Then they do it again. And again. Drama, comedy, action, or something else entirely, the most chameleon-like stars don’t merely impress us—they astound us. They get you to forget you’re seeing the same individual every time. Here’s the countdown of 10 actors who’ve consistently demonstrated that they can do it all—and make it look easy.
10. Nicole Kidman
Nicole Kidman never hesitated to step out on a limb—and it pays off. From the gritty ferocity of The Hours (her Oscar win) to the sparkly anarchy of Moulin Rouge!, she’s never afraid to do something different. She’s crossed over into the psychological thriller sandbox (Dead Calm), dark comedy (To Die For), and prestige television (Big Little Lies). Her unrelenting transformation as an actress has constructed a career predicated not on type but on daring.
9. Will Smith
Has more range than people usually credit him with. He burst into the spotlight with comedy in The Fresh Prince, defeated the box office with action blockbusters such as Independence Day and Men in Black, then switched gears to dramatics in Ali and King Richard. That last one earned him an Oscar, demonstrating once and for all that Smith isn’t merely affable—he’s really good.
8. Olivia Colman
Is there anything Olivia Colman can’t do? She’ll have you laughing your head off in one instant (Peep Show, anyone?), and then reduce you to complete devastation in the next (The Favourite or The Father). Even in a fleeting scene—such as her flirty cop in Hot Fuzz—Colman infuses a character with nuance, wit, and inventiveness. She’s an actor who makes each part feel bespoke for her. BuzzFeed captures it best: she always leaves an impression.
7. Toni Collette
Toni Collette is arguably the most underappreciated shape-shifter in Hollywood. Whether she’s bringing huge laughs with Muriel’s Wedding, unraveling into psychological terror in Hereditary, or embodying a realistic matriarch in indie dramas, she disappears fully into her roles. Screen Rant complimented her potential to swing from quirky charm to horrific vulnerability without ever missing a step—and actually, that’s her superpower.
6. Edward Norton
Edward Norton doesn’t merely perform—he becomes his characters. One moment, he’s frightening as a white supremacist in American History X, the next sweet and quirky in a Wes Anderson movie like Moonrise Kingdom. And of course, there’s playing twins in Leaves of Grass. He’s inconsistent, multifaceted, and always fascinating. Screen Rant’s observation is that Norton seamlessly switches between wildly divergent tones—dark, light, and all in between.
5. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leo’s career is essentially a demonstration of range. He’s shifted from youthful romantic in Titanic to crazy tycoon in The Wolf of Wall Street to brutal survivalist in The Revenant—the performance that finally earned him his Oscar. No matter what he’s playing—tragic hero, manipulative villain, or something in between—DiCaprio goes all in. According to Screen Rant, the transition from charming Jack Dawson to the hard-edged, intense roles of his later years is proof of his dynamic evolution.
4. Robin Williams
Robin Williams was not only funny—he was sublimely unpredictable. One of the few actors who could have you laughing out loud one minute (Mrs. Doubtfire) and crying the next (Good Will Hunting, Dead Poets Society). He had rapid-fire energy and improv for his comedy, but he also possessed a profound emotional acuity that reflected in his dramatic performances. BuzzFeed lauded his incredible talent for seamlessly slipping between humor and authenticity.
3. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron has made a career of going against expectations. She went full-on method as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in Monster (Oscar, check), then ruled in Mad Max: Fury Road as the indomitable Furiosa. And yet manages to squeeze in some comedic flexing in Arrested Development. She’s physical, emotional, and always bold. BuzzFeed wrote about her crossover success: “She can do drama, comedy, fantasy—and dominate in action.”
2. Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger’s career, as sadly short as it was, was one of incredible scope. He won over audiences in teen rom-coms such as 10 Things I Hate About You, then stunned them with his dark, iconic turn as the Joker in The Dark Knight. That role reimagined what a villain was capable of—and what an actor could do with one. The transition from charming rebel to anarchic chaos solidified Ledger’s reputation as a chameleon.
1. Meryl Streep
And of course, no conversation about range is complete without Meryl Streep. She’s the benchmark—someone who can step into literally any role and make it sing. Whether she’s a terrifying boss in The Devil Wears Prada, a grieving mother in Sophie’s Choice, or a dancing queen in Mamma Mia!, Streep brings total commitment to every performance.
Her mastery of accents, emotional depth, and genre fluidity has made her the go-to example of acting excellence. She’s tackled every genre, every tone, and made it look easy, undefined from emotional powerhouses to genre-hopping shapeshifters; these actors don’t just play characters—they become them. And that’s why they continue to surprise, move, and inspire us—no matter what the script calls for next.