15 Actors Who Play The Same Character In Everything

Do you ever realize that your favorite actor or actress is literally playing the same character no matter what movie or TV show you see them in? It can feel like you're simply making this up. Or maybe you think that you're associating them with your favorite show so it's totally your fault for thinking this way. The truth is that there are some Hollywood figures who really do play similar roles no matter what project they take on, whether they realize it or not, and whether they're film actors who are trying their hand at television or vice versa. Sometimes, it feels like it's simply a coincidence and other times, it seems like this actor really does love playing this type of person. If you're a big fan, then you don't really care, but it is kind of fun to think about this. Here are 15 actors who play the same character in everything.

15 Alex Saxon

A few years ago, this adorable actor was starring on two amazing teen dramas at the same time… and playing a similar character who actually was involved in pretty much the same storyline. One show was on Abc Family (now called Freeform) and another show was on MTV. He played Wyatt on The Fosters, a cute boy who dated one of the main characters, Callie, and then slept with her sister Mariana. He played Max on Finding Carter and dated Taylor… and then slept with her sister Carter. Yup, it was very familiar to fans of both shows. Many fans and critics have pointed this out. It's not that upsetting, though, since let's face it, this guy is really sweet and really attractive and he was a welcome sight on both shows. It's just something that definitely needs to be pointed out because it's too obvious not to talk about it.

14 Jennifer Aniston

No matter what movie she's in, Jennifer Aniston seems like she's playing some version of Rachel Green from Friends. Or maybe it just feels this way because she was honestly your fave character ever! She's always the beautiful, super cool, and hilarious girl, and she brings comic relief to whatever project she's a part of. It's not a bad thing that she always plays a very similar role to whatever she has done before. It makes sense that since she's really funny, she would want to play to her strengths, and of course that's why she keeps getting hired. She's definitely super talented so you're always happy to see her in a movie. It's just interesting to look at her body of work and realize this!

13 Will Ferrell

You can always tell when you're watching Will Ferrell, right? He's always silly and a bit ditzy and he can always make you laugh until your stomach hurts. It doesn't matter whether you're watching him play the title role in Elf or another movie, it feels like he's playing the same character. That doesn't mean that the movies are totally interchangeable or that he's not a good actor. His movies are really fun and he's great. You love him. You think that he's adorable and you're a fan. But you do have to admit that he always plays the same guy. He's always going to seem really happy-g0-lucky and innocent and he's always going to make statements and act like he can't believe what is happening to him. That's just his thing and you don't think that you're ever going to see him play another type in the future.

12 Connie Britton

Think about Connie Britton's two main roles. She was Tami Taylor on Friday Night Lights aka a super strong woman who stood up for herself and her family no matter what. She was dealing with a man's world since her husband was Dillon's high school football coach and she had to make sure that her voice was heard. After that show ended, she was cast as Rayna James on Nashville and was living in the country music world… and standing up for herself and her family no matter what. Yup, she pretty much played the same character on both shows, but that's exactly why you are such a fan of her and it's why you count these two series as two of your all time favorites. You love seeing strong females and Connie Britton is one of those for sure. Now that she's left Nashville, you're curious where her career is going to take her next.

11 Jared Padalecki

Okay, so Dean on Gilmore Girls wasn't exactly driving around the United States fighting everything creepy and strange and supernatural with his brother. It would have been cool if he was, but he basically stuck around Stars Hollow. But it's safe to say that Jared Padalecki plays very similar characters. Now that he's starring as Sam on Supernatural, you have to admit that you see traces of Dean in that character. Both guys are really honest and sweet and smart. They always do the right thing and they care about their friends and family. They are incredibly loyal and sturdy and strong. They're just awesome. If you haven't checked out Supernatural, you definitely need to. The 12th season just finished so you definitely have enough episodes to tide you over until new episodes return in the fall. Get ready to get obsessed.

10 Emily VanCamp

Whether you're watching her scheme in the Hamptons on Revenge or fall in love in a small town called Everwood, you have to admit that Emily VanCamp always plays the same character. She also had a similar role on Brothers and Sisters. So even though the situations and storylines are different on each of these three shows, Emily is still playing a very similar girl. She's always sweet yet smart, mysterious yet friendly to certain people, and one step ahead of everyone else. Now you're missing all of Revenge, Everwood, and Brothers and Sisters, right? Sorry. That's kind of inevitable. Those shows were definitely pretty special. It's always the worst news ever when one of your favorite shows is ending, especially if Emily VanCamp is starring on one of them. She's so talented and such a welcome sight in whatever project she's in.

9 Katie Holmes

Remember Joey Potter? Of course you do. She was Dawson's BFF and possible soulmate on the popular and beloved 90s teen drama Dawson's Creek. Well, maybe you think that it's great that Joey ended up with Pacey. Or maybe you still think that she belongs with Dawson. This is an eternal debate and there's no right or wrong answer. But the thing about Katie Holmes is that she pretty much plays Joey Potter no matter what. Sure, she hasn't been in too many projects since those days, since she's been focusing on being a mom to her adorable and super stylish daughter, and that's awesome. But whenever she's in a movie, she's basically Joey. She's smart and cautious and thoughtful and you just know that she's going to be okay. You're definitely excited to see what project she takes on next.

8 Lisa Kudrow

From Phoebe on Friends to Fiona on Web Therapy to Valerie on The Comeback, Lisa Kudrow is always the same character. She's always hilarious and quirky and a bit strange (but in the very best possible way) and you can always tell that it's Lisa. You could never picture anyone else in the roles that she takes on and that's a really cool thing. This is another time when you don't mind that she's always the same character. It's actually amazing. You can't think of a TV character who is more fun than Phoebe on Friends, can you? No, you probably can't. She's just awesome, whether she's singing "Smelly Cat" with a hoarse voice thanks to the fact that she is nursing a cold or she's just not getting what other people are saying to her. If you want to watch Friends right this instant, that's the best plan ever.

7 Hugh Grant

Can you think of a character that Hugh Grant has played that wasn't British, smart, funny, and quirky? Nope, you probably can't. Because he hasn't ever played someone who wasn't all of those things. If there is another actor that always plays the same character, it would have to be Hugh Grant. His roles are this great mix of clever and funny. Oh yeah, and he always plays someone who is super cheeky. He's just got this charming quality about him and it's like he's always winking at you, even when he's not. But hey, he's a great actor, he's super adorable, and this is what he is good at. No complaints here. Hugh Grant has been in so many amazing movies from About A Boy to Love Actually to Notting Hill to Music and Lyrics. You're always happy to see him in a movie and he's definitely one of your favorite actors.

6 Rachel Bilson

You love, love, love Rachel Bilson because she's bubbly and happy and fun. She's also witty and hilarious. She usually has a snappy comeback ready for any person and any possible situation, and you would love to raid her closet as well. Well, at least that's what you think about the characters that she always plays. You don't actually know her, you've just been watching her on the small screen for a while now. And yes, that means that she's always the same character. Whether you're watching her play Marissa's BFF and Seth's one true love Summer Roberts on The O.C. or Zoe Hart on Hart Of Dixie, you are definitely watching the same person. Her characters always have this quality where they seem ditzy but they also seem smart. It's a tough combination to pull off but Rachel Bilson does it in style and she's always totally genuine and believable.

5 Amy Poehler

Amy Poehler always has this hilarious and quirky thing going on and that's true no matter what she's doing. Whether she's starring as Leslie Knope on the long-running sitcom Parks and Recreation or the Netflix revivals of Wet Hot American Summer, you can always tell that it's Amy. The same is true of her movies, from Baby Mama to Spring Breakdown. This is totally okay, though, so it's not like you're going to boycott Amy's movies or TV shows because she has a type and always seems to play the same character. You're cool with it. You love her and think that she's incredibly talented and she clearly knows what she's doing. You can never picture anyone else in the roles that she plays, and that's really important. She's unique and you love that she's not your typical cookie-cutter actress.

4 Tina Fey

Tina Fey always seems to play the same person, just like Amy Poehler, aka her BFF. She's also incredibly quirky and she's an original. She seems to be the same whether she's starring on her sitcom 30 Rock or is in movies like Date Night or Mean Girls or Sisters. When she was in the film adaptation of the book This Is Where I Leave You, she was playing against type a bit more than usual, but she was still pretty funny and quirky. You definitely feel like being a comedian means that you always play yourself and that you can't move away from that. Since you know that you're so funny, you want to keep cracking jokes and you want to keep doing the work that you love. It's like an occupational hazard or something. So you get it. You know that Tina will always seem like, well, Tina Fey, and you're okay with it.

3 Alexis Bledel

You love Alexis Bledel because she's Rory Gilmore and you love Rory Gilmore. She's a bookworm who loves coffee and her mom Lorelai and who is super ambitious. She's also a bit shy and quiet. That's also the role that Alexis plays in the Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants movies. Her character, Lena, is really sweet and innocent and shy. She takes things very seriously and takes much longer to make decisions than the other characters. So, yeah, she pretty much plays Rory no matter what movie or TV show she's in. Well, of course, there is one exception and that is her part in the critically acclaimed adaptation of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. But other than that, she is Rory Gilmore. That's okay, though. That's more than okay. Rory and Lorelai Gilmore forever and ever and ever and ever.

2 Lauren Graham

If you're a fan of Lauren Graham, then of course you're a fan of Lorelai Gilmore, aka her most famous character. If you've watched Parenthood, then you know that Lauren Graham starred on that show and played a chaser named Sarah Braverman. The truth is that she is the same character on both shows. Again, it's not that this is a bad thing, it's just something that is worth pointing out. Sarah is also witty and hilarious and she's a single mom to a daughter (although she does have a son, too). This definitely seems like an occupational hazard if someone is starring on two long-running TV shows and playing a very similar character. Since she was used to playing Lorelai for so long, you get why this would occur, and you also think that there is a part of Lauren Graham that is basically Lorelai Gilmore. She just automatically brings this energy.

1 Rachel McAdams

You are a huge fan of Rachel McAdams so saying that she plays the same character in everything is not an insult or anything negative like that. You're just simply pointing out that she has been the leading lady/romantic interest in several films and that every time, she seems to be the same person: someone sweet and dreamy and kind of whimsical. She played that role when she was Allie in The Notebook (aka the movie that makes you cry ugly sobs even just thinking about it). She was Paige in The Vow and Mary in About Time and Clare in The Time Traveller's Wife. These are all super sad movies as well and there's some version of forbidden love or two characters who are torn apart by life circumstances, so there's definitely a theme going on. But that's okay. You still love her and you're still going to watch her movies. It's not like you can give up The Notebook.