X-Men: All 3 Rogue actresses ranked from worst to best

3. Anna Paquin

Anna Paquin stepping into the role of Rogue wasn’t a misstep by any means, but it’s clear the movie scripts didn’t allow her to shine as the iconic character we know from the comics. While they did grant her the distinctive white streak after absorbing Magneto’s power, the rest of her portrayal seemed to fall a bit flat. Something was missing, and that something was the Southern charm that fans had grown to adore in Rogue.

This version of Rogue was more, introverted, emo-ish, a stark contrast from her comic book counterpart. What’s crazy is, nearly a decade later, Paquin’s role in True Blood as Sookie Stackhouse showed a character with a strong southern-like persona. Sokkie truly did embody some of the qualities that fans had hoped to see in her Rogue portrayal.

It’s not about pointing fingers at Paquin’s performance; she gave it her all. Rather, it’s about recognizing that the script and direction just didn’t allow Rogue to flourish. She was tossed into a story that removed much of her past connection to Mystique. Seriously, they may as well have been strangers — I think they were. She wasn’t ever really part of the Brotherhood. And to the disappointment of fans who knew her post-Miss Marvel battle, she had no flight or tights.

Despite this, Anna Paquin remains an important part of the X-Men movie legacy. She’s a cautionary reminder that even with talented actors, a character’s essence can be lost if not given the right narrative space to shine.