Romantic comedieshave always been a cinematic staple, from the early days of sound cinema withTrouble in Paradiseto recent offerings likeSet it Up. It’s the most charming genre, presenting us with a world of grand romantic gestures and hilariously awkward scenarios. Although they are almost always set in the real world,rom-comscan still be perfect escapist entertainment. It’s no wonder that we come back to the same classics time and time again for comfort. Knowing that everything will be alright in the end makes for low-stakes viewing in trying times.
However, these movies would be nothing without the right leading actors. It’s the chemistry between the leads, or lack thereof, that makes or breaks the success of a rom-com. There are iconic pairings like Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks that were so successful they ended up making several movies together. When rom-com chemistry works it really works. Similarly, the stars of theTo All The Boysmovie series Lana Condor and Noah Centineo had such strong chemistry that it sparked rumors the pair was dating in real life. Here are 13 actors who we think have the talent and charisma to pull off a great rom-com.
13Olivia Colman
Oscar-winning actressOlivia Colmanhas an impressively long and diverse filmography. She’s done all kinds of work, from Maggie Gyllenhaal’sThe Lost Daughterto Phoebe Waller-Bridge’sFleabag. If you’re feeling picky, you could argue thatThe Favouritewas a kind of rom-com as there was certainly both romance and comedy involved, but Colman would also be excellent in a pure romantic comedy. Her recurring role on the British cult sitcomPeep Showproves an incredible comedic talent, and she did an excellent job with the romance at the center ofEmpire of Light. Now, all she needs to do is combine the two.
12Dev Patel
Dev Patelis another actor who, despite a broad filmography, has yet to do a rom-com. He has proven himself an extremely talented actor with roles in the Oscar-winningSlumdog Millionaireand Oscar-nominatedLion. Both of these demonstrate great handling of emotional turmoil. Later in his career, Patel’s performance inThe Personal History of David Copperfieldshowed just how charming he can be. Though the romance in the story isn’t prevalent enough to class the movie as a rom-com, it still gave him great practice for the necessary romantic and comedic elements, and we’d love to see him try his hand at the real thing.
Related:Best Leading Men in Romantic Comedy History, Ranked
11Beanie Feldstein
Through stand-out roles inLady BirdandBooksmart,Beanie Feldsteinmade a name for herself. She is clearly an impeccable comedic actor with strong dramatic capabilities as well. The friendship between her character, Julie, and Lady Bird was portrayed so touchingly and truthfully that it made us want to see her portray a romantic relationship as well. Although she is well-established, her career is still building, and she hasn’t taken on a rom-com role yet, but we can’t wait until she does.
10Ashton Sanders
You might recognizeAshton Sandersfrom his breakout role inMoonlight, where he played Chiron as a teenager. This performance perfectly displayed the complex emotional life experienced by Chiron alongside a beautiful romantic discovery. He has continued to prove his talents in movies such asNative Sonand the Oscar-winningJudas and the Black Messiah. Sanders’ combination of impressive talent and an endearing screen presence proves he deserves a lead role in a big romantic comedy.
9Gugu Mbatha-Raw
After a breakout role in Amma Asante’sBelle,Gugu Mbatha-Rawcontinued to impress with performances inBlack Mirror: San Junipero,The Morning Show, andSummerland. In a review ofSummerlandforNME, writer Linda Marric describes Mbatha-Raw’s performance as a “free-spirited, sparkling and almost ethereal being in a truly impressive scene-stealing turn.” We’d love for her to be given the spotlight completely rather than having to steal the scene. Her versatility makes her the perfect candidate for a lead rom-com role because there’s no question that she would be able to handle the necessary comedy and romance.
8Saoirse Ronan
Saoirse Ronanis an actor who has been doing Oscar-nominated work since she was a child. She has had an incredibly full and successful career, with roles in movies such asAtonement,Brooklyn, andGreta Gerwig’sLittle Women. There is no doubting her abilities as someone who can convey intense and nuanced emotion as well as humor and romantic connection. Her chemistry with every love interest present in her movies is always consistently top-notch. Having done comedies and romances separately, we’d love to see Ronan combine the two.
7Daniel Kaluuya
One of the most exciting actors around at the moment,Daniel Kaluuyais someone who could take on any role. His early work onSkinsandBlack Mirror: Fifteen Million Meritsproved his talents right out of the gate, and he has only improved since. Kaluuya continuously does staggeringly impressive work, including his movies with Jordan Peele and his Oscar-winning role inJudas and the Black Messiah. Even off-screen, Kaluuya is consistently charming in interviews, and it’s clear that this would translate well to playing the lead in a romantic comedy.
6Andrew Scott
It could be argued thatFleabagis something of a romantic comedy. There is definitely both comedy and romance present, but the fact that the main focus of the series is on Fleabag herself and her internal issues, it can’t really be classed as a full-on rom-com. With that being said,Andrew Scott’s role as the Hot Priest in the show proves without a doubt that he’d be an excellent lead in a romantic comedy. He has more than enough charm and humor to pull it off, so what is he waiting for?
Related:The 20 Best Romantic Comedies of All Time, Ranked
5Roberta Colindrez
Roberta Colindrezis known for roles in the newA League of Their OwnTV series andVida. Both of these shows are deeply funny and romantic, showing Colindrez is more than capable of handling a romantic comedy. Despite the fact that she hasn’t helmed a major movie, mostly working in TV, this could be the perfect point of entry for her. Fans of the shows that she’s been in would definitely be supportive of any endeavors in the world of movies that she makes.
4Paul Mescal
Paul Mescalseems to be everyone’s favorite actor at the moment.Normal Peoplecatapulted him to stardom in 2020, which he followed up withThe Lost DaughterandAftersun.All three of these projects were critically acclaimed, so it was a smooth path to his current standing. There’s no doubt, after the palpable chemistry between Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones inNormal People, that he’d succeed in a leading rom-com role with ease.
