10 Incredible Movie Performances NOBODY Expected To Be Good

2. Lily-Rose Depp - Nosferatu

Nosferatu 2024
Universal Pictures

Ellen Hutter, the female lead in Robert Eggers' recent Nosferatu remake, was originally set to be played by Eggers' regular collaborator Anya Taylor-Joy, and it frankly seemed like a perfect match between player and part.

But Taylor-Joy ended up dropping out of the film in 2022, after which she was replaced by Lily-Rose Depp - an announcement which left many Eggers fans perplexed, amid a general feeling that Depp was a major "downgrade" from Taylor-Joy.

And to be fair, Depp didn't exactly have any sterling projects to her name at the time, while still struggling to shake the whiff of her starring role in HBO's calamitous 2023 drama series The Idol.

But Depp absolutely proved her many doubters wrong, delivering an emotionally charged, physically demanding performance which proved the full extent of her acting talents.

While some will forever wonder how the film would've turned out with Taylor-Joy playing Ellen, Depp's performance is so richly affecting that it's easy to forget it was ever intended for anyone else.

 
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Stay at home dad who spends as much time teaching his kids the merits of Martin Scorsese as possible (against the missus' wishes). General video game, TV and film nut. Occasional sports fan. Full time loon.