IN SHOW business, achieving iconic success often comes with a double-edged sword. While being associated with an iconic role can skyrocket an actor’s fame and fortune, it may also cast a looming shadow over their career and personal life that lasts a lifetime. Their career may take a downturn, slipping into typecasting, and their personal lives may be affected by anxiety stemming from the pressure associated with such iconic roles.

The appeal of iconic roles

   Acting is a notoriously difficult career to succeed in, with unemployment rates lingering at 90% and only 2% of actors making a sustainable living[1]. These challenges are due to subjective audition processes, high competition, and the temporary, project-based nature of the film industry. In this demanding work environment, actors desire iconic roles that offer immediate fame. Iconic roles also bring immense wealth to actors not only through film earnings, but also through endorsement deals, sponsorships, and paid advertisements. Additionally, the instant familiarity associated with an iconic character provides actors with a unique advantage, as casting directors and producers are more inclined to consider well-known figures for their projects[2].

The pitfalls of iconic roles

   Nevertheless, downsides of iconic roles exist. When a character from a movie or a television show leaves a lasting impression and earns a strong fanbase, the imprint renders the actor and character inseparable. This frequently leads to typecasting, where actors are repeatedly assigned to the same type of role due to their fitting appearance or previous success in such roles. For instance, actor Rebel Wilson gained recognition through her breakout role as Fat Amy in the film Pitch Perfect. The audience adored Fat Amy for her confident and sassy personality, and soon “the funny, fat friend” became Wilson’s signature character. In Wilson’s following acting projects, such as Bridesmaids, The Hustle, and How to Be Single, she reappeared as the same Fat Amy who uses humor to deflect criticism, just with different names.

   Typecasting is damaging in that it restricts the opportunities for actors to showcase their artistic versatility and range. Like in Wilson’s case, when actors are repeatedly cast in similar roles, it becomes difficult for them to break out of that mold, stifling their artistic growth. Moreover, the harmful impact of typecasting extends beyond the individual actor to societal perceptions and representations. Body image is never not an issue for all of Wilson's "fat" characters, perpetuating a narrow and distorted view that fails to capture the non-weight-related experiences of these characters. This reinforces harmful stereotypes and contributes to the lack of diversity in the entertainment industry.

Coping with iconic roles

   Another downside of iconic roles is that they are often accompanied by overwhelming success that can take a toll on an actor's mental well-being. English actor Daniel Radcliffe played Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film franchise, appearing in 8 movies over the span of 10 years. The film series, based on J.K. Rowling's novels, grossed over $7.7 billion worldwide[3] and earned Radcliffe a permanent place in cinematic history. To this success, critics commented that “nothing Radcliffe does will ever supersede the prominence of Potter in our cultural firmament[4].” 

   Radcliffe admitted to battling alcoholism as a means of coping with the pressure and expectations that came with his iconic role. He describes his experience as “panic” and a result of “not knowing what to do next[5].” As such, the anxiety of not being able to surpass or escape the iconic role, coupled with the fear of being forever typecast, can be overpowering. The fear can be overpowering because it is often true. Radcliffe's post-Harry Potter filmography includes diverse roles, such as Arthur Kipps in The Woman in Black and Manny in Swiss Army Man, yet the public and media still associate Radcliffe predominantly with “Harry Potter[5].” Though Radcliffe has overcome his addiction to alcohol, the fact that the pinnacle of his career occurred early on still leaves him with an insurmountable mountain to climb. As such, the allure of iconic success in show business comes hand in hand with the peril of enduring typecasting and the psychological toll it takes on an actor's well-being.

[1] The Guardian

[2] “Quantifying and predicting success in show business”

[3] Forbes

[4] GQ

[5] The Independent