Jan Monczka

Jan Monczka, born May 17, 1956, in Karviná—back when it was still called Czechoslovakia—has this kind of face you don’t forget after seeing him in a film, even if you can’t quite place where you know him from. He’s racked up a pretty wild variety of roles over the years, which is honestly impressive. For anyone who’s into international cinema, you’ll probably recognize him from “Serena” (yeah, the Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence one—he’s not the headliner but he pops up, and if you blink, you might miss him). Then there’s “Na Dobre I Na Zle,” a Polish medical drama that’s been running for what feels like forever; Monczka’s been on that too, flexing his chops in a totally different language. And don’t sleep on “2XL,” which is a bit of a curveball—a Romanian comedy-drama series that pokes fun at body image and relationships. He’s made a habit out of jumping between genres and languages, which is rare. Dude’s clearly not afraid to step out of his comfort zone. You get the sense he’s just as comfortable slipping into a surgeon’s scrubs as he is navigating the backwoods of Depression-era America, all with this quiet confidence. It’s not flashy, but it sticks with you. Jan Monczka: not exactly a household name in Hollywood, but definitely one of those actors who makes every scene a little sharper.