... but then realized too late that it was actually [[JustForFun/IThoughtThatWas a completely unrelated writer]] named Joel Cohen. Not surprisingly, he doesn't consider '' Garfield'' or its sequel [[CreatorBacklash highlights of his career.]]
266* Music/TaylorSwift has stated she has no regrets about the infamous ''Film/{{Cats}}'' film, because although she admits it's weird, she got to co-write a song with the legendary Creator/AndrewLloydWebber.
267* Creator/PedroPascal agreed to audition for ''Film/TheEqualizer2'' out of a desire to work with both Creator/DenzelWashington and Creator/AntoineFuqua.
268* Creator/ChristopherLee reportedly agreed to do ''Film/HowlingIIStirbaWerewolfBitch'' because he had already played [[Film/HorrorOfDracula Dracula]], [[Film/TheCurseOfFrankenstein Frankenstein's Monster]], and [[Film/TheMummy1959 the Mummy]] but he had never actually done a werewolf movie. There was also the alluring factor that this movie would be filming behind the Iron Curtain, in and around Prague. He would go on to regret this decision (''Howling 2'' is really really bad, and [[OurWerewolvesAreDifferent barely]] a werewolf movie), even apologizing for his role in it to Creator/JoeDante, director of the original ''[[Film/TheHowling Howling]]''.
269** Speaking of Christopher Lee, he was definitely acting in the name of this trope when he played Saruman in ''Film/TheLordOfTheRings'', as he was a major fan of the books and is the only known cast member who met Creator/JRRTolkien while the author was still alive.
270* Wrestling/DwayneJohnson has wanted to play Film/{{Black Adam|2022}} for a ''long'' time (since 2007 at the very least) and never gave up on this passion project. The prospect of having the chance of pitting him against Creator/HenryCavill's Franchise/{{Superman}} one day (despite the uncertainty of his status) also appeals a lot to him.
271* Creator/JohnCarpenter wrote the theme song for ''Film/Studio666'', a HorrorComedy starring the Music/FooFighters [[AsHimself as themselves]] with a story by Music/DaveGrohl, as [[https://bloody-disgusting.com/interviews/3703761/foo-fighters-dave-grohl-reveals-how-john-carpenter-got-involved-in-studio-666/ a favor to the band]] because, fifteen years prior, they had taken his son Cody's band on tour and, by all accounts, treated him very well.
272* Creator/SamRaimi tries to find a part, even if it's just a cameo, for Creator/BruceCampbell in every one of his movies. [[https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/qa-sam-raimi-doctor-strange-superhero-return-84494908 Raimi's explanation]] is, besides being best friends and a ProductionPosse, Campbell just enjoys being a part of Raimi's films regardless of his role.
273-->'''AP:''' Is phoning up Bruce Campbell an automatic call for you when you have a film?\
274'''Sam Raimi:''' Absolutely. I call Bruce and I say, "Hey baby." And he says, "What is it now?" And I say, "I got another movie for you now." And he says, "When does it start?"
275* The Naval Aviators hired for ''Film/TopGun'' were excited for the movie, not for the payment (only $23 a day), but to get to fly their planes through maneuvers of which the US Navy ''severely'' disapproves. BuzzingTheTower normally gets you expelled; aviator Scott Altman got to do it nine times during the shoot, and there was actually [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxvqLfI0ukM&feature=emb_title a drawing of straws to see who'd be the first to ever perform it at the Miramar base]].
276* When Creator/WhoopiGoldberg first read ''Literature/TheColorPurple'', she immediately began talking to both author Alice Walker and everyone she could in Hollywood--before the film rights were even sold--because she, in her own words, ''needed'' to be in a film adaptation, even joking that she'd play a screen door or dirt on the ground for the chance. Once Steven Spielberg acquired the rights and began planning the [[Film/TheColorPurple1985 film]], Goldberg went to the producers directly and started lobbying hard to appear. Her persistence paid off: Spielberg gave her the lead part of Celie (it was her film debut and StarMakingRole), and she earned a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for her trouble.
277* In an interesting take on this trope, Music/DianaRoss desperately wanted to play the role of Dorothy in the film adaptation of ''Theatre/TheWiz''. She even cut a deal to get big-name producer Rob Cohen to fund the movie if she got the part, even though Berry Gordy (the head of Motown's film and TV division) had turned her down. It worked...but [[GoneHorriblyRight backfired spectacularly]]: the film was universally panned, with critics particularly attacking how bad Ross was as Dorothy, and she never made another movie appearance again.
278* Just about every CelebrityCameo in ''Film/WeirdTheAlYankovicStory'' fits this trope.
279** Creator/DanielRadcliffe, as a fan of Music/WeirdAlYankovic, needed almost no convincing to take the part, and is incredibly proud of the fact that he got to have accordion lessons from Al, as mentioned below, to make his playing convincing on film.
280** The pool party scene was cast when Al simply sent an email to his friends asking if they'd want to spend a day shooting it. The final result features Creator/JackBlack, Creator/DavidDastmalchian, Creator/ConanOBrien, Creator/EmoPhilips, [[Music/TheLonelyIsland Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer,]] Creator/PaulFTompkins, and Nina West all playing various '80s pop culture icons.
281** Creator/LinManuelMiranda didn't even bother to wait for an invite -- minutes after Al publicly announced the movie, [[https://www.wired.com/story/weird-al-yankovic-movie-cameos/ Lin texted Al]] and asked for a role in the film. They ended up with ''one day'' when Lin would be in Los Angeles and arranged to shoot his part then, giving him the role of the doctor seen at the beginning of the film.
282* ''Film/EscapeFromLA'': Creator/JohnCarpenter and Creator/KurtRussell had so much fun working together in the past that they decided to revisit [[Film/EscapeFromLA Snake Plissken]] to "just have a blast". They had been considering it since 1985, until the chaos of TheNineties in Los Angeles gave them enough material for a sequel.
283* When Creator/PamelaReed was asked why she appeared in ''Film/KindergartenCop'' she replied: "I shoot, I save [[Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger Arnold's]] life, kids cheer. It's not a gold statue, but it's not a bad feeling."
284* Several of ''Film/{{Oppenheimer}}'''s cast have explained that they agreed to take part in it because if Creator/ChristopherNolan calls you asking to play a role in one of his movies, you'd damn better accept. In particular, Creator/CillianMurphy, a long-time collaborator and close friend of Nolan, agreed to play Oppenheimer before even reading the script, and Creator/FlorencePugh, despite being told by Nolan that her part was a small one and even being on the receiving end of an apology from him for it, took on the role and admitted that she'd willingly play a background extra if it meant she got to work with him. Most of the main cast also took considerable pay cuts from their usual salaries in order not to inflate the already large budget.
285* ''Film/CarryOnEngland'': Creator/MelvynHayes only appeared in the film because he wanted to say he had been in a ''Film/CarryOn''.
286* ''Film/TheLongestDay'': Nearly ''everyone'' involved in the film--an epic retelling of [[UsefulNotes/WorldWarII D-Day]]--joined the cast for this reason: they'd all lived through World War II and thought the project was incredibly important. Some of the biggest stars in the world at the time--including Richard Burton, Robert Mitchum, Henry Fonda, and Sean Connery--joined, with many agreeing to a relatively low pay rate ($25,000) just to be a part of the movie; Burton and fellow Englishman Roddy [=McDowall=] in particular were so eager that they filmed their scenes for free. The only exception was Creator/JohnWayne, who demanded ten times as much money as the others and separate billing (largely because ''The Longest Day'''s producer, Darryl F. Zanuck, had insulted him in the past).
287[[/folder]]
288
289[[folder:Literature]]
290* Creator/NeilGaiman wrote the first few pages of what would become ''Literature/GoodOmens'' on his own and sent them to a few friends to get their thoughts. After some time, he heard back from Creator/TerryPratchett, who asked him if he was still working on it, and then offered to either work together or buy the idea to work on himself after learning Gaiman was otherwise occupied. Gaiman declared they would co-write it, comparing the inquiry to "Michelangelo phoning and asking if you want to paint a ceiling together".
291[[/folder]]
292
293[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
294* ''Series/{{The Arrangement|2017}}'', a 2017 {{Dramedy}}, had this frequently:
295** Creator/ChristineEvangelista took on the role thinking it'd be a fun role to play and took it seriously too.
296** Creator/CourtneyPaige took the role of Annika in Season 1 so she could play a bad girl role without it being too stereotypical.
297** Creator/LexaDoig took the role as [=DeAnn=] Anderson, claiming that it was something different to play, and [[LargeHam she could have as much fun with the role as she wanted]].
298* Broadway legend Creator/HintonBattle agreed to play Sweet, the Dancing Demon in the ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' MusicalEpisode "[[{{Recap/BuffyTheVampireSlayerS6E7OnceMoreWithFeeling}} Once More, With Feeling]]", primarily because he was a huge fan of the show and thought the idea of getting made up like a demon would be "a stone cold groove" that he had never experienced before.
299* Creator/FredAstaire once said that his favourite screen role was playing an alien on ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|1978}}'', because his grandson loved the show so much.
300* Music/TheBeatles licensed one of their songs for the final episode of ''Series/ThePrisoner1967'', one of the few times they allowed their music to be used in a TV show, because they were huge fans of the show. At one point, they were working with Patrick [=McGoohan=] to make a movie based on the property.
301* [[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0120658/bio Victor Buono]] was a '''huge''' fan of the ''Batman'' comics, and agreed to play King Tut in the '60s ''Series/{{Batman|1966}}'' TV series because of it. Buono enjoyed playing the villainous Tut so much that, aside from the actors playing the primary four villains (Julie Newmar as Catwoman, Burgess Meredith as The Penguin, Frank Gorshin as The Riddler, and Cesar Romero as The Joker), he made more appearances than any other guest star. He was once asked why he did the show so often and said, "Batman lets me get away with doing the one thing that we're taught not to do in drama school... ''[[LargeHam overacting]]''!"
302* ''Series/DoctorWho'':
303** A number of the actors who played the Doctor have said that they went into acting specifically because they wanted to play the Doctor. Fifth Doctor Creator/PeterDavison was inspired by Second Doctor Creator/PatrickTroughton, and Davison himself [[MasterApprenticeChain inspired]] Tenth Doctor (and lifelong Whovian) Creator/DavidTennant.
304** Creator/PeterCapaldi ramps it up, having been such a huge fan that he attempted to take over the official Doctor Who Fan Club in the early 1970s, wrote many articles for fan newsletters, corresponded with the production team during the Creator/JonPertwee era, and had a dream come true when he was actually given a guest role on the series itself in 2008. The next year he also played a different role in the spin-off, ''Series/{{Torchwood}}''. Due to these two parts, plus his age, he never expected to be cast as the Twelfth Doctor; imagine his surprise come 2013. Capaldi reportedly enjoyed nearly every moment of the production, even coming in on his days off to watch special effects shots being filmed, and he often made surprise appearances at an exhibition dedicated to Doctor Who, just because he felt like it (even once doing so in character as the Doctor).
305** Similarly, Creator/AlexKingston has said on more than one occasion that one of her favorite parts of playing River Song is that she gets to do stunts, something that she didn't get to have on ''Series/{{ER}}''.
306** ''Doctor Who'' has a [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebrity_and_notable_guest_appearances_in_Doctor_Who long tradition]] of securing notable guest stars on the strength of 'appearing on ''Doctor Who''' and often because it would [[SoMyKidsCanWatch impress the kids]]. It's also traditionally been one of the few venues on British television where the guest stars would get to play aliens, monsters, {{mad scientist}}s, and the like.
307** In a ''Magazine/RadioTimes'' interview, Hugh Bonneville was asked what persuaded a Serious Actor to take the part of [[Recap/DoctorWhoS32E3TheCurseOfTheBlackSpot Captain Avery]]. He replied that he made his decision when they said he could be in ''Doctor Who''.
308** "The Girl Who Waited" features an interesting example in that the actor was ''already'' on the show. The script called for a FutureBadass version of Amy who encounters her younger self, along with Rory and the Doctor, after a [[TimeyWimeyBall time-traveling accident]] strands her alone for 36 years. Originally, the producers planned to have a different actress play Older!Amy--but Creator/KarenGillan wanted a chance to try it, and the producers agreed. Gillian worked with vocal and movement coaches to develop an entirely new style for the older version of herself; that, plus prosthetics, padding, and extensive make-up, completely transformed her, much to the delight of audiences (and the extensive praise of critics).
309** Ben Browder took his role in "[[Recap/DoctorWhoS33E3ATownCalledMercy A Town Called Mercy]]" not just because his kids watched the show but because he always wanted to do a western. It probably also helped that they [[VacationDearBoy filmed the episode in Spain.]]
310** Creator/NeilPatrickHarris claimed he didn't know much about the series but when the script for "[[Recap/DoctorWho60thASTheGiggle The Giggle]]" called for juggling, puppetry and a LargeHam, he was all in.
311* ''Series/GameOfThrones'':
312** Creator/PedroPascal loved ''Game of Thrones'' so much, that when a younger actor asked for his help preparing to audition for the role of Oberyn Martell, Pascal also recorded his own audition, and ended up winning the role for himself. Years after his tenure on the show, Pascal still speaks fondly of the production, and the boost the series gave him in the public eye.
313** Creator/JessicaHenwick is aware of the TroubledProduction in the Dornish arc and understands the negative reception of the Sand Snakes. Nevertheless, she still enjoys being on the show and working with her castmates. She even owes the show for boosting her career.
314** Almost subverting this, Creator/IanMcShane repeatedly turned down invitations to join the cast because he didn't think much of being on a fantasy TV series. However, he eventually accepted because he thought it would be an opportunity to work with actors he respected, like Creator/CharlesDance and Stephen Dillane. When he got there and learned that [[spoiler: both their characters had been killed, and thus neither actor was on the show anymore]], he almost backed out.
315* Creator/NathanFillion has said that "when Creator/JossWhedon calls you up and says, 'Hey, do you want to...', you say yes."
316* Creator/SarahMichelleGellar has stated that her reasons for doing ''Series/TheCrazyOnes'' were (in her words) "one-third trying to get back into television full time and two-thirds 'I get to work with Creator/RobinWilliams! Yay me!'"
317* The ''Franchise/KamenRider'' franchise, being a {{Long Runner|s}}, has its share of {{Ascended Fanboy}}s. Masahiro Inoue ([[Series/KamenRiderDecade Tsukasa Kadoya/Decade]]) and Renn Kiriyama ([[Series/KamenRiderDouble Shotaro Hidari/Double]]) are two such examples, both being part of ''Series/KamenRiderBlack''[='=]s PeripheryDemographic when they were kids (and Inoue even getting the chance to work alongside ''Black'' star Tetsuo Kurata). However, the crown probably belongs to Ryota Murai, who went from a boy who loved ''Series/KamenRiderKuuga'' to the man who got to be the new Kuuga in ''Decade'' (since the original is busy [[IAmNotSpock not being Spock... er, Kuuga]]).
318* Creator/HenryCavill was not going to let anyone else play the role of Geralt of Rivia in Creator/{{Netflix}}'s ''Series/TheWitcher2019'' if he could help it. A passionate fan of the video games, it's obvious Cavill finds Geralt an awesome character. Showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich said Cavill was "really annoying" seeking the part before the script was even finished. Alas, he quit the role in 2022 after three seasons for reasons that have yet to be officially explained, but then he immediately announced producing and starring in another live-action series adaptation project that's dear to him, ''TabletopGame/Warhammer40000'' for Creator/{{Amazon}}, being a turbonerd when it comes to that tabletop game and its [[Franchise/Warhammer40000ExpandedUniverse expanded universe]].
319%% Source: https://www.vulture.com/2019/07/henry-cavill-in-the-witcher-the-story-behind-the-casting.html
320* This applies for a lot of Franchise/PowerRangers, since the show started when they were kids and they are now old enough to be Rangers themselves. One example is John Mark Loudermilk, the Blue Ranger in ''Series/PowerRangersMegaforce'', who took the role because he was a huge fan of ''Franchise/PowerRangers'' during his youth.
321* Creator/MartinSheen was originally approached to play a supporting role of a human archaeologist in the ''Series/BabylonFive'' MadeForTVMovie ''River of Souls''. After reading through the script, he asked to play the Soul Hunter instead, since he had never played an alien before and wanted to try it. His request was granted.
322* This happens all the time with ''Franchise/StarTrek''. If you're casting a ''Star Trek'' episode and want an actor who has the ''slightest'' hint of geek in them, they're all yours as long as you let them have at least a ''little'' HamAndCheese.
323** [[Music/FleetwoodMac Mick Fleetwood]] played a nonhuman assassin in an episode of ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Accounts say he was enthusiastic about the role, even though his face was completely hidden by a mask that made him look vaguely fishlike because he got to be portrayed as being beamed aboard the ''Enterprise''. In fact, when told he'd have to shave his iconic beard to wear the mask, he did so on the condition that he'd get to be beamed up.
324** When Creator/PatrickStewart is asked why a Shakespearean actor such as him wanted to be in ''Star Trek'', he gives this as his reason. In fact, he once stated that years of performing Shakespeare '''prepared him for ''Star Trek'''''.
325** NBA Hall-of-Famer James Worthy made a guest appearance with very few lines in ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Why? Because he got to be a [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Klingon]].
326** At the time, Creator/WilWheaton thought that getting to be helmsman of the ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Enterprise]]'' was a dream come true. [[CreatorBacklash Now... not so much.]]
327** Creator/WhoopiGoldberg actually went to the mountain and started contacting everyone involved in ''The Next Generation'' to ask for a part, even showing up in person. At first the producers refused because they thought she was joking--Goldberg was a rising comedy star and fresh off an Oscar nomination for ''Film/TheColorPurple1985''. But Goldberg explained that seeing Creator/NichelleNichols as Uhura in the original series was a defining moment of her childhood, and she remembered screaming when she first saw her: "Come here, mom, everybody, come quick, come quick, there's a Black lady on television and she ain't no maid! I knew right then and there that I could be whatever I wanted to be." Goldberg even offered to play a janitor in the background just to honor Nichols, but instead, the producers made her the [[AlmightyJanitor Almighty Bartender]] Guinan, who is not only smarter and more capable than anyone else on the ship but regularly gets away with [[DidYouJustFlipOffCthulhu dissing]] '''[[SufficientlyAdvancedAlien Q]].''' She, in turn, got Creator/DwightSchultz on board.
328** Speaking of Nichelle Nichols, Mae Jemison, the first Black woman to travel to space, cited Uhura as her own childhood inspiration and the reason she became an astronaut. Upon learning this, Creator/LeVarBurton reached out to Jemison and asked if she would be interested in appearing in a ''TNG'' episode; Jemison happily agreed and played Lieutenant Palmer in "Second Chances," which Burton himself directed. To honor the occasion, Nichols visited the set and stayed for the entirety of the shoot.
329** Creator/StephenHawking, possibly the only person to have ever [[AsHimself played themselves]] on ''Trek'', did it for precisely this reason.
330** Creator/JasonAlexander, yet another well-known Trekkie, didn't hesitate to play an alien in an episode of ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''.
331** Creator/ScottBakula stated that when first approached for ''Enterprise'', he was reluctant because he had no interest in just being "the next Captain." Then he found out it was a prequel series; he wasn't going to be the ''next'' Captain. He was going to be the ''first'' Captain. That sealed the deal.
332** The trend has continued with ''Series/StarTrekDiscovery'': American politician and activist Stacey Abrams, a lifelong ''Star Trek'' fan, made an appearance as the "President of the United Earth" in a Season Four episode.
333* A lot of ''Series/OnceUponATime'' cast members signed on because they were either fans of the show or huge Disney fans.
334** Creator/RebeccaMader was a huge fan of the show and had hoped to be cast as [[WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989 Ariel]]. While that role went to Creator/JoAnnaGarciaSwisher, Rebecca claims she screamed in public when she was offered the part of Zelena ([[spoiler:The Wicked Witch of the West]]). [[HilariousInHindsight Funny enough]], [[spoiler:Zelena takes on the guise of Ariel for an episode]].
335** Merrin Dungey recalls being terrified by Ursula the sea witch as a child, so she jumped at the chance to play her. She describes immediately agreeing to move to Vancouver to film, and dye her hair blonde for the role.
336** Creator/GinniferGoodwin's favorite Franchise/DisneyPrincess was Snow White and she had always wanted to play her. The part was written with her in mind. She had also jumped at the chance to star alongside Creator/JenniferMorrison, an actress she had frequently been compared to.
337** Creator/GeorginaHaig had a reaction like this when she first signed on to play [[WesternAnimation/Frozen2013 Elsa]]. She describes walking around in the costume as "like being Santa Claus."
338* Pretty much all the cast members from ''Series/BandOfBrothers'' did everything that was asked of them - going through a ten-day gruelling boot camp in preparation, relocating to England for nine months and shooting long days - because they got the chance to play real-life [=WW2=] veterans and work with Stephen Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
339* ''Series/TinMan'':
340** Creator/ZooeyDeschanel had idolized ''Film/TheWizardOfOz'' ever since she was two and longed to play Dorothy in some way. Naturally, she jumped at the chance to play DG [[spoiler: Dorothy's descendant]].
341** Creator/NealMcDonough signed on after reading the script and seeing the opportunity to play a "Gary Cooper, ''Film/HighNoon''-ish character". He cites Wyatt Cain as his favorite role, after Buck Compton in ''Band of Brothers''.
342* Creator/NicoleMunoz says she does a lot of sci-fi roles because she loves the opportunity to play such diverse characters. She's so far had [[Series/StargateAtlantis magic powers]], [[Series/HemlockGrove been a werewolf]], [[{{Series/Defiance}} married an alien]] and [[Series/OnceUponATime been Maleficent's daughter]].
343* Creator/JeffHephner usually prefers action-heavy roles that involve him getting physical, and ''hates'' getting stuck in a suit and behind a desk. Then ''Series/CodeBlack'' asked him to play CEO Ed Harbert -- who spends most of his time in a suit -- and dangled the prospect of getting to work with Creator/MarciaGayHarden in front of him. His response was approximately "Yes, please!"
344** Creator/RobLowe was already a fan of ''Code Black'' but when told that his character would be introduced jumping out of a helicopter into the ocean, he couldn't say "yes" fast enough.
345* In an interesting two-way take on this trope, a group of fans of ''Series/ItsAlwaysSunnyInPhiladelphia'' approached the show's creators and asked if they could possibly write an episode.
346** Ordinarily, viewers aren't allowed to submit scripts...but these weren't just fans. They were ''the creators of Series/GameOfThrones.'' The crew of ''Sunny'' was so stunned that the writers of the biggest show on television wanted to be part of their BlackComedy that they immediately agreed.
347** In another instance, the show was nearly cancelled after the first season--critics loved it, but it was a ratings failure. The team at F/X told creators Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton, and Rob [=McElhenney=] that unless they found a big-name star to attract more viewers, they were going to have to pull the plug. The group doubted that ''any'' famous celebrity would be interested in a twisted anti-sitcom like ''Sunny'', and half-jokingly remarked that the only person who made any sense would be Creator/DannyDeVito as the main characters' father. They reached out to [=DeVito=] for a lunch meeting...and he ''immediately'' agreed to join the cast, having seen the first season and loved it. Thus the character of Frank Reynolds was born, and ''Sunny'' has lasted an astonishing thirteen seasons (with more on the way), making it the longest-running live-action comedy of all time.
348** Kaitlin Olson's evolving role as Dee was the result of this trope, too. For the first season, the three male characters--Charlie, Mac, and Dennis--were involved with crazy hijinks, while Dee was the OnlySaneWoman who warned them against their plans. Olson, disliking the WomenAreWiser trope and realizing that Dee wasn't funny, went to Howerton, Day, and [=McElhenney=] and requested that they write her just as amoral and insane as their characters. They agreed, and the result is the deeply-flawed and utterly hilarious characterization that fans love.
349** Fantasy master Creator/GuillermoDelToro saw the episode "Charlie Kelly: King of the Rats" and was incredibly impressed by Creator/CharlieDay, especially his darkly hilarious monologue about how many generations of rodents he's killed. del Toro reached out to Day and offered him a role in ''Film/PacificRim'' based on the monologue alone, with the condition that Day would only get the part if del Toro himself got to be on ''Sunny.'' Day happily accepted, and del Toro has so far appeared twice as Pappy [=McPoyle=], the insane, [[BeastMaster bird-controlling]] [[ThePatriarch patriarch]] of [[BigScrewedUpFamily the [=McPoyle=] clan.]]
350* ''Film/KissMeetsThePhantomOfThePark'' might be [[CreatorBacklash an embarrassment]] for the titular band, but actor Terry Lester (who played Sam in ''Phantom of the Park'', and who would later go on to a very successful career in soap operas) has no problem admitting that he was in this film, and loves it when fans mention it to him. His attitude seems to be, "What's to be ashamed about? I did a movie with KISS!"
351* ''Series/TheMaskedSinger'' pretty much relies on this trope, along with some contestants hoping for a CareerResurrection, to get its celebrity contestants. In the first season finale, The Peacock (aka, [[spoiler:Creator/DonnyOsmond]]) was asked why he agreed to be on the show, and he gleefully responded, "Because it's ''fun''!" Many contestants -- the Peacock included -- have said, either during the competition, in interviews, or on social media afterwards, that being on the show is some of the most fun they've ever had in their careers.
352* ''Series/TheMandalorian'':
353** Accepting Creator/JonFavreau's offer to become the Mandalorian [[https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/pedro-pascal-the-mandalorian-star-wars-wonder-woman-1984-1234803468/ required]] Creator/PedroPascal to refresh his lessons on acting behind a mask, balance filming the first season with at least two other projects (including ''Film/WonderWoman1984''), and coordinate his body language with two stunt doubles. However, the prospect of working in the ''Franchise/StarWars'' universe excited him so much, that none of these challenges could scare him away.
354--->I hope this doesn’t sound like me fashioning myself like I’m, you know, so smart, but I agreed to do this [show] because the impression I had when I had my first meeting was that this is the next big shit.
355** Although Creator/WernerHerzog signed on as the Client for [[MoneyDearBoy financial reasons]] at first before coming on the set and has never seen a ''Star Wars'' movie before, he went on to praise the show's WorldBuilding and PracticalEffects, saying "it's cinema at its best". He was famously delighted by the [[spoiler: Grogu]] "Baby Yoda" puppet effects, as well.
356** Creator/BillBurr never had good feelings about ''Star Wars'', finding the Original Trilogy "geared towards kids" and a "cheesy self-help book put in outer space with, like, Muppets." Then Jon Favreau convinced him to play in ''The Mandalorian'', and his mind changed on set.
357--->"I went in there, and they were shooting it like a SpaghettiWestern. And I was immediately so psyched to be a part of it."
358--->"The way they’re doing this one, it's awesome." ''(about the series)''
359** Creator/OmidAbtahi was only a casual ''Star Wars'' fan when he received the offer to play Dr. Pershing, but loved Jon Favreau's movies. The morning after he learned that Favreau wanted him for an "untitled" project, he asked his agent to assure him ThatWasNotADream.
360** Even though Creator/MingNaWen has loved ''Star Wars'' for most of her life, she hesitated to accept the offer to play Fennec Shand, since the script for Chapter 5 originally killed her off after her first appearance. Ultimately, she decided to seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the Galaxy, and jokingly suggested to Chapter 5 director/writer Creator/DaveFiloni that he should let Fennec live. [[spoiler:After Filoni learned how much he and Ming-Na have in common, he helped ensure that she would indeed play Fennec again.]]
361* A famous example crossing over with {{Determinator}} comes from ''Series/TheHoneymooners.'' After Pert Kelton, the original Alice, was forced off the show because of blacklisting, Creator/JackieGleason tasked actress Audrey Meadows with finding a replacement. Gleason turned down all of Meadows's suggestions, and she finally suggested ''herself'' for the role, only for Gleason to tell her that she was "too pretty" to be Alice. Meadows took this as a challenge and arranged for a photo shoot with a professional photographer...who came to her apartment at 7:00 AM, when she'd just woken up and hadn't done her hair or makeup for the day. When Meadows brought to pictures to Gleason, he triumphantly declared that he'd found his Alice--the transformation was so complete that he didn't recognize Meadows at all. Thus satisfied, Meadows revealed the trick, which Gleason [[ActuallyPrettyFunny took in stride]] by offering her the part, remarking that "any dame with a sense of humor like that deserves the job."
362* Series/{{VIP}}: The reason Music/{{Lit}} agreed to guest star AsThemselves in the episode [[Recap/VIP2x16HardValsNight Hard Val's Night]]. According to them it seemed like a lot of fun" they got to "[hang] out with amazingly gorgeous ladies for a week" and "when Pamela Anderson Lee personally asks you to be on her show, it’s a no-brainer." For her part, Creator/PamelaAnderson asked Lit to be on the show because she was a fan of the band.
363* Creator/HughDennis said on ''Radio/TheInfiniteMonkeyCage'' that he was offered a role in ''Series/MidsomerMurders'' and immediately asked "How do I die?" When he was told he'd be hit with a plank and then strangled with a python, he thought "When's ''that'' ever going to happen again?" and signed up.
364[[/folder]]
365
366[[folder:Music]]
367* Creator/PeterStormare cameos in the music video for Music/{{Sabaton}}'s song [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzeNBRbWXpI "Uprising"]] as the unnamed German Army officer leading the crackdown on the Polish Resistance. According to bassist Pär Sundström, Stormare received the job offer in a pile of offers he got from his agent when he was looking for his next gig, and just thought the idea was really cool.
368[[/folder]]
369
370[[folder:Professional Wrestling]]
371* Wrestling/DustyRhodes' WWF run. The one where he wore polka dots. While most fans consider it one of the low points of his career, Dusty himself had a lot of fun with {{the gimmick}}. It helped that it was one of the few times that Dusty, who was previously a long-time booker of Jim Crockett Promotions, didn't have to worry about booking or running a promotion, allowing him to just relax and enjoy wrestling.
372* A lot of established indie females agreed to star in ''{{Wrestling/Wrestlicious}}'' for fun - many of them having been fans of ''{{Wrestling/GLOW}}'', of which the show was a SpiritualSuccessor.
373* Many of the wrestlers agreed to do ''Wrestling/LuchaUnderground'' so they could star on a DarkerAndEdgier wrestling show and work with Creator/RobertRodriguez.
374* [[Characters/WWEMcMahonFamily The McMahons]] are [[WrestlingFamily a family-wide example]]. Barring actual wrestler Wrestling/TripleH, all of them belong to the most important and richest family in all of [[ProfessionalWrestling professional wrest...]] erh... [[InsistentTerminology sports entertainment]]. They have no need to enter the ring and fight with the rest of the cast, and even take bumps. Yet, from [[Wrestling/VinceMcMahon Vince Jr.]] onwards, not only they are willing to take risks and get beaten up in the name of the industry, but have also stepped on the ring, and in the case of Wrestling/{{Shane|McMahon}}, going as far as to [[ShockingMoments do those high-risk spots themselves]].
375* Music/BadBunny has won Grammys, headlined Coachella, and is one of the most streamed artists of all time, so why does he willingly get into a Wrestling/{{WWE}} ring on multiple occasions to wrestle and let himself take several bumps most celebrities wouldn't dare take (including getting [=F5=]'d by Wrestling/BrockLesnar and doing a full-on street fight, weapons included)? Simple, he just loves wrestling and has always wanted to experience that lifestyle. The street fight in particular is a moment of pride for him as he got to wrestle in his home territory of Puerto Rico and pay homage to the style of wrestling he and many other Boricuas grew up watching.
376[[/folder]]
377
378[[folder:Puppet Shows]]
379* This, combined with SoMyKidsCanWatch, is often the reason many celebrities agree to do a project with ''Franchise/TheMuppets'' or ''Series/SesameStreet''.
380** Interestingly, this ''wasn't'' the case during the early run of ''Series/TheMuppetShow''--the producers had such a difficult time finding guest stars (especially in the first season) that they had to call in favors or ask friends to make appearances. It wasn't until Rudolf Nureyev, the most famous male ballet dancer in the world, eagerly agreed to appear that other celebrities started taking notice and getting involved in the series by their own accord.
381** Creator/DannyTrejo has gone public about how incredibly excited he was to appear on ''Series/MuppetsNow'' - he was stoked to work with ''puppets'' in general, let alone the Muppets.
382[[/folder]]
383
384[[folder:Sports]]
385* When the American Olympic Selection Committee was putting together the original dream team in 1992, some top players were initially reluctant to sign on for various reasons. UsefulNotes/MichaelJordan would rather have been playing golf, and Larry Bird's health issues were forcing him to the brink of retirement. It was only after some others, particularly Magic Johnson, enthusiastically answered the call that the unique historical potential of the team became apparent. By the time the roster was set it was obvious this would be a team like no other, and in the years since many of the players, including even Jordan, have stated that it was the most important and memorable experience of their careers.
386[[/folder]]
387
388[[folder:Theatre]]
389* A major reason Creator/DouglasHodge signed on to play Willy Wonka in the original West End cast of ''Theatre/CharlieAndTheChocolateFactory'' (and gave up the lead role in Cameron Mackintosh's revival of ''Barnum'' in the process) was because he'd never had the chance to participate in the from-the-ground-up creative process of staging a new musical before, and the creators of this one were receptive to his ideas for both his character and the show. (It was his dissatisfaction with his intended introductory song that saved the Act I finale "It Must Be Believed to Be Seen" from being a CutSong, for instance.)
390* Creator/HankAzaria, Creator/TimCurry, and David Hyde Pierce all jumped at the chance to work on ''Theatre/{{Spamalot}}'' because they were all huge fans of Franchise/MontyPython in general and ''Film/MontyPythonAndTheHolyGrail'' in particular.
391[[/folder]]
392
393[[folder:Video Games]]
394* If there's a ''VideoGame/SuperRobotWars'' game with a role in it voiced by Creator/HikaruMidorikawa of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' fame, you can bet he's going to have a lot of extra voiced lines in it. This is because the guy is a huge fan of the games, and as such always offers to do his lines for free.
395* Creator/SusanSarandon provides the voice of the [[NeverMessWithGranny extremely dangerous]] Granny Rags in the game ''VideoGame/{{Dishonored}}''. Sarandon later explained that she took the part because she was impressed by the fact that players could choose to complete the game with a ThouShaltNotKill philosophy and still succeed.
396* British actor Peter Serafinowicz loved ''VideoGame/DarkSouls'' to the point he volunteered to voice a character in one of the games. From Software heard and made him the voice of Mild-Mannered Pete in ''VideoGame/DarkSoulsII''.
397* Estelle Ellis, voice of Krystal in ''VideoGame/StarFoxAdventures'', returned to voice act the character after years of retirement for a ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' mod because she was friends with the creator and apparently [[https://www.pcgamer.com/star-fox-actor-comes-out-of-retirement-for-a-half-life-2-mod-that-replaces-alyx-with-a-sexy-blue-fox/ 'she wanted a new mic.']]
398* Creator/PhilLaMarr auditioned to play Vamp in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'' because he was a huge fan of the first game and wanted the opportunity to play a hammy ''Metal Gear'' villain. (It's worth mentioning he plays Vamp completely seriously despite being best known for his comedy roles).
399* Creator/TerryPratchett helped write a mod for ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'', [[https://www.nexusmods.com/oblivion/mods/28977 Companion Vilja]], because he loved playing with her installed.
400* Even though Creator/TroyBaker hasn't been active in anime and Japanese-related media voice acting for a long time and has primarily been working on AAA video game titles, Baker stated that [[VideoGame/TalesOfVesperia Yuri Lowell]] is one of his favorite voice roles in Japanese video games and stated he would love to reprise his role if he was contacted about it. Unfortunately for him, Creator/BandaiNamcoEntertainment didn't contact him about the UpdatedRerelease of ''Vesperia'', and his role of Yuri [[TheOtherDarrin was recast]] with Creator/GrantGeorge in the extra scenes. In addition to his fondness of his role as Yuri, he also had fond memories of his roles in Japanese-related media as [[VideoGame/Persona4 Kanji]] and [[VideoGame/{{Catherine}} Vincent Brooks]], as evident with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJFVxxdvbOM his reaction to WatchMojo's top ten list of his video game roles]]. This can more or less explain why Creator/{{Atlus}} managed to get him to reprise his role as Vincent Brooks in the UpdatedRerelease of ''Catherine'' along with his anime role as the titular character in the 2019 anime adaptation of ''Manga/{{Baki|TheGrappler}}''.
401* While Creator/PatrickStewart wasn't an ''Elder Scrolls'' fan, he was thrilled to voice Uriel Septim in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsIVOblivion'' because of the prep Bethesda gave him for the role (reportedly a 90-page booklet explaining Septim's backstory), and wished he could be given as much preparation for other roles he plays. It's also worth noting that Uriel Septim dies in the game's tutorial.
402* ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'': Creator/KeanuReeves agreed to play the role of [[{{Deuteragonist}} Johnny Silverhand]] because he was impressed with the game's story, its worldbuilding, and the freedom the player has in building and role-playing their own character. According to Paweł Sasko, the game's lead quest designer, Reeves would send back the screenplay with his character's scenes with plenty of suggestions regarding line delivery or body language. Since Johnny Silverhand was the frontman of the fictional band called Samurai, Reeves offered to sing the songs written for the game himself, but the team at [=CDProjekt=] decided to go with [[NonSingingVoice Dennis Lyxzén]] from the punk band Music/{{Refused}} instead. In the TGCOM interview with Luca Ward, the Italian dubber for Keanu Reeves' roles who was also cast to voice Johnny Silverhand in the Italian dub of the game, he was called back to the studio numerous times to record newly added voicelines for Johnny, because Reeves liked the role so much that he kept requesting more and more screentime for him, essentially ''doubling'' the amount of spoken lines for him in the game.
403* A rite of passage for musicians once they hit a certain level of popularity is that they get a call from Maxis and Creator/ElectronicArts asking if they'd like to record a [[TranslatedCoverVersion Simlish cover]] of their songs for ''VideoGame/TheSims''. As [[WebVideo/FactFiend Karl Smallwood]] explains in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb3X5Xq1Qcg this video]] and the [[http://www.factfiend.com/sims-somehow-got-actual-artists-sing-soundtrack/ accompanying article]], most of them say yes, partly because it's good, cheap promotion but more often because they're fans of ''The Sims'' themselves and consider it an honor to have their music in the game. Some of them also like to sneak {{Easter egg}}s into the gibberish, particularly the names of friends and family. Several musicians have even had official Sim versions of themselves featured in the game. Music/KatyPerry was involved with the ''Showtime'' expansion for ''VideoGame/TheSims3'', Music/TheBlackEyedPeas were involved with the spinoff ''VideoGame/TheUrbz'', and ''VideoGame/TheSims4'' went so far as to stage an in-game ''music festival'', the Sims Sessions, featuring Music/BebeRexha, Music/GlassAnimals, and Joy Oladokun.
404-->'''Smallwood:''' The really weird thing though is the range of artists ''The Sims'' has somehow roped into sitting in a studio and singing a nonsense version of one of their biggest hits. Along with pop stars like Music/KatyPerry and Music/CarlyRaeJepsen, artists who’ve decided to sing in Simlish include Music/{{Paramore}}, Music/MachineHead, and the Music/BarenakedLadies. Not your thing? Okay, how about Music/JunkieXL, Music/OKGo, or [[Music/DepecheMode Depeche Fucking Mode]]? Seriously, if there’s an artist or band you kind of liked in high school and are now embarrassed to have on your iPod, there’s a good chance they’ve recorded a song for a ''Sims'' game and loved every second of it.
405* Ludosity, a small independent studio, jumped at the chance to develop ''VideoGame/NickelodeonAllStarBrawl'' when they got the call from Creator/{{Nickelodeon}}. They're not just fans of platform fighters, as seen by their own ''VideoGame/SlapCity'', but they love the Franchise/{{Nicktoons}}, too. As a result, the game has surprisingly in-depth gameplay suitable for [[PeripheryDemographic competitive fighting game players]], and loads of references to Nick shows from across the network's history, including left-field picks like [[WesternAnimation/TheWildThornberrys Nigel Thornberry]], [[WesternAnimation/AaahhRealMonsters Oblina]], and [[WesternAnimation/TheRenAndStimpyShow Powered Toast Man]]. According to them, one request they had was ''too'' obscure even by Nick's standards: [[Series/TheSecretWorldOfAlexMack Alex Mack]].
406[[/folder]]
407
408[[folder:Web Original]]
409* Creator/NoahAntwiler has admitted that his costume that he wore to portray his over-the-top parody of Terl for WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic's review of ''Film/BattlefieldEarth'' made him physically ill due to requiring that he wear a thick jacket, big gloves, a huge Rastafarian-style wig, and facial hair while baking under extremely powerful lights in largely poorly-ventilated rooms. It doesn't help that he then had to scream half his lines as best he could before sweating off the facial hair and starting over. However, he was reportedly thrilled to play the character, and reprised the role for ''WebVideo/ToBoldlyFlee''.
410* Creator/VicMignogna is a massive {{Trekkie}}, and with ''WebVideo/StarTrekContinues'', he got to realize his life-long dream of playing Captain Kirk.
411* Matt Hullum, Creator/JoelHeyman, Creator/KathleenZuelch, and Creator/GavinFree of Creator/RoosterTeeth all gave up jobs in Hollywood to work with the company. For Matt, he turned down a role on ''Series/{{Smallville}}'' when he realized that ''WebAnimation/RedVsBlue'' would be much more fun. Joel, Kathleen, and Gavin worked in the film business, but left and joined Rooster Teeth, realizing it was much more fun and relaxing.
412* Creator/ChristopherSabat guest starred on ''WebAnimation/DeathBattle'' for '''free''' just because he always wanted to play [[VideoGame/MetalGear Solid Snake]].
413* Cedric Voets of ''Website/{{Cracked}}'' mentioned this in an article on [[http://www.cracked.com/article_24844_5-reasons-why-good-actors-make-bad-films-that-arent-money.html "5 Reasons Good Actors Make Bad Movies (You Never Realized)"]], with the Creator/MichaelBay example listed above at #5 and the Creator/AdamSandler example at #1.
414[[/folder]]
415
416[[folder:Western Animation]]
417* According to series creator Robert Mandell, he was able to get Broadway veteran Creator/JerryOrbach for the lead in ''WesternAnimation/AdventuresOfTheGalaxyRangers'' because they had a good working relationship on the set of ''FX.'' Orbach had always wanted to try voice acting, but hadn't had a shot to do so before Mandell asked.
418* Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse:
419** Creator/MarkHamill was a [[PromotedFanboy comic book geek and Batman fanboy]] ''decades'' before he got cast as the Joker in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries''. He even played the Trickster on the 1990s ''Series/{{The Flash|1990}}'' series.
420** Creator/TimDaly later admitted that his big motivation to play Franchise/{{Superman}} in ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'' was because he thought it would be fun to play a superhero in a kid's cartoon.
421** Creator/WillFriedle provides an example when his agent called him to ask how he felt about being Batman. He didn't even know what the story was for ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond''; he just wanted to be Batman.
422* When Creator/AdultSwim did an April Fool's joke that revived Creator/{{Toonami}} for a single night, Creator/SteveBlum was the one leading the charge to get the action animation block brought back for the long-term. Why? Because he ''really'' wanted to voice TOM again. The network doesn't have the budget to pay him a salary that even a starving college student would be happy with, but he's having a blast.
423* Many of the voice actors from ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'' had already acted together on ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. They took the comparatively low paying gigs because they liked the show and it gave them a chance to work together again.
424* Creator/CristinaValenzuela has said in interviews she finds playing the heroine Marinette in ''WesternAnimation/MiraculousLadybug'' to be one of the most enjoyable roles she's done. Mainly because she's been a fan of MagicalGirl series since childhood. In her Ladybug persona, she's a LargeHam who gets to use snarky one-liners and catchphrases that are NarmCharm incarnate.
425* Creator/NeilPatrickHarris is a superhero fan, and as such, has done voices for numerous superhero cartoons, such as ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheNewAnimatedSeries'' (a role he later reprised in ''VideoGame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions''), ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'', ''The Golden Blaze'', ''[[ComicBook/DCTheNewFrontier Justice League: The New Frontier]]'' and ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold''. He eventually did his own [[WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog Supervillain]] {{Musical}}.
426* Creator/JoeMantegna was originally content to have his first appearance as Fat Tony on ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' be a one-time thing, but ultimately came to love the character. On the DVD commentaries, the producers have recounted many times that he insists on voicing the character whenever he appears, "even if he just burps or sneezes". He's obviously serious, as one appearance amounted to him being choked by a plastic bag.
427* Famed tennis star Serena Williams accepted a bit part on ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' as a female prison guard because she was such a fan of the series.
428* Creator/JohnDeLancie has yet to pass up the opportunity to reprise his role as Discord on ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic''. He agreed to voice the character for his debut two-part episode, but asked to be left uncredited since he thought it would be a one-and-done voice acting gig that would be nothing more than a ParentalBonus. After the episodes aired, De Lancie received tons of fan mail praising his performance as Discord, and wondering if the character was due for any reappearances - and by that point, he'd forgotten having ever been on ''My Little Pony'' to begin with. Once he found out how big a deal the show and his character was to many fans, De Lancie decided to take it more seriously. He immensely enjoyed coming back to voice Discord any time the character is featured.
429* In ''WesternAnimation/{{Archer}}'', Anthony Bourdain voiced a NoCelebritiesWereHarmed version of himself: The Bastard Chef Lance Cousteau. Reportedly, he was a fan of the show and enjoyed himself immensely.
430* When Creator/DavidTennant was approached to voice a part in ''WesternAnimation/TheLegendOfVoxMachina'', he immediately signed on after hearing its origins as an adaptation of [[WebVideo/CriticalRole a homebrewed D&D campaign that started out with a group of friends goofing around in a living room, before eventually becoming a huge internet sensation]], finding its journey to be immensely inspiring.
431[[/folder]]
432
433[[folder:In-Universe Examples]]
434* Kasuka Heiwajima of ''Literature/{{Durarara}}'' got his start in the extremely campy anime ''[[ShowWithinAShow Vampire Carmilla Saizou]]''. He was listed in the "top ten actors who don't get to choose their roles", and most people treat it as an OldShame. Kasuka, however, claims that Carmilla Saizou is an awesome character, and insisted on reprising his role in the movie.
435* Creator/BelaLugosi's character development in ''Film/EdWood'' is based around shifting from MoneyDearBoy to this. The Tor Johnson character is this from the start.
436* A sketch in ''Radio/JohnFinnemoresSouvenirProgramme'' in which a Creator/GuyRitchie-like film director has a chance reunion with a Shakespearean actor who took a minor part in one of his gangster movies. The actor tells the director's PA "It was awfully fun. They cut my head off, you know."
437[[/folder]]

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