What do you think about "branding" or "type casting" actors?

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Question:

what is your opinion on actors finding a brand or type for themselves for example:
girl next door
tomboy
brat
etc!.

i believe that someone should find 3 types they fit based on looks voice and personality just to keep them on track for what they want and work doing but i dont think someone should find one specific type and get obsessive about being one character only and always dressing that way and taking headshots as that type because actors always have to be versitile but i think having 3 types just to keep you on track and study scripts for those types is a good thing to have

for example my 3 types are:
innocent
tomboy
edgy/indie

but i also can do other characters and fit other molds because i really strive to be versitile

what do you think about type casting/branding

-ABTSWww@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

I believe I want to be a very versatile actress
no three things I want to try everything!. Like Heath ledger Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Johnny Depp
I think Johnny boy did almost every type of guy I can think of!. (Heath was getting there)
Denzel Washington totally went outside his box in training day!.
But yeah, that's how much of a great actress I'd like to be, don't find labels for me, i can do everything!.
And I wouldn't agree with the looks really, the greatest actors lost weight/ and or changed hair gained weight to fit their roles!.
(Christian bale in the Machinist lost about 63, Charlize Theron didn't even look like herself on Monster!. they also cut their hair!.)Www@QuestionHome@Com

I agree, people should try to do differnet things, the problem is some poeple just plain don't have enough talent to do different kids of things!. Besides this, we have actors like Meg Ryan who would like to do edgier things and people won't let them because the producers beleive that she can only do certain roles becuase of the way she looks!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think you should learn how to spell VERSATILE first!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

You can present yourself in what ever way you'd like to be perceived, but the reality is that casting directors are often very short sighted and don't always have a great amount of imagination!. They will look at you and go with what ever their first impression is!. I'm a big bald guy so I better be funny, the fact that I have a great tenor voice means absolutely nothing!. I'll never play the parts I can sing and there's nothing I can do about that!.

NY is a little kinder to actors, but in LA you'd better get used to being typecast!. That's all they know there!. Take a look at any television show, they very rarely go against type!. If they do it's for someone who's either very famous, or incredibly talented!.Www@QuestionHome@Com