Which Performance is Your Favorite?

Playing the role of a historical figure is a tall order for any actor. You need to embody everything about the person without making it feel like an impression or parody. While some actors have pulled this off to acclaim, others have faltered under the weight of expectations. Here are 10 actors who perfectly played a historical figure & 10 who embarrassed themselves.

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1. Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln

Daniel Day-Lewis delivered a haunting performance as Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln. His weariness and commitment to capturing Lincoln's spirit earned him an Oscar. His greatest achievement was further humanizing a beloved U.S. president who was already seen as an exemplary human being. 

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2. Helen Mirren as Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II was stoic yet vulnerable. She was a public figure who endured a lot and was thrust into many intense and complicated situations. Mirren's performance in The Queen tackles Queen Elizabeth II's approach to dealing with the aftermath of Princess Diana's death. This was a tough role, but Mirren was up to the challenge. 

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3. Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles

Jamie Foxx disappeared into the role of iconic musician, Ray Charles, earning an Oscar for his efforts. Foxx's commitment to representing Charles's distinct piano playing and mannerisms was transformative. Most of all, Foxx captured the charisma that made Charles a music legend. 

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4. Ben Kingsley as Mahatma Gandhi

Kingsley's portrayal of Gandhi remains an iconic performance. He conveyed Gandhi's humility and spiritual strength with an inspiring level of authenticity. The emotional depth of this performance helped the audience better understand the man who inspired millions. 

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5. Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

Streep's performance as Margaret Thatcher was commanding, realistic, and precise. She embodied the Iron Lady's determination and strength, and even mastered her iconic body language, look, and voice. Streep earned another Oscar for her portrayal of this political icon. 

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6. Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury

Bohemian Rhapsody was a massive hit at the box office in 2018, thanks in large part to Malek's nuanced performance. The actor transformed into Freddie Mercury, and his spirit and physicality were on full display during the momentous scenes that captured the band's performance at Live Aid. 

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7. Gary Oldman as Winston Churchill

Gary Oldman allowed himself to perform under layers of prosthetics that helped him capture the look and feel of Winston Churchill. Churchill is one of the most important world leaders in history, helping the Allies secure victory over the Nazis in WWII. Somehow, Oldman was able to adopt his gruffness, wit, and resilience. 

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8. Denzel Washington as Malcolm X

Washington's performance as Malcolm X is maybe the best one in his illustrious career. He commanded the screen with Malcolm X's trademark presence and fiery personality. 

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9. Robert Downey Jr. as Charlie Chaplin

Downey Jr. stepped into the hallowed shoes of Charlie Chaplin in a way that few actors have ever committed to a role. He was remarkably precise as he captured Chaplin's magic, charm, and ability to move audiences. 

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10. Charlize Theron as Aileen Wuornos

Theron received rave reviews for her portrayal as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the film Monster. Her shocking transformation was hard to believe, and she managed to make Wuornos sympathetic and human in the process. 

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1. John Wayne as Genghis Khan

Wayne was widely and rightfully mocked for his performance as Genghis Khan in The Conqueror. Everything about this movie was disastrous, and Western stars' stiff demeanor didn't play well in a historical drama. 

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2. Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great

Oliver Stone's retelling of the legend of Alexander the Great was a massive flop. The film played with the history of the conquering emperor and wasn't helped by Farrell's awkward performance and modern mannerisms. 

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3. Madonna as Eva Peron

Madonna's performance as Eva Peron in Evita was passionate but limited. Critics were unimpressed, and the movie failed to leave a mark with audiences. It was a big swing that simply didn't land. 

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4. Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs

Kutcher tried his best, but the movie failed to capture Steve Jobs' intense genius and attention to detail. The film was more shallow than the performance, and the impact that Jobs had on the world wasn't conveyed in a manner that reflected his importance. 

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5. Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

Cleopatra is an infamous Hollywood bomb, and Taylor's performance only fuelled people's dislike of it. Her beauty and talent are unmatched, but the requirements of playing one of history's most well-known figures were too much, and her portrayal felt inauthentic. 

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6. Ben Affleck as George Reeves

Affleck's performance as the man who played Superman on TV was disregarded for its lack of depth. He wasn't able to capture the emotional depth and complexity of Reeves' tragic career and life. 

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7. Angelina Jolie as Olympias

Another performance in Alexander makes the list. Jolie's performance as Alexander's mother, Olympias, is arguably the worst of the film. It's confusing and doesn't offer even a glimpse inside the life and personality of the woman. 

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8. Mick Jagger as Ned Kelly

Jagger's boring performance as the Australian outlaw was a risk from the start, but it lacked depth and charisma. Critics weren't appreciative of his flat delivery, and the movie, ultimately, flopped. 

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9. Cuba Gooding Jr. as O.J. Simpson

Though the series was praised by fans and critics, Cuba Gooding Jr.'s performance was considered to be one of its weakest parts. He came across as whiny and lightweight compared to the other performances. He also couldn't capture the charm of Simpson, a trait that helped him evade a guilty verdict. 

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10. Charleston Heston as Mark Anthony

Heston is a commanding actor, but was out of place in Antony and Cleopatra, which he also directed, and was released in 1972. He lacked the nuance to bring the character to life, and the performance was mostly overblown.

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