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Miscast Actors/Actresses.

(168 Posts)
Calendargirl Sun 21-Mar-21 12:16:28

On the ‘Grace’ threads, many of you said that John Simm was not how you pictured the hero after reading the books.

I always felt Leslie Howard was totally wrong to play Ashley Wilkes in ‘Gone With The Wind’. Scarlett O’Hara would never have fancied him, but he was the studio’s choice.

Any other thoughts on miscasting, either films or tv?

icanhandthemback Mon 22-Mar-21 13:02:50

Matthew Smith as Doctor Who. I loved David Tenant in the role. Most of the time I try to suspend disbelief but I thought Daniel Craig was miscast in Knives Out.

I love Vera and John Simm in everything he plays. Tom Cruise wasn't the Jack Reacher I read about but I enjoyed the film.

I couldn't watch the remake of Poldark. I loved Angharad Rees in the original and nobody else would do!

LullyDully Mon 22-Mar-21 13:06:29

Nicholas Cage had no resemblance to Captain Corelli. A favourite book but I couldn't bear to see the film

Redhead56 Mon 22-Mar-21 13:06:37

My problem is about actors with the wrong accents more than stature. This example Monarch of the glen should have been a Scots actor not Richard Briars. However there has only been one James Bond for me Sean Connery the right accent and the right look.
I think fake scouse accents are ridiculous and never sound quite right.
Jimmy McGovern is a good example of the right casting with his most recent Moving On series. The characters are mostly northern actors with regional accents.

lizzypopbottle Mon 22-Mar-21 13:11:12

Orson Wells as Mr Rochester in Jane Eyre. I couldn't watch it.

GardenofEngland Mon 22-Mar-21 13:18:35

Regional accents are difficult if its where you are from. I love Brenda Blethyn as Vera but not being from there I can't say how bad it is but Julie Walters in Educating Rita her Liverpool accent was dire.

Musicgirl Mon 22-Mar-21 13:25:44

Stephen Tompkinson in Banks; far too tall and the wrong accent. Florence Pugh as Amy in Little Women. For most of the story, Amy is supposed to be a rather silly girl and l would imagine her with a high pitched voice rather than the too mature smoker's voice that Florence Pugh seemed to have. Also, any part that demands a really fat woman ((Vera, Precious Ramotswe in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency) is never given to an actress who is anywhere near large enough. I think Brenda Blethyn plays Vera well enough but in the books she is described as enormous and rather grotesque.

Thisismyname1953 Mon 22-Mar-21 13:27:54

Gladys Aylward was a close friend of the headmistress of my grammar school in the 60s . She came in to talk about her life and I agree . She was nothing like Ingrid Bergman .

Justanotherwannabe Mon 22-Mar-21 13:40:03

Geraldine McEwan as Mis Marple, she comes across as a nosy busybody. Totally unlike the character in the books. I agree Joan Higson was excellent, she reminded me of my Great Aunts.

lilydily9 Mon 22-Mar-21 13:42:34

Robert Mitchum in 'Not as a Stranger', an old movie. He plays Lucas Marsh, a brilliant and dedicated doctor. Those who read the book say he was totally miscast. Have to say I didn't read the book but something wasn't quite believable in his interpretation.

b1zzle Mon 22-Mar-21 14:13:29

Glad I'm not alone about 'Vera'. Can't stand that squeaky voice combined with the accent.

Grandma14 Mon 22-Mar-21 14:30:37

Having read the Thorn Birds many years ago I can still conjure up how Ralph de Bricassart looked in my mind - yes he was dark haired, dark eyed and very sexy. So I was very disappointed with Richard Chamberlain's portayal of him sad(

Blinko Mon 22-Mar-21 14:32:05

Thisismyname1953

Gladys Aylward was a close friend of the headmistress of my grammar school in the 60s . She came in to talk about her life and I agree . She was nothing like Ingrid Bergman .

Does anyone else remember This is Your Life featuring Gladys Aylward? She was tiny, perched on a chair where her feet didn't reach the floor. What an amazing story, though! That's a lot of determination in a very small package.

chrissyh Mon 22-Mar-21 15:24:08

Lucca

Haven’t read the books ...if there are any...but Brenda blethyn as Vera....her Geordie accent is awful so I never watched more than one episode.

I've read most of Ann Cleeves 'Vera' books and she is exactly right to play Vera. I think of her as a female, British Columbo. Don't know about the accent, but coming from from 'down sowf' but it sound OK to me.

Boz Mon 22-Mar-21 15:52:07

Strong regional accents won't sell abroad and so much if what we make is exported around the world; which is good.
Vera is big in the States and her nod to the geordie accent is all they need. It is the same with Peaky Blinders which only flirts mildly with a Brummie accent.

Lucca Mon 22-Mar-21 15:54:04

Lesley60

Just look at half of the cast in Emmerdale and coronation street half of those are miscast they have a cheek to call themselves actors.

You are not wrong ! Gail Tilley is one of the worst actresses ever, specially when trying to be funny.
The entire Bailey family are terrible actors.

Bluecat Mon 22-Mar-21 15:57:45

Derek Jacobi was good as Cadfael but the books go on about him being a dark Welshman. Ellis Peters, the author, wanted Ian Holm for the role. In the books, it also says that Hugh Beringar, the Sheriff of Shrewsbury, is dark and slender. The actor who portrayed him was big and fair.

I may be the only woman on earth who didn't think that Colin Firth was right for Mr Darcy.

elleks Mon 22-Mar-21 16:11:20

Bellocchild

Jack Farthing as George Warleggan in Poldark. He should have been a blacksmith's grandson: short, stocky and thickset.

I haven't seen the new version, but in the 1975 production he was played by Ralph Bates, who looked closer to the part.
Also, it's not her fault, but the books of Mrs Bradley describe her as a lizardy octagenarion; Diana Rigg was far too glamorous.

starstella Mon 22-Mar-21 16:19:45

Sean Connery WAS bond
Tom Cruise as Jack Reacher is a joke it should have been Steven Segal
Colin Firth was marvellous as Darcy

seadragon Mon 22-Mar-21 16:23:59

Lucca

Peasblossom

Vigo Mortensen as Aragorn in Lord of the Rings.

Far too weedy.

Weedy ?!!!

'Fraid I don't agree Lucca. Vigo was my Aragorn... and my Strider.....!

Squiffy Mon 22-Mar-21 16:38:51

Tara Fitzgerald in 'I Capture the Castle' - beyond awful! I loved the book, but her rendition of Topaz was unbearable sad

BBJS Mon 22-Mar-21 16:38:52

Don't know her name but she played Princess Margaret in The Crown; She must be about 6foot 4ins.!

leeds22 Mon 22-Mar-21 16:56:32

Stephen Tomlinson as DCI Banks - wrong on every level possible. Makes me want to throw the books at the TV - only watch it because I know the area (and it isn't the area in which the books are set).

Lucca Mon 22-Mar-21 17:08:10

Sea dragon. I did not say he was weedy!!!! That was another poster. I was disagreeing

Rowsie Mon 22-Mar-21 17:18:19

Totally agree, Liam Neesen would have been a better fit for Jack Reacher.

dolphindaisy Mon 22-Mar-21 17:24:45

Apparently Robert Redford was first choice to play "The Graduate" - it would have been a completely different film, thankfully they got Dustin Hoffman as he was perfect for the part and gave us a wonderful film.