There are so many amazing comedic actors with unrestricted access to the world’s funny bone. We all know that laughter is the best medicine. Yet, several popular comedic performers have temporarily, or permanently in some cases, traded genres, looking for more acclaim and recognition of their ability to do more than just make an audience laugh.RELATED:10 Best Quirky Comedies To Watch After ‘Licorice Pizza’Whether it’sJason Batemantrying his hand at an independent horror orSteve Carellin the seriesThe Patientabout a therapist trying to cure a serial killer, comedy actors have always surprised audiences with their amazing dramatic roles.
Jason Bateman - The Gift
Best known for his roles in hysterical comedies including,Arrested DevelopmentandHorrible Bosses, Jason Bateman broke into the horror genre withThe Gift, an independent film written and directed byJoel Edgerton. Though he has natural charm in abundance, it was refreshing to see Bateman in the role of Simon, a bully whose past comes back to haunt him in a big, big way.
In recent years Bateman has established himself as an exceptional dramatic actor inOzark, which had its fourth season recently released on Netflix. That being said, we sure would miss him if he turned his back on comedy forever.
Courtney Cox - Scream
Unless you’ve spent the last few decades living under a rock, you’re well aware that the hygiene-obsessed Monica Geller was iconically played byCourtney Cox. While it would have been easy for Cox to coast on herFriendsfame and only take on comedic roles, she decided to challenge herself by taking on the part of Gale Weathers in theScreamfranchise.
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Cox’s ice-cold performance is one of many reasons thatScreambecame so beloved, and she slipped seamlessly back into the role inScream 5, which recently passed fifty million dollars at the domestic box office.
Jim Carrey - Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind
Jim Carreyhas been a standout performer in some of the most popular comedy movies of the last three decades. Whether he’s solving crimes as the world’s first pet detective, saying yes to everything, or going toe to toe with a speedy hedgehog, he never fails to make us laugh.
Though Carrey has never shied away from more dramatic roles, and his performance as the introverted Joel Barrish inEternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mindis genuinely incredible. Both Carrey andKate Winslet, with whom he has incredible chemistry, were nominated for BAFTAs and their performances were a huge factor in the film’s hugely positive critical reception.
Kristen Wiig - Wonder Woman 1984
Ok, before you say it,Wonder Woman 1984isn’t the most dramatic film out there, but it’s certainly not a comedy either. It’s also a significant film inKristen Wiig’s career, best known for her leading roles inBridesmaids,Ghostbusters: Answer the Call, andThe Secret Life Of Walter Mitty, as it gave her the chance to play a villain.
Barbara Minerva is a complex character; she’s lonely, introverted, and desperate for attention. All of which contributes to making her a sympathetic and, to some extent, relatable antagonist. Though it’s unlikely she’ll return to the upcomingWonder Woman 3, another villainous turn by the world’s worst bridesmaid would be very much appreciated by fans.
Owen Wilson - Midnight In Paris
In the early 2000s,Owen Wilsonwas one of the biggest names in comedy. His roles inZoolander,Meet The Parents, andWedding Crashershelped make him a household name. At the same time, he also established strong relationships with co-starsBen Stiller,Jackie Chan, and indie directorWes Anderson.
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Despite all this, Wilson’s most memorable performance finds his character, Gil, a writer who somehow traveling back to the 1920s each evening while on a family vacation in Paris.Midnight In Parisallowed Wilson to play a misunderstood, lonely, and passionate character who doesn’t feel like he belongs. Wilson played a similar character inLoki, though it’s not yet been confirmed whether he will return for season two.
Melissa McCarthy - Can You Ever Forgive Me?
Since her breakout role inBridesmaids,Melissa McCarthyhas been consistently excellent in some of the most successful comedies of the last few years. Yet, it was her role in the critically acclaimedCan You Ever Forgive Me?that showed the world just what she’s capable of.
McCarthy was nominated for a whole host of awards, most notably an Academy Award, for her performance alongsideRichard E. Grantand her husband,Ben Falcone. Though she won’t be saying goodbye to comedy anytime soon (she’s slated to appear inThe Little MermaidandThor: Love And Thunder), her roles inNine Perfect StrangersandThe Kitchenshow that she’s now equally committed to dramatic roles too.
Steve Carell - The Big Short
Is there a single person out there who does not loveSteve Carell? It doesn’t matter who he’s playing, be it dim-witted weatherman Brick Tamland or divorced father of two Cal, Carell never misses a beat, which is why it was no surprise at all that he was able to transition over to more dramatic roles without a single hitch.
A perfect example of this transition comes in the form ofThe Big Short. This film allowed Carell fleeting moments of humor while also becoming increasingly disillusioned with the state of the world as he discovers more about the corrupt US mortgage market. A must-watch for fans of Steve Carell.
Jennifer Aniston - The Morning Show
Another of theFriendscast to seek out more dramatic roles,Jennifer Aniston, got fans talking when it was announced that she would be returning to TV withAppleTV’s flagship seriesThe MorningShow. Aniston plays Alex Levy, a morning show host whose life is turned upside down when her colleague is fired amidst a catalog of sexual harassment complaints.
Alex is a strong, independent woman who’s defined by her career, and she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her position in the wake of the scandal surrounding her colleague. The Morning Show was recently renewed for a third season, meaning we won’t have to wait long before seeing Aniston light up our screens again.
Jonah Hill - Moneyball
Before 2011,Jonah Hillhad starred exclusively in hysterical comedies includingSuperbad,The Invention Of Lying, andForgetting Sarah Marshall. However, his entire career changed when he was cast alongsideBrad PittinMoneyball, the biopic ofBilly Beane’s time as general manager of Oakland A’s.
Hill played Peter Brand, the man in charge of the computer-generated analysis to acquire new players, considering that Oakland had the lowest salary constraint in baseball. The fact that Hill was able to hold his own opposite Brad Pitt highlights his dramatic prowess, and he will soon be seenstrutting his dramatic stuff inMartin Scorcese’sGrateful Deadmovie for Apple.
Will Ferrell - The Shrink Next Door
When Apple announced a TV series starring comedy legendsPaul RuddandWill Ferrell, most assumed it would be a comedy. What Apple delivered, however, was anything but humorous. The series follows Marty, a lonely man who falls into a dangerous, obsessive relationship with his therapist Dr. Ike.
Unlike his usual larger-than-life characters, Marty was timid, awkward, and incapable of standing up for himself or asserting his dominance. It was heart-wrenching to watch Marty constantly suffer over three decades of his life before finally realizing that Dr. Ike was using him. Ferrell’s performance is as refreshing as it is surprising, and it’s a shame the series didn’t attract the viewing figures that his performance deserves.
