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The 10 best against-type acting performances of the 2000s
The article examines how actors can break away from familiar screen personas, arguing that against-type roles in the 2000s produced memorable performances. It presents ten examples of stars taking on unexpected parts, showing how the decade’s mix of studio franchises, independent films and prestige television created room for career risks.
Among the examples discussed are Hayden Christensen as the fraudster Stephen Glass in *Shattered Glass*, Gene Hackman as the manipulative father in *The Royal Tenenbaums*, and Tom Cruise as the blustering film producer Les Grossman in *Tropic Thunder*. The article says Cruise’s comic transformation helped restore his public standing, while Hackman’s role became one of his last great performances before he retired in 2004.
In short
- The 2000s gave stars room to challenge their screen personas.
- Hayden Christensen, Gene Hackman and Tom Cruise took unexpected roles.
- Risky performances could reshape how audiences saw familiar actors.