History TypeCasting / Actresses

* Jodhi May in the first decade of her career tended to be cast as a massive [[TheWoobie Woobie]], whether in ''A World Apart'' (borderline JerkassWoobie, although she gets a HeelRealization), ''Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans'' (StoicWoobie), ''Film/SisterMySister'' (WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds) or the 1999 BBC adaptation of ''Literature/TheTurnOfTheScrew'' (either a HauntedHeroine or an UnreliableNarrator, but still a Woobie). She spent much of the following few years concentrating on theatre, and then showed up in ''Series/GameOfThrones'' as creepy, [[EvilLaugh evilly-laughing]] HotWitch and HermitGuru Maggy the Frog, so, typecasting averted there.

* Creator/MorenaBaccarin's most prominent roles have been oddly specific as "Superhero's Girlfriend." Vanessa, Deadpool's LoveInterest in [[Film/Deadpool2016 the film version]]. Leslie Thompkins, Jim Gordon's Love Interest in ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' (as well as the real-life fiance of Creator/BenMcKenzie). She's also played Talia al-Ghul (Love Interest to Franchise/{{Batman}}) and ComicBook/BlackCanary (Love Interest to ComicBook/GreenArrow) in several Franchise/DCAnimatedUniverse productions.

* Creator/ZooeyDeschanel seems to either play the DeadpanSnarker or the ManicPixieDreamGirl. Or both. (See ''Failure to Launch''; she stole the movie.) She's the LoveInterest a lot of the time, too.

* Cathy Moriarty was an unknown before her splash as [[Film/RagingBull Vicki LaMotta]], and looked to be Hollywood's newest sexpot. One nasty car wreck and [[GutturalGrowler 8 million cigarettes]] later, [[TheBaroness and, well...]] While by no means unattractive today, most of her credits have been black comedies or horror flicks.

* Creator/LanaParrilla's two biggest roles (in ''Series/OnceUponATime'' and ''Series/WhyWomenKill'') are as a female antagonist known for being both [[EvilIsSexy cruel and beautiful]] who later has a change of heart and learns the error of her ways; plus both characters' names start with "R".

* Mercedes Masohn is Swedish yet has played Latinas on ''Series/{{Castle}}, Series/TheFinder, Common Law,'' and ''Series/NCISLosAngeles''.

* Overweight black actresses (such as Creator/{{Monique}} and Music/QueenLatifah) are often typecast as the SassyBlackWoman, or as a [[EthnicMenialLabor Mammy]] type back in the day. Such actresses are often criticized for only choosing stereotypical roles, despite the fact that these roles are often the only ones they can get.

* Overweight black actresses (such as Mo'Nique and Music/QueenLatifah) are often typecast as the SassyBlackWoman, or as a [[EthnicMenialLabor Mammy]] type back in the day. Such actresses are often criticized for only choosing stereotypical roles, despite the fact that these roles are often the only ones they can get.

* Jodhi May in the first decade of her career tended to be cast as a massive [[TheWoobie Woobie]], whether in ''A World Apart'' (borderline JerkassWoobie, although she gets a HeelRealization), ''Film/TheLastOfTheMohicans'' (StoicWoobie), ''Sister My Sister'' (WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds) or the 1999 BBC adaptation of ''Literature/TheTurnOfTheScrew'' (either a HauntedHeroine or an UnreliableNarrator, but still a Woobie). She spent much of the following few years concentrating on theatre, and then showed up in ''Series/GameOfThrones'' as creepy, [[EvilLaugh evilly-laughing]] HotWitch and HermitGuru Maggy the Frog, so, typecasting averted there.

* For a girl who wasn't out of her teens, Creator/JodelleFerland sure has played a lot of {{creepy child}}ren. See: Bree Tanner in ''[[Literature/{{Twilight}} The Twilight Saga: Eclipse]]'', Sharon/Alessa in ''Film/SilentHill'', Lilith in ''Film/{{Case 3}}9'', Jenny in ''Film/TheTallMan'', Patience Buckner in ''Film/TheCabinInTheWoods'', and a young Carrie White in the 2002 version of ''Film/{{Carrie|2002}}''.

* Creator/MorenaBaccarin's most prominent roles have been oddly specific as "Superhero's Girlfriend." Vanessa, Deadpool's LoveInterest in [[Film/Deadpool2016 the film version]]. Leslie Thompkins, Jim Gordon's Love Interest in ''Series/{{Gotham}}'' (as well as the real-life fiance of Creator/BenMcKenzie). She's also played Talia al-Ghul (Love Interest to Franchise/{{Batman}}) and ComicBook/BlackCanary (Love Interest to ComicBook/GreenArrow) in several Franchise/{{DCAU}} productions.

* Creator/MonicaRial is almost always found voicing an peppy, innocent schoolgirl, mostly because the voice she almost always uses is in fact her real, natural voice. There are exceptions such as when she voiced Lyra in ''Anime/FullmetalAlchemist'' and Nyamo in ''Manga/AzumangaDaioh'', and you can occasionally find her voicing non-type background characters, with her voice lowered several octaves.

* Creator/MorfyddClark tends to play a lot of characters with BlueBlood in {{Costume Drama}}s taking place either in the 19 century such as ''Literature/MadameBovary'', ''Film/TheManWhoInventedChristmas'',
''Film/ThePersonalHistoryOfDavidCopperfield'' and ''Series/Dracula2020'', or in fantasy settings like ''Film/PrideAndPrejudiceAndZombies'' and ''Series/TheLordOfTheRingsTheRingsOfPower''.

* Actresses who star in {{horror}} movies tend to pick up reputations as [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scream_queen "scream queens."]] Some actresses (such as Debbie Rochon and Creator/JamieLeeCurtis) have embraced the title, while others resent it ([[Film/KingKong1933 Fay Wray]] wound up taking her career to England because of it). A full list can be found on Wiki/TheOtherWiki.

* Given the number of times Creator/HaydenPanettiere and Creator/ChristinaMilian have played TheCheerleader, Creator/TheCW missed a trick by not getting one or the other or both to make a guest appearance on ''Series/{{Hellcats}}''.

** Keira Knightley is giving Kate Winslet her a run for her money through ''Film/PrincessOfThieves'', ''Film/PrideAndPrejudice2005'', ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'', ''Film/{{Atonement}}'', ''Film/KingArthur'', ''Silk'', ''Film/TheDuchess'' and ''Film/AnnaKarenina''. Corset Keira anyone?

* Creator/BettyWhite tends to get typecast in a role and then subverts the typecasting in her next big role. Her role on the ''Series/TheMaryTylerMooreShow'' was a subversion of her earlier typecasting as a sweet, motherly type. In order to avoid the resulting typecasting as a bitchy, man-hungry character she chose to play the Ditz Rose on ''Series/TheGoldenGirls'' rather than the character of Blanche she was offered. She then subverts that typecasting by playing the character of Betty White on ''Series/UglyBetty'' as a MagnificentBastard who gets the better of the show's antagonist.

* Actress Lupe Ontiveros estimates that she's played a maid between 150 and 300 times on screen.

** Keira's non-period movies typically have her as a brash JerkWithAHeartOfGold where her love interest is the one that discovers the heart of gold. ''Film/BendItLikeBeckham'', ''Film/TheHole'', ''Film/{{Domino}}'' and ''Film/TheJacket'' are examples.

* Ever since ''Film/TheFifthElement'' and especially ''Film/ResidentEvil'', Creator/MillaJovovich has played her fair share of {{Action Girl}}s. If not an action girl, she often plays the seductress who gets naked a lot.

* Holland Taylor as the EvilMatriarch, usually a [[RichBitch rich]] and [[PlayedForLaughs comedic]] one. Creator/JessicaWalter has also fallen victim to this ever since ''Series/ArrestedDevelopment'' started.

* Creator/ElizaDushku is a sexy, morally unclear tough cookie in practically everything. Even if she's not an ActionGirl, she'll still rise to occasion and beat somebody's ass. ''(Series/{{Dollhouse}}'' only [[StarDerailingRole sealed the deal]] further.) Harrier jets may be involved.

** Let's be honest though, this happens to most attractive young actresses who are both really talented ''and'' willing to get naked on camera. See also: Creator/AnneHathaway, KCreator/KateWinslet, Creator/JenniferConnelly, Creator/EvaGreen, Creator/SalmaHayek. Heck, Creator/HelenMirren's career started this way, and some of her later roles [[LampshadeHanging lampshade it]] tongue in cheek.

** Let's be honest though, this happens to most attractive young actresses who are both really talented ''and'' willing to get naked on camera. See also: Anne Hathaway, Kate Winslet, Jennifer Connelly, Eva Green, Salma Hayek. Heck, Creator/HelenMirren's career started this way, and some of her later roles [[LampshadeHanging lampshade it]] tongue in cheek.