10 Actors Who Only Played Their Most Iconic Character Once

Despite blockbuster franchises and cinematic universes garnering the most attention in Hollywood, there are still some actors whose most iconic role is a character they only played once, in one movie. The most famous characters of all time are, more often than not, the stars of long-running franchises. While these movies deserve merit for how they changed cinema, the greatest standalone movies and the performances in them have had just as much of an impact.

Iconic one-off roles are more common among actors who restrict themselves to awards season contenders, sometimes sticking with the same director for several movies. It is common for Oscar-winning actors to venture into the realm of superheroes, eagerly welcomed because of the publicity they bring, but these blockbuster roles will usually become the most iconic role of an actor’s career. However, there are a few cases where an actor does star in a big action franchise, yet their critically acclaimed movies are still more iconic.

10 Meryl Streep As Miranda Priestly

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

Meryl Streep is known for turning dozens of one-time roles into Oscar nominations. She is probably best known for Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie’s Choice, the movies for which she won Oscars. However, the widespread appeal of The Devil Wears Prada makes it Streep’s most iconic movie (for which she was still nominated, of course). Streep’s Devil Wears Prada character Miranda Priestly is so monstrous and glamorous that she can be compared to a classic Disney villain. Despite it not being Streep’s most lauded movie or performance, Miranda is a perfect example of a good old-fashioned villain.

9 Robin Wright As Princess Buttercup

The Princess Bride (1987)

Robin Wright has played the General of the Amazons and a cold-blooded president, but she will always be associated with the classic romantic adventure The Princess Bride. Despite spending most of the movie in a damsel situation, Buttercup is brave and assertive in her own way. Buttercup stands out since the story more or less revolves around her, the only main female character among the core group of heroes. The Princess Bride has stood the test of time because of its fun action and quotability, and may be considered the most iconic movie of most of the actors in it.

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8 Morgan Freeman As Red

The Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Morgan Freeman’s role in The Shawshank Redemption cemented his status as the narrator. Ellis Boyd “Red” Redding provides narration, discussing the time he knew Andy and offering his perspective on life at Shawshank Prison. Since then, Freeman has narrated many documentaries and movies — and if not the explicit narrator, might still end up being an exposition-heavy character. Due to the establishment of his typical character archetype combined with the story about friendship, The Shawshank Redemption is still Freeman’s best movie.

7 Amanda Plummer As Honey Bunny

Pulp Fiction (1994)

Although she is in Pulp Fiction for less than 20 minutes, Amanda Plummer’s performance alongside Tim Roth as her boyfriend “Pumpkin” is hilarious and one of the most iconic scenes in cinema. Plummer and Roth kick off the movie with an excellent selection of Quentin Tarantino’s clever dialogue, before transitioning into a robbery that will come back around at the end of the movie to emphasize the themes of redemption. “Honey Bunny” is so memorable and vital that the role is more iconic than anything else Plummer has done.

6 Gwyneth Paltrow As Viola De Lesseps

Shakespeare In Love (1998)

Gwyneth Paltrow is one of the few MCU actors whose most famous role is outside the superhero action franchise. Paltrow won the Oscar for Best Lead Actress for playing the headstrong Lady Viola, William Shakespeare’s fictional muse and romantic partner. Shakespeare in Love comprises an entirely unique take on Shakespeare’s life and Elizabethan England. Paltrow’s unapologetically romantic character and the movie’s miraculous triumph over Saving Private Ryan for Best Picture still stand out in her long, acclaimed career.

5 Tom Hanks As Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump (1994)

Tom Hanks has starred in several movies whose revered status in pop culture is undeniable — Cast Away, Sleepless in Seattle, and Toy Story, to name a few. However, the story of Forrest Gump is almost magical, showing a character who is rewarded by the universe for being a kind person. Forrest Gump manages to cover decades of history through the eyes of an unlikely hero, with simple messages about making the most of life woven in. 30 years later, Hanks has yet to do anything that has surpassed the impact of Forrest Gump.

4 Mandy Patinkin As Inigo Montoya

The Princess Bride (1987)

Few lines in cinema are as famous as “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Inigo is a flawed yet endearing character. Despite his straightforward story of pursuing revenge, he has moments of heartbreaking vulnerability. He is not the best friend to Wesley and Fezzik, but is doubtlessly loyal. All the characters in The Princess Bride can be considered iconic, but Inigo stands out due to the key points in the movie that make him memorable, like a catchy line or an elaborate swordfight.

3 Leonardo DiCaprio As Jack Dawson

Titanic (1997)

Deciding on Leonardo DiCaprio’s most iconic role is no easy task. Cobb in Inception and Rick Dalton in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood are certainly contenders. However, none of DiCaprio’s movies can match the spectacle or success of Titanic. The detailed historical fiction is tied together by DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as the leads. Neither stands out as the best performance of the two actors’ careers. However, the whirlwind romance which inspires one character to lead a fuller life, set against the backdrop of a tragic historical event, is effective storytelling.

2 Margot Robbie As Barbie

Barbie (2023)

Barbie is probably going to be Margot Robbie’s most famous movie for a long time, with Barbie 2 being a mere rumor. Barbie stands out because its bizarre and even cloying premise is able to compete with the other 2024 Oscar nominees, due to the touching and complex story. Robbie herself doesn’t let up for a moment in depicting “Stereotypical Barbie” at her most dramatic, slowly becoming a more aware person. The movie is bold enough to capture everyone’s attention, but is heartfelt and real enough that it will not be forgotten anytime soon — nor will Robbie’s part in it.

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1 Jodie Foster As Clarice Starling

The Silence Of The Lambs (1991)

Despite The Silence of the Lambs becoming a franchise, Jodie Foster only played Clarice Starling in the flagship movie. Clarice was played by Julianne Moore in the movie Hannibal and Rebecca Breeds in the TV show Clarice. However, neither live up to Foster’s Oscar-winning performance.

The biggest challenge of playing Clarice is how she interacts with Hannibal Lecter. Foster conveys how Clarice is both terrified by Hannibal to the point of tears, but intrigued by him in a way she can’t escape. Because Foster only played the role once, her performance stands out. Iconic one-time roles like Clarice Starling are hard to create, but live forever in movie history.