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Jim Carrey in ‘The Truman Show’ - Sure, ‘The Truman Show’ has some comedic elements, but Carrey brought out his sensitive side for this iconic role.

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Whoopi Goldberg in ‘The Color Purple’ - Before 'The Color Purple,' Goldberg was a Broadway star who balanced drama and comedy. In this heartbreaking film, she gave a brave, Oscar-nominated performance. She ended up actually winning an Oscar years later for her role in 'Ghost.'

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Emma Thompson in ‘Howard’s End’ - ‘Howard’s End’ introduced Thompson to the world. She won an Oscar for her performance.

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Adam Sandler in ‘Punch Drunk Love’ - After comedy flicks like ‘Billy Madison’ and ‘The Wedding Singer,' Sandler left his comfort zone for this unique romantic drama.

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Mo’Nique in ‘Precious' - Mo'Nique got her start on ‘The Queens of Comedy.' In ‘Precious,' she played an abusive mother brilliantly, and won an Oscar for her efforts.

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Robin Williams in ‘The Fisher King’ -

Before ‘Good Will Hunting,’ Williams took on a dramatic role for ‘The Fisher King.’ He played a mentally-disturbed homeless man who tries to find the Holy Grail.

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Sarah Silverman in ‘I Smile Back’ - Silverman is the deadpan comedian you need to know about. She switched things up in ‘I Smile Back,’ playing a mother who loses control of her responsibilities.

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Ben Stiller in ‘Permanent Midnight’ - The same year as ‘There’s Something About Mary,’ Ben Stiller starred in ‘Permanent Midnight.’ He played an eccentric bachelor who’s addicted to drugs.

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Bette Midler in ‘The Rose’ -

Midler was a comedic stage actress before starring in ‘The Rose,’ a film loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

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Roberto Benigni in ‘Life Is Beautiful’ - Benigni got his start in comedy films like ‘Tu mi turbi’ before ‘Life Is Beautiful.' He cowrote, directed, and starred in this heartbreaking war film.

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Lily Tomlin in ‘Nashville’ -

Before ‘Nashville,' Tomlin won Emmys for her hilarious sketch shows. In this film, she played an upper-class housewife who comes across a touring rock star.

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Seth Rogen in ‘Steve Jobs’ -

Seth Rogen (left) is known for his side-splitting comedies. However, he showed a lot of emotional depth in ‘Steve Jobs.'

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Cloris Leachman in ‘The Last Picture Show’ -

Before ‘The Last Picture Show,' Cloris Leachman was a comic in ‘Young Frankenstein’ and ‘Raising Hope.’

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Bill Murray in ‘Lost in Translation’ - Bill Murray was a comedic force in ‘Caddyshack’ and ‘Groundhog Day.’ He switched things up for ‘Lost in Translation,' playing a lonely A-List actor who finds himself in Tokyo.

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Steve Coogan in ‘Philomena’ - The star behind ‘Alan Partridge’ got serious for ‘Philomena.' He plays a journalist who searches for a woman’s long-lost son.

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Jonah Hill in ‘Moneyball’ - Hill was hilarious in films like ‘Superbad’ and ‘21 Jump Street.' In 2011, he scored an Oscar nomination for his performance in sports drama ‘Moneyball.'

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Russell Peters in ‘Source Code’ - The Canadian stand-up comedian was a welcome face in ‘Source Code,' a sci-fi film starring Jake Gyllenhaal.

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Richard Pryor in ‘Blue Collar’ -

Richard Pryor is one of the most revered stand-up comedians of all time. However, in ‘Blue Collar,’ he played a conniving auto worker from Detroit.

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Peter Sellers in ‘Being There’ -

Sellers was a chameleonic comedian, and blended right into ‘Being There.’ He played a humble gardener who explores the inner workings of Washington, D.C.

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Steve Martin in ‘The Spanish Prisoner’ - After becoming a household name on ‘The Tonight Show,' Steve Martin made a left turn in this gripping neo-noir film.

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Takeshi Kitano in ‘Fireworks’ - Kitano began his career on kooky game shows on Tokyo TV. In ‘Fireworks,' he went dramatic, playing a retired cop who desperately tries to live a quiet life.

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Mike Myers in ‘54’ - In between the first two ‘Austin Powers’ films, Mike Myers starred as a cunning club-owner in ‘54.'

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Marlon Wayans in ‘Requiem for a Dream’ - Before finding success with the ‘Scary Movie’ series, Marlon Wayans was an aspiring drug dealer in 'Requiem for a Dream.'

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Jamie Foxx in ‘Ray’ - Foxx actually got his start on sketch show ‘In Living Color.’ He took on an ambitious biopic role for ‘Ray,' playing the bespectacled soul singer Ray Charles.

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Eddie Murphy in ‘Dreamgirls’ - Murphy is one of the biggest stand-up acts ever, but his performance in ‘Dreamgirls’ was something much different. He played Jimmy Early, a two-faced singer who crosses paths with a talented girl group.

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Albert Brooks in ‘Drive’ - Albert Brooks got his start on the comedy circuit. However, he is a dramatic force in ‘Drive,' playing the malicious Bernie Rose.

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Chris Tucker in ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ - Chris Tucker started as a stand-up comedian before becoming world famous in the ‘Rush Hour’ series. In ‘Silver Linings Playbook,’ he plays an easygoing mental patient.

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Steve Carell in ‘Foxcatcher’ -

Carrell got famous in comedies like ‘The Office,' and ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin.' In ‘Foxcatcher,’ however, he played a cold-blooded sports coach.

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Dave Johns in ‘I, Daniel Blake’ - Dave Johns was a brave choice for ‘I, Daniel Blake,' a heartbreaking British drama. He got his start doing stand-up, but was perfect in this Ken Loach film.

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Art Carney in 'Harry and Tonto’ -

Carney was a star in the US sitcom, ‘The Honeymooners.' However, he won an Oscar for his role in the dramatic film ‘Harry and Tonto.'

See also: The best british period dramas

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