20+ Actors Played the Same Characters and It’s Hard to Say Who Did It Better

Filmmakers like to rework the characters who are loved by the audience. This can refer to both literary characters and real-life personalities. For example, Miss Marple, Queen Elizabeth II, and Cleopatra are very popular among film directors.

At Bright Side, we decided to recall the actors who embodied the same characters. But it’s only the viewers who can choose which actor was better in this part.

1. Miss Marple

Miss Marple is loved by many filmmakers. This Agatha Christie character was embodied by Helen Hayes (A Caribbean Mystery, 1983, and Murder with Mirrors, 1985), Joan Hickson (Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple, 1984-1992), and Geraldine McEwan (Marple, 2004-2008).

Joan Hickson was chosen for this part by Agatha Christie herself. After watching Hickson on stage, she wrote to her, “I hope one day you will play my dear Miss Marple.” As a result, Hickson played this famous detective in 12 TV films created by the BBC. Geraldine McEwan’s Miss Marple is quite unusual, in that her look is a little more bohemian.

2. Elizabeth II

Elizabeth II has become the symbol of the UK, and this character is widely used in the movie industry. The queen was played by Helen Mirren (The Queen, 2006), Sarah Gadon (A Royal Night Out, 2015), Penelope Wilton (The BFG, 2016), and Olivia Colman (The Crown, 2019-2020).

In The Queen, Helen Mirren unfolded Elizabeth’s personality not only as a monarch, but also as an ordinary person. For this part, she was awarded an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. Sarah Gadon played a real episode from 19-year-old princess Elizabeth’s life. She and her sister ran away from Buckingham Palace on Victory in Europe Day on May 8, 1945. You can also see Elizabeth II in the fantasy movie The BFG. Olivia Colman embodied the character of Elizabeth II in the third season of The Crown. Olivia doesn’t really look like the queen, but she was still excellent in this part.

3. Joker

The viewers mostly remembered Cesar Romero (Batman: The Movie, 1966), Jack Nicholson (Batman, 1989), Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight, 2008), and Joaquin Phoenix (Joker, 2019).

Cesar Romero played the Joker more as a merry fellow than a criminal because all of his “crimes” are not mean, but funny. In 1989, in the film with Jack Nicholson, the character shows the story of his origin. Jack Nicholson’s acting was so convincing that he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award (1990).

Many people believe that Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Night was iconic. Ledger made up the character’s features himself, locking himself away in a hotel room for a month. Joaquin Phoenix starred in the last movie dedicated to this character (Joker, 2019). The film tells the story of the Joker’s origin, focusing on the fact that even a good person can become a real villain.

4. Cleopatra

Cleopatra is probably one of those famous women whose character is really popular in the movies. There are more than 20 films about her. The most memorable movies were Caesar and Cleopatra (1945) with Vivien Leigh, Cleopatra (1963) with Elizabeth Taylor, Cleopatra (1999) with Leonor Varela, and Asterix & Obelix: Mission Cleopatra (2002) with Monica Bellucci.

The filming itself was really challenging for Vivien Leigh. Shortly before the production started, she got ill with tuberculosis, and then she learned about her pregnancy which was lost during the production. That is why she was not really convincing in this part. Elizabeth Taylor’s queen was not only sensual but also a woman of many talents. Actress Leonor Varela and the glamorous Monica Bellucci both looked attractive onscreen in the role of this queen.

5. Batman

There are many movies about Batman, and the first one dates back to 1943. After that, multiple adaptations followed. The most successful ones are Batman (1966-1968) with Adam West, Batman (1989) and Batman Returns (1992) with Michael Keaton, Batman Begins (2005) with Christian Bale, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) and Justice League (2017) with Ben Affleck.

Adam West played Batman in a comedic style, which is somewhat different from the current typical portrayals of this character. Michael Keaton’s work on 2 Tim Burton films about this superhero is still one of the most significant in his career. The movie with Christian Bale was really successful and got positive reviews from critics. A new Batman movie is planned to be released in 2022, starring Robert Pattinson.

6. Lara Croft

The character of Lara Croft was embodied by 2 actresses: Angelina Jolie (Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, 2001 and Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, 2003) and Alicia Vikander (Tomb Raider, 2018).

In the films with Jolie, heroism and the main heroine’s attractiveness were the focus. While Alicia Vikander’s character was brave and courageous. So Jolie was an unreachable ideal while Vikander was a role model for many girls.

7. Jane Eyre

The novel Jane Eyre has been the inspiration for movies many times. 4 of the latest adaptations starred Charlotte Gainsbourg, Samantha Morton, Ruth Wilson, and Mia Wasikowska (Jane Eyre 1996, 1997, 2006, and 2011).

Charlotte Gainsbourg managed to convey Eyre’s modesty and, at the same time, her independence, ardor, and courage. The miniseries with Ruth Wilson is believed by many to be one of the best adaptations of Jane Eyre. Nevertheless, it was nominated for a number of prestigious awards. Finally, the version with Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender was received positively by the audience and critics alike.

8. Mary Poppins

The fictional heroine Mary Poppins, written by Pamela Lyndon Travers, has appeared on movie screens many times. She was played by Julie Andrews (Mary Poppins, 1964) and Emily Blunt (Mary Poppins Returns, 2018).

The role of this iconic nanny was Julie Andrews’ debut in a big movie. In 1965, she was awarded an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for this role. Mary Poppins Returns (2018) is the sequel of the film from 1964. Mary Poppins, played by Emily Blunt, returned to the Banks house 25 years after the events of the first movie. The film received many positive reviews from film critics and was nominated for prestigious awards.

9. Johnny Utah

The character of Johnny Utah was embodied by Keanu Reeves and Luke Bracey (Point Break, 1991 and 2015).

Keanu Reeves’ role as an undercover agent was a success. The actor wasn’t a superstar at the time, but after the release of this film, his career began to take off. Unfortunately, the Point Break remake couldn’t boast the same popularity.

Which of these actors did a better job in your opinion? Tell us in the comments below.