Portraying an icon on screen isn’t an easy task, especially when they are as singular as Bob Dylan. Dylan’s idiosyncrasies are hard to miss and equally as hard to replicate. Nevertheless, several actors have given it a go over the years. Check out four of the best Dylan portrayals, below.
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4 of the Best Portrayals of Bob Dylan
1. Cate Blanchett
In the ensemble film I’m Not There, Cate Blanchett is one of many actors who portray slightly fictionalized versions of Dylan. Blanchett and her fellow actors take on sections of the iconic musician’s life. In her case, she plays a protest artist who decides to venture into rock & roll–a la Dylan at Newport. Not that anyone is surprised given Blanchett’s reputation as an actress, but she completely disappears into her role as a pseudo Dylan.
2. Dana Carvey
Everyone has their own Dylan impression. Replicating his unique speech pattern has become a party trick for many. Saturday Night Live’s Dana Carvey brought out his Dylan impression on an installment of “Weekend Update.” Though far less nuanced than Blanchett’s performance, it’s certainly good for a laugh.
3. Christian Bale
Also taken from I’m Not There, Christian Bale’s take on Dylan was simple but effective. His section of the movie captures Dylan’s early years. Though he takes a little artistic liberty with his singing, his quiet confidence is spot on. At least in terms of sentiment, it’s the perfect portrayal of Dylan’s early years as a wayfaring folk artist.
4. Bob Dylan
While many actors have delivered stellar portrayals of Dylan, we’d be remiss if we didn’t include The Bard himself. In Martin Scorsese’s Rolling Thunder Revue, Dylan fictionalizes his own story. While there is a lot of truth in this documentary, Scorsese leaves room for some outlandish moments. Dylan does a wonderful job playing a version of himself in those moments.
Bob Dylan – 1966 (Photo by Shutterstock)
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