Line #68 Main/PlayingWithCharacterType


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5	->''"[Audrey] Tautou has made several movies, but in America she is known for only one, ''Film/{{Amelie}}'', in which she played a wide-eyed innocent. Here she is just as wide-eyed, but if she's innocent it's only [[InsanityDefense by reason of insanity]]. ''Film/HeLovesMeHeLovesMeNot'' has its own charms, but part of its wicked kick is that it's the [[SpiritualAntithesis anti]]-''Film/{{Amelie}}'', presenting romantic fixation, not as noble and sweet, but objectively, as something selfish and volatile..."''
6	-->-- '''Mick [=LaSalle=]''' on Creator/AudreyTautou's role in ''Film/HeLovesMeHeLovesMeNot''
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8	So we have TypeCasting, which is cases in which an actor is known only for playing certain kinds of roles (in its most extreme form, IAmNotSpock, when the actor is only known for a particular role). Then we have PlayingAgainstType, which is when an actor deliberately plays a role extremely different from his or her established type.
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10	Then there's this trope, a sub-trope of PlayingAgainstType, in which an actor plays against type in such a way as to specifically play with, subvert or outright deconstruct his or her previously established character type.
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12	Supposing, for example, Bob is best known for playing charming, funny {{Nice Guy}}s. In this trope, Bob takes on a role superficially quite similar to his established character type -- only for the film to reveal that Bob's character is only capable of being charming and funny while [[TheAlcoholic drunk]], and that he is driven to alcoholism by his history of social awkwardness and depression. (This trope can hence overlap with DeconstructedCharacterArchetype if Bob's character type is a recognizable archetype in its own right.)
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14	Note that this trope is not limited to comedic character types being PlayedForDrama; it's entirely possible to do this by playing dramatic character types for laughs (''e.g.'': Bob is best-known for playing tough-as-nails gangsters, and then plays a wannabe gangster who acts tough but is in fact easily frightened and can barely hold a gun, let alone fire one), or exploring facets of a dramatic or comedic character type previously left unexamined.
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16	When successfully executed, this trope can cast an actor's earlier roles in an entirely new light and lead members of the audience to cry, "SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct!" When done poorly, it can seem jarring and awkward and may lead the audience to finding it "QuestionableCasting" (especially if the actor in question is insufficiently skilled to pull it off).
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18	Compare IAmNotSpock, IAmNotLeonardNimoy, AdamWesting, SelfParody, MetaCasting, CastingGag, TomHanksSyndrome and LeslieNielsenSyndrome. In-universe, compare with HiddenDepths, CharacterDevelopment, FlatCharacter and RoundedCharacter.
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20	%%See also UnbuiltCharacterType - when this happens ''before'' the actor was typecast.
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22	'''Note:''' Do not list a different actor indented under another actor's example just because they appeared in the same work. Indented examples should only be examples of when the same actor played with their character type in multiple different roles. See Administrivia/ExampleIndentationInTropeLists for more information.
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24	!!!'''Unmarked spoilers below.'''
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26	----
27	!!Examples:
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29	[[foldercontrol]]
30
31	!!! Live-Action Actors
32
33	[[folder: Film]]
34	* Creator/RobinWilliams is best known for playing cheery, funny, and manically upbeat characters, but in ''Film/OneHourPhoto'' he plays a character whose outward cheerfulness masks the fact that he is a StepfordSmiler StalkerWithACrush.
35	* Creator/JimCarrey:
36	** He subverted his reputation for upbeat, funny, over-the-top characters in BlackComedy ''Film/TheCableGuy'', playing a character whose demented zaniness is indicative of his StalkerWithACrush tendencies.
37	** Likewise in ''Film/TheTrumanShow'', in which his character's superficial friendliness and wacky charm [[StepfordSmiler hides his inner loneliness and yearning to escape his dreary life]].
38	* Creator/AudreyTautou, as per the page quote, is best known (especially in the English-speaking world) for her role in ''Film/{{Amelie}}'', in which she plays a sweet, innocent, hopelessly romantic young woman (essentially a ManicPixieDreamGirl, except that she's the protagonist). For the first half of ''Film/HeLovesMeHeLovesMeNot'', she appears to be playing a similar type of character, only for the film to reveal that she is in fact a violent, insane {{Yandere}}, whose innocent romantic spirit is symptomatic of her complete and utter detachment from reality.
39	* Creator/SadieSink plays around with her usual typecasting as TroubledButCute teens in ''Film/TheWhale''. While in ''Series/StrangerThings'' and ''Film/FearStreet'', her JerkWithAHeartOfGold personas emphasise the latter, Ellie is considerably less sympathetic. While she does have a FreudianExcuse [[spoiler: and seems to improve by the end]], part of the sadness comes from Charlie trying to believe his daughter is a better person than she actually is.
40	* As part of ''Film/{{Unforgiven}}'''s GenreDeconstruction of Westerns as a whole, Creator/ClintEastwood's role in the film is a deconstruction of his earlier Western character(s), namely those from the Film/DollarsTrilogy.
41	* In what has actually become a sort of type casting itself, Creator/MorganFreeman, who is known for playing "[[MagicalNegro wise old man]]" characters, sometimes plays "wise old man characters... who turn out to be evil", with ''Film/{{Wanted}}'' being a good example of this.
42	* Creator/AdamSandler has played with his stereotypical persona more than once:
43	** In ''Film/PunchDrunkLove'', his character is, like always, antisocial, [[ManChild emotionally immature]], and [[HairTriggerTemper prone to uncontrollable fits of anger]]. Instead of that being a source of comedy, [[SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome it leads to awkward, embarrassing situations, and the character leads a lonely, depressing life.]] Creator/RogerEbert discussed this in his [[http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20021018/REVIEWS/210180308/1023 review]] of the film.
44	** His character in ''Film/{{Click}}'' is a {{workaholic}} with very little time to spend with his family, but as the film goes on the audience learns that this attitude makes him miss out on most of his life, leaving him a broken man.
45	** He also plays a broken character in ''Film/ReignOverMe'' where the character's seemingly carefree attitude is actually just an escape mechanism so he doesn't have to acknowledge a terrible trauma in his life. Any attempts to disturb his escape from reality tactics are usually met with violent denial and outbursts.
46	** Howard Ratner in ''Film/UncutGems'' is impulsive, hotheaded, selfish, irresponsible, and immature, much like many of Sandler's comedy roles. Here, it's PlayedForDrama (and for BlackComedy).
47	* A OneSceneWonder example in ''Film/NaturalBornKillers'', with Creator/RodneyDangerfield - replete with LaughTrack and his "I don't get no respect" shtick - playing Mallory's violent, sexually abusive father. Makes for very uncomfortable viewing indeed.
48	* Creator/RobertDeNiro has made a career for the past ten or more years out of subverting, parodying, or deconstructing the tough-guy cred he had accumulated over a long and illustrious career. Examples include ''Film/AnalyzeThis'' and ''Film/{{Stardust}}''.
49	* Creator/LeslieNielsen's goofy role in ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' was a play on his previous roles of the studly, stoic hero. One critic quipped that what was needed of him in his dramatic roles and his comedic roles was exactly the same: the ability to recite patently absurd dialogue while keeping a perfectly straight face. This was so successful that he's now [[LeslieNielsenSyndrome better-known as a comedic actor than a dramatic one]].
50	* Barbara Billingsley's most well-known role during her heyday was June Cleaver, the housewife in the archetypical '50s SliceOfLife DomCom ''Series/LeaveItToBeaver''. It makes having her play the JiveTurkey translator in ''Film/{{Airplane}}'' that much more stark (and hilarious).
51	* Creator/AnthonyPerkins in ''Film/{{Psycho}}''. Thitherto this, Perkins had been known for playing likeable, affable, somewhat socially awkward supporting roles. When adapting the film from Robert Bloch's book of the same name, Creator/AlfredHitchcock was unimpressed with the original characterization of Norman Bates, a grouchy, overweight alcoholic with much more overt problems with women and sex (directly based upon the inspiration for Bates, Ed Gein). He instead decided to change the characterization to superficially match Perkins's earlier roles, largely because Perkins looked, in Hitchcock's own words, "like a boy scout". This made Bates's character more sympathetic, the DecoyProtagonist element easier to swallow and the TwistEnding much more shocking. Alas, this gambit was so successful that Perkins ended up being typecast as Bates for the rest of his career.
52	* Creator/JohnTravolta has a natural screen presence that can be described as a complete embodiment of the NiceGuy in TV shows and movies like ''Series/WelcomeBackKotter'', ''Film/{{Phenomenon}}'', and ''Film/LookWhosTalking''. On the other hand, he seems to LOVE subverting that niceness by playing AffablyEvil or FauxAffablyEvil characters in movies like ''[[Film/BrokenArrow1996 Broken Arrow]]'' and ''Film/TheTakingOfPelhamOneTwoThree''. His role in the movie ''Film/FaceOff'' zigzags this trope, where he starts out as a NiceGuy FBI agent who has to swap faces with evil terrorist Creator/NicolasCage. This allowed Travolta (and Cage) to play both sides of their personas in the same movie. Also played with in ''Film/FromParisWithLove'', wherein he plays a ruthless GoodIsNotNice CIA agent.
53	* The protagonist of ''Film/ThePerfectHost'' is a bank robber who is looking for a place to hide. So he manages to trick his way into the house of a guy played by Creator/DavidHydePierce who seems to be the latter's usual milquetoast character ''a la'' [[Series/{{Frasier}} Niles Crane]]. Then Pierce's character reveals himself to be an AxCrazy maniac who proceeds to drug the protagonist and torment him for most of the night.
54	* Music/DavidBowie started getting film offers almost as soon as he had his commercial breakthrough via his AlterEgoActing persona of Ziggy Stardust, a flamboyant alien (or TouchedByVorlons) rock musician, MessianicArchetype, and TragicHero who succumbs to SexDrugsAndRockAndRoll, ego, and his own fans. But virtually all of the roles he was offered were Ziggy {{Exp\|y}}ies. Instead, his first major film role was that of Thomas Jerome Newton in ''Film/TheManWhoFellToEarth''. Newton is also an alien MessianicArchetype TragicHero...but he's TheStoic and {{Moe}} before Moe was trendy, and his succumbing to Earthlings and their vices is the result of [[HumanityIsInfectious humanity proving infectious]] rather than success going to his head. Also, he can't sing.
55	* In ''Film/TheDescendants'', one of the main plot points is that the protagonist (played by Creator/GeorgeClooney) has found out that his comatose and slowly dying wife has been cheating on him. Early on he and his daughter find a picture of the guy...and he's played by Creator/MatthewLillard, to which he and his daughters react with "Seriously? THAT'S the guy?". While this could simply be a crack at his appearance (who would go from Clooney to Lillard?), audiences familiar with Lillard's typical "annoying jackass" roles will likely start figuring this is yet another one of those...then once they actually meet Lillard's character, [[SugarWiki/HeReallyCanAct you're blown away]].
56	* Creator/MarkSheppard is very well known for playing slightly sinister, slimy sons-of... whom you can't help but admire even as they're stabbing your protagonists in the back. Then he appeared as one of the Regents on ''Series/Warehouse13''. When an episode was centered around Pete getting assigned by Mrs. Frederic to find out which Regent was TheMole, IKnewIt was the immediate reaction when Sheppard's character quickly turned out to be an evil bastard making some kind of play for control of the warehouse. Then it turned out that Pete hallucinated the entire thing, and in a later episode Sheppard's character would even make a HeroicSacrifice to save the main characters.
57	* Creator/GaryOldman is well-known for playing villains, so when he was cast in ''Film/HarryPotterAndThePrisonerOfAzkaban'' as Sirius Black, a mass-murderer after Harry, no one was surprised. By the end, it's revealed that [[GoodAllAlong Sirius never murdered or betrayed anyone]], and in later movies, he becomes the closest thing Harry has to family (naturally, this came as no surprise to viewers who'd already read the books).
58	* A retroactive example: Creator/KateWinslet spends most of ''Film/AKidInKingArthursCourt'' as ProperLady Princess Sarah. Then comes the twist: [[spoiler: Princess Sarah is an ActionGirl, who has been secretly dressing as the BlackKnight]].
59	* Creator/JamesMcAvoy in ''Film/VictorFrankenstein''. The actor was almost always {{Typecast}} as a WideEyedIdealist, he often appeared in {{Period Piece}}s, and he had about a dozen roles where he portrayed an intellectual character. Between 2013 and 2015, however, he was PlayingAgainstType as all of his onscreen and theatre personas suffered from mental illness. [=McAvoy=]'s interpretation of MadScientist Victor Frankenstein combines ''all'' of these elements; Victor is a dark character, but even he possesses a hint of naïveté when he says things like, "I dream of a world where hope replaces fear." That line of dialogue could have been spoken by the benevolent [[Film/XMenFirstClass Dr. Charles Xavier]] (which is [=McAvoy=]'s most famous example of TypeCasting), but in Victor's case, his idealism is mixed with SanitySlippage, and they twist him into a WellIntentionedExtremist.
60	* Creator/BarbaraHershey as MyBelovedSmother and MamaBear at the same time, notably in ''Film/BlackSwan'' and ''Series/OnceUponATime''. It's a similar situation in ''Film/{{Insidious}}''...except she's unambiguously the hero this time.
61	* The producers of ''Film/{{Flightplan}}'' cast Creator/SeanBean as the pilot to [[RedHerring mislead the audience]], who'd think he's part of the villainous plot because of his typecasting as a bad guy.
62	* ''Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse'':
63	** Creator/CobieSmulders plays Maria Hill as what Robin Scherbatsky (from ''Series/HowIMetYourMother'') would be like if she worked for a government intelligence agency.
64	** Creator/RobertRedford's role as Alexander Pierce in ''Film/CaptainAmericaTheWinterSoldier'' riffs off his earlier roles as liberal or left-wing heroes taking down fascist conspiracies, but then reveals that he's the leader of the film's fascist conspiracy.
65	** Creator/BenMendelsohn is known for his villainous roles, which led to him being cast as Talos, the BigBad of ''Film/CaptainMarvel2019''. [[spoiler:Namely, to help obscure the fact that the Skrulls undergo AdaptationalHeroism in the film and Talos is an AntiHero at worst, only trying to find his family and protect his people from the Kree.]]
66	* ''Film/EndOfDays'' was sold on the premise of "Creator/ArnoldSchwarzenegger fights TheDevil". However, instead of depicting Arnold as an unstoppable force of nature that can destroy everything in sight, this movie depicts his character, Jericho, as being genuinely flawed, such as [[DeathSeeker being suicidal]], not being able to do the same death-defying acts as the other heroes Arnold has played (not counting the scene where he uses a rope on a helicopter to lower himself mid-flight) and, in the end, [[spoiler:there was no other way to stop Satan from causing the End unless Jericho [[HeroicSuicide killed himself]]]], but at least [[spoiler:Jericho can be with his family again]]. In interviews, Schwarzenegger said that he took this role because he thought it was the perfect script to make his return to action movies, which makes this part even more weird.
67	* Creator/JasonStatham is well-known for his roles as steely-eyed, razor-sharp badasses. In ''Film/{{Spy}}'', he plays Rick Ford, a steely-eyed, razor-sharp {{Cloudcuckoolander}} suffering from SmallNameBigEgo. When he's not recounting ludicrous, probably-made-up tales of his previous exploits ("I drove a car off a freeway on top of a train while on fire. Not the car; ''I'' was on fire."), his action-hero attitude is constantly screwing up attempts to be a stealthy spy.
68	* Before undergoing TomHanksSyndrome, Creator/AnneHathaway played a lot of wholesome squeaky-clean girls in various Disney films. In ''Film/AliceInWonderland2010'' she plays the White Queen as a sort of darker take on her earlier innocent characters. The Queen is in the UncannyValley and is strongly implied to be a StepfordSmiler. WordOfGod says that she surrounds herself with so much light imagery because she's too tempted by the dark side.
69	* Creator/KeiraKnightley eventually became typecast as a PluckyGirl ahead of her time in various period pieces. In ''Film/TheDuchess'' she starts off as this type...and then runs into the sexist and oppressive laws of the time. She invoked this in ''{{Literature/Atonement}}'' too, as Joe Wright had wanted her to play the adult Briony. Having had enough of "coming of age ladies", Keira chose to play Cecilia instead.
70	* Creator/TomCruise is one of the quintessential confident, competent, and easy on the eyes action heroes. In ''Film/EdgeOfTomorrow'', he plays US Army Major William Cage, and we are introduced to him giving interviews looking like every bit like an experienced war hero...and then the minute he's ordered to go into a war zone, we learn that he's a glorified PR drone who has never been in combat a day in his life and proceeds to do ''everything'' he can in order to avoid fighting, such as grovelling, blackmail, and outright desertion. After being dragged kicking and screaming into battle and dying fairly quickly, a twist of fate gives him the power to trigger a time loop after death. We then see him spend the rest of the movie (and LOTS of death triggered loops) [[CharacterDevelopment slowly becoming the Tom Cruise hero we all know and love]].
71	* Creator/NaomiWatts often plays heroic Woobies that endure plenty of suffering. In the ''Film/{{Divergent}}'' films she's a JerkassWoobie who's ''causing'' the suffering.
72	* ''Film/AmericanHustle'' features Creator/AmyAdams playing a sort of InnocenceLost character, and there are a few scenes that evoke her more familiar sweetheart personas in other films. But her character Sydney has had to reinvent herself as a sexually aggressive FemmeFatale - though she wants to escape that life and settle down.
73	* Creator/DeborahKerr was Hollywood's favourite ProperLady in the 1950s and her most famous role is arguably Mrs Anna in ''Film/TheKingAndI''. In ''Film/TheInnocents'' she plays around with that benevolent governess image. She believes her two children are being possessed by ghosts, but it's [[MaybeMagicMaybeMundane left entirely open]] whether she's just imagining that as a result of her sexual repression.
74	* Creator/ChanningTatum entered TheNewTens playing his DumbMuscle image for [[LeslieNielsenSyndrome laughs]]. Then came ''{{Film/Foxcatcher}}'', where this is PlayedForDrama and his character feels inadequate compared to his more beloved older brother. In a different vein, it's something of a RunningGag for Channing to have lots of HoYay with his male co-stars. This film implies something of a twisted sexual relationship between Mark Schultz and John Du Pont.
75	* ''Franchise/StarWars'':
76	** Creator/FrankOz usually played goofy, silly-looking creatures like [[Series/TheMuppets Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy]]. In ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack'', Yoda presents himself as a goofy, silly-looking character, but is revealed to be actually very wise and powerful beneath his facade. By the prequels, Yoda's veneer of goofiness is almost gone (though still there when teaching Jedi Younglings) and it reaches PlayingAgainstType by ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' as it's the DarkestHour for Yoda himself.
77	** In ''Film/RogueOne'', Creator/MadsMikkelsen - who is primarily typecast as villains in American films and television - plays a scientist working for '''THE''' TropeCodifier, if not the TropeNamer, of the EvilEmpire. The catch? In this film, he's actually a ''[[ReluctantMadScientist reluctant]]'' MadScientist ([[{{Pun}} pardon the pun]]) who ''helps'' the heroes in this movie [[spoiler:destroy the Death Star]].
78	* Several examples in ''Film/JojoRabbit''. It is, after all, a BlackComedy set in UsefulNotes/NaziGermany.
79	** Creator/TaikaWaititi initially retains his trademark quirkiness as Jojo's imaginary friend, but with that friend being UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler, his performance also has hints of genuine menace that [[VillainousBreakdown become more blatant as the film goes on]].
80	** Creator/StephenMerchant is nearly always a cheerful, lovable fellow in films he appears in. Here, he plays an AffablyEvil Gestapo officer who doesn't outwardly seem much different from his usual characters, save for the whole antisemitic genocide thing.
81	** Creator/SamRockwell frequently plays racist hicks, cowardly bad guys, and assorted scumbags. [[spoiler:In a cast that consists almost entirely of Nazis, Rockwell's character is the one adult member who displays any trace of morals and intelligence, who ends up sacrificing his life for Jojo. Still a Nazi and not a good person, by his own admission.]]
82	** Creator/RebelWilson is usually typecast as outrageous FatComicRelief characters. She plays Fraulein Rahm -- still comic relief, yet also a fanatically devoted Nazi who brainwashes children into Fascism and [[spoiler:throws them into the meat grinder as ChildSoldiers.]]
83	* Creator/LiamNeeson tends to carry himself with a quiet charisma and nobility that sees him play largely heroic characters, even if they sometimes fit into the JerkWithAHeartOfGold trope like in ''Film/SchindlersList''. Even his more brutal and scary characters like in ''Film/{{Taken}}'' or ''Film/AWalkAmongTheTombstones'' have gentle, caring aspects to them, and he's even put that warm, pleasant voice to use playing Aslan. In ''Film/{{Widows}}'', his character seems set up to be his usual type: morally ambiguous, but still a charming, caring man who's doubtlessly AFatherToHisMen. [[spoiler:He reveals himself to be a greedy, craven coward concerned largely with himself, and who murders his entire heist crew in a horrific way, ultimately trying to kill his own grieving wife.]]
84	* Creator/NickFrost in ''Film/SlaughterhouseRulez''. As usual, he plays an eccentric {{Cloudcuckoolander}} - here, however, his Cloudcuckoolander tendencies come off as more him being unstable than him merely being a goofball.
85	* Creator/ChuckNorris is one of the archetypal {{Hollywood Action Hero}}es who can [[MemeticBadass memetically]] beat up people with a mere glare. ''Film/HeroAndTheTerror'', while seemingly another "Chuck smashes Evildoers" plot in fact deconstructs this hero myth. Norris plays a cynical, jaded police officer who regrets his past as a CowboyCop because his recklessness almost got him killed when he tried to take down a sinister SerialKiller twice his size by going in guns blazing and walking right into a trap. Anyone familiar with Norris' usual roles would be shocked to see his character struggling with PTSD.
86	* Creator/PedroPascal has played several characters who start out as friends to protagonists, but turn out to be EvilAllAlong, and the last enemies the protagonists fight. In ''Film/TheUnbearableWeightOfMassiveTalent'', he plays Creator/NicolasCage's newest friend/screenwriting partner, whom the CIA suspects of being a crime lord. [[spoiler:However, he turns out to just be a nerd taking the heat for his cousin's crimes, and actually saves Nick's life.]]
87	* Alexander Abdulov was famous for playing KnightInShiningArmor romantic leads such as Ivan from ''Film/{{Sorcerers}}''. Then he got cast as Anthony Marston in the 1987 adaptation of ''Literature/AndThenThereWereNone'': handsome, daring and attracted to the main heroine, but revealed to be utterly amoral [[spoiler:and killed off halfway through the movie's first part, barely contributing anything to the plot]].
88	* The title character of ''Film/TheElectricalLifeOfLouisWain'' is a talented and eccentric gentleman, which his actor Creator/BenedictCumberbatch often plays, but Wain is affable and bumbling rather than insufferable like many of the other characters in said wheelhouse.
89	* The [[BourgeoisBohemian upper-class white liberal]] villains of ''Film/GetOut2017'' are played by actors famous for not just playing more heroic versions of that exact character type, but also for [[SelfDeprecation being outspoken liberals in real life]]. Creator/BradleyWhitford, who played the father Dean, is best known for playing Josh Lyman on ''Series/TheWestWing'', a show that's often stereotypically associated with that political outlook. Creator/CatherineKeener, who played the mother Missy, is also known for playing these sorts of middle-class suburbanite roles. [[spoiler:Finally, Creator/AllisonWilliams, who played the daughter Rose, was best known at the time for playing the artsy, {{narcissist}}ic {{hipster}} Marnie Michaels on ''Series/{{Girls}}'', and for being the daughter of NBC newscaster Brian Williams.]]
90	* All of the "nice guys" in ''Film/PromisingYoungWoman'' are played by actors well known for playing charming romantic leads (Creator/AdamBrody, Creator/ChristopherMintzPlasse, Creator/ChristopherLowell). Director Emerald Fennell wanted to show that not all men who commit sexual assault look like mean hulking brutes, while also suggesting that even rapists see themselves as charming romantic leads.
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93	[[folder: Live-Action TV]]
94	* ''Series/MyNameIsEarl'': In the episode "Made a Lady Think I Was God", Creator/RoseanneBarr guest stars as a character with her usual insulting personality until Earl inadvertently turns her into a kindly nun.
95	* In an episode of ''Series/{{Bones}}'', Creator/RobertEnglund (of ''Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet'' fame) guest-stars as a creepy janitor who hangs out in the basement of the school - who, in a subversion of NarrowedItDownToTheGuyIRecognize, isn't the perp.
96	* Before ''Series/BreakingBad'', Creator/BryanCranston was best known for his performance as Hal in sitcom ''Series/MalcolmInTheMiddle'', an archetypal BumblingDad and HenpeckedHusband frustrated by his dead-end job and poor financial standing. His character in the series, Walter White, starts off as a very similar sort of character, which makes [[ProtagonistJourneyToVillain his transformation into a vicious, ruthless drug dealer]] all the more shocking.
97	* For those who watched ''Series/FridayNightLights'' before ''Breaking Bad'', it at first seemed that Creator/JessePlemons as Todd was playing a criminal version of Landry: an extreme NiceGuy and even a little dorky. Then [[WouldHurtAChild he unexpectedly murders a child with no hesitation]] and [[TheSociopath only gets more creepy as the show progresses.]]
98	* In Creator/SummerGlau's first guest appearance as Skylar in ''Series/{{Alphas}}'', she is initially depicted as the kind of bizarre, waif-like young woman who she became famous for as River in ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' and Cameron in ''Series/TerminatorTheSarahConnorChronicles''. It then comes as more of a surprise when it's revealed that the {{MacGuffin}} that she's searching for is actually her daughter, as nobody would expect her usual type of character to have a child.
99	* Creator/AlanTudyk is introduced in ''Series/{{Dollhouse}}'' as a very similar character to the one he became famous for in Joss Whedon's earlier ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' as Wash, and appears to be a harmless dolt. Then it turns out he's actually the rogue active "Alpha", a SerialKiller with a sci-fi version of multiple personality disorder. Later on he started playing similar BitchInSheepsClothing characters until that became a typecasting in itself, and was subverted the other way around in ''WesternAnimation/Frozen2013'' where he's set up to be the BigBad, but isn't.
100	* Creator/RobertCarlyle is often the ButtMonkey of the story in some way. In ''Series/OnceUponATime'' his character (Rumpelstiltskin) started out as one. His status as this is PlayedForDrama and motivated him to become TheChessmaster BigBad known as the Dark One.
101	* Another ''Series/OnceUponATime'' cast member who took this trope for a friendly game of pinball was Creator/RaphaelSbarge. In live-action roles (''Series/LawAndOrderSpecialVictimsUnit'', ''Series/ColdCase'', ''Series/StarTrekVoyager''), he's usually playing some ''deeply'' disturbed Perp of the Week. It's his voice acting roles where he tends to play {{Nice Guy}}s like Scorch (''VideoGame/StarWarsRepublicCommando''), Carth Onasi (''VideoGame/KnightsOfTheOldRepublic''), Kaiden Alenko (''Franchise/MassEffect''), and the title character of ''ComicBook/{{Deadman}}''. Jiminy Cricket would be playing to type when depicted as a CGI cricket, but playing against it as the meek Archie Hopper.
102	* Creator/AndreBraugher plays Captain Holt in ''Series/BrooklynNineNine'' like he's still on ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet'', with much of the character's humor coming from his [[TheStoic overly stoic]] demeanor [[TheComicallySerious contrasting with the wackiness of what goes on in the precinct.]]
103	* In season 4 of ''Series/VeronicaMars'', Creator/PattonOswalt plays another "PluckyComicRelief nerd" who repeatedly impedes in the investigation carried out by the main characters with his bumbling antics, is constantly trading insults with the SitcomArchnemesis in his online group of amateur sleuths, and it's even somewhat sweet when he starts to romance one of his female friends. [[spoiler:Until it's revealed that he's really a delusional PsychopathicManchild who treats everything as a game, ''murders'' the SitcomArchnemesis to frame him, and becomes a copycat MadBomber to undo his perceived lack of respect from the "alpha crowd" around him.]]
104	* Creator/JaleelWhite is famous for his role on ''Series/FamilyMatters'' as a nerd who is constantly pursuing a girl who is not interested in him. Because he is so dorky, he comes across as annoying but generally harmless. In an episode of ''Series/{{CSI}}'' he plays a character who was constantly hitting on the victim before she was murdered despite her lack of interest. This time he is not a nerd and comes across as creepy and even a reason to suspect he killed her. [[spoiler:Though he didn't.]]
105	* In ''Series/TheOuterLimits1995'' episode "Zig Zag", Creator/FrankWhaley seems to be playing the usual timid character he became famous for in TheNineties due to his youthful "whitebread" looks. However, in this episode, it's just a fake persona for a bold cyberterrorist who is using it to mask his ''real'' status as TheChessmaster.
106	* Comedians Creator/LilyTomlin and Creator/ChrisRock guest-starred in separate episode of ''Series/HomicideLifeOnTheStreet''. Their characters fit their comic personas, but were both brutal murderers, making their quirks much more disturbing.
107	* Creator/WentworthMiller became synonymous with ChronicHeroSyndrome after his exposure on ''Series/PrisonBreak'' as NiceGuy Michael Scofield. In an episode of ''Series/{{House}}'', he plays a wealthy GoodSamaritan who is so altruistic that he'd happily sign away all his assets to anybody if they asked him for help but is only doing so because of a brain disease that is affecting his judgement. His wife is rightfully freaked out that he doesn't prioritize either himself or their family over the well-being of random strangers, as her husband actively wishes that he will die of his ailment so his organs can be used to save a few more lives.
108	* Creator/PaulRudd is well known for near exclusively playing affable [[NiceGuy nice guys]]. In ''Series/TheShrinkNextDoor'' he plays Isaac "Ike" Herschkopf, a PsychoPsychologist whose affable and kind demeanor is a mask hiding an emotionally abusive ManipulativeBastard. A mask that every so often comes off with [[PlayingAgainstType disturbing results]].
109	* ''Series/TheLastOfUs2023'' stars Creator/PedroPascal as anti-heroic Joel Miller, in his third instance of portraying a morally-grey single father on Creator/{{HBO}}. Previously, he made [[StarMakingRole his big break]] playing ''Series/GameOfThrones'' anti-hero Oberyn Martell, then depicted ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' anti-villain Maxwell Lord. Unlike Oberyn and Maxwell, Joel [[OutlivingOnesOffspring outlives his own daughter]] in the series premiere (Pascal's children in ''[=GoT=]'' and ''[=WW84=]'' either outlive him or have no death scene at all), then spends the rest of the season protecting a surrogate daughter instead.
110	* Also on ''The Last of Us'', Creator/NickOfferman as Bill starts out basically playing [[Series/ParksAndRecreation Ron Swanson]] after the [[AfterTheEnd collapse of civilization]] whose only focus is on basic survival. Meeting and falling in love with Frank turns him into the lead of tender love story and ends up making Bill a much better and more idealistic person by the end.
111	[[/folder]]
112
113	[[folder:Music]]
114	* In the Music/JoynerLucas song "What If I Was Gay?", Joyner plays a gay man who comes out to his homophobic friend who tries to force him back into the closet. The homophobic friend is played by Music/{{Eminem}}, notorious for his homophobic lyrics... and who admits at the end of the song that [[ArmoredClosetGay he's gay, too]].
115	[[/folder]]
116
117	!!!Voice Actors
118
119	[[folder:Anime]]
120	* The voice actress Creator/RieKugimiya almost always voices heroic characters (typically those with a {{tsundere}} personality), which allowed for an effective BaitTheDog with Nena Trinity in ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00''. Nena initially comes off as a standard cute and quirky character [[spoiler:and then sort of out of nowhere, she decides to use her mech slaughter a wedding party because they were having a good time and she wasn't. Then [[CuteAndPsycho her actual character is established]]]]. ''VideoGame/AsurasWrath'' is a much straighter example, as her characters (Mithra and the villager who looks like her) are almost complete opposites to her established typecasting.
121	* The casting of ''Manga/{{Doraemon}}'''s voice actress as [[BigBad Monokuma]] in ''Franchise/{{Danganronpa}}'' is a perfect example. [[MascotVillain Monokuma]] is a parody of a Japanese kawaii mascot character with a NonStandardCharacterDesign, who speaks with affected cuteness, as well as openly being a vicious, psychotic EvilGenius manipulating people into killing each other, explicitly [[ItAmusedMe for his own amusement]]. Him choosing to use a voice associated so strongly with the wonder of childhood in generations of the Japanese consciousness[[note]]The go-to analogy for international audiences is "imagine Jigsaw from ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' voiced by WesternAnimation/MickeyMouse"[[/note]] perfectly fits his personality.
122	[[/folder]]
123
124	[[folder:Video Games]]
125	* Creator/NolanNorth:
126	** His role in ''VideoGame/SpecOpsTheLine'' as Cpt. Martin Walker initially appears to be quite similar to North's usual type (specifically the "Drake" voice from ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}''), but as the game wears on it turns into a savage deconstruction of the character type, with Walker becoming increasingly violent and unhinged as a consequence of the horrific actions he is forced (or believes himself to have been forced) to carry out. Curiously, this was apparently unintentional on the part of the development team.
127	** Then there was his role in ''VideoGame/TheLastOfUs'' as David, the leader of a group of survivors, who is kinda in a sense Nathan Drake if he was the leader of a group of survivors. But then [[spoiler:you find out he's not only violently crazy, but he's also a cannibal and possibly a pedophile]].
128	** ''VideoGame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'': A light-sided male Consular? Playing with type because the Consular is a MartialPacifist diplomat. Dark sided male Consular? A cruel, nasty KnightTemplar manipulating the galaxy to his own benefit while keeping up the [[VillainWithGoodPublicity appearance of a hero]].
129	* Also in ''Spec Ops'' and in the same vein, Bruce Boxleitner as Col. Konrad is an inversion of his roles as TheCaptain following ''Series/BabylonFive'', a good leader that had become a military despot, a ColonelKilgore with a nice voice and good use of words. And then we find out that Walker has charged into the situation without being given all the information and things are not what they seem... [[spoiler:like the fact most of the rantings Walker (and the player) has heard throughout the game are ''Walker's own hallucinations'']].
130	* Creator/MatthewMercer is known for voicing sarcastic badasses. Alvin from ''VideoGame/TalesOfXillia'' is one of these, but [[spoiler:he ends up betraying the party multiple times and undergoes SanitySlippage]].
131	* Creator/BrycePapenbrook is often cast as {{Nice Guy}}s who have [[WideEyedIdealist an idealistic view of the world]]. He also provides the voices for Henry from ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening'' and Nagito Komaeda from ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', who are both {{Nice Guy}}s [[spoiler:[[BlueAndOrangeMorality in a twisted]] [[AxCrazy and dark way]]]].
132	* Creator/StephanieSheh, in her own words, is often cast as "[[ShrinkingViolet super-shy high school girls]] or [[{{Yandere}} completely bipolar types]]". This is probably why she was cast as Mikan Tsumiki in ''VisualNovel/Danganronpa2GoodbyeDespair'', [[spoiler:[[BewareTheQuietOnes since she's both]]]].
133	* ''VideoGame/MetalGear'':
134	** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'':
135	*** Creator/AkioOtsuka, the Japanese voice of Solid Snake in ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid'', is jarring to hear if you're an English player more used to Creator/DavidHayter's deep-voiced version of the character. Ohtsuka has often played cool, deep-voiced characters who crack the odd BondOneLiner, but the voice he uses for Snake is more like the 'astringent', warm and likeable register he uses in his extensive career as a voice-over artist for television advertising, giving Snake an impression of DissonantSerenity that at first makes him seem like the most relatable, fun character in the cast, but gets progressively more desperate and brittle as the story continues and it becomes more apparent how messed-up a person he is.
136	*** Creator/HideyukiTanaka had previously been playing the badass, cynical Jonathan Ingram, a character who shares more than a few traits with Solid Snake, in Creator/HideoKojima's previous game, ''VisualNovel/{{Policenauts}}''. In ''Metal Gear Solid'', he is cast as Otacon, an awkward {{Otaku}} with a poster of Jonathan on his wall, with the voice indicating that there is a core of coolness in there. As Otacon becomes more confident and attractive over the course of the series, Tanaka's performance gets closer to his voice as Jonathan.
137	** ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolid2SonsOfLiberty'':
138	*** Creator/QuintonFlynn's Raiden was developed to sound like an older version of the title character from ''WesternAnimation/JonnyQuestTheRealAdventures'', who's also a young, blond, heroic character in a ''Franchise/JamesBond''-influenced action-adventure setting with supernatural elements (in the case of the incarnation of Jonny played by Flynn, even incorporating the idea of [[{{Cyberspace}} VR training]] as a significant part of the backstory). This adds some interest to the reveal that Raiden isn't a KidHero, but a former EnfantTerrible traumatised by fighting in wars while still a child.
139	*** Creator/KenyuuHoriuchi was cast as Raiden because of his ability to play cool PrettyBoy while himself being a much older veteran, with the idea that Raiden's voice would sound inappropriately old for his age, indicating he isn't as innocent as he seems.
140	** The Japanese version of ''VideoGame/MetalGearSolidPeaceWalker'' probably contains ''Metal Gear'''s best example, StuntCasting Paz Ortega Andrade with the Jpop idol Creator/NanaMizuki. Paz appears to be a perfect innocent, but we later find out she's significantly older than she appears, has a rude, foul-mouthed, and obnoxious personality, loves nuclear war, hates everyone around her, and also smokes, and sprays you with verbal abuse while attacking you, with a jpop song playing in the background about how nuclear deterrence is a lot like love. This is a reference to the pressure to maintain impossible standards of ContractualPurity for Japanese idols, who have had their careers ended by slips of an IncorruptiblePurePureness image that ''no-one'' could maintain. (Although it's fair to suggest that Mizuki has probably never tried killing people in a giant, nuclear-equipped mech.)
141	* In ''VideoGame/DiscoElysium'', the ''Podcast/ChapoTrapHouse'' hosts play with their on-air comic personas without their characters really being their ''type'':
142	** Felix Beiderman plays SociopathicSoldier Kortenaer, who reflects his interest in oafish, delusional military culture. Unlike Felix's usual version of this character, Korty is PlayedForDrama. He gets no funny lines, doesn't do any of Felix's familiar schtick, and in fact gets some dialogue describing a war crime he did that is so unpleasant and graphic that the game - which is already dark and gross - makes a point of warning you that you can opt out of hearing it. If you pick up on the slight humour of Korty's horrific violence being a reaction to his own ineffectuality, it's probably only because he's played by the guy who coined the term 'failson'.
143	** Matt Christman, known on the show for his SophisticatedAsHell rants about infuriating political cruelties, plays Titus, a militant Unionist who is also far left, has a hot temper and is known for raising his voice... but in Titus's case, it's only to exercise his authority. Titus isn't interested in rhetoric and is suspicious of conventional learning, and when it comes to dealing with the political situation's stupidity he is extremely calculating and level-headed.
144	** Will as Fuck The World, a young man who styles himself as a delinquent but who is actually a literary critic, is more along the lines of self-parody of the ''Chapo'' hosts' 'dirtbag' image.
145	** Virgil, voted the handsomest one on the show by an audience of mostly men, plays a swishy CampGay who [[EvenTheGuysWantHim Harry finds extremely cool and mysterious]]. On the show more fun is poked at Virgil's foppish geekiness and ambiguous disorder than him being especially camp or cool.
146	* Creator/ElijahWood is usually cast as an innocent, "soft" character, most notably [[Film/TheLordOfTheRings Frodo Baggins]]. In ''VideoGame/Psychonauts2'', [[spoiler:Nick Johnsmith is initally portrayed as the same- a friendly office worker who is said to get along with everybody. After Nick drops his mask, he turns out to be TheMole and a PsychopathicManchild who thinks he can successfully control a mass-murdering psychic]].
147	[[/folder]]
148
149	[[folder:Western Animation]]
150	* Creator/ArielWinter is known for voicing NiceGirl characters like [[WesternAnimation/JakeAndTheNeverlandPirates Marina]] and [[WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst Sofia]]. In ''WesternAnimation/MrPeabodyAndSherman'', she voices Penny Peterson, who is [[{{Jerkass}} very mean and condescending]], but she gradually becomes a [[TookALevelInKindness better person]] and shows that [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold she cares for Sherman]].
151	* Creator/BillFagerbakke, best known for voicing [[TheDitz ditzy]] {{Manchild}} Patrick Star on ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', voiced Broadway on ''WesternAnimation/{{Gargoyles}}'', who acted in a similar manner to Patrick, [[ObfuscatingStupidity but was actually fairly intelligent, mature, and romantic underneath his goofball exterior.]]
152	* The Ancient Sleeping Magi of Life Giving from ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime'' is one of Creator/DanaSnyder's usual hammy Cloudcuckoolander, except with his mental problems played for tragedy rather than for laughs.
153	* Creator/GreyGriffin as Major Doctor Ghastly from ''WesternAnimation/EvilConCarne'' shows her as a Mad Scientist who actually cares about other people compared to her other villainous roles, as in ''WesternAnimation/TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'', ''WesternAnimation/TheFairlyOddparents'', and ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender''. Her role as Karen Crawford[[note]]who, while corrupt and negligent, is still quite pleasant and emotionally balanced compared to her aforementioned villainous roles[[/note]] in the adult-oriented ''WesternAnimation/ParadisePD'' also qualifies.
154	* A dub example: In the Japanese dub of ''WesternAnimation/TheAmazingWorldOfGumball'', the titular character is played by Creator/JunkoTakeuchi. He ''would'' fit her {{Typecasting}} of goofy young boys (as in ''Manga/{{Naruto}}'', ''Anime/HunterXHunter'', ''Anime/{{Monster}}'', and ''VideoGame/InazumaEleven'')... if only Gumball didn't [[TookALevelInJerkass take a level in jerkass]] and become TheCynic in the second season.
155	* Joseph Sugarman in ''WesternAnimation/BojackHorseman'' is just like any other character played by Creator/MatthewBroderick: friendly and charismatic... which makes his more horrific actions [[spoiler: such as getting his wife lobotomized, then threatening to do the same to his daughter if she couldn't keep her emotions in check]] that much creepier, especially since as far as society was concerned at the time, [[DeliberateValuesDissonance he was justified to do so.]]
156	* Creator/MarkHamill plays the superhero Spectre in ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheBraveAndTheBold'', a sharp contrast to his usual typecast as the villain, most famously [[Characters/DCAUJoker the Joker]]. However, unlike Mark's most famous role as [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker]], the Spectre is an AntiHero who advocates vengeance and killing villains. And this naturally puts Hamill's Spectre at odds with Creator/KevinConroy's Phantom Stranger over Batman's path as a hero, refitting their Joker and Batman relationship from ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' in a new dynamic.
157	* Creator/NickFrost in ''WesternAnimation/IceAgeContinentalDrift''. He voices a {{Cloudcuckoolander}} [[TheDitz Ditz]]... who is TheBrute of the villains and who cheerfully admits to being one of the "bad guys".
158	** There's also Creator/DenisLeary as Diego in the ''whole franchise'' who, like most characters Leary plays, is a macho tough guy unwilling to show his true emotions but, unlike most characters Leary plays, tends to stay calm and collected.
159	* Creator/PatrickStewart as Seti from ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' is a ReasonableAuthorityFigure who loves his sons... and had thousands of innocent children murdered without remorse. "They were only slaves."
160	* Creator/SarahSilverman often plays foul-mouthed, sarcastic jerks. It looked like her character Vanellope von Schweetz in ''WesternAnimation/WreckItRalph'' was just a more kid-friendly version of that. Of course [[AllOfTheOtherReindeer it wasn't]] nearly [[BreakTheCutie that]] simple.
161	* Creator/TaniaGunadi is typically known for playing free-spirited, young characters who fit GenkiGirl archetype as well as those who are a JerkWithAHeartOfGold. On ''WesternAnimation/SofiaTheFirst'', she voices Miss Elodie, who's also a free-spirited GenkiGirl but is an adult.
162	* Creator/TomKenny as the Ice King in ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime''. At first, it's one of his many {{Cloudcuckoolander}}s (who's also a HarmlessVillain). Although once his backstory as [[spoiler:Simon Petrikov]] is established, it fits his less-common more serious roles he doesn't play as often.
163	[[/folder]]

Context Main / PlayingWithCharacterType