TypeCasting: Volume Two

In the last typecasting post I compared three actresses that all shine best in their specific typecasts. The same typing system obviously applies to men. Though my services, specifically the style guide, are targeted and work best for women, style typing in general works for both sexes. Though there are some differences. Women in the public eye dress up more than the men do, so I can't really do an analysis on a male celebrity like I would a female celebrity. But, just because actors get to escape that aspect doesn't mean their style essence has absolutely no effect on how they are cast. So today I will be explaining how the following actors "essences" affect the roles they are best known for.

                 

So if you were a casting director and had to cast one of these actors in you period piece as a smug aristocrat, who would you cast? The obvious and best choice is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch, has been working steadily as an actor for a couple decades now, so obviously he has played a wide variety of roles. But to figure out how an actor's type affects their career, you have to look at their work as an whole, the roles they were most memorable in, and their breakout roles. Benedict is well known for playing intelligent, arrogant, detached, but intense characters. His breakout role as Sherlock Holmes is nearly the epitome of his essence. The Sherlock he played  nearly wasn't human, even more consistently arrogant, intelligent, and detached than many other incarnations of Sherlock in film/television. He also appeared in numerous period pieces especially those of 1900's and earlier, he blends into these pieces very easily. An interesting thing to note is how much action Benedict has done, especially recently despite his very unconventional looks. He doesn't look awkward doing action scenes either, he looks believable. But he doesn't fit into the normal action roles, like more conventional action stars Chris Evans or Tom Hardy do. Benedict's action roles usually have to take a more cerebral approach, or unearthly(star trek). And despite the aggression or general detachment in his roles, he pulls off sensitivity well. His characters often appear to be closed off then surprise you with the emotion or sensitivity behind their actions later on. Benedict's primary essences are ethereal and dramatic.

 

 

 So here are some keywords for Benedict's "style essences"

Dramatic is intimidating, dangerous, edgy, and intense.
Ethereal is otherworldly, mystical, and delicate.

The two style essences of Dramatic and Ethereal, by themselves, are not very common. This creates a nice little niche that Benedict fits into, it becomes a bit difficult to imagine other people playing the majority of his roles. Dramatic is a sharp masculine essence, this is the reason why Benedict pulls of action despite all the ethereal. Though the dramatic essence on men may be viewed as "sexy" it is not viewed as sensual, and ethereal is viewed as detached and soft, this is why Benedict isn't known for love interests/romantic roles(even with being voted sexiest man). Neither of his essences are perceived as particularly kind, warm, or fun. Probably why Benedict usually doesn't get fun and relaxed play boy roles. Benedict will always shine best in tough/mean/intense roles but all done in a detached/unearthly/sensitive way.

So if you had to cast Robert Downey Jr. or Leonardo DiCaprio to play a fun and relaxed playboy, who would you choose. This is a close one but I would probably choose RDJ first then Leo would be a close second. Everyone knows Robert has somewhat of a erratic career, but he clearly has a consistent typecast. He almost always plays the a character with a "heart of gold". And the best way I can describe most of his characters are fun, impish, bold, and racy. Of course Robert is best known for the role of Tony Stark, a role that most people would have a very hard time imagining another actor in. I would say fun and bold describes the MCU version of Tony Stark very well. Both Benedict and Robert have played Sherlock Holmes, they both have different takes on the character. Benedict's Sherlock is viewed by the general population, as the superior Sherlock. Unlike Benedict, Robert doesn't do uptight/mean or period pieces as well as Benedict(with the exception of "Chaplin"). Also unlike Benedict, Robert does do funny/quippy very well. Now Robert can do action(because of how bold he appears), but it is best done in a funny way or in a way that doesn't appear to require direct brute-ness. Robert's primary essences are gamine and romantic.

The keyword's for Robert's "style essences".

Gamine is plucky, animated, and boyish.
Romantic is sensual and luxuriant.

Actors/Actresses with  gamine as a primary essence, often are good at comedy, because of their animated features. Plus, gamines(usually with the absence of more restrained and calm essences like ingenue or classic.) often can't play plain or straitlaced characters well. I have never seen Robert Downey Jr not be funny in role, when he meant to. Nor can I remember him  playing a "square" character. Men with the romantic essence(if the don't look too "feminine") get to play love interests and often are the physically passionate in their roles. The gamine and romantic essence creates the perception of an romantic and mischievous firecracker type. Robert has played many playboys and womanizers. After Robert retires as Iron Man, he will continue this pattern, even into old age, he is not going to be playing the wise old man.

So who is playing the "tough and street smart guy"? Obviously Leonardo DiCaprio! At first glance Leo looks soft, but if he isn't good at playing emotionally tortured and cunning roles, I don't know who is! Leo is a fine actor, and when compared to Benedict or Robert, appears to have gotten to play a wider variety of characters in many different genres. But there is a common thread to all his roles. Leo has almost always plays mentally/emotionally unstable/intense characters(sometimes to the point of mental illness), and his characters often seem unscrupulous, and are very clever. Leo almost never plays the kind and calm guy or the "nerd". Nor does Leo play the conventional action hero, his heroic/action roles always have to be subversive in some way. I believe Leo knows his strengths and weaknesses and that is why he doesn't take certain roles, knowing that he will not be believable in them. I have not done a full analysis of Leo's essences but I can say that Leo's primary essences are gamine and dramatic.

Here are Leo's "style essences" keywords.

Gamine is plucky, animated, and boyish.
Dramatic is intimidating, dangerous, edgy, and intense.

 


Like Benedict(who also has dramatic essence) Leo can  pull off a villain role. Actors and actresses with dramatic as a primary essence are believable in broody or villainous roles due to their "dangerous" demeanor and energy. I would say Leo gets a lot of credit for his dramatic work, what he doesn't really get credit for is how funny he is in some of these dramatic roles. Leo after all is a gamine, and like I mentioned before, gamines tend to be good at comedy. Due to Leo's essences(and of course acting ability) Leo has the ability to take a dramatic and heavy character and make them lively and likable.