Old School. Biblically Independent.
By Cindy Davis | Lists | January 29, 2015
Watching this week’s episode of Justified, it struck me for about the nine millionth time how perfect Olyphant is as Raylan Givens; he just embodies the character, twang and soul. And while there are many fine actors on television these days, there are some who — every time they’re onscreen — we know the casting directors got it exactly right. Given the opportunity, maybe someone else could have done a damned fine job, but these folks? They inhabited their characters so completely, we can’t imagine it any other way. In no particular order (well, maybe my favorite is last), here are seventeen of the best casting coups.
Martin Freeman as Lester Nygaard, Fargo
Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Mad Men
Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle, True Detective
Giancarlo Esposito as Gustavo Fring, Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad
Garret Dillahunt as Cromartie (aka John Henry), Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter, Agent Carter
Timothy Olyphant as Raylan Givens, Justified
Katey Sagal as Gemma Teller, Sons of Anarchy
Walt Goggins as Venus Van Dam, Sons of Anarchy
Paul Ready as Lee and Neil Maskell as Arby, Utopia
Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, Homeland
Pedro Pascal as Oberyn Martell, Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage as Tyrion Lannister, Game of Thrones
Mads Mikkelsen as Hannibal Lecter, Hannibal
