It doesn’t take much to drop out of the limelight once you’re in it. Whether it’s because of a single scandal, a bad role, or a movie that didn’t quite hit its mark, plenty of actors out there don’t get the recognition they deserve. There are also plenty of stars in Hollywood that people love to hate, but deep down, fans know they love them.
Whether it’s because of a great performance in an underrated movie or because of a bit of genuine bad luck, here are 10 actors that people secretly love, but nobody is talking about.
1. Alan Tudyk
Anybody who is a true sci-fi fan will remember Firefly and its tragically short run from 2002 to 2003, but few tend to remember the cast of the “renegade crew” beyond Nathan Fillion and Summer Glau. Tudyk’s appearance as the anxious but lovable pilot of the smuggling ship Serenity quickly made him a fan favourite, even if it wasn’t his first role on screen. Now 20 years later, you’re more likely to hear his voice than see him on screen. Tudyk has surfaced as a voice in tons of animated movies, from Wreck-It Ralph (2012)to Zootopia (2016).
2. Doug Jones
Doug Jones won’t be a name or a face that many will know, but anyone who’s a fan of creature features or Guillermo del Toro’s work is inadvertently a fan. Jones has been on screen since the early ’90s, and Dominique Othenin-Girard’s thriller Night Angel (1990) was probably the first and last time that Jones was seen on camera looking anything like himself.
Since then, Jones has appeared in movies like The Shape of Water (2017), Pan’s Labyrinth (2006), Hocus Pocus (1993), and even Hellboy (2004).
3. Ron Perlman
Speaking of Guillermo del Toro’s underrated classic Hellboy (2004), Ron Perlman is yet another actor who is often recognised only for his roles where he was covered in SFX makeup. Perlman’s first real claim to fame came to him in the form of Beauty and the Beast. No, not the 1991 Disney musical, but rather the TV series that aired in the late ‘80s.
Well into his golden years, Perlman unknowingly created some incredibly difficult shoes to fill, with many fans feeling like any actor who tried to play the hot-blooded half-demon (such as David Harbour in 2019) pales in comparison.
4. Djimon Hounsou
If there was ever a number 1 actor who doesn’t get the recognition and love that he deserves, it would definitely be Djimon Hounsou. This incredible actor has been awing fans since 1994’s sci-fi classic Stargate. Before turning to acting, Djimon Hounsou worked as a model and even modelled for Thierry Mugler. His powerful role in Amistad (1997) was what really put him on the map. Most recently, Hounsou appeared as General Titus in Zack Snyder’s Rebel Moon. The movie itself had a pretty divided audience, but viewers felt Hounsou brought a depth to the character that wasn’t fully appreciated.
5. Jeffrey Wright
Jeffrey Wright made a name for himself in theatre long before stepping foot in Hollywood. The first time he drew some major attention in the theatre was his work in Angels in America in 1993. He later shifted his attention more to film and TV, and is recognised for a minor role in Shaft (2000). He’s found more success since the early 2010s, first trying his hand at voice acting and mo-cap as Isaac Dixon in Naughty Dog’s hit game The Last of Us in 2013 before reprising his role in HBO’s The Last of Us season 2, ten years later.
6. Michael Shannon
It might feel like this list is becoming a bit of a Guillermo del Toro tribute, but it can’t be helped that his movies star some great, underrated actors. Shannon first appeared on screen as Fred in Groundhog Day in 1993, starring alongside the esteemed Bill Murray. Shannon made a big impression in Revolutionary Road (2008), but has often been cast as the villain ever since. Some of his standout roles include General Zod in Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel (2013) and Richard Strickland in Guillermo del Toro’s The Shape of Water (2017)
7. Kieran Culkin
Not everyone realised that Macaulay Culkin’s younger brother, Kieran, also acted in Home Alone (1990). Compared to Macaulay, his part was minuscule, with only 16 minutes on screen, so it’s an easy thing to miss. Years later, however, audiences had definitely started to notice Kieran when he played Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (2010)
Things are only getting better for Kieran Culkin, as he recently became a standout in HBO’s Succession.
8. Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell is a name that has always danced in and out of the spotlight. First appearing on screen in the Irish TV series Pie in the Sky in 1994, Farrell became a bigger name when he appeared in The War Zone in 1999. It wasn’t really until he got to work with Steven Spielberg in Minority Report (2002) that he became somewhat of a household name. Although he’s had a pretty successful career, for many fans, it felt like Farrell had somewhat slipped into obscurity until he appeared (under heavy SFX makeup) in HBO’s 2024 drama The Penguin.
9. Parker Posey
This gorgeous and underrated actress has always found fame in smaller films, a trait that earned her the title “Queen of the Indies”, which Times lovingly gave her in 1997. The list of movies where she has played the main character is a bit on the smaller side, but no one can say the same for her incredible list of accolades. Posey has starred in The White Lotus, Lost in Space, Frankenstein, and even some nostalgic classics like New Girl and The Good Wife.
10. Chloë Sevigny
Although Sevigny was a big name in fashion in the ‘90s, the star broke into acting with the 1995 indie film Kids, but hasn’t really acted in any prominent films since. That being said, Sevigny’s performance marked her as an incredible, if a little subversive, actress. Her film career might not have taken off the way that some fans would have liked, but her TV career has filled the void. She’s starred in Russian Doll, Big Love, The Girl from Plainville, Hit & Miss, and is beloved for one of her most raw acting appearances as Shelly in American Horror Story Season 2.
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