These stalwarts of action films and criminal comedies demonstrate adeptness not only in combat, gunfire, and extricating themselves from precarious quandaries but also in manifesting charming love stories on the silver screen.
Numerous actors are tethered to a certain genre and a firmly established screen persona. While melodramas and rom-coms occupy a unique niche with Hollywood heartthrobs, occasionally, romantic roles are allotted to a completely different category of performers. Testosterone-fueled action heroes and oddballs from farcical comedies sometimes try on uncharacteristic romantic roles, proving their versatility in the realm of acting. Let’s recall eight vivid examples.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger In “True Lies” (1994)
It’s well-known that the ‘Iron Arnie’ is an iconic action movie star – a formidable bodybuilder with a mountain of muscles who rose to prominence after epic roles in “Conan the Barbarian,” “The Terminator,” “The Running Man,” “Predator,” and “Total Recall.”
However, he never was as romantic as in “True Lies.” Despite this film also being an action thriller, the pairing of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Jamie Lee Curtis, whose characters strive to rekindle their marriage while combating a horde of terrorists, suffused it with elements of a romantic comedy.
Clint Eastwood In “The Bridges of Madison County” (1995)
In the previous century, audiences had grown accustomed to Clint Eastwood portraying stoic, laconic lone cowboys in traditional Westerns. However, everything shifted in 1995 when Eastwood directed “The Bridges of Madison County” and himself assumed the leading male role in this poignant melodrama.
His co-star in the project was the incomparable Meryl Streep. According to Zoomboola, her character Francesca is a weary housewife, left alone for four days while her husband and children are away. It is during this time that she encounters the itinerant photographer Robert, who is capturing the bridges of Madison County for National Geographic. Their brief but intensely passionate affair will forever alter their lives.
Brendan Gleeson In “Wild About Harry” (2000)
Irish actor Brendan Gleeson seemed destined to portray laconic, gruff characters who are strangers to tender affections, such as bandits, crime fighters, and working-class men.
However, among all these broken and brusque curmudgeons, there emerged an ‘exemplary family man’ from the comedic melodrama “Wild About Harry.” In Gleeson’s portrayal, Harry initially is an unbearable drunkard, causing his wife profound unhappiness. After suffering an injury and, subsequently, a coma, Harry loses all memory of his past life, and his wife convinces him that prior to the incident, he was the perfect husband.
Jackie Chan In “Gorgeous” (1999)
Jackie Chan is a bona fide hero, both on-screen and off. As one of the most popular action movie stars worldwide and a martial arts master, he strictly refuses to play villainous roles and performs all his perilous stunts himself – a decision that once almost cost him his life. He is remembered for hits such as “Armour of God,” “Police Story,” and “Rush Hour.”
It’s rather challenging to envision him in a romantic role, but such a film does exist – the comedic melodrama “Gorgeous” tells the tale of a wealthy businessman who falls for a beauty from a small Taiwanese village. However, you won’t witness any on-screen kisses – the Hong Kong actor restrained himself so as not to irk the conservative audience.
Tom Hardy In “This Means War” (2012)
After participating in this film, Hardy swore to never again star in a romantic comedy. According to him, “This Means War” wasn’t a particularly successful endeavor.
We’d call it an atypical venture. Recalling his rugged roles in projects like “The Dark Knight Rises,” “RocknRolla,” “Lawless,” “Peaky Blinders,” “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “The Revenant,” and “Venom,” a love triangle involving two CIA agents vying for the affections of the seductive character played by Reese Witherspoon, seems frivolous. Yet, it is a comedy, which turned out to be brilliantly hilarious.
John Malkovich In “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988)
It’s hard to imagine John Malkovich playing a regular person instead of someone eccentric and slightly mad: his expressive appearance allows him to fully embody the role of a maniac (as in “Con Air”), as well as portray a mysterious and incredibly stylish Pope (in “The New Pope”).
Nonetheless, in his earlier years, his performance as the worldly libertine and Don Juan, Valmont, in “Dangerous Liaisons” (1988) brought him widespread popularity. Malkovich skillfully inhabits the character of a seducer engaged in a cunning game with the Marquise de Merteuil (Glenn Close) but unexpectedly finds himself falling for Madame de Tourvel (Michelle Pfeiffer).
Steve Buscemi In “Ghost World” (2001)
Can you imagine Steve Buscemi in a romantic role? He’s done one! In 2001, the actor starred in the dramedy “Ghost World” as Seymour, a solitary man who trades in vinyl records. Young friends Enid and Rebecca decide to prank the unlucky Seymour, but over time, Enid finds herself drawn to this shy guy, leading to her growing apart from Rebecca. Buscemi’s poignant performance did not go unnoticed – he was nominated for a Golden Globe.
Wesley Snipes In “Jungle Fever” (1991)
The lead actor from the “Blade” trilogy is also known for action films like “Boiling Point,” “Passenger 57”, “Rising Sun,” and “Drop Zone.” Wesley Snipes’s characters have slain vampires, fought criminals, and demonstrated martial arts skills but were never involved in love affairs. However, in the film “Jungle Fever,” Snipes does portray a man in love – the drama about the complexities of interracial relationships tells the story of a married Black architect and a white Italian-American secretary.
