A-list actors don’t become A-listers overnight and usually find their way to the top after a breakout performance that generally results in an Oscar win. However, while one film might be tied to an A-list actor as one of their most famous performances, that doesn’t mean their talent is confined to it. These are just a few underrated performances by A-list actors that are not ones to miss.
Robert Downey Jr. in Charlie Bartlett (2007)
Before, he was known as Tony Stark, better known as Iron Man. Robert Downey Jr. has been acting for years, and in 2007, he played struggling single father and high school principal Nathan Gardner in the teen comedy ‘Charlie Bartlett.’ Following a rich kid, Charlie, played by the late Anton Yelich, who becomes the psychiatrist for the teens in his public school.
Downey stands out as the well-meaning Principal Gardner. His character struggles to maintain his authority over the school while also trying to do what’s right. This adds an extra layer to this film, as he looks at the situation through an adult’s lens while also struggling with his own mental health.
Natalie Portman in ‘Where the Heart Is’ (2000)
Although Natalie Portman gives a knock-out performance in everything she’s in, most of her earlier work tends to be noticed. In the year 2000, she starred in ‘Where the Heart Is’ as teen mom Novalee Nation, who is abandoned at a Walmart by her baby father and soon finds community as she is taken in by preacher woman Sister Husband. The husband is portrayed by Stockard Channing and is taken under the wing of single mom Lexie Coop, played by Ashley Judd.
Portman has shown her acting abilities since she started acting as a child, and ‘Where the Heart Is’ is one where she shines. Portman gives a beautiful performance as we see Novalee deal with hardship after hardship life throws at her, and she faces everything with stride while raising her daughter Americus.
Nicolas Cage in Color Out of Space (2019)
Even though he’s been breaking into the horror movie scene recently, like in ‘Longlegs,’ Nicolas Cage has shown his ability to go off the walls in a performance for years. The 2019 sci-fi horror ‘Color Out of Space,’ based on the H.P. Lovecraft story, is rarely discussed. Cage plays Nathan Gardner, a father struggling in his marriage and dealing with his family. A mysterious alien presence ends up on his farm and messes with his and his family’s mental state. Cage’s performance in this is entirely underrated, proving his acting range can go way beyond the sound mind.
Sandra Bullock in ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood’ (2002)
Sandra Bullock has proven herself an actress of all trades. From dramas to comedies and, most recently, horror movies, Bullock has shown her dedication as an actress. One of her underrated performances that seems to have fallen through the cracks was her role as Sidda in ‘Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.’
Sidda finds herself in a nonstop argument with her mother ViVi, portrayed by Ellen Burstyn, after a publication quotes Sidda calling her mother a tap-dancing child abuser. Hoping to stop the tensions, ViVis’s long friends, which include actresses Maggie Smith and Shirley Knight, kidnap Sidda and unveil lifelong secrets her mother has kept from her. Bullock’s portrayal as a daughter working through her trauma and coming to an understanding of the struggles her mother faced is not only heartbreaking but all too real for those who can relate.
Tom Hanks in Saving Mr.Banks (2013)
There’s no denying that Tom Hanks is one of the most recognizable actors of the last few decades. While he’s the voice of one of the most popular characters in Disney history, some may have forgotten that Hanks portrayed the man himself in the 2013 biopic ‘Saving Mr.Banks.’
‘Mary Poppins’ is one of the most popular Disney classics, and ‘Saving Mr Banks tells the untold story of the film’s production. P.L. Travers, portrayed by Emma Thompson, is the writer behind the beloved book and is unsure of Disney being the one to bring it to the screen. Hanks, as Walt Disney goes to lengths to promise her Mary Poppins is in good hands. Hanks’s performance as Walt Disney is entirely underrated and helped Disney lovers of this generation get a glimpse of what Walt Disney was like in his time.
Meryl Streep in The Prom (2020)
It’s hard to consider any of Meryl Streep’s movies as underrated performances. Still, with so many movies under her belt that she’s made iconic, it’s easy for one or two to be labeled underrated performances. Netflix movie musical ‘The Prom’ adapted from the stage production, follows a group of well-absorbed Broadway performers who show up in a small town in Indiana to defend a young lesbian teenager fighting for her right to bring her girlfriend to help the cause and also their image.
Streep as Broadway diva Dee Dee Allen allows her to show off everything she’s got. With comedic timing, heartfelt moments, and a big song number, Streep knocks it out of the park in this one. Although she showed her musical talent in ‘Mamma Mia,’ ‘The Prom’ is one of her underrated performances that deserves way more recognition.
Final Thoughts on Underrated Performances
While the films that make A-list actors A-Listers are well received and shouldn’t be forgotten, others on their resume deserve recognition. These other films give actors the chance to show what else they can bring to the screen and how their talents don’t have to be held to one particular genre of film. These underrated performances deserve their flowers and more love by movie viewers and fans.
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