1. Bridesmaids (2011)
Actor(s) that got typecast: Melissa McCarthy & Rebel Wilson
Speaking of comedies that landed their stars with some serious typecasting issues: it’s Bridesmaids. Released in 2011, Bridesmaids took the buddy comedy format and flipped it for an all-female cast (bar romantic interests). The result was one of the most enjoyable comedies of all time, particularly as it didn’t skimp on vulgar humor, but rather made it more accessible for a female audience. It also saw two of its actors face typecasting issues.
The first and most obvious of these is Melissa McCarthy. Bridesmaids establish McCarthy as a comedic force to be reckoned with, serving as her breakout role, but it also landed her with the task of repeating filling the same specific niche. Since Bridesmaids, McCarthy has largely been stuck with a particular gimmick: playing comedically over-sexual and ultra-confident women, usually to the chagrin of a more straight-laced co-star. This can be seen in Identity Thief, The Heat, The Boss, and Thunder Force, among others.
Bridesmaids also featured Rebel Wilson, who played the confidently eccentric Brynn. This marked the start of a string of roles in which Wilson played unorthodox and larger-than-life comedic characters, perhaps most notably in all three Pitch Perfect movies. Just like with McCarthy, Bridesmaids marked the beginning of that particular career trend for Wilson. Though it’s an excellent comedy, Bridesmaids ultimately sits at the top spot because of how harmful the typecasting really was to the careers of two incredibly talented actors.
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