Recently, I wrote an article about Rachel McAdams and how she could be considered the queen of the romance genre. This made me wonder who the king could be. There are multiple contenders, including, but not limited to, Matthew McConaughey, James Marsden, Richard Gere, Ashton Kutcher, Adam Sandler, Patrick Dempsey, Sam Claflin, Ryan Gosling, Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks, and Mark Ruffalo. In my journey to find the male actor in the romance genre, I realized that, for me, there isn’t a specific guy who leads the genre the way McAdams does. So, instead, here’s a list of five male actors who have made a significant impact on the genre:
- James Marsden
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The first time that Marsden graced my screen was when I was around five years old and I saw him as Prince Edward in the film Enchanted. From that point on, it would always be easy for me to see him as a romantic lead, from 27 Dresses to The Best of Me. 27 Dresses is an iconic film that shows Marsden’s ability to play the romantic lead who’s grumpy to Katherine Heigl’s character’s sunshine. The Best of Me also presents Marsden as a romantic lead, but rather than the lightheartedness shown in 27 Dresses, his character has much more trauma, in which Marsden depicts the internal struggle his character faces with such sincerity that will leave you glued to the screen. His roles as Lon in The Notebook (which I’ve never seen get the praise it deserves) and as Prince Edward in Enchanted both show Marsden’s ability to be charismatic and charming while still ending up as the second choice in the love triangle. Hairspray is worth mentioning as well because he played a secondary character in a romantic film but made the character memorable. He embodied the character of Corny Collins as the quintessential TV show host, portraying the versatility that Marsden brings to the genre.
- Matthew McConaughey
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Alright, alright, alright, we all know this list wouldn’t be complete or reputable without the inclusion of McConaughey. For many, when we think of rom-coms, one that instantly comes to mind is How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. More specifically, when McConaughey’s character is looking at Kate Hudson’s character in the yellow dress, it’s as if they’re the only two people in the world. His presence on the screen is comforting, funny, and captivating, making him the perfect love interest in any film. The Wedding Planner further proves this point as he plays the lovable pediatrician who somehow has us rooting for him to be with the wedding planner rather than his fiancée. Failure to Launch and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past also convey how even as a romantic lead he shows flexibility as an actor, since he plays seemingly unattractive male characters, as his character in Failure to Launch is still living with his parents as an adult and in Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, he’s narcissistic and unkind. Yet, he still makes viewers empathize with his characters and root for the couples to succeed.
- Patrick Dempsey
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Dempsey can play the main love interest, villain, and abandoned second choice in a love triangle with ease in romance films. In Made of Honor, he takes on the role of the romantic lead following the friends-to-lovers trope that leaves you hoping he’ll win the female lead over. Enchanted also presents him in the role of the romantic lead, but he fits into the grumpy-sunshine trope where he plays a cynical divorce attorney whose life is life turned upside down by Giselle. Can’t Buy Me Love is arguably the most iconic rom-com he’s in, as this film is where many famous tropes were embraced, such as the nerd getting a makeover, losing oneself in the quest to be popular, and fake dating. In Valentine’s Day, we see Dempsey take on the role of a villain, as he plays a vile cheater who is easy to hate. Last, but not least, Sweet Home Alabama showcases him as the perfect guy, and despite being understanding and kind, he unfortunately is the second love interest who has no shot at romance. Thus, his ability to take on any role in the romance genre earns him a place on the list.
- Richard Gere
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My mother argued that Gere had to be included in this list, and looking at the films he’s done, it’s pretty clear why. Pretty Woman is among the most famous of all romance films which automatically gives him a spot on the list; however, he’s also done romance films such as An Officer and a Gentleman, Shall We Dance?, Runaway Bride, and Maybe I Do, that show his versatility and the longevity of his performances within the genre, as he plays the main love interest from different points in life. For instance, he plays a young man applying to Navy Officer Candidate School in An Officer and a Gentleman and a father in Maybe I Do. Whether he’s playing a rich man who accidentally falls in love with the woman he’s paying to be in his life or a husband who’s bored with life and wants to do something new, Gere never fails to play a character who’ll have you looking at love from a perspective you’ve never even thought of.
- Sam Claflin
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Claflin has been in a couple of the most awe-inspiring, incredible romance films of our generation, yet he rarely gets the credit he deserves. Love, Rosie is one of the best romance films; it’s both heartwarming and tear-jerking, and the plot keeps you guessing with the many twists and turns it takes. Claflin conveys the conflict his character is feeling, his love for Rosie, and his inability to voice how he feels, among a slew of other emotions, all through his eyes and facial expressions that, in my opinion, make him worthy of an Oscar for this role. Similarly, his role in Me Before You has Claflin in a leading role, but taking on a much more serious tone as he plays a character who is paralyzed and has no will to live. Despite playing a character who is difficult to sympathize with because of his abrasiveness, he also conveys a vulnerability to his character that makes the viewer understand his actions and fall in love with his character. Two additional films that I must mention are Love Wedding Repeat and Book of Love. These films are the definition of underrated and everyone is missing out. He plays the romantic lead in both these films and Book of Love centers on an enemies-to-lovers type of romance while Love Wedding Repeat deals with time travel and having multiple chances at developing a relationship. His characters in these films are a bit pessimistic. However, he brings a level of light-heartedness as the other characters attempt to chip away at his negativity and genuineness when he makes the attempt to showcase his love that makes them such interesting and entertaining films to watch. Out of all of these actors, he’s the one who if I see he’s in a romance film, I immediately know it’ll be amazing.
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Overall, while there are a multitude of actors who have been in romance films, these five stand out as they’ve not only starred in incredible films that have defined the romance genre but also bring so much to the table that they make the films worth re-watching. If you’re looking for romance films to watch this February, I would suggest looking at some that these actors have been in, and maybe you’ll reach your own conclusion on whether there could ever be a king of the romance genre!