#BirthdaySpecial: January-born actors and their movies every fan must watch

It's the start of the year and what better way to celebrate than watching some of the most charismatic and versatile actors born this month and their best work. The list features the likes of Bradley Cooper, Deepika Padukone, Hrithik Roshan, Nicolas Cage, and Jim Carrey. It's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy some of their best performances.    

Bradley Cooper—January 5

'Silver Lining Playbook' (2012)

Starring Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence, this rom-com revolves around the subjects of mental health, family, and relationships. While Lawrence might have earned all the plaudits, including her very first Oscar, it also shone light on Cooper. We think, it is his best performance till date. He played the character of Pat Solitano Jr, a man with bipolar disorder, who is released from a psychiatric hospital. Cooper makes a brilliant portrayal of a rom-com hero and deals with mental health with utmost sensitivity. 

'Maestro' (2023)

After being the writer, director, and producer on a brilliant film like A Star Is Born, one thought Cooper had reached the heights of brilliance. But, unsurprisingly, he got back behind the camera (and in front of it) once again to deliver an even better film. The actor played the legendary music composer and conductor, Leonard Bernstein in the movie and we can see the character develop through his voice and physique. Be it as a youngster taking to the big stage with his charisma and energy or dealing with his weak body in the latter stage of his life, he gave an outstanding performance. 

Deepika Padukone—January 5

'Cocktail' (2012)

This movie made people realise that Padukone is more than just good looks. In her role as Veronica, a carefree, independent girl, she shows us how an individual can have many layers to their personality, some completely unaware to those around them. Her portrayal of a woman who is conflicted between love and friendship, has been praised for emotional depth and the ease with which she conveyed complex emotions. 

'Piku' (2015)

One of Padukone’s most remarkable performances is as Piku Banerjee, a strong-willed independent woman who takes care of her father. Padukone shares the screen with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Irrfan Khan, but her portrayal of the perfectly imperfect character stands out and how! It’s a heart-warming movie and is certainly the most honest representation of an Indian woman in cinema in recent times.

Nicolas Cage—January 7

'Con Air' (1997)

This '90s film proved that Cage can rock a role in any hairstyle. He stars as Cameron Poe, a paroled former army ranger who gets trapped in a plane with some of the most-wanted criminals of the United States. Despite having a star-studded cast that includes John Malkovich, Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, and Ving Rhames, Cage manages to pack a punch in the moments where he shares screen space with them. Though this high-octane action film sees Cage’s body put on the line, it’s the display of his internal turmoil that stands out. For him, nothing can come in between honour and his duty to serve the nation, not even the most notorious criminals of the land. 

'Face/Off' (1997)

The film’s plot is bizarre, yet gripping. FBI Special Agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) ends up switching faces with Castor Troy a sociopath killer (played by Cage), in a surgery, so that he can figure out the location of a bomb set to go off in Los Angeles. Cage as Castor is wild and unhinged, but it’s the manner in which he plays Sean with Castor’s face that leaves you hooked to the screen.  

Hrithik Roshan—January 10

'Koi... Mil Gaya' (2003)

You might find many faults with the way Roshan's character is written, but you can’t deny how remarkable, sincere, and heart-warming his performance is. He had to shed tons of kilos to play the mentally- challenged youngster and then bulked up to play the macho man with superpowers. It was a tough act to follow, but the actor did just that with sequels in the franchise (Krrish and Krrish 3) 

Lakshya (2004)

For anyone who has felt aimless and lost without a goal in their life, this movie hits home. The transformation that Roshan goes under—from being a carefree, spoilt brat to becoming a disciplined officer of the Indian Army, where he realises his true "Lakshya" in life, this movie is filmmaking at its best (all thanks to Farhan Akhtar). It’s probably one of Hrithik Roshan's most underrated performance 

Jim Carrey—January 17

'The Truman Show' (1998)

When Carrey stars in a non-comedic film, he’s not just good, but very good. The film was way ahead of its time as it painted a not-so-pretty picture of what reality television and social media is going to be like. We see the actor, who thinks he’s living a normal life, realise that he’s nothing but a character on a long-running TV series, everything is scripted, and each move he makes rakes in the cash for his company. Watching him realise who he truly is and figuring things out is wonderful. 

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

We probably can't count the movies where Carrey has made us laugh out loud, but we surely remember one of the few films where he made us cry a bucket full of tears. This is a story of a man who gets himself involved in a mind alteration where he erases heartbreaking memories of his ex-girlfriend from his mind. While his co-star, Kate Winslet earns the Best Actress nomination for her performance, Carrey’s character stays with us as it was nothing like we’d ever seen before. Watching him deal with the troubles of moving on in this complex narrative just proved that he is much more than a comedy actor. 

Also read: Birthday Special: January-born actors and their movies every fan must watch