Sometimes a character becomes so iconic they transcend a single actor or actress. The character can appear across multiple films with a new face and voice but we can still instantly tell it’s them without breaking our suspension of disbelief. Here are ten of the most famous characters that have been played by multiple actors.
James Bond
If there was one name you were counting on being on this list, it’s James Bond. So far, the iconic fictional British spy has been played by seven actors, with an eighth on the way soon, across a total of 25 films.
Actors:
- Sean Connery
- George Lazenby
- David Niven
- Roger Moore
- Timothy Dalton
- Pierce Brosnan
- Daniel Craig
Dracula
Despite appearing less and less in popular media nowadays, Dracula, one of the first vampires ever put into fiction is still a timeless character whom many notable actors have taken a turn at portraying on the big screen. To many, Christopher Lee’s portrayal is still the best, but a total of 19 notable actors have donned the teeth and cape so far.
Actors:
- Bela Lugosi
- Lon Chaney Jr.
- John Carradine
- Christopher Lee
- Klaus Kinski
- Frank Langella
- George Hamilton
- Duncan Regehr
- Gary Oldman
- Leslie Nielsen
- Gerard Butler
- Richard Roxburgh
- Dominic Purcell
- Keith-Lee Castle
- Jonathan Rhys Meyers
- Adam Sandler
- Thomas Kretschmann
- Luke Evans
- Claes Bang
Robin Hood
Another timeless character who sadly makes fewer appearances as the years go on. The Prince of Thieves himself has appeared in dozens of forms and iterations since the birth of Hollywood, not to mention many, many stage productions. There have potentially been over a hundred actors who have played Robin Hood in some form of film or series, but there are 9 notable names who have brought the famed archer to life.
Actors:
- Cary Elwes
- Patrick Bergin
- Errol Flynn
- Richard Todd
- Iskak
- Russel Crowe
- Sean Connery
- Kevin Costner
- Taron Egerton
Doctor Who
The third of many iconic British characters to make this list (maybe we Brits just get bored of the same actor quickly). The space-faring Time Lord first hit our screens in 1963. Since then the show has run for a total of 26 Seasons, with a long hiatus until the show was revived in 2005. To date, a total of 13 actors have portrayed the science fiction legend, with Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa set to be the 14th.
Actors:
- William Hartnell
- Patrick Troughton
- Jon Pertwee
- Tom Baker
- Peter Davidson
- Colin Baker
- Sylvester McCoy
- Paul McGann
- Christopher Eccleston
- David Tennent
- Matt Smith
- Peter Capaldi
- Jodie Whittaker
Superman
Since his first appearance in Action Comics #1 in 1938, Superman quickly became a symbol of American freedom, hope and optimism. It’s no surprise then that the character quickly became an on-screen icon, with 11 actors having donned the blue spandex since the character’s big screen debut.
Actors:
- Kirk Alyn
- George Reeves
- Christopher Reeve
- Dean Cain
- Tom Welling
- Brandon Routh
- Henry Cavill
- Tyler Hoechlin
- David Corenswet
Sherlock Holmes
Back to Britain for one of the most famous fictional detectives of all time. Adapted from Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic mystery novels, Sherlock Holmes has been a mainstay of the silver screen for decades now, with nearly 100 actors portraying the pipe-smoking detective over the years. Some of the most notable actors include:
Actors:
- Clive Brook
- Arthur Wontner
- Basil Rathbone
- Peter Cushing
- Jeremy Brett
- Douglas Wilmer
- Christopher Plummer
- Ian McKellen
- Nicholas Rowe
- Jason Gray-Stanford
- Robert Downey Jr.
- Benedict Cumberbatch
- Jonny Lee Miller
- Johnny Depp
- Henry Cavill
Batman
Another iconic DC character who made his first appearance a little later than Superman, Batman’s dark and brooding presence has been a mainstay of the silver screen, especially in the last 40 years. However, he wasn’t always so gritty, with his first iterations actually being very light-hearted and comedic. So far 9 actors have worn Batman’s iconic cowl on the big screen.
Actors:
- Adam West
- Michael Keaton’
- Kevin Conroy
- Val Kilmer
- George Clooney
- Christian Bale
- Ben Affleck
- Will Arnett
- Robert Pattinson
Elizabeth Bennet
An unsuspecting entry on this list, Elizabeth Bennet from Pride & Prejudice has appeared on the big screen countless times across multiple adaptations of Jane Austen’s timeless work. Below are some of the best.
Actors:
- Greer Garson
- Elizabeth Garvie
- Jennifer Ehle
- Kam Heskin
- Aishwarya Rai
- Kiera Knightley
- Gemma Arterton
- Maia Petee
- Anna Maxwell Martin
- Lily James
Joan of Arc
Another unsuspecting entry, despite not featuring on the big screen for some time, Joan of Arc, the iconic French Saint was once inescapable in the cinematic landscape. She is also another character who has had dozens of actresses don her armour and French flag, so we’ve boiled the list down to the most iconic.
Actors:
- Renée Jeanne Falconetti
- Milla Jovovich
- Ingrid Bergman
- Lise Leplat Prudhomme
- Florence Delay
- Sandrine Bonnaire
- Rosanna Schiaffino
Hannibal Lecter
To many, Anthony Hopkins IS Hannibal Lecter, and that is understandable given how iconic his portrayal in The Silence of the Lambs was in 1991. However, he actually wasn’t the first to play Hannibal, and he certainly hasn’t been the last.
Actors:
- Brian Cox
- Anthony Hopkins
- Gaspard Ulliel
- Mads Mikkelsen
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