Which Actor Would Best Fit Your Characters?

I apologize if this thread already exists or should be posted somewhere else, but I thought it would be fun...

Do you have any stories where you envision an actor/Hollywood star as you write? Not necessarily based on their acting abilities, but who fits the look of your character?

In my wip, Adrian Grenier (from Entourage) looks exactly like my hero, and Isla Fisher looks very close to how I imagine my heroine. Also, In my first YA, Ben Barnes (from Prince Caspian) would be perfect as my hero, and for the heroine, Evan Rachel Wood.

I guess I like having a visual... you know, put a face to the character. Anyone else ever do that?

I love having visuals for my characters, although I don't usually look to actors. I like finding models on ModelMayhem.com or in magazines, because they're not crazy-famous usually and don't taint my image of the character. If that makes any sense.

I have a couple friends who base the looks of their characters on actors that they like and/or think are good-looking so if their novels ever get made into movies, they can hang out on set and meet all of the actors they love.

What a great idea! I guess I chose actors because they were already in my head, but now I want to check out that website. I don't think I base my characters on actors on purpose, (at least not so far!). Usually once I "meet" my character, I try to figure out who he/she looks like so it's easier to have that visual.

Ha ha, your friends sound like fun

Thanks for the tip on Model Mayhem, Novel! I've been struggling to find just the right look for a couple of my characters and I just found them on Model Mayhem! Fantastic!

I must admit that one of my main characters (not THE main character) reminds me very much of Gerard Butler.

I always have a visual of which actor or model best fits my character. That way if I get stuck on a description of that character, I can look at the picture of the actor/model that fits and try to come up with a description.

I've got so many, but for sure my first novel I wrote, the heroine looks like Emmy Rossum, her bodyguard looks like Adam Brody/Josh Groban mix and the villain looks like Gerard Butler--the villain's name is even Gerard.

The ghost story I have been working on, the main character looks like Hayden Panettiere, the ghost looks like Jared Padalecki, and the human guy looks like Michael Welch.

I do have a story where the main girl looks like Blake Lively and the main guy looks like Ben Barnes too.

I usually go through and find character look-a-likes after I come up with the character and their features. Like I said earlier, I use the pictures for inspiration or help on descriptions. It also helps me determine what the character's temperment (sp?) is as I look for inspiration in the portraits.

What novel is telling you is that Model Mayham can take over your life lol. suddenly all you do is surf it looking for your characters

i know i find hair magazines (my sister collects them) are great for finding character images.

I love going on IMDB and finding actors for my characters. :] It's hard to find one that meets the exact description as your mind, though, as to be expected. ^^

It would be great if there was a website that compiled imbd and all model sites and let you put in a set of characteristics - e.g. baby face, rugged, blue/brown eyes, height, etc.

Make our lives easier lol

Interestingly, quite a few of the actors from the Percy Jackson movie would be perfect for roles in a tSotD movie (I don't remember names, so I used the characters they played):

Poseidon: Bran, dead on
Zeus: Almost perfect for Adolphus (apperance needs a little tweaking)
Hades: Pretty close to Raoul
Annabeth: Pax, dead on
Percy: Almost perfect for Hale

It was so weird. My best friend kept poking me because I wouldn't shut up, both because of the perfect actors for my characters and the differences between the books and the movie.

Novel, delighted that the movie worked out so well for you!! Great to spot your characters!


you have to love steeve coogan!!