Let’s face it—when you see your favorite Hollywood star on your TV screen, you normally expect something out of the ordinary. However, there are many instances when even the most successful actors’ TV performances remain low-key. Perhaps the show was short-lived, or maybe you were too busy re-watching their blockbuster films. Whatever the reason, their performances remain low-key and deserve more attention. Let’s take a look at ten of the most popular actors whose TV performances remain low-key but should not be missed.
10. Glenn Close in Damages
Glenn Close is essentially Hollywood royalty, but her television work is somewhat overlooked because of her film work. Glenn Close starred in the TV drama series Damages, playing the role of Patty Hewes, a highly skilled and cunning lawyer who walks the line between hero and villain. While Damages may not be a mainstream ratings success, Glenn Close’s performance was so good that she won back-to-back Emmys for her role.
9. Robin Williams in The Crazy Ones
Robin Williams’ initial claim to fame was on the television show Mork & Mindy, which eventually paved the way to becoming a legend in films. In his later years, Williams starred in a television series titled The Crazy Ones, which featured him as a quirky advertising executive alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar. Although it was not a huge ratings success, Williams’ signature blend of humor and emotion made it a touching performance from his later years.
8. Johnny Depp in Life’s Too Short
Johnny Depp does not often do little things, but his appearance in Ricky Gervais’ Life’s Too Short is comedic gold. Adopting an over-the-top, ultra-serious version of himself, Depp sends up his own image while cringeingly bantering with Warwick Davis. It’s ridiculous, meta, and sees the normally somber star in a more lighthearted light.
7. Ian McKellen in Vicious
Sir Ian McKellen will always be Gandalf and Magneto, but in Vicious, he is a revelation in a quite different mode. Partnered with Derek Jacobi, he plays half of a snappy, long-term couple whose acerbic wit covers true affection. The program only ran for two seasons, but McKellen’s combination of edgy comedy and sensitivity made it special.
6. Gary Oldman in Slow Horses
Gary Oldman has portrayed everything from Dracula to Winston Churchill, but his Slow Horses character could be one of his best. Playing Jackson Lamb, the disheveled but genius MI5 outcast boss, Oldman applies sarcasm over sharp wit. The series began as a cult favorite but has expanded gradually—largely due to Oldman’s masterclass turn.
5. Donald Sutherland in Trust
Donald Sutherland has had decades of iconic roles, yet his performance as J. Paul Getty in Trust (2018) is underappreciated and chilling. Cold, manipulative, and boundless in his calculating, Sutherland both fascinates and repels the viewer with his performance as Getty. It’s a reminder of why Sutherland is still one of the greatest actors of his generation.
4. Patrick Stewart in Extras
Patrick Stewart typically emanates gravitas as Captain Picard or Professor X—but in Ricky Gervais’ Extras, he happily turns it around. Portraying an exaggerated version of himself, Stewart offers a laugh-out-loud-bad screenplay for a film filled with involuntary nudity, all presented with straight-faced seriousness. It’s Stewart at his most humorous and surprising.
3. Matt LeBlanc in Episodes
Matt LeBlanc will forever be Joey to Friends enthusiasts, but Episodes provided him with a new spin. Portraying a self-parodic version of himself, he dove headfirst into his own persona with biting self-deprecation. The payoff? A Golden Globe-winning turn that showed LeBlanc had a whole lot more range than folks credited him with.
2. Bette Davis in The Dark Secret of Harvest Home
Bette Davis was already a legend by the late ’70s, but in this chilling miniseries, she gave one of her most unsettling performances. As Widow Fortunate, she depicted the head of an evil village with equal parts charm and sinister intent. It’s a reminder that Davis never hesitated to play risky, unsettling characters—even late in her career.
1. Amy Adams in The Office
Before her Oscar-nominated movie career took off, Amy Adams had a brief stint on The Office as Katy, the enthusiastic handbag saleswoman who romances Jim. She popped up for only two episodes, but her warmth and comedic sense made her memorable—and provided an early glimpse of the star she’d soon become. Every so often, even a bit role can seem iconic in retrospect.
Major stars don’t always receive their due when they venture into TV, but these performances demonstrate how much talent can be camouflaged in underappreciated roles. If you didn’t catch them the first time, they’re well worth revisiting.