Stars who actually play themselves all the time

If you've seen 'Groundhog Day' then you will remember Bill Murray as a self-assured, brash character who is generally a little bit rude. Many of his costars will claim Bill isn't acting. Just ask Lucy Lui who worked with him on 'Charlie's Angels'.

Reckless, suave, and charming. Robert Downey Jr. is a smart motor mouth. He is known for bringing himself to the role with some minor tweaks. Despite Downey being capable of disappearing into his art ('Chaplin'), he’s mostly asked to play roles that mirror his sarcastic charm. Tony Stark ('Iron Man') is Downey and Downey is Tony Stark.

He's wise, funny, kind, and full of style. We do hope that Morgan Freeman actually turns out to be God. He certainly has the voice for it. Whether the movie is a cynical, dark look into the mind of a serial killer ('Se7en'), the beautiful narration and performance ('Shawshank'), or a superhero blockbuster ('The Dark Knight'), Freeman is always Freeman: elegant and charming.

Now I'm not saying he normally enters a room with an axe, but so many of his film characters ooze pure Nicholson that it's hard to tell where the actor and the character he is playing start and end.

In real life, Jackson seems exactly like he is on screen: straight talking, no nonsense, though perhaps a little less violent than some of his characters. But the truth is he’s the reason audiences buy the ticket. Don’t mess with a winning formula!

Adam Sandler has made a career playing the regular, uncomplicated guy. He’s never forgotten his working-class roots. Sandler set his sights on being a comedian at an early age. After achieving his goals, he seems happy with maintaining a career of playing regular guys. While he has played more serious roles, the reality is he just wants to make people laugh and boy does he.

Brash, cool, and funny, most of Will's characters share these characteristics. But what about when he played the boxer Mohammed Ali? Just ask Chris Rock.

Emma Watson impressed the casting team so much at the 'Harry Potter' auditions that she jumped into the role. The actress herself said she was so much like Hermione that it would have been devastating if she hadn't gotten the part. Organized, diligent, and caring, Emma Watson showed the world her strengths and vulnerability as she grew up in the limelight.

Grumpy and funny seems to be the personality that is closest to Bruce Willis. There's no better example of this than Joe Hallenbeck in 'The Last Boy Scout'. Willis, who has now retired, always seemed to be okay with playing various versions of himself, but don’t be fooled into thinking that he has no range beyond that. He was brilliant across several roles, including 'Pulp fiction,' 'Die Hard,' 'The Fifth Element,' and 'The Sixth Sense.'

Alright, alright, alright. This herb smoking, bongo drumming actor is so laidback that even when he changes himself physically for a role there is always a touch of Matthew McConaughey about the character.

Definitely a tough guy that's for sure, with his intimidating presence. He has a respect for different cultures and this is shown in many of his characters. However in the films he is always the good guy, but many who have worked with him have said he is a bully and a little bit handsy.

Ricky Gervais broke into the industry when he was almost 40. As with a lot of top comedians, many of his characters are written by him, and so they have a lot of his personality. In 'Extras,' he takes the mick out of everyone and everything, not excluding himself. Gervais’s talent is taking down the very industry he works in. Not convinced? Try watching the Golden Globes.

Offbeat with a habit of making the audience feel uncomfortable, it is impossible to tell Zach Galifianakis-the-actor and Zach Galifianakis-the awkward-host of 'Between Two Ferns' apart.

Charming and handsome, he rose to fame in the medical drama 'E.R.' Now there isn’t much he can do about the way he looks - thank goodness - but most of his characters ooze that Clooney charm.

It’s difficult to think of a character better suited for Charlie Sheen. In 'Two and a Half Men,' his character Charlie Harper was as a "man-child who lacked touch with reality." Harper was a playboy millionaire who loved the ladies and parties but hated taking responsibility. That is basically Charlie Sheen himself.

Slightly dizzy, funny and stunning, Jennifer Anniston always seems a few seconds behind everybody else. Her uncomplicated view on life makes her adorable both on and off the screen.

With his tattoos, long hair, and a look that could kill,  Danny Trejo has been cast as the same type of villain or antihero in over 250 movies. In real life, he was in and out of prison for years and actually became a boxing champion in San Quentin, one of the most notorious prisons in the USA. He may look intimidating, but Trejo is on the straight and narrow these days and a big family man.

Larry David is an actor who succeeded largely because he was also the writer of his own show. The mastermind behind 'Seinfeld,' he first made its main characters relate to his own melancholic, sarcastic view of the world. When that was over, he created 'Curb Your Enthusiasm,' which is a show based more literally on David’s personality and life.

Christopher Walken has such a distinctive voice and personality that it’s not surprising he’s basically cast as himself in almost every role he gets. Known for playing weird, offbeat characters with the Walken caricature speech, that is both relaxing and unnerving. Oh, and if you haven’t seen Fat Boy Slim's ‘Weapon of Choice’ video, Walken is majestic.

Apart from the physical aspect, it's difficult to see where Ryan Reynolds ends and Deadpool begins. Charming and hilarious, it seems as if this role was written for him. In other action comedies, too, he has his own, characteristic Ryan Reynolds touch. Funny on and off the screen, as well as a great father and husband.