Characters You Can’T Take Seriously

[naomi24]

Since I’ve only ever seen the excellent Kris Marshall playing the dopey, but very funny, son of Ben Harper in ‘My Family’, I’m finding it difficult to take the character Tom Parker in Sanditon seriously. Every time I look at him I see ‘Nick’.

[tonyav]

I know that he is a very good actor, but like you when I see him I only see the eldest son in 'My Family'.

[Mozz71]

Reece Shearsmith of The League of Gentlemen. He's done a few dramas for ITV, but he's still Edward to me.

[Buenchico]

There are some actors whom I can only ever see as that actor, and not as the character that they're meant to be portraying. Michael Caine probably tops that list; he can never really convince me that he's anyone other than Michael Caine.

Conversely David Jason can nearly always get me to believe that he's Del Boy, DI Frost, Granville or whomever. Even so, I've sometimes heard him render a line in a serious role (such as DI Frost) which instantly makes me think of Del Boy.

[tonyav]

When ever I see Timothy Spall in anything I keep expecting him to start speaking about the West Bromwich building society in a Brummy accent.

[Buenchico]

Some actors seem to have an ability to play different roles in exactly the same way but still make people believe that they're different characters.

I listen to a lot of old British comedy online, with many programmes featuring Jimmy Edwards. His portrayal of Professor Edwards in Whack-O! was very little different to his portrayal of Pa Glum in Take It From Here, Sir Charles Boniface in The Big Business Lark o rJim The Great in the show of that name. He made no attempt whatsoever to change his voice, or even his style of delivery, yet he was totalling convincing in all of those roles.

[Cloverjo]

Not sure about characters particularly, but Jenny Seagrove seems to play every part exactly the same. So did John Thaw. I can’t watch either of them.

[Hopkirk]

John Wayne. Mind you he was a rubbish actor.

[Arksided]

Hopkirk, our dear Cupid will hate me for saying but Hugh Grant in any film is the same. You may as well shove on a cardbord cut-out of the man.

[Hopkirk]

Cupid would love to own a cardboard cutout of him.

[Arksided]

Are we sure she doesn't ;-)

[Bigbad]

Tim Mcinnery will always be Lord Percy in Blackadder.
I can only see Patrick Swayzee as Orry Main in North and South, and I find it impossible to see Peter Capaldi as anything except a simpering, snivelling transvestite called Vera in an episode of Prime Suspect from 1993.

[emmie]

i find it difficult to take many seriously, including Hugh Grant, though he was very good in A very English Scandal.

[andy-hughes]

I can never take Sean Connery seriously as an actor - but when you get someone as one-dimensional as he is, getting an Oscar for playing an Irish cop, you can see that clearly, no-one else takes him seriously either!

[andy-hughes]

I can never take Michael Caine seriously either, but he was excellent in Harry Brown.

[hc4361]

Cloverjo, I urge you to watch Goodnight, Mister Tom. John Thaw played his part briliantly.

[Patsy33]

I just wanted to laugh, when I saw Adrian Scarborough (Pete Sutcliffe, from Gavin & Stacey) playing Raymond, as Villanelle's new handler in Killing Eve. Just couldn't take him seriously!..

[hereIam]

Kris Marshall played a serious role in Dr Zhivago in a 2002 TV series, he played Lara's first husband (I think) and so I can see him in other than a jokey role. And after Hugh Grant was so, so excellent playing Jeremy Thorpe, I can also take him seriously as a fine actor.

[naomi24]

Martin Freeman is another one. Whether he’s playing Bilbo Baggins or a detective in his latest venture, ‘A Confession’, he’s always Dr Watson to me.

I agree with HereIam. Hugh Grant was superb as Jeremy Thorpe. A far cry from his romantic comedy roles.

[Patsy33]

Have to agree about Hugh Grant, too. When I knew he was playing Jeremy Thorpe, I thought it wouldn't work. Boy, was I wrong! Excellent performance .

[Prudie]

And Martin Freeman is only Tim from the office to me. And I agree about Kris Marshall, I can't take to him in any straight role, particularly awful in Murder in Paradise.
I found Sean Connery totally believable in the Untouchables, completely forgot him from his other roles.