20 Brilliant Sci-Fi & Fantasy Films Where Actors Play Opposite Themselves

The late-nineties/early-noughties Mummy franchise will forever live strong in the hearts of every ‘90s kid across the globe. These films gave us the rip-roaring, globe-trotting excitement of Indiana Jones paired with fantasy villains that were just cartoonish enough not to be too scary. And they introduced us to actors we’ve loved ever since: Brendan Fraser, Dwayne Johnson, and, of course, Rachel Weisz.

Fraser and Weisz play adventurers Rick and Evelyn O'Connell, whose pursuit of ancient treasures repeatedly brings them into contact with primordial evil, undead rulers, monsters and gods, but that doesn’t stop them taking their son Alex (Freddie Boath) along for the ride. The Mummy Returns pits them against zombie-mummy Imhotep (Arnold Vosloo), and Evelyn discovers a previous life as Princess Nefertiri, daughter of the Pharaoh, who was betrayed by him.

While this was the first time Rachel Weisz portrayed two identical characters on screen, it wouldn’t be the last. This served merely as proof of concept for the actress’ much larger undertaking some two decades later, when she played twin gynaecologist sisters Beverly and Elliot Mantle for the 2023 miniseries adaptation of David Cronenberg’s Dead Ringers.