Malin Akerman is a Swedish actress. The Comeback, an HBO mockumentary series, featured her in the lead role. You haven't yet seen Malin Akerman's full range of skills unless you've already seen her as the tough Silk Spectre II in Watchmen. Akerman has demonstrated through multiple TV appearances that she is equally skilled at live musical performances, serious drama, light humor, and sharp sarcasm.
These 9 amazing Malin Akerman TV show performances prove that this actress is more versatile than you might have thought. She never fails to give depth, humor, and charm to any of the roles she plays, regardless of the genre of the show.
Disclaimer: This article is based solely on the writer's opinion. Reader discretion is advised.
Here is the list of the 9 roles of Malin Akerman in TV shows that will surprise you if you only know her from Watchmen
9. Dusty Halford in Sin City Saints (2015)

Sin City Saints is a sports comedy TV show shot in Las Vegas about a fictitious NBA organization. Malin Akerman plays the role of Dusty Halford. Dusty is a league executive who consistently wreaks havoc throughout the company. In one scene, Dusty approaches a desperate players' locker room and talks firmly and persistently while establishing new rules. She can handle a comedy scene because she is intelligent, assertive, and even delivers dry remarks effortlessly.
The intense battle in Watchmen, where the fierce character Laurie (played by Malin) goes on a harsh mission to save someone, can be compared to this situation. Akerman understands the power of the written word, but she utilizes verbal control instead of Dusty's physical bravery. She portrays humorous power in a very natural way, as in Sin City Saints, and those who are familiar with Silk Spectre II alone won't be surprised.
8. Played herself in Welcome to Sweden (2014-2015)

Welcome to Sweden is a situation comedy about an American teacher who moves to Stockholm to live with his Swedish lover. Akerman portrays a fictitious version of herself. She appears in only a single episode of the series. Malin Ackerman is shown in one of the scenes in which Bruce, the American hero, wishes to impress her as a prospective customer, and the problem is that he does not know she is Swedish.
This sequence exemplifies Akerman's dual role in Watchmen as Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre II), which involved battling perception and identity, especially in situations involving Dr. Manhattan's inability to feel anything profoundly. A humorous misunderstanding occurs in the first scene, while an existential conflict occurs in the second, both of which deal with cultural and emotional estrangement. The presence of the actor Akerman in both works helps to appreciate her talent at integrating identity conflicts with subtlety and irony.
7. Juna Millken in The Comeback (2005)

The Comeback is a mockumentary on HBO about a faded Hollywood actress who tries to make a comeback. Juna Millken (played by Malin Akerman) is a young, ambitious starlet. When they meet in the studio, Juna smiles as she greets Valerie and makes fun of her declining fame. One of the show's funniest lines is delivered in a sardonic and oblique manner by her courteous and firm voice.
In the Watchmen, Laurie takes on villains with her words. Her courteous and strong voice delivers one of the show's funniest lines in a sardonic, indirect tone. It is an intellectually interesting, underplayed performance that leaves the viewers of Akerman as the screen fighter shocked. This scene exemplifies Malin Akerman's versatility in TV show performances, outside of costume drama.
6. Tori in Entourage (2006)

Entourage is a comedy-drama that examines Hollywood, with an adolescent tone focused on a young movie star, his friends, and their complex lives. Malin Akerman makes a guest appearance as Tori, a bold party girl involved in a threesome storyline with Eric and Sloan. Tori is sexy, confident, and flirtatiously dominant in the scene.
Her mood is mischievous, punk-inspired, and sexually empowered, similar to Laurie in Watchmen, caught between romantic love and a sense of duty. Akerman skillfully combines relaxed charm with fearless confidence. Even though her appearance is brief, it's memorable and more than enough to catch viewers off guard who were solely anticipating drama and emotional depth. Entourage also highlights how easily she can transition into sultry, modern comedy.
5. Alex Altman in Suburgatory (2013)

Suburgatory is an ABC sitcom that tells the story of a father and a daughter learning to live in an image-focused, zany suburb. Malin Akerman plays the role of Tessa's real mother, Alex. Alex is a free-spirited woman with big dreams, but she doesn’t really follow through on making them a reality. In a remarkable scene, Alex abruptly approaches Tessa and starts talking excitedly about her life in an attempt to distract her attention.
This freewheeling spirit flips the Watchmen narrative. Laurie Jupiter (Silk Spectre II) is characterized in Watchmen as a serious, resolute character driven by a strong sense of moral commitment. A viewer who expects the antiseptic hero is surprised when Akerman is portrayed as a flaky artsy type. The stark contrast between a mother daydreaming and a superhero fighting for survival illustrates her flexibility. It is a reminder that Malin Akerman's TV shows range between touching comedy and heroic drama with equal ease.
4. Lara Axelrod in Billions (2018-2023)

Billions is a contemporary drama about the power struggle between a US attorney and a hedge fund billionaire. Malin Akerman plays Lara Axelrod. Lara is Bobby Axelrod's ambitious and intelligent wife. In one of the season finale moments, when FBI agents arrive to take Bobby back to jail, Lara answers the door with a calm threat. She smashes the cigarette on the door and states that she will have them both removed and to leave her home alone, or she will have them exposed. She does not leave the impression that she is the one in charge.
When contrasted with Laurie's physical courage in Watchmen, this smooth and forceful leadership represents a different form of strength. In Watchmen, Laurie uses a mask to battle baddies. Lara can resolve crises with her brain, steel nerves, and acute coolness, as demonstrated by Akerman. That transition from muscular hero to behind-the-scenes leader exemplifies her talent in Malin Akerman's TV show.
3. Herself as a performer in Lip Sync Battle (2017)

Lip Sync Battle is a fun game in which stars impersonate the songs of their favorite hits in full-fledged acting. In her 2015 episode, Malin Akerman performs a very sexy version of Def Leppard's song Pour Some Sugar On Me, in a black bodysuit, with a lot of fierceness. She also performs Jason Derulo's song, Talk Dirty, with full-scale swagger and backup dancers twerking.
The character Laurie in Watchmen is depicted as serious and complex. She is particularly noted for her significant courtroom statement regarding personal tragedy. In Lip Sync Battle, everything is self-assured, mischievous, and erotic entertainment. The difference illustrates Akerman's ability to transition between serious drama and full-on stage diva. It's funny because Malin Akerman's TV shows feature bold performance art, which is a novel experience rather than being a superhero.
2. Valerie Flame in Children's Hospital (2010-2016)

Children's Hospital is an absurdist spoof of a medical drama. Malin Akerman plays the role of Dr. Valerie Flame, a narrator who becomes a doctor and gets into weird and chaotic scenes. In one episode, she passionately displays her love for Dr. Blake by assaulting him when he doesn't reciprocate. It is a dark, twisted comedy.
This scenario can be paralleled to a more serious scene in Watchmen, in which Laurie and Dan confront a moral quandary when visiting Dr. Manhattan's retreat. She is troubled, tense, and emotional in that scene. As Dr. Flame, she is wild, uncensored, and outspoken, contrasting sharply with a hero in crisis and a comical agitator. It shows that Malin Akerman's TV shows seldom need to fall into a single category. She can easily make the transition between gritty drama and insane satire.
1. Kate Harrison in Trophy Wife (2013-2014)

Trophy Wife is an ABC sitcom focusing on the story of Kate Harrison. Malin Akerman plays Kate with wit, charm, and genuine concern. Kate enjoys partying and is the third wife of Pete, an older lawyer. Suddenly, she becomes a part of a family with his two ex-wives and kids. During one episode, she requests a proper wedding ceremony after uncovering old VHS tapes of Pete's previous wedding. As a wife and stepmother, she wants to be included by coming out of her shell.
One cannot contrast it much with her character in Watchmen when Laurie Jupiter employs active aggression and heavy moral pressure to emerge as a survivor in bloody collisions. Kate's portrayal allows Akerman to handle familial issues with humor and elegance. The fact that change (grit to sweet) occurs from superhero to sitcom may irritate some, but it reminds me delightfully of the broads from Malin Akerman's TV shows.
These characters highlighted that Malin Akerman can go considerably further than superheroes. She took the world by surprise as she went from fearless satire in Children's Hospital to heartfelt family comedy in Trophy Wife. Her performances astounded the audience, demonstrating her versatility as a dramatic, humorous, sensual, or direct performer. Anyone familiar only with Watchmen would have been amazed by her boldness in these varied Malin Akerman TV shows.