The invention describes electroactive polymer devices in both rolled and unrolled configurations. The invention also describes employment of these devices in a wide array of applications and methods for their fabrication. An electroactive polymer device converts between electrical and mechanical energy; and, in one embodiment includes a rolled electroactive polymer and one or more electrodes to provide the mechanical/electrical energy conversion. In one embodiment, the electroactive polymer has a non-uniform surface on which an electrode having a non-uniform shape is disposed.