You must have heard the saying – ‘There are no small parts. This certainly is true for many films that gave us some legendary characters. A lot of times, an actor can give a career-defining performance in a matter of a few minutes. Many actors have showcased their talent through limited screen time and given memorable performances that stayed with the audience long after they stepped out of the theatre. So, let’s take a look at some characters that stole the show with less screen time.
Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna in The Wolf of Wall Street
One of the most popular scenes from the Wolf of Wall Street is the infamous chest pounding scene. The scene has been a part of countless memes and is often referred to by the fans. Mathew McConaughey played the part so well that he became an indispensable part of the film and is still loved for his role.
Drew Barrymore as Casey Becker in Scream
Scream is easily one of the most iconic horror franchises in Hollywood history. But one character that stole the show with a few minutes of screen time at the beginning of the film was Casey Becker, played by Drew Barrymore. The character is still part of pop culture even though she dies at the very beginning of the film.
Donnie Wahlberg as Vincent Grey in The Sixth Sense
Even if he had only a few minutes of screentime, the character of Vincent Grey gave us chills in M Night Shyamalan’s classic ‘The Sixth Sense.’ He is essentially the film’s antagonist, and Wahlberg left no stone unturned to prepare for his part, no matter how short it was.
Cillian Murphy as the Scarecrow in Batman Begins
Cillian Murphy is famous for playing Tommy Shelby in Peaky Blinders these days. But you must remember he once put a scary mask on to play the character of Dr. Jonathan Crane, aka the Scarecrow. The fans loved Murphy’s portrayal as the antagonist, but he only has about 9 minutes of screen time in the film.
Winona Ryder as Beth MacIntyre in Black Swan
You may not even remember her character, but Winona Ryder was simply perfection in this small role in the Oscar-winning film. She played Beth, a former ballerina who was the ballet Swan Lake star but lost her legs in a car accident. Ryder’s character and dialogue delivery can run shivers down your spine.
Stanley Tucci as Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games
Stanley Tucci has multiple iconic roles in his filmography. But when he played the flamboyant Ceaser Flickerman, he easily stole the spotlight even from the leads. His role was extremely small, but the actor made the best of it in the Hunger Games films.
Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes in Captain America: Winter Solider
Sebastian Stan is one of the most versatile actors today, but the role that made him a household name is Bucky Barnes in the MCU. The actor got only 13 minutes of screen time in the Winter Soldier and still left an impression. His success can be proved by the fact that he got 50 minutes of screen time in Avengers: Endgame!
Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs
Sir Anthony Hopkins has repeatedly proved that he is a living legend among actors. His performance in the horror classic ‘The Silence of the lambs’ is a testament to the fact that you don’t need the longest screentime to make an impact. In the film, he appears as the cannibal serial killer Hannibal Lecter, and his interactions with Clarice Starling are just cinematic gold.
Anna Hathaway as Fantine in Les Miserables
While Anna Hathaway has played many memorable characters, Fantine will remain the biggest jewel in her crown. It was the role that won her an Oscar even though she had barely any screen time. Hathaway’s performance brought the audience to tears and proved she can undertake heavy and tragic roles.
Gary Oldman as Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Last but certainly not least is the legendary Gary Oldman playing our favorite Godfather Sirius Black. Although the film’s title is about him, Sirius Black only appears towards the end of the film, and Oldman definitely left everyone mesmerized by his acting skills. His delivery and persona just made him the perfect Padfoot!
Did you know that these characters stole the show with less screen time? Which of the above-shown character is your favorite? Comment down your answers.
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