Actor V Character
Is it a case of life imitating art, or polar opposites for these actors and their famous on-screen characters? From Robert Pattinson V Edward Cullen to Scarlett Johansson V The Black Widow, we compare and contrast…
Rex FeaturesThe Black Widow
Real name Natalia “Natasha” Romanova, Marvel Comics and The Avengers heroine The Black Widow is feisty, fearless and super-smart, luring in unsuspecting male victims in her role as a secret agent, and forging false identities for herself in order to conceal her true occupation…
PA PhotosScarlett Johansson
…Not unlike Scarlett Johansson, who, as an actress, takes on many different roles in her career as a professional femme fatale. She often attracts the attention of powerful male admirers, too – and shrugs them off just as quickly.
WennSerena van der Woodsen
She might look squeaky clean on the outside, but girl about town Serena van der Woodsen hits the headlines as often for her scandalous relationships with high profile men, as she does for her achingly cool New York style in Gossip Girl…
PA PhotosBlake Lively
…Which isn’t a million miles away from Blake Lively in real life. The actress has been romantically linked to a number of Hollywood high rollers recently – including Leonardo DiCaprio and Ryan Reynolds – as well as topping best dressed lists from New York to London and back again. The one big difference? Unlike Serena, Blake’s not much of a party animal, and prefers to stay in rather than go on wild nights out like her famous character. “I was raised in a very rounded family from the South and was never much of a party girl,” she admitted.
Rex FeaturesCaptain Jack Sparrow
Cheeky, naughty, criminal, but ridiculously sexy, Pirates Of The Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow is a
womanising pirate on a mission to avoid trouble and bag himself some hidden treasure…
PA PhotosJohnny Depp
…Sure, Johnny Depp’s a tattooed, rock ‘n’ roll guy, who’s been in a spot of bother with the authorities in the past, and is definitely sexy. But there’s only one woman in Johnny Depp’s life – French singer and actress Vanessa Paradis, with whom he has two kids – Lily Rose and John Christopher.
PA PhotosChuck Bass
International playboy Chuck Bass is a high rolling American businessman with a taste for adventure, women, money and revenge in Gossip Girl…
WennEd Westwick
…Ed Westwick, on the other hand, is a British lad from Stevenage who wanted to be a rock star, but wound up on TV instead. He does love the women and the party lifestyle though. Allegedly.
Rex FeaturesLara Croft
Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft is a steely, determined British explorer who battles against the odds to rid the world of evil – and uncover the odd priceless artefact along the way, too…
PA PhotosAngelina Jolie
…And we reckon partner Brad Pitt is one such forbidden treasure Angelina Jolie's managed to acquire during her movie adventures. True to life, Jolie is definitely a determined individual, who fights to help those in need in her role as a UN Ambassador. And she travels a lot. But she’s not British. And we doubt she’s ever upset a cursed Egyptian tomb.
Rex FeaturesMr Darcy
Pride And Prejudice’s Mr Darcy is a well-to-do, wealthy gentleman with an arrogant streak. But he’s got a soft, more romantic side too…
PA Photos…Much like Colin Firth, who adores his wife Livia. He’s pretty well-to-do and wealthy too, thanks to his successful acting career. But, from what we've seen, he's "got no improper pride".
Rex FeaturesG.I Jane
G.I Jane is one of the most iconic female characters of all time. In true ‘girl power’ spirit, she becomes the first woman to enter a training camp for the US Navy SEALS in a bid to get the army to take female recruits more seriously. Jane undergoes 20-hour days of tasks designed to wear down recruits’ physical and mental strength...
PA PhotosDemi Moore
…Not unlike Demi Moore herself, who is currently weathering a particularly exhausting 24/7 media storm surrounding her husband Ashton Kutcher’s alleged infidelities. She’s also a fitness fanatic, undergoing a strict regime that involves kick boxing, intense personal training sessions, yoga, and a specially designed diet. You’d need to be a marine to cope with all that and still be a Hollywood icon!
Rex FeaturesMr Schuester
All Glee’s favourite teacher Mr Schuester wants to do is run away to New York and be on Broadway…
PA PhotosMatthew Morrison
…Which is exactly what Matthew Morrison himself did before appearing on the hit musical comedy. The actor has starred in several famous productions, playing lead roles in Footloose and The Rocky Horror Show. According to his co-stars, just like Mr Schu, Morrison also gives great advice. “He is so funny. He’ll come and take you in his arms and give you a kiss on the cheek and just make you so happy,” Heather Morris said.
PA PhotosRachel Berry
Feisty, competitive and a complete perfectionist, nothing stops Rachel Berry reaching her life goal: to be in a musical on Broadway…
PA PhotosLea Michele
…Just like Lea Michele, who, as a child Broadway star, didn’t let anything distract her from what she wanted to do. Unlike Rachel, however, Lea has never harboured a penchant for Pringle jumpers or white hosiery, and doesn’t manage to dress like a gran and a toddler all at once.
Rex FeaturesBridget Jones
Scatter-brained Bridget Jones is a slightly dumpy, lovable British character who, aside from becoming a top reporter, just wants to love and be loved. Her trials and tribulations lead her to become an unlikely heroine.
PA PhotosRenée Zellweger
Renée Zellweger, on the other hand, is American, and known for her logical, intelligent approach to life. Sure, she’s had her fair share of relationship ups and downs – including one of the shortest marriages in celeb history – but her career always comes first. Chalk and cheese? Most likely.
Marilyn Monroe
She might be one of the most revered and iconic movie stars of all time, but, in reality, Marilyn Monroe was a deeply troubled actress – a little girl lost in the thick of superstardom, tinged with sadness and weighed down by emotional baggage.
PA PhotosMichelle Williams
Michelle Williams has certainly had her share of tragedy, in particular, the death of the father of her daughter, Heath Ledger. But unlike her portrayal of Monroe in My Week With Marilyn, she worked herself out of her darkest moments, and went on to enjoy great success in her career.
Wolverine
X-Men character Wolverine is a short-tempered, clawed mutant with revenge on his mind and the muscles of a Greek god...
PA PhotosHugh Jackman
…Hugh Jackman, on the other hand, is a friendly Australian fellow who loves nothing better than busting out a thigh-slapping musical number on stage. We can’t imagine a whiskey-soaked Wolverine crooning along to Oh What A Beautiful Mornin’, can you?
Bigpicturesphoto.comSuperman
By day, he’s a reporter at the Daily Planet, but when disaster strikes? He tears off his shirt to reveal the rippling, bulging muscles he uses to save the world from imminent doom…
PA PhotosHenry Cavill
…Much like Henry Cavill, who brightens up our lives every day when we catch a glimpse of his rippling, bulging muscles. Our real life Superman sigh…
Rex FeaturesDiana Ross
Diana Ross started off as the lead singer of a girlband, The Supremes, before becoming a world famous solo star and an award-winning actress.
PA PhotosBeyoncé
…So it was really a case of life imitating art when Beyoncé, who used to be the lead singer of a girlband, Destiny’s Child, before becoming a world famous solo star, wound up playing the part of another famous singer, Diana Ross, in a movie.
Rex FeaturesCarrie Bradshaw
SATC’s Carrie Bradshaw is a stylish, sassy sex writer who, despite all the relationship advice she keeps dolling out to the masses via her weekly column, never seems to strike it lucky in the love department.
PA PhotosSarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker has definitely achieved the same fashion status as Carrie, and the epic shoe collection to boot. But she’s not looking for Mr Right (or Mr Big) – SJP found her penguin in Matthew Broderick, and the happy couple have three kids together (also something Carrie would never do).
CarinBaer/AMCBetty Draper
Mad Men’s Betty Draper is a neurotic, bad mother who is often embroiled in some scandal or another…
PA PhotosJanuary Jones
…But while there is definitely still rumour surrounding the paternity of her newborn baby Xander, we’re pretty sure January’ll make a much better job of motherhood than Betty!
Frank Ockenfels/AMCJoan Holloway
Mad Men’s Joan is the revered for her impeccably dressed figure, as much as she is for being the office flirt…
Rex FeaturesChristina Hendricks
...But in real life, Christina Hendricks is happily married to Geoffrey Arend. Though, like Joan, she's irresistibly stylish.
Rex FeaturesDaniel Cleaver
Bridget Jones’ Diary character Daniel Cleaver is a wealthy Brit, who’s not unfamiliar with the odd scandal and would describe himself as a bit of womanizer…
PA PhotosHugh Grant
We don’t know about you, but announcing you’ve just had a surprise child from a “fleeting affair” with an actress 19 years your junior sounds pretty Daniel Cleaver to us…
Rex FeaturesRomeo
Shakespeare’s most famous leading man Romeo is one of the most romantic, charming and persuasive characters of all time…
PA PhotosLeonardo DiCaprio
…And we reckon Leonardo DiCaprio must have learned a thing or two from playing the character. Leonardo’s high profile romantic conquests are well-documented. A real life Romeo? We think so…
Hermoine Granger
Witch in training Hermoine Granger is quick-witted and has an encyclopaedic knowledge of spells and potions. At the same time, she’s insecure and has an overwhelming fear of failure that drives her to succeed…
PA PhotosEmma Watson
Much like Hermoine, feisty Emma Watson has her wits about her when facing probing questions from the press, and is known to be studious (she recently enrolled to Oxford University on a transfer from Ivy league university Browns). We reckon she’s more like her famous movie persona than she realises…
Harry Potter
Harry Potter is an unlikely hero: a bespectacled boy, who quickly shoots to fame in the wizarding community after they catch wind of his great magical powers…
PA PhotosDaniel Radcliffe
…Which is a bit like Daniel Radcliffe, really: an unlikely superstar who, at a young age, was catapulted to worldwide fame. Not sure if Harry could sing a musical number quite like Daniel does, though…
Rex FeaturesJames Bond
Secret agent 007 is as stealthy as they come, battling against his foes to rid the world of evil and scoop up a damsel in distress on the way, too…
PA PhotosDaniel Craig
…And we reckon Daniel Craig is not too dissimilar, especially if the military operation he underwent to deter the press from his secret marriage to Rachel Weisz in July 2011 is anything to go by. He’s as stealthy as they come.
Rex FeaturesIron Man
Billionaire businessman Tony Stark has a bad boy reputation and is often in trouble with the authorities. But he makes a huge, life-changing U-turn by becoming a self-made superhero…
PA PhotosRobert Downey Jr
…Just like Robert Downey Jr, who, after five years of substance abuse, a string of arrests, spells in rehab and relapses, finally got his big career comeback in 2007, when he scored the role of Iron Man. He went from press zero to hero in an instance.
Rex FeaturesElle Woods
Elle Woods majored in fashion merchandising and was seriously in love with her boyfriend Warner Huntingdon, who dumps her in favour of a more ‘serious’ girlfriend when he attends Harvard Law School. To prove him wrong, she studies law and gets into Harvard, where her classmates mock her pink-wearing ways and her naiveties…
PA PhotosReese Witherspoon
…But Reese Witherspoon is an independent career woman through and through, and would never work hard at something just for the sake of a man. Like Elle, though, she’s determined, quick witted and stylish.
Rex FeaturesJohnny Cash
The late Johnny Cash was one of the most revered country musicians in history, known as much for his melancholic, bleak music as he was for his constant battle with the bottle…
WireImageJoaquin Phoenix
…Much like Joaquin Phoenix, who, while a revered actor, also struggled with alcohol addiction before entering rehab for the first time in 2005.
Bella Swan
Twilight’s leading lady Bella Swan is a girl next door, who is more comfortable in Converse and a hoody than she is in a cute dress and a pair of high heels. She’s clever, but cynical and feisty…
PA PhotosKristen Stewart
…Which reminds us of someone…Can’t think who…
Edward Cullen
Twilight vampire Edward Cullen is known for his blistering speed as much as he is for his bravery. He’s extremely protective of Bella, courageous and breathtakingly handsome. He also loves to play the piano…
PA PhotosRobert Pattinson
...Just like Robert Pattinson, who is a whizz on the keys, exceptionally beautiful and guarded over his never-confirmed-but-highly-likely-relationship with Kristen Stewart. He’s terrible at sports, though, so don’t expect him to do any running anytime soon.
WennBlair Waldorf
Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf was born with a silver spoon in her mouth, to a high society fashion designer mother and a gay father, who lives in Paris with his lover. She loves a good scheme, a scandalous affair, the odd spot of burlesque and a cracking party...
PA PhotosLeighton Meester
…Which couldn’t be further from actress Leighton Meester’s humble start in life. The star was born in a halfway house while her mother served time in federal prison. However,Leighton has always maintained that, despite being poor, her parents gave her a normal upbringing.
