10 Movie Actors With Far More Range Than You Think

It might sound odd but, it's true, Tom Cruise is capable of far more than just a cocky, arrogant lead role. Top Gun, Jerry Maguire, the Mission Impossible series and at least half of Cruise's filmography are fairly one dimensional roles he was simply born to take on but for every Maverick, there's a Lt. Kaffee.

As good a place as any to start with discussing Cruise's range; A Few Good Men is one of the first roles Cruise took that required him to portray intelligence alongside his usual cocksure attitude and audiences were shown that there was more to Cruise than just good looks and arrogant charm.

Cruise has even dabbled in the fantastical as the naive Jack in Legend opposite Tim Curry and Lestat in the brilliant 'Interview With the Vampire' but the true example of Cruise totally reinventing his performance for a role came in 1999's epic Magnolia.

Referred to commonly as the 'Catharsis' scene, Cruise delivers a powerful, emotionally charged monologue that is simply exceptional and the film itself is a must see courtesy of Cruise and the rest of the stellar cast.

Still not convinced on Tom Cruise? Then remember that not only did one of Hollywood's most serious actors turn up in Goldmember, he also led the cast in the campy Rock of Ages and turns in an excellent comedy performance in the otherwise lacklustre Tropic Thunder.

Trust me, the man can do it all... we just wish he would more often.