Ever since the invention of splicing and clever camera trickery, there have been instances of utilizing the same actor to portray a set of twins in film. Some talented twins have played the roles individually, notably Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Tia and Tamera Mowry. However, sometimes, it’s even more exciting when the roles are played by just one person. This allows the actor to showcase their varied abilities and gives audiences an extra layer of excitement as they try and figure out just how the directors were able to pull off the switch.
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What’s also interesting is that, quite often, these two twins represent very different types of people. Whether one is more creative and the other more logical, one very privileged and the other having to face more disadvantages, or even one good, one evil, there are countless tropes that get to be explored. Films with twins played by the same actor also rely on a lot of sleights of hand and deception, which often confuses not only the other characters but the viewers as well.
You are watching: 10 Best Movie Performances By One Actor Playing Twins
10
Hayley Mills As Susan Evers & Sharon McKendrick
The Parent Trap (1961)
One of the more standout films that embraced the trope of one actor playing twins, the original The Parent Trap, saw Hayley Mills bring to life two very different people. Sharon is the more carefree and relaxed of the two, having grown up in a more laid-back environment with a lot of freedom. Her spirit and charm are what help bring her long-lost sister Susan out of her shell. The more demure and proper twin, Susan leeds a life of privilege but also governed by many rules and a lot more discipline.
When the sisters meet for the first time, Mills plays both reactions with careful attention to detail and consideration for how each character would act in this instance. She was able to showcase her comedic timing and heartfelt emotions, and carried the film herself at the age of just 14. Mills’ portrayal was praised by critics and The Parent Trap was a success for Disney. With two Academy Award nominations and an equally iconic remake, Mills’ portrayal of Susan and Sharon has been a go-to template for actors playing twins for a long time.
9
Jeremy Irons As Beverly & Elliot Mantle
Dead Ringers (1988)
This psychological thriller sees Jeremy Irons play twin brothers who share an unhealthy connection that deeply affects them both. The film goes further into how being a twin can affect someone’s sense of self and Irons’ performance helps audiences immerse themselves in the lives of these two fascinating characters. The story goes from exploring the lighter aspects of mistaken identity and intentional confusion to a focus on jealousy and addiction.
The way Irons plays Elliot is visibly different from how he handles Beverly, and it’s this attention to detail that makes the film work so well as an almost horror. David Cronenberg paints a dark and unsettling picture, and the way the twins are shot is seamless. Irons received a Golden Globe nomination among many other nods, and was widely praised for his two very strong performances. The film was remade as a miniseries with Rachel Weisz playing the twins, Irons’ original portrayal clearly very influential.
8
Christian Bale As Alfred & Fallon
The Prestige (2006)
What sets Bale’s performance apart in this Christopher Nolan period drama is the secret that he must hide from both the characters in the story and the viewers. While everyone is convinced that they’re watching just one person, the reality is quite different. Set in the world of magicians and illusionists, the focus on sleight-of-hand tactics is a big device for both the plot and the filmmaking itself. Only the tiniest differences in appearance and mannerisms are what can be used to tell the difference between who is whom, and they’ll most likely only be spotted upon the second or third watch.
Bale is one of Nolan’s longtime collaborators, and his performances in his films are always intense and full of depth. In The Prestige, Bale is charismatic and arrogant, as well as confident with a charm that draws everyone in. As the “hidden” twin, he displays all the same characteristics but must do so in a way that subtly shows that all is not quite as it seems.
7
Tilda Swinton As Thora & Thessaly Thacker
Hail, Caesar! (2016)
Known for her more powerful and dramatic roles, it’s always a pleasant surprise to see Tilda Swinton showing her more playful side in Hail, Caesar! She has great comedic timing, and her innate intensity lends itself well to this offbeat comedy, directed by the Coen brothers. Swinton plays rivaling sisters, who are both gossip journalists and find themselves going after the same scoop at the same time.
With Thora the more pompous and stuck-up of the twins, Swinton delivers her lines in a deliciously acerbic way. Thessaly is a bit more flamboyant and camp, with some outlandish costumes, and is a great foil to her more rigid sister. Having one woman play these very different women shows just how talented and intuitive Swinton is as a performer. She adds much color and comedy to the film, and there’s no doubt at any time how different these two people are from each other.
6
Leonardo DiCaprio As King Louis & Phillippe
The Man In The Iron Mask (1998)
As the ruling monarch, Leonardo DiCaprio is manipulative and ruthless. Having lived a life of privilege and indulgence, he lacks any form of self-awareness or compassion. It is safe to say the Oscar-winner enjoys grappling with those aspects of the role, as he appears to relish the vileness of the character. He’s menacing but flamboyant at the same time, adding a lot of royal charisma to this unlikable character.
Phillippe, on the other hand, had lived a life of imprisonment and solitude, so his character is completely different from his villainous brother. This role is where DiCaprio was able to focus on a more vulnerable, heartfelt performance of a more heroic kind. The actor’s versatility is on full display, as his boyish qualities are explored from both perspectives. There’s the more innocent and earnest side seen in Phillippe and the petulant immaturity of Louis.
5
Janelle Monáe As Andi & Helen Brand
Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery (2022)
Standing out in an ensemble cast is no mean feat, and Janelle Monáe’s portrayal of sisters Andi and Helen brought a shocking twist to this crime caper. In the Knives Out saga, there is always more than meets the eye, and the story of Glass Onion is no different. From “Andi’s” mysterious and unnerving entrance to the flashbacks that explain everything, Monáe gives a layered performance that unravels before viewers as the story spirals.
Co-stars, which include Katherine Hahn, Kate Hudson, and Daniel Craig, all bring their unique flavors to the story, with some great comedic performances all around. But it’s Monáe’s role as Helen that is the beating heart of this movie. She showcases the pain of losing a sibling, the desperation to get to the bottom of the mystery, and the bravery of stepping into the hornet’s nest. As an actor, Monáe must not only play two different roles in different timelines, but also a role within a role, which is done extremely well.
4
Bette Midler As Sadie Shelton & Ratliffe | Lily Tomlin As Rose Shelton & Ratliffe
Big Business (1988)
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With two sets of twins in play, there is a lot to follow in the 1980s fish-out-of-water comedy Big Business. As two sets of twins get mixed up in the hospital, with one going home with a wealthy family from the big city, and the other staying in the more rural setting, hilarity is bound to ensue. As their upbringing creates a completely different set of circumstances, their characters are inevitably contrasting. With Bette Midler showing her diva credentials as the more affluent twin, she’s able to be more charming and down to earth as the sassy small-town girl.
Lily Tomlin’s characters are much less flamboyant than Midler’s, playing into her strengths. The city version of Rose is much more graceful and sophisticated, and the country counterpart is more quirky and eccentric. The juxtaposition between their own twin version as well as the sisters they grew up with is where a lot of the comedy lies, and both stars shine in their respective roles. With many instances of mistaken identity played for big laughs, Big Business is so much more fun thanks to the twin performances of Midler and Tomlin.
3
Lindsay Lohan As Hallie Parker & Annie James
The Parent Trap (1988)
This widely popular The Parent Trap remake was the launchpad for Lindsay Lohan’s career. She took on the roles inspired by Hayley Mills’ twin performance from over three decades prior. The talented young actress not only had to bring to life two very different sisters but had to produce a convincing British accent as well. Hallie is the more free-spirited and outgoing twin who grew up in Napa Valley and introduces her long-lost twin sister to a more fun way of life with fewer rules and constrictions.
Annie is the prim twin who grew up in an upper-class London environment. Lohan gives a very strong performance in both roles, with a lot of charming and vulnerable moments that show how this unusual situation impacts both girls. As Annie and Hallie get to know their parents and yearn for one big happy family, there’s never a moment where the viewers don’t believe they’re watching two people playing separate roles. All this at such a young age was very impressive for Lohan.
2
Tom Hardy As Reggie & Ron Kray
Legend (2015)
Double Tom Hardy is a gift to any viewer, as he always gives his all to any role he’s in. That’s why his portrayal as Legend‘s criminal twins is so memorable and widely praised. Going from the suave and charismatic Reggie, who is the business brains of the operation, to a violent and brutish Ron comes naturally to Hardy. As he acts out emotional and intense scenes where he shouts at (basically) himself, audiences are never taken out of the reality that they’re watching a pair of siblings have it out on screen.
Creating familial chemistry with oneself cannot be easy, but that is exactly what Hardy manages to do, as he showcases the tension and rivalry between the brothers. While looking the same in no way implies that the people will have similar characters, it’s very evident in this real-life story. Hardy was acknowledged on the international awards circuit, receiving nominations and top prizes for his powerful performance.
1
Nicolas Cage As Charlie Kaufman & Donald Kaufman
Adaptation (2002)
As an actor, Nicolas Cage does not do things by halves, so it’s fitting that he was able to play two characters in this film. He had proved he could deliver two very opposing performances in Face/Off as he played a villain and a hero in the space of two hours. In Spike Jonze’s Adaptation, Cage plays the very socially awkward and neurotic Charlie, who struggles with self-doubt and confidence. On the other side of the twin spectrum is Donald, who is much more relaxed and outgoing, oozing charm and nonchalance.
The way Cage approaches both roles is masterful. Changes in body language, like subtle mannerisms and differences in posture, are accompanied by carefully considered line delivery and shifts in tone of voice. The twins have clearly divergent personalities and watching their differences set against each other is a fascinating look into their sense of identity and internal insecurities. Cage was widely praised for his performances, earning him another Academy Award nomination along with a slew of other prestigious accolades.
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