Thriller Actors

Actors/Actresses who make regular appearances in thriller films include:
- Tom Cruise
- Matt Damon
- Janet Leigh
- Harrison Ford
- Angelina Jolie
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Grace Kelly
- Samuel L Jackson
- Nicole Kidman
- Cary Grant
- Sigourney Weaver
- Robert De Niro 
- Bruce Willis
- Clive Owen
- Maggie Gyllenhaal
- Johnny Depp
- Will Smith

Janet Leigh

Janet Leigh, born in 1927, had an acting career spanning over many decades dating from the 1940s right up until the 2000s, she died in 2004. She was well known for her role as ill-fated heroine Marion Crane(Mary Bates) in Psycho in the 60s. Her character dies in an iconic scene... She goes to her room and takes a shower, which feels to her like absolution for a crime she had commited. But it's too late for that. The motel owner enters the bathroom masquerading as his mother carrying a kitchen knife, which he uses to stab Mary to death. 
Janet Leigh appeared in many other thrillers like Touch of Evil and The Fog. She plays similar helpless characters in most of her films and is usually a victim. She was chosen for her role in Psycho for her good looks and acting skills. This meant that she was type casted from then on.

Angelina Jolie 
Angelina Jolie, a more recent actress born in 1975, is well known for her role as Lara Croft in the Tomb Raider series. Unlike most female characters in thriller films, she is portrayed as a heroic character. She comes across as even more powerful than the men in the films and is an inspiration to young women. She plays similar characters in Salt, The Wanted and Mr and Mrs Smith. Angelina Jolie could be a thriller actress because she is considered as one of the worlds most beautiful women and would appeal to the male audience because of her attractiveness. However she would also appeal to a female audience because people would want to be like her. She is very strong and therefore is more suited to an action thriller. 

Matt Damon
Matt Damon, another recent thriller actor born in 1970, is well known for his role in the Bourne series in which he plays Jason Bourne. The spy films explore the life of Bourne, a former CIA assassin suffering with psychogenic amnesia. Matt Damon plays a heroic character with a tormented past fighting to learn about himself. He also appears in Oceans Eleven, Oceans Twelve and Oceans Thirteen. He may have been picked to play these characters in thrillers because he is young and good looking which would attract a female audience. However he is also quite normal looking which would make a male audience identify with him and want to be like him.

Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford, born in 1942, has had a film career spanning from the 60s up until now. He is recognised for his role the Indiana Jones series where he played an intelligent hero who is notable for his trademark whip, hat, leather jacket and fear of snakes, but rose to fame for his earlier appearances in the sci-fi Star Wars series. Harrison Ford may have been chosen to appear in thrillers because he is a fairly normal looking man with a certain attractiveness. This means that he appeals to a wide audience of male and females. Also, in the most recent Indiana Jones film he appeared as his character even though he is much older now which would attract the older audience.