Most Read

Best of Reddit

People Explain Which Actors Nailed Their Roles So Hard No One Will Ever Live Up To Their Performance

Cameraman filming woman in front of window
Photo by Jakob Owens on Unsplash

Anyone who loves watching movies or television shows undoubtedly has a favorite actor and film.

Most will also be able to answer a very important question: which performance was so good that it's truly irreplaceable?


A Redditor, who has since deleted their account, asked:

"Which actor or actress nailed their role so well that no one else will be able to live up to their performance?"

That's 'Captain'... Jack Sparrow.

"Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow."

- Civil-Ad-6365

"Especially since, if I remember correctly, Depp himself just up and decided to make Jack Sparrow so... Jack Sparrow. None of that flair was written into the character. Or so I've heard..."

- Equality-Slifer

"This is true, and in fact, the director had to defend him from Disney's attempts at studio interference and firing."

- Iwasthewalrus

1 Actress, 17 Roles

"Tatiana Maslany in 'Orphan Black.'"

"She played 17 different characters and nailed them all."

- cashew996

The Legends of 'Harry Potter'

"Alan Rickman as Severus Snape and Robbie Coltrane as Rubeus Hagrid. No one will ever bring those characters to life as they could."

"RIP, Alan and Robbie."

- poposhaker

The Addams Family

"Christina Ricci as Wednesday Addams (1991)… I’ve loved Jenna Ortega since 'You,' but nothing can beat the sheer feral nature of Ricci!!"

- jeanie-us

"Angelica Huston as Morticia Addams."

"I mean, CZJ did fine, but it’s just no comparison."

- Beholder_V

"The entire cast of 'Addams Family' is just absolutely pitch perfect:"

"Christopher Lloyd as Uncle Fester."

"Anjelica Huston as Morticia."

"Raul Julia as Gomez."

"Carel Struycken as Lurch."

- munificent

"Every Gomez ever will always be put against Raul's. It's nearly impossible to outperform."

- MNcuriosity

The Antics

"Literally no one else in the world could play Mr. Bean except Rowan Atkinson."

- TheZestyJester09

Love You 3000

"Robert Downey Jr. as 'Iron Man.'"

- benwkakkn

"When your life pretty much, in its own way, parallels the character you’re playing, with the fall from grace, reinvention/rebirth, and then the second act… yeah, I don’t think anyone can ever take the place of RDJ as Stark."

"Also, I had to scroll down waaay too far to find his name."

- rubicon_duck

"Kevin!"

"Catherine O'Hara as Moira Rose."

- leebeemi

"Catherine O'Hara in everything, frankly. She's the best."

- BranWafr

The Epitome of the Super Fan

"Kathy Bates as Annie Wilkes in 'Misery.'"

- karma_dumpster

"I don't think I've ever not felt a minor shudder whenever that role comes up. That's how good/perfect she was."

- tacknosaddle

The Undeniable Villain

"Maggie Smith as Professor McGonagall and Imelda Staunton as Umbridge."

- highlandcow75

"Anyone else having problems watching 'The Crown' since Imelda Staunton took over? I keep expecting her to torture Princess Diana into saying, 'I must not tell lies...'"

- Evil_Athena

Tim Curry for Everyone!

"Tim Curry as Dr. Frank-N-Furter."

- Active_Policy_957

"Tim Curry as Primeminister Chardenko in Command and Conquer: Red Alert 3."

"You can see him trying to not laugh when he delivers his most memorable line from that game too."

"'I'm going to the one place not touched by Capitalism... SPACE!'"

- RolyPoly1320

"Tim Curry in ANY of his roles if we're being honest."

"Even when I was young, I recognized how stand-out he was as Long John Silver in 'Muppet Treasure Island'!"

- astermorii

"An entire Tim Curry thread and no mention of the 90s “It”? He was downright unsettling as Pennywise and was absolutely the best part of that movie."

- chrobbin

"Nigel Thorneberry."

- Tiny_Parfait

"Had to scroll wayyyyy too far to see Nigel Thornberry on here, my god."

"Tim Curry is iconic."

- SnoozleEnthusiast10

Robin Williams in Anything, Everything

"Robin Williams as the genie in 'Aladdin.'"

- Badit_911

"Robin Williams in just about every role he ever played."

- idrinkandsleepate

"Still miss the joy he brings to every movie."

- arootdesign

"Make It So."

"Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Picard."

- Striving_Stoic

"Or Charles Xavier, for that matter."

- Brvcx

So Justified

"Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley."

- SuvenPan

"Smart cat lady no one listens to. Everyone dies because no one listens to the smart lady. She survives with her cat."

- darthlorgas

"I love her so much in 'Aliens.' She’s so mad and she’s godd**n right to be!"

- Iirima

Breaking... Compliments?

"Bryan Cranston as Walter White."

- DDKLondon

"After 'Breaking Bad' ended, Anthony Hopkins sent a message to Bryan Cranston, telling him that his portrayal as Walter White was some of the finest acting he had ever seen in his life."

"Coming from Anthony Hopkins, that is one h**luva compliment."

- 2donuts4elephants

An Unforgettable 'Cast Away' Performance

"The Wilson volleyball as Wilson."

- 9penguin9

While there are surely countless performances anyone could name as good, there are only some out there that could be deemed as irreplaceable.

How fortunate we are to live in an era when so many of those performances are available to watch at the same time.