Many actors find themselves in something of a dilemma. Do they want a role in a long-running TV series or film franchise and forever become associated with that character? Or would it be better to take each job as it comes along, risking the long periods of unemployment that all but the best-known actors must endure? Then there’s the question of the public forever associating you with a particular catchphrase and shouting it after you wherever you go.

Nevertheless, a considerable number of actors do seem to be willing to tie themselves to a particular character and have varying levels of success in escaping it, as these eight examples show.

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen

Although Pattinson was initially reluctant to even audition for as the male hero in the Twilight series he soon settled into a role that he reprised no less than five times. And, while he may have grown tired of being recognised in the street, it seems to have done him no real lasting harm as he’s subsequently gone on to even greater success.

James Van Der Beek as Dawson 

Given that his name means “from the creek” in Dutch, Van Der Beek was a natural to play the lead in the teen drama that ran from 1998 to 2003. It certainly took him some time to shake off the clean-cut image and this included taking on a role as a film-maker in One Tree Hill who was the complete opposite to his Dawson’s Creek character.

Kristian Nairn as Hodor

One of TV’s most recognisable stars, the gigantic Nairn will forever be associated with the Hodor character he’s played in Game of Thrones. But, rather than veering away from the character, he’s recently played with the plight of typecasting in an ad for eToro called HODL. It might not mean he’ll escape from the role – but it does show he can laugh about it.

Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger

It’s a little known fact that Englund was originally considered for the role of Han Solo in the original Star Wars movie in 1977 but it wasn’t until 1984 that he shot to fame as the monster who comes for you in your dreams in Nightmare on Elm Street. He may forever be associated with the stripy jumper and trilby hat, but at least he has amassed a reported $16 million fortune to go with it.

Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins

With his elfin face and diminutive frame Elijah Wood was always a shoo-in for the role of the cheeky hobbit who appeared throughout Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. And, even though he said that he was done with blockbuster movies after the experience, he was lured back into the furry feet for the Hobbit film series that began in 2011.

The Friends Cast

For many it was the era defining comedy of the 90s and, to this day, the cast have striven to put their roles behind them. For Jennifer Aniston this has meant a series of rom-coms, Matt Le Blanc has got behind the wheel in Top Gear  while David Schwimmer has recently found new fame as the alleged robber in a Blackpool liquor store.

Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter

Another actor who has no complaints, financially at least, about being stuck in the same role is Daniel Radcliffe.  With a personal fortune estimated to be $110 million he certainly won’t be regretting the years he spent avoiding the clutches of Lord Voldemort and the dementors.

Tobey Maguire as Peter Parker

You’d think after three very successful outings as Spiderman/Peter Parker Maguire might have been locked into the superhero world, but not a bit of it. Since he last hung up the Spidey suit in 2007 he’s appeared in everything from The Great Gatsby to The Boss Baby.

So, as you can see, there’s no reason that actors have to get trapped into roles and there’s usually an escape route of sorts – it’s just a question of the right scripts coming your way!