“The Pretty One,” out tomorrow, features Zoe Kazan as twins Audrey and Laurel. The identical-twin or doppelganger plot is one of Hollywood’s most reliable gimmicks for showcasing an actor’s versatility — and a plum role for any star (hey, who better to work with than yourself?). Here are our top ten favorite identical twin moments from the big and small screens.
‘Another World’ (1988)
Anne Heche as good and evil twins Vicky and Marley. The actress and “Call Me Crazy” author honed her drama-queen chops in dual roles on this show.
‘As the World Turns’ (1985)
Julianne Moore as good and evil half-sisters Frannie and Sabrina. Moore, now Hollywood royalty, had a meet-cute with herself in this clip from the long-running soap opera.
‘Adaptation’ (2002)
Nicholas Cage as a neurotic writer and his confident brother. Playing the onscreen avatar of the film’s screenwriter — and his cocky alter ego — Cage turned in two of his finest performances ever.
‘Dead Ringers’ (1988)
Jeremy Irons as murderous gynecologists. One sinister Jeremy Irons is terrifying enough — two is downright David Cronenbergian genius.
‘The Parent Trap’ (1961)
Hayley Mills as sisters who discover each other’s existence at camp. Mills charmed as long-lost twins Susan and Sharon, who schemed to reunite their estranged parents in this Disney classic.
‘The Parent Trap’ (1998)
Lindsay Lohan in the reboot. A then-adorable Lohan nearly one-upped Mills with a standout performance as twins Hallie and Annie.
‘The Social Network’ (2010)
Armie Hammer as the Winklevoss brothers. Hammer’s dual performance and David Fincher’s CGI were so convincing that many who saw the movie assumed the actor was actually two people.
‘Sisters’ (1973)
Margot Kidder as good and evil twins (or are they?) Years before she was Lois Lane, Kidder camped it up in this Brian De Palma horror flick.
‘Bowfinger’ (1999)
Eddie Murphy as a megastar and his geeky lookalike. In one of Murphy’s most underrated performances, he plays both a paranoid über-celebrity embroiled in a Scientology-like cult, and a braces-wearing, lovable nerd.
‘A Stolen Life’ (1946)
Bette Davis as a twin who assumes her sister’s identity. This 1940s movie could have been an inspiration for Kazan’s “The Pretty One” — though we’re loath to compare anyone to the great Bette Davis.