What is it called when an actor plays themselves in a movie?
In Oceans 13 - Julian Roberts plays a character doing an impression of Julia Roberts. There is a Nicolas Cage movie that seems to employ a similar narrative choice.
I'm trying to work out the word or phrase for this. "Breaking the fourth wall" comes to mind. It doesn't quite fit.
My question is: What is it called when an actor plays themselves in a movie?
Best Answer
I have most often heard/read this as "Spoof", as they are typically making fun of, on some level, themselves. Another great example is Last Action Hero (1993), where Arnold is clearly making fun of his own action films. In that film, Danny (the little boy) says that Jack Slater (Arnold)'s friend John Practice should not be trusted as he "killed Mozart" (since he is played by the same actor as Antonio Salieri in Amadeus). It also features Sylvester Stallone on a movie poster for Terminator 2, as well as a host of other "inside jokes".
The Oxford Dictionary defines Spoof as "a humorous imitation of something, typically a film or a particular genre of film, in which its characteristic features are exaggerated for comic effect." That pretty accurately describes the examples you gave, as well as the one I've pointed out.
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What actors play themselves in movies?
In honor of Cage's latest turn as Nic Cage, here are 11 other actors who pretended to be themselves in films.- Keanu Reeves in Always Be My Maybe.
- Margot Robbie in The Big Short.
- John Malkovich in Being John Malkovich.
- Megan Fox in The Dictator.
- Al Pacino in Jack and Jill.
- LeBron James in Trainwreck.
- Billy Zane in Zoolander.
Why do some actors play themselves?
Fans adore having the knowledge that their favorite actor is even slightly down-to-earth, and it in turn colors the perception people have of their acting performances. This is why the roles that require an actor to play themselves can sometimes be their most well-known or beloved.What is it called when someone makes a movie about themselves?
In rare cases, sometimes called auto biopics, the subject of the film plays himself or herself.What is a chameleon actor?
Some character actors are known as "chameleons", able to play roles that vary wildly, such as Gary Oldman. Some character actors develop a cult following, like the fans of Star Trek or The Rocky Horror Picture Show.15 Actors Who Played Themselves In Movies
More answers regarding what is it called when an actor plays themselves in a movie?
Answer 2
It's called a cameo appearance, or just cameo nowadays.
The term originated in the 20's, when a "cameo role" meant a small character part that stands out from the other small parts. The dictionary definition is "a short literary sketch or portrait", based on the original meaning of the word cameo: a miniature carving on a gemstone.
Later in the 20th century the word was used to refer to any short appearance as a character.
Answer 3
I believe it's called 'Self-Credit'. For example:
Leonardo DiCaprio: Scorsese's Goodfellas (Video documentary short) -Self
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