Tell Us Now: What Standout Acting Performances Took You By Surprise?

Straight-up amazing performances you never would have expected.
Tell Us Now: What Standout Acting Performances Took You By Surprise?

Once you get to know an actor, you pretty much know what kind of roles they'll take. Pretty boys take pretty-boy roles, comedians take comedy roles, and Tom Cruise definitely wouldn't take a role where he has fat hands and dances, right? Well, we asked Cracked fans on Facebook to tell us which performances took them by surprise, and here are some actors who shoved their talent right in our dumb, doubting faces:

TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? WILL FERRELL IN STRANGER THAN FICTION. Hope B. thought Will could never play anyt
Hope B.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? LOUIE ANDERSON IN BASKETS. Scott M. expected a cheap novelty character, but was b
Scott M.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? STEVE CARELL IN FOXCATCHER. Steve Carell's incredibly nuanced performance got dee
Serge D.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOKY YOU BY SURPRISE? LADY GAGA IN AHS: HOTEL. Shane W. had low expectations for the stunt casting, bu
Shane W.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? HEATH LEDGER AS THE JOKER. It sounded like a terrible choice and everyone had the
Ben S.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? JAMES MCAVOY IN SPLIT. According to David D., James is the best and only actor th
David D.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? MICHAEL SHANNON IN TAKE SHELTER. His performance made Chelsea L. feel SO uncomfor
Chelsea L.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? LIZZY CAPLAN IN CASTLE ROCK. Chris G. wants Caplan to win all the awards for her
Chris G.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? BRYAN CRANSTON IN BREAKING BAD. Brian R. knew Cranston as goofy Hal in Malcom in
Brian R.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? TOM CRUISE IN TROPIC THUNDER. For Bruce M., the few minutes Les Grossman was on s
Bruce M.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? CHRIS TUCKER IN THE FIFTH ELEMENT. Chris Tucker's out of control performance felt
Brian B.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? BILL HADER AS BARRY. Tom D. almost didn't give Barry a chance, because he wasn't
Tom D.
TELL US NOW. WHAT STANDOUT ACTING PERFORMANCES TOOK YOU BY SURPRISE? JOHN LITHGOW IN DEXTER. Lithgow's portrayal of Arthur Mitchell was terrifying and
Travis P.
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