Popular Thriller Actors

Although many actors try to have a diverse career, avoiding being typecast as a certain role or for being known for a certain genre of film, certain actors are well known for their work within the Thriller genre. For example actors such as; Tom Hanks, Bruce Willis, Nicolas Cage, Christian Bale, Mark Wahlberg, Kevin Costner, Vin Diesel, Jason Statham, Liam Neeson and many more. There are also many actresses who are renowned for their work in Thrillers like; Charlize Theron, Jodie Foster, Rosie Mcgowan, Jaime Lee Curtis, Katie Holmes, Uma Thurman Sigourney Weaver, Sharon Stone, Sarah Michelle - Gellar to name a few. 

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is extremely well known for his contribution to the Thriller and Action Adventure genres. Perhaps his most famous role was as John McClane in the 1988 action- thriller 'Die Hard' series, for which the film won four Academy Award nominations and established Willis as a serious actor within the thriller and action genres, the films were such a big success that this also led to the rise of Willis' career and enabled him to move onto other genre of film although he remains most well known for his work within the thriller genre. 

Trailer for 'Die Hard'

From the trailer, the viewer is able to identify what makes a good thriller hero, for example in the clip Willis is seen to be very brave, daring, bold, skillful and is seen by the audience as an underdog hero which makes the character far more appealing as the audience senses that Willis, the protagonist is outnumbered and therefore the audience is willing him to overthrow the antagonists and when he does this single- handed it conveys how superior the hero is to the other characters in skill and fighting ability. Thus showing the audience the typical characteristics of an thriller protagonist.  

Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster is particularly well known for her contribution to thriller films such as the 1991 horror- thriller 'The Silence of the Lambs' which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning five including Best Actress which Foster won. After being a well known child - actor for her role in films such as 'Freaky Friday' and 'Bugsy Malone' 'The Silence of the Lambs' painted Foster in a new light and enabled her to take on darker roles and projects. As a woman, Foster also subverts the typical thriller protagonist but is not portrayed as a stereotypical weaker woman in need of help and is instead shown to be a strong, protector in the popular 2002 thriller, 'Panic Room'. 

Trailer for 'Panic Room'

Again, like in the thriller 'die hard' the viewer sees from these clips and from researching the actors themselves what makes a popular thriller actor. For example, Foster is shown to be strong, independent, brave, clever and quick witted to be able to outsmart the three antagonists. Once again the viewer is presented with an underdog hero as not only is the main protagonist outnumbered, she is also female often viewed as the weaker sex in films and less able to defend themselves - meaning that Foster has to be twice as skilled in the film to outsmart the antagonists, but also to protect herself and her daughter. 

From my research into who are some of the most popular thriller actors, and after contemplating what makes them so popular I have deduced that when it comes to making my own thriller opening it is important to establish certain qualities in the protagonist; bravery, skill, quick wits and to be able to outsmart the antagonists. Moreover, after looking at both Bruce Willis and Jodie Foster, two extremely well respected actors I feel that to make my thriller opening more popular I should establish my main character as an underdog, perhaps even being outnumbered by the antagonists, as this eventual defeat serves to highlight the main character's superior skills and impresses the audience.  

Source: ranker.com, listal.com,Wiki, Google, Google Images, YouTube.