4. Amy Acker
After a few years of mediocre roles, Amy Acker met Joss Whedon who cast her as Winifred Fred Burkle in Buffy spin-off Angel. Her sweet, shy portrayal as the timid bookworm trapped in another dimension won her legions of fans, none more so than Joss Whedon himself, who is always eager to point out how great an actress she is. The Angel era was the time when Joss and co began the now infamous Shakespeare readings at his house, and it was here, after hearing Acker perform, Whedon decided he wanted to do something regal with the actress, and so the lovable Fred was killed off, her body taken over by an ancient demon named Illyria. This role now gave Acker a totally different character to play, someone strong and commanding, and, as much as fans loved Fred, Acker transfixed audiences with her bold portrayal of the formerly powerful demigod now trapped in a mortal shell. After the end of Angel, Acker continued working solidly, but never quite getting the recognition this versatile actress deserved. In 2009, she was reunited with Joss on the Eliza Dushku starring Dollhouse. A sci-fi, action, thriller series, Dollhouse followed a clandestine company able to programme the minds of their operatives to be anything their clients wanted them to be. The show was a poor ratings performer, and is probably the least liked show of Whedons, but it certainly had its strengths, which included an interesting concept, but moreover, excellent performances from the cast. If youve never watched Dollhouse but you are reading this, the following contains spoilers. But, also, if you are reading this and have not seen Dollhouse, go watch Dollhouse now, it really is not as bad as Internet folk have made out. In Dollhouse, Acker played the scarred, thoughtful Dr Claire Saunders, a character constantly fighting for the rights of the Dolls, acting as the conscience for the show and butting heads with the colder, scientific, unemotional characters. Dr Saunders was the moral compass in a show full of very grey areas. But, Ackers resounding acting chops forced Whedon to develop Saunders more, and as back-story was filled out, the viewers learnt there was much more to her than met the eye. In fact, Dr Saunders was formerly the number one operative within the Dollhouse, until being scarred by a rogue Doll. This revelation allowed Acker to tackle existential conundrums, with the character questioning if she was a real person, and more than the sum of her programming, and who was in charge of whom within the Dollhouse. Towards the end of the shows run, Ackers character was flipped again when she acted as a sleeper agent and killed another recurring character and betrayed the group. Since the end of Dollhouse, Acker has gone on to regularly appear in television, including notable roles in Once Upon A Time, The Good Wife, Grimm, Person of Interest, and Warehouse 13, but her connections with Whedon have remained strong throughout. She had a memorable role in the Whedon scripted Cabin in the Woods, and most recently the lead opposite former Angel love interest Alexis Denisof in Much Ado About Nothing, a role she has received rave reviews for and seems born to have played.
Who Should She Play: Amy Acker has excellent range, and would probably be right for half a dozen or more roles within the Marvel Universe, but I think she would make an excellent Wasp, AKA Janet Van Dyne. Wife of Henry Pym, Jan has used the Pym particles and is able to shrink to microscopic size, a power that may not seem as world saving as controlling thunder or turning into a giant green rage monster, but has saved the Avengers backsides on many occasions.
Jan has been an Avengers mainstay since their inception (along with her husband, she was an Avenger before Captain America), and would make a great foil for Fillion. The two of them could be magic in the roles, with Acker being dragged along for the superhero ride with her over exuberant husband, before taking the bull by the horns and turning herself into the heart and soul of the team. The Janet Van Dyne of the comics was an integral part of the Avengers, with everyone falling in love with her in their own, not necessarily romantic ways. And who wouldnt fall in love with Amy Acker?