2011 Oscars: Recasting 'The Fighter'

MICKY WARD

Played by Mark Wahlberg, 39, in the film

Recasting: Kirk Acevedo, 39

Why He's Right for the Part: In real life, Puerto Rican actor Kirk Acevedo is a former boxer, and he was brilliant in the role of scrappy boxer Miguel Alvarez in HBO's critically acclaimed series, Oz. But that's not why we like Kirk for the role of Micky Ward, played beautifully in the film by Mark Wahlberg. The real reason is that Kirk is adept at playing characters who express a lot of inner turmoil without really saying much. Micky might be incommunicative in The Fighter, but he's hurting on the inside. His mother and brother are setting him up to take a beating in the ring every single time out and it's getting to him — you can see it in his eyes. Bonus Points: Wahlberg and Acevedo seem to be in the same weight class and in real life, are the same age, 39.