Top Five Roles: Sebastian Stan

Sebastian Stan can be a tough one to nail down for me.  I wouldn’t say he’s the type of actor who can shine in any role – although, to be fair, he’s played a fair share of underwritten characters and has been in an unfortunate number of bad movies – but give him something to sink his teeth into, and he knocks it out of the park.  Here are five roles that really show off what he can do.

Jack Benjamin, Kings

My first, and it remains my favorite.  Stan is excellent as a prince who fights with everything he has to secure what he considers his due when he finds himself on shifting sands.  Although Jack couldn’t be further from Jonathan in the story of David, he’s a fascinating character from a (much too short-lived) fascinating show.  His scene with Rev. Samuels in the finale – “I can make good of our mistakes” – might still be my all-time favorite piece of acting from Stan.

Jefferson, Once Upon a Time

Said it before, I’ll say it again:  I love what Once Upon a Time does with the Mad Hatter.  Stan wonderfully exudes the air of a man who can walk between worlds, but who’d give it all up to be with his daughter again.  In the Enchanted Forest, he’s a good father who’s led astray by his own doubts that he can be enough, and in Storybrooke, he’s a lonely man with two lives in his head, going mad because he’s kept from the only person he loves.  Top marks!

Bucky Barnes, The Avengers

Stan does a great job with this character.  Bucky’s exploitation as the Winter Soldier hits me so hard, and it’s fascinating to watch him try to reconcile who he was with what he was forced to become, sorting through the damage to figure out who he can be now.  I hope the MCU eventually gives him a chance to come into his own as a hero (maybe on the streaming service?)

T.J. Hammond, Political Animals

The writing could be a little rocky on this one, but overall, I think it works precisely because T.J. is supposed to be all over the place.  Former first son T.J. is an addict who’s been slipping in his recovery, and as such, there’s a lot going on here.  He’s a sly manipulator with a million excuses, but he’s also recognizably pathetic and, in his most self-aware moments, regrets the damage he leaves in his wake.  Kudos to Stan for making this character sympathetic without absolving him of all he does.

Jeff, I, Tonya

I’ll admit to being really surprised by Stan here.  While I’ve frequently seen him kill it with the emotional journey of a character, we don’t often see him really inhabit a different skin to the extent that he does here.  As Tonya’s husband Jeff, a little man who abuses his wife, Stan transforms in voice, posture, and attitude in a very effective way, and he’s by turns funny, threatening, and pathetic as the scene demands.  Terrific work here.