They are weirdly good at playing these type of characters...
Jason Schwartzman has played plenty of eccentric characters, such as Max Fischer in Rushmore, throughout his career. His ability to deliver dialogue with an unusual combination of confidence and uncertainty makes him effective at portraying characters who don't quite fit into their surroundings. | © Touchstone Pictures/Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Bill Hader's comedic background makes him especially good at portraying people who are uncomfortable in their own skin. He can turn nervousness, hesitation, and strange social behavior into comedy without making the characters feel completely ridiculous. For example, his performance as Milo Dean in The Skeleton Twins was a standout. | © Duplass Brothers Productions/Lionsgate
Diane Keaton played many charming, eccentric, and socially awkward characters during her illustrious career. Her performance as the titular character in Annie Hall comes to mind. Keaton's distinctive mannerisms, unusual delivery, and willingness to embrace nervous energy have made awkwardness an important part of several of her most memorable performances. | © A Jack Rollins and Charles H. Joffe Production
Jesse Eisenberg often plays intelligent characters who struggle to navigate social situations. Think of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network and Columbus in Zombieland. His rapid-fire delivery, nervous energy, and somewhat detached-from-reality performances have made him especially impressive at portraying awkward personalities. | © Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media
Rowan Atkinson is practically an expert at physical awkwardness. His characters, such as Mr. Bean and Johnny English, often struggle with basic social situations. Atkinson's use of exaggerated facial expressions and uncomfortable pauses is fantastic. Few actors can turn embarrassment into comedy as effortlessly as Atkinson. | © Tiger Aspect Productions
Maya Rudolph is particularly good at finding the humor in characters who are trying desperately to maintain their composure. That's never been more prominent than when she takes on wacky characters in SNL skits. Her facial expressions and comedic timing allow her to turn relatively ordinary social interactions into wonderfully awkward moments. | © SNL Studios
Steve Buscemi has a natural ability to make characters feel slightly uncomfortable, strange, or out of place. His distinctive expressions and understated delivery give his characters an awkward yet charming personality. One of his iconic roles is the inept Lenny Wosniak in 30 Rock. | © Universal Television
Kristen Wiig is exceptionally good at portraying characters who desperately want to appear normal while everything around them falls apart. Her awkward characters, such as Annie Walker in Bridesmaids, often have exaggerated personalities, but she gives them enough vulnerability to keep them relatable. | © Relativity Media/Apatow Productions
Steve Carell has played plenty of confident characters, but he's arguably at his funniest when things go horribly wrong in social situations. He has a knack for making characters desperately trying to fit in seem both hilarious and painfully uncomfortable. Carell's performances in The Office and The 40-Year-Old Virgin are some of his best. | © Universal Television
Amy Poehler excels at playing characters who are enthusiastic, chaotic, and completely unaware of how awkward they can be. Her characters' embarrassing moments feel more charming and relatable rather than simply uncomfortable. Some of her more iconic roles include Mrs. June George in Mean Girls and Leslie Knope in Parks and Recreation. | © Broadway Video/Paramount Pictures
Jonah Hill has frequently played characters who are insecure, clumsy, or desperately trying to fit in. His comedic timing and ability to react to uncomfortable situations make his characters, like Seth in Superbad and Donnie Azoff in The Wolf of Wall Street, feel particularly believable, even when their behavior becomes completely ridiculous. | ©
Anna Faris has a remarkable ability to play characters who are completely oblivious to how strange they appear to everyone else. Her combination of innocent delivery and exaggerated reactions makes her particularly effective at comedic awkwardness. Some of her most memorable performances include Shelley Darlington in The House Bunny and Cindy Campbell in the Scary Movie franchise. | © Columbia Pictures/Relativity Media
Zach Galifianakis has made a career out of playing characters who completely ignore conventional social behavior. His exaggerated facial expressions, bizarre timing, and deliberately uncomfortable delivery make him phenomenal in comedic roles. As Alan Garner in The Hangover, Galifianakis made his character strange yet slightly endearing. | © Legendary Pictures/Warner Bros. Pictures
Aubrey Plaza has perfected the art of uncomfortable deadpan comedy. Her characters often appear completely unimpressed by normal social conventions, with Plaza's blank expressions and deliberately strange line delivery making even simple conversations feel awkward. Most notably, the actress turned April Ludgate's cold personality in Parks and Recreation into one of the show's standout performances. | © Universal Television
Michael Cera has practically become synonymous with the awkward character. His quiet delivery, nervous mannerisms, and tendency to play characters who struggle with confidence make him a natural fit for socially uncomfortable roles. Superbad is arguably one of his defining performances. Evan is painfully nervous around girls and constantly worries about saying the wrong thing. | © Columbia Pictures/The Apatow Company
Some actors seem to have a special talent for playing characters who never quite know what to say or do. They're surprisingly good at playing socially anxious, shy, or intense characters and can easily turn awkwardness into some of the funniest and most memorable performances on screen. That said, here are 15 performers who are really good at playing awkward characters.
