When Laughter Turns to Tears: 5 Comedic Stars Who Shined in Dramatic Roles
Their performances are always the most striking ones.
Many actors known primarily for their comedic work were able to temporarily escape their roles and showcase themselves in dramatic roles.
Whether it was a desire to win the coveted Oscar or simply a desire to try something new, comedians continue to surprise us with the depth and professionalism of their work.
1. Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) – Melissa McCarthy
Based on the memoir of the same name, the drama stars Melissa McCarthy as the infamous writer Lee Israel, who built her career on plagiarizing the work of her contemporaries.
McCarthy came to the role of Israel as a renowned comedic actress. Suffering from an eternal victim complex, Israel became the perfect antithesis to McCarthy's usual roles of silly and awkward simpletons.
2. Precious (2009) – Mo'Nique
One of the most famous Sundance winners, the teen drama Precious, tells the story of a teenage girl, Claireece, who is trying to cope with a difficult family situation, school life and early pregnancy. The situation is exacerbated by the psychological abuse the main character suffers at the hands of her mother, Mary Lee Johnston, played by Mo'Nique.
As a famous stand-up comedian, Mo'Nique has established herself as one of the funniest women in Hollywood. So it is all the more surprising that in Precious she had to transform herself into a monstrous abuser whose every screen appearance becomes a moral torment not only for Claireece but also for the viewer.
3. Moneyball (2011) – Jonah Hill
Moneyball is a biographical drama about former baseball player and sports executive Billy Beane, who uses sabermetrics to build a talented team on a shoestring budget.
As befits a six-time Oscar nominee, the film is packed with stellar dramatic performances from a cast of A-list actors, most notably Jonah Hill as Billy Beane's assistant, Peter Brand.
Hill, who got his start in teen comedies, masterfully transforms Peter from a mild-mannered baseball analyst into one of the most knowledgeable professionals in major league history.
4. The Big Short (2015) – Steve Carell
The Big Short tells the story of a group of investors who discover a hole in the mortgage market. The movie is set in the early 2000s, just before the housing market crash in the US.
Steve Carell, best known for his roles in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, plays Mark Baum, the head of an independent trading firm. Carell perfectly conveys the emotional tension and stress his character goes through as he bets millions. Even in his momentary outbursts of rage, Baum is as far from the cartoonish bully Michael Scott as you can get.
5. Uncut Gems (2019) – Adam Sandler
In the drama Uncut Gems, Adam Sandler plays Howard Ratner, a businessman suffering from a gambling addiction who is going through a personal and professional breakdown.
Sandler has established himself as an actor, starring in a variety of comedies with varying degrees of success. Uncut Gems is a project of Adam Sandler's late era, when most of his creative successes were behind him.
The movie not only launched a new round in the actor's career, but also gave him room for new roles – Sandler has always been better at playing disturbing personalities than others.