Frankly, I’m sick of seeing the same actors every time I turn on the TV. It feels like every show or movie character have the same faces, which make movies seem more generic. While I understand why companies are compelled to hire the big names—the reason of course being to make as much money as possible—I think we’ve forgotten why we watch movies in the first place. It’s an escape from reality that allows us to immerse ourselves in a completely different world. Soli Rangel, ‘27, noted “it’s hard to separate the actor from [the movie]” when you associate an actor with their character. Watching them in another role “[is] not as impactful as it would be if they had different actors.” For me, seeing the same faces is a reminder that it’s not real and that it’s just another role for them.

Also, I want to be clear: it’s not that I’m trying to say they’re bad actors, my problem is that they’re the only actors. Rangel stated that “[when] they have newer actors […] it makes it really helpful since they can really embody their characters.” Movies are about making people feel engrossed, making them forget that those are actors on the screen. When it’s always only the one person playing every role, it’s hard to feel as deeply.

Look at Brad Pitt: he’s been in almost 70 movies! Sure, he’s a good actor, but there are so many other deserving people who should get the chance to be the lead. Imagine just how many people would do a great job in these movies—except no one wants the lesser known actors, since they want the big names. Take Sydney Sweeney for example: she just got the role of Millie in the adaptation of the book The Housemaid. I don’t think she fits the character, and I wish we could’ve had someone who we haven’t seen before.

It’s easy to know when someone is acting because they care and feel like they are the character, versus when it’s just another job to them. Overall, I think it’s time to diversify our range of actors—why not give the unheard-of a chance?