Stepping stones to stardom
Actors’ careers are often defined by one or two great roles that they’ve played. Jack Nicholson as Jack Torrance in The Shining, Morgan Freeman as Ellis Redding in The Shawshank Redemption, and Al Pacino and Robert De Niro as the main characters in Heat. Everyone has to start somewhere in the acting business. Let’s examine where some of the best-known actors’ got their big break.
Matt Damon - Good Will Hunting (1997)
Alongside the late Robin Williams, a young Matt Damon starred as Will Hunting, a young janitor at MIT who belongs in the classroom rather than the hallways. He grabs the attention of a mathematics professor after solving a challenging problem on a board. Later, along with young co-stars Ben and Casey Affleck, Will is arrested, but released with the help of a professor who insists he sees the school therapist, Sean Maguire (Robin Williams).
Good Will Hunting receives a 97% rating from Rotten Tomatoes and is viewed as an iconic American film that set Damon up for future success in the 90s with roles in Saving Private Ryan and The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Miramax, Good Will Hunting (1997)
Bruce Willis - Die Hard (1988)
Ah, Die Hard—the quintessential Christmas movie was passed over by many “big” action stars of the 1980s, but it turned around the career of one Bruce Willis. He played the role of a gung-ho cop on a mission to save his wife from a terrorist group led by a burgeoning Alan Rickman as Hans.
Twentieth Century, Die Hard (1988)
Julia Roberts - Pretty Woman (1990)
Although Roberts had previously starred in Steel Magnolias, Sally Field took the lead role in that film—but Roberts’ time to shine came a year later in Pretty Woman. This reworked rom-com (originally intended to be a darker tale about intimacy and money) saw Roberts play the role of Vivian Ward, a struggling woman who becomes a confidante and assistant to a wealthy businessman played by Richard Gere.
This role would see Julia Roberts propelled onto the big screen as Pretty Woman, becoming the best ticket-selling rom-com in the United States ever and winning a Golden Globe for Best Actress.
Touchstone, Pretty Woman (1990)
Chris Hemsworth - Thor (2011)
Before Chris Hemsworth was riding white horses through hails of gunfire in Afghanistan, he was a hammer-wielding superhero called Thor, starring in a movie of the same name. Hemsworth’s physique and height added to his suitability for the role of the Norwegian god, son of Odin (played by Anthony Hopkins). Thor is widely considered one of the best movies in the Marvel franchise and the ‘OG’ of their line-up of superhero films.
Margot Robbie - The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Before Margot Robbie became Barbie in 2023, she was Naomi Lapaglia, the second wife of the Wolf of Wall Street, Jordan Belfort (Leonardo Di Caprio). She played the role of a woman propelled into a life of riches when she began dating Leonardo Di Caprio’s character. Robbie’s skilful acting in this film would lead the Australian onto the big screens and set her up for future successes in the American market.
Paramount, The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Richard Gere - Pretty Woman (1990)
Alongside Julia Roberts, Richard Gere would have his breakout moment in Pretty Woman, playing a rich businessman named Edward Lewis. Lewis meets Vivian Ward one evening in the red-light district and agrees to take Vivian under his wing as an assistant and confidante. Although Gere had enjoyed moderate success in the '70s and '80s as an action movie star, Pretty Woman set the then-41-year-old up for a lifelong association with a suave, good-looking businessman.
Touchstone, Pretty Woman (1990)
Leonardo DiCaprio - What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? (1993)
Leonardo DiCaprio has longevity in Hollywood like almost no other modern film star. He was just 19 when he landed the role of Arnie Grape, a young autistic boy cared for by his older brother, Gilbert Grape (played by Johnny Depp). DiCaprio would end up being nominated for an Oscar for that performance.
Paramount, What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Daisy Ridley - The Force Awakens (2015)
Daisy Ridley’s breakout role was playing Rey, an orphaned child who becomes a Jedi in the latest iteration of Star Wars. Daisy’s transformation from a guest television star to an international acting sensation happened seemingly overnight. Despite the nearly 10 years since The Force Awakens, Ridley has yet to outperform herself.
Walt Disney, The Force Awakens (2015)
Dev Patel - Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
This iconic film of the late 2000s elevated the career of Dev Patel to stardom and put a fresh spotlight on the shoestring-budget independent film scene. Slumdog Millionaire received eight Oscar nominations and received Best Picture that year. Patel would later star alongside British film superstars in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. But, Slumdog Millionaire was what began his career and shone a spotlight on the independent film scene like nothing before.
Film4, Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Brad Pitt - Thelma and Louise (1991)
Brad Pitt’s role in Thelma and Louise became an instant iconic classic, starring alongside Susan Sarandon. Pitt’s most famous scene in the film features him shirtless and is probably his most iconic film, despite a marathon career that is far from over yet.
Abigail Breslin - Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Abigail Breslin is one of the youngest child actresses ever to win an Oscar for her role as Olive in Little Miss Sunshine at just ten years old. This iconic movie is about loving parents transporting their child across the country to a beauty pageant in an old VW camper van, dealing with the challenges of transnational travel with a funny, vibrant little girl dreaming to make it big. Breslin would later star in My Sister’s Keeper alongside Cameron Diaz and Alec Baldwin.
Big Beach, Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Carrie-Anne Moss - The Matrix (1999)
This turn-of-the-century action flick saw Carrie-Anne Moss adopt the role of Trinity, Neo’s mentor-turned-lover. While Moss had enjoyed fairly minor successes in her early career, including a Gemini Award for her role in Due South, The Matrix was Moss’ first introduction to a box office film. She would go on to reprise her role for all of the successive franchise films.
Warner Bros., The Matrix (1999)
Emma Stone - Superbad (2007)
Alongside beloved comedy actor Jonah Hill, Emma Stone’s best-known breakthrough film came in the form of everyone’s favourite comedy in 2007. Superbad saw Emma, Michael Cera, and Jonah Hill play the role of three party-going pre-graduates on a mission to party and lose their pureness before graduation. Stone plays Hill’s love interest in the film, Jules.
Scarlett Johannson - Lost in Translation (2003)
Starring alongside the legendary Bill Murray, Scarlett Johannson enjoyed her breakthrough in 2003 in Lost in Translation at just 17. A film about connection and friendship between two unlikely souls, Scarlett plays Charlotte, a young and unhappily married newlywed, who meets Bob, played by Bill Murray—the two strike up a friendship-come-romance in Tokyo, Japan.
Zoetrope, Lost in Translation (2003)
Rachel McAdams - Mean Girls (2004)
Mean Girls was one of the most popular films of the early 2000s and indeed one of the most popular teenage comedy flicks of all time. It’s also where Rachel McAdams made her breakthrough, playing the role of Regina George as the Queen Bee of a hive of mean high-school girls.
Jaden Smith - The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
How cool is it that Jaden Smith got to play his first major acting role alongside his father in this coming-of-age, triumphing-through-adversity classic? Jaden plays Christopher Gardner Jr, the son of Christopher Gardner Sr, played by his real dad! Although Jaden’s never been far from the spotlight because of his dad, playing alongside his father in this role propelled young Jaden to stardom.
Columbia, The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Marion Cotillard - La Vie En Rose (2007)
One of the finest biographical musicals ever, La Vie en Rose tells the rather tragic story of the life of Edith Piaf, played by Cotillard. It’s an extraordinary tale of struggle, perseverance, triumph and an unbelievable talent taken too soon. Cotillard plays the role of an older Edith Piaf, who goes from singing on street corners in France to achieving worldwide fame and recognition. Cotillard would be propelled to stardom by her take on Piaf, starring in blockbusters like Inception and The Dark Knight Rises.
Légende, La Vie en Rose (2007)
Zack Galifianakis - The Hangover (2009)
In what is arguably one of the funniest films of the late 2000s and pre-2010, Zack Galifianakis would star as Alan in The Hangover. Playing a bumbling but affable character with a trick always up his sleeve (mostly at the expense of his friends), Alan endeared himself to fans quickly, as did Galifianakis, starring in several comedies after that and doing voice acting for Puss in Boots in 2011.
Legendary, The Hangover (2009)
Sandra Bullock - Speed (1994)
Despite Keanu Reeves playing the lead role in this action-packed thriller, it’s Sandra Bullock’s standout performance as Annie, a passenger who finds herself behind the wheel of a bus that contains an explosive that will detonate if the bus drops below a certain speed, that takes the cake. Bullock’s performance as the nervous but prepared bus driver led her to roles in other dramas like A Time to Kill (1996), Crash (2004) and Bird Box (2018).
Twentieth Century, Speed (1994)
Kit Harrington - Game of Thrones (2011)
Jon Snow’s watch may have ended on HBO’s Game of Thrones, but Kit Harrington’s career got its kickstart from his portrayal of Jon, the peasant boy raised to become the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. This gritty action/fantasy thriller prepared Harrington for roles in other thrillers such as Pompeii and Spooks: The Greater Good.
HBO, Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
Kate Winslet - Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Long before Winslet was letting Jack drown—I mean, saving herself in Titanic, she starred in Sense and Sensibility, a period drama set in the early 19th century. Winslet plays Marianne Dashwood, a British woman of the landed gentry class vying for the affections of Colonel Brandon, an older British Army officer played by Alan Rickman. Also in the love triangle story is Edward Ferrars, played by Hugh Grant, the brother-in-law of Marianne’s brother. This story of a family stretched by love and financial desperation and the drama that precedes it proved to be the breakout role for Winslet (before her iconic appearance in Titanic, that is).
Columbia, Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Keanu Reeves - Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
This sci-fi comedy is something of a classic of the 1980s and was the breakthrough role for Keanu Reeves, before his roles as an assassin in the John Wick series and his role as Neo in The Matrix, Keanu played the role of Theodore “Ted” Logan. Logan and Bill (Alex Winter), are two high-school friends on the road to history class failure before finding Rufus (George Carlin), a time traveller, who sends them back in-time to produce the ultimate history report.
Orion, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Alex Winter - Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989)
Alongside Keanu Reeves in a breakthrough role was Alex Winter, a British-American actor starring in action-comedies throughout the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. Winter plays Bill S Preston Esq in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure, propelling him onto the screens of American audiences for the first time. He had previously starred in The Lost Boys, another cult classic of the late 1980s.
Orion, Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989)
Kiefer Sutherland - The Lost Boys (1987)
The Canadian actor and son of the legendary Donald Sutherland found fame by telling people to “trust me” in 24 without providing any evidence as to why they should. However, his breakthrough to the big screens came nearly 15 years prior in a vampire-laden horror-comedy where he played David, the leader of a gang of vampires terrorising Santa Carla, a fictional Californian town.
Warner Bros., The Lost Boys (1987)
Robert Pattinson - Twilight (2008)
“Oh, that’s HIM!” you might say after watching Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, where Pattinson plays the ill-fated Cedric Diggory. But that will likely come after you’ve seen Twilight, where Pattinson gained worldwide recognition and adorned the bedroom walls and bookshelves of teenage girls everywhere. Playing the lead vampire character, Edward Cullen, in Twilight was Pattinson’s first major film production after Harry Potter and a handful of other roles and ensured that he would be forever remembered as Edward Cullen.
Mila Kunis - Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
While she cut her teeth on American television with her role in That 70’s Show, Mila Kunis’ breakout role on the big screen was in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. She played Rachel Jansen, a desk clerk at a Hawaiian resort that Peter has escaped to after a long-term relationship breakup with Sarah Marshall, played by Kristen Bell. Kunis’ role in Forgetting Sarah Marshall would set her up for longevity in the comedy genre with roles in Ted and Friends with Benefits in the late 2000s, before transitioning to more serious films post-2010.
Universal, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
Ashton Kutcher - That 70’s Show (1998-2005)
Ashton Kutcher is the epitome of American teenage film stars who have carried their success in their early years throughout their careers. Kutcher was cast as Michael Kelso in That 70’s Show, playing the goofy, sensitive joker teen in an off-and-on relationship with Jackie, played by Mila Kunis. While, like Kunis, Kutcher has gone on to star in multiple roles since That 70’s Show ended, he’ll likely always be remembered for Kelso.
Carsey-Werner, That '70s Show (1998-2006)
Jack Black - High Fidelity (2000)
Jack Black always has had a flair for the dramatic. The actor and comedian had many small roles before High Fidelity’s breakout success, where he played Barry Judd, the friend, confidante and employee of Rob Gordon (played by Jon Cusack). Black’s personality lent itself well to the role of a bubbly, eccentric character. High Fidelity led Black to larger roles in films such as Orange County (2002), Nacho Libre (2006), and the more recent Jumanji films of 2017 and 2019.
Walt Disney, High Fidelity (2000)
Patrick Swayze - The Outsiders (1983)
Based on the much-beloved novel depicting teenaged life in the United States in the 1960s, the movie is almost as iconic as the book. This star-studded cast featured Tom Cruise, Rob Lowe, and Matt Dillon. Swayze plays Darryl “Darry” Curtis, the older brother and caretaker of his two younger siblings. This role was only Swayze’s second film as a main cast member and would be the one that propelled him to American cinema superstardom.
Zoetrope, The Outsiders (1983)
Nicolas Cage - Valley Girl (1983)
Nicolas Cage’s first big role came in the teen romantic comedy Valley Girl, where he played Randy, a young punk rocker vying for the affections of Julie, a new-to-the-city “valley girl” (played by Deborah Foreman). Since Valley Girl, Cage has starred in everything from action films like The Rock (1996) and Lord of War (2005) to adventure movies like National Treasure.
Russell Crowe - L.A Confidential (1997)
In one of Crowe’s first appearances to large American audiences, L.A Confidential sets up Crowe as a strait-laced cop investigating an unsolved murder in downtown L.A. However, the film is far from your typical investigative detective movie; it features a theme of the intersection of police corruption and Hollywood stardom.
Warner Bros., L.A. Confidential (1997)
Salma Hayek - Desperado (1995)
Salma Hayek has long been viewed as one of Hollywood’s most accomplished and beautiful actresses to grace our screens, but before Desperado, the action/Western film about vengeance, love and gunfights, Hayek was relatively unknown outside of her native Mexico. Starring alongside Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Hayek would burst onto the American cinematic scene and not look back, appearing in similar Western/action roles in Wild Wild West and From Dusk Till Dawn.
Christian Bale - American Psycho (2000)
Christian Bale showcased his theatrical diversity in American Psycho in 2000, playing the unsuspecting serial killer of Patrick Bateman. A charming bank executive by day, Bateman transitions to a disturbing psychopath at night. Flicking the switch from an urban businessperson to a callous criminal is something that Bale does very well. This role would go on to star in The Machinist (2004) and as the infamous Batman in the film anthology.
Lionsgate, American Psycho (2000)
Peter O’Toole - Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
This is a throwback to the early 1960s, with the true story of T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia. Thomas Edward Lawrence was a British Army officer who spent much of the First World War uniting warring Arab tribespeople in the Middle East to fight against the invading Turks. This required tremendous patience, cultural and religious sensitivity, and determination from Lawrence, who is depicted skillfully and accurately by Peter O’Toole, starring in his first major motion picture role. Lawrence of Arabia is considered one of history’s greatest biopic films.
Columbia, Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Sean Connery - Dr. No (1962)
After making his acting debut in 1954, a young Sean Connery would have many smaller roles before appearing as James Bond in Dr. No. This film was the first James Bond book to be made into a movie and Sean Connery was the first James Bond ever. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest Bond actors of all time.
Robert Redford - Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Robert Redford first appeared in a major motion picture in the instant Western classic Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a film about the trials and tribulations of a band of outlaws on the run from the law after a botched train robbery. Redford played the Sundance Kid, Harry Longabaugh, in this Hollywood recreation of the life of The Sundance Kid, who was a real outlaw in the late 19th century.
Twentieth Century, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Harrison Ford - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Star Wars fans were first introduced to Harrison Ford as Han Solo in 1977, the gun-wielding smuggler who was captain of the Millenium Falcon and co-pilot to the ever-lovable Chewbacca. Joining the cause of galactic freedom, they joined forces with Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia to fight against Darth Vader. Ford reprised the role in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of The Jedi (1983).
Lucasfilm, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)
John Travolta - Grease (1978)
This '70s classic needs no introduction, but John Travolta certainly did back in the day, having had smaller roles in the years preceding, Grease would be Travolta’s breakout film. The beloved bad boy greaser pursues a love interest in good-girl Sandy Olsson in this high-school romantic drama.
Arnold Schwarzenegger - The Terminator (1984)
“I’ll be back,” is as infamous a line as one could imagine. Schwarzenegger delivered the iconic phrase, forever cementing his place in American cinematic history. Before Terminator, Schwarzenegger starred as Conan the Barbarian in the film of the same name. His impressive physique and physical strength made him a natural fit for the action genre.
Robin Williams - Good Morning, Vietnam (1987)
An icon of cinema and film and indeed of America itself, the late Robin Williams’ starred in Good Morning, Vietnam, as radio broadcaster Adrian Cronauer. Cronauer was assigned to the US Armed Services radio station in Vietnam. He soon draws the ire of his superior officers after maintaining a critical, balanced approach to covering the war. Telling the American people truthful stories without the ‘spin’ that the brass would like.
