Have I Seen You Before?
Many celebrities are household names. We often think that these celebrities came out of nowhere. However, most had a career before they stumbled upon their big break. Here are some films with big-name stars that you forgot were in them.
Matt Damon
Matt Damon is most definitely a household name. When you think of Matt Damon, you think of films like the Oceans franchise, Dead Poets Society, or The Martian. However, his first role was in a cult classic, Mystic Pizza, which starred another big-name actress early in her career: Julia Roberts.
Night Life Inc., Mystic Pizza (1988)
Viola Davis
Who doesn’t know Viola Davis? Her talent as an actor and her power on the screen is undeniable. She was making a name for herself in key films like The Help and Doubt even before she stole the show in How To Get Away With Murder. One of her first big screen debuts, however, was a 1998 hit: Out of Sight. Davis plays the small role of Don Cheadle’s wife.
Doubt - Meryl Streep and Viola Davis by MiramaxFilms
Philip Seymour Hoffman
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman was a talented character actor. He knew how to capture the essence of a character and truly embody it. He did this in films like Capote, Twister, The Hunger Games franchise. Before he was THE Philip Seymour Hoffman, he was just a small actor in Scent of a Woman, which starred Al Pacino and Chris O’Donnell. Hoffman played one of O’Donnell’s fellow students, George Willis Jr.
Carey Mulligan
Carey Mulligan’s talent is undeniable. She made a name for herself in films such as Drive, The Great Gatsby, and 2020’s Oscar-nominated Promising Young Woman. However, anyone who grew up on the 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice may have found Mulligan familiar: Mulligan plays the youngest Bennett sister in that film alongside names like Rosamund Pike, Jena Malone, and of course the star, Keira Knightley.
Pride & Prejudice (1/10) Movie CLIP - Mr. Bingley's Single (2005) HD, Movieclips
Elijah Wood
Whether he likes it or not, Elijah Wood will forever be known as Frodo, the hobbit who eventually saves the day in The Lord of the Rings. However, Elijah Wood had a healthy career as a child actor before he won that role. Next time you watch Back to the Future II, keep an eye out for Wood as “Video Game Boy #2”, though watch carefully—blink and you might miss him.
Back to the Future 2, Universal Pictures
Octavia Spencer
Octavia Spencer is one of those actresses who had to wait far too long to get the recognition that she deserved. Talented and charismatic, she embodies all of her characters with skill and a likability that can’t be denied. One of her early ventures, before she was the household name that she deserved to be, was Never Been Kissed, where Spencer plays one of Drew Barrymore’s co-workers.
ALA The American Library Association, Flickr
Timothee Chalamet
Long gone are the days when Chalamet gets labeled cutesy nicknames like “the little French boy” because people know his face but can’t recall his name. Despite being not quite 30, Chalamet has made a true name for himself. However, when he was still working his way to the top, he played Matthew McConaughey’s son, Cooper, in Interstellar.
TIMOTHEE CHALAMET was in Interstellar by Flix & Clips
Brie Larson
Brie Larson came to the public’s attention after her Oscar-winning performance in The Room. Following that, she gained even more fans taking on the cape of the title character in Marvel’s Captain Marvel. However, did you know long before that Larson was in the popular movie 13 Going on 30? It’s true! Pay attention to when Jenna encounters the popular “Six Chicks” at the start of the movie—Larson is one of them!
The Brie Larson Canon [Part 7]: 13 Going on 30 (2004), BrieNN
Charlize Theron
That Thing You Do! was one of the many popular Tom Hanks comedies of the 90s. Hanks even wrote and directed it. It followed a band that got recognition for a one-hit wonder. The aptly named The Wonders are memorable to the fans of the movie—but what about Tina, the ex-girlfriend of Tom Everett Scott’s character, Guy? Well, if you look again, you’ll recognize Charlize Theron in that role.
Charlize Theron in "That Thing You Do!" (1996), Acting Debuts
Joe Manganiello
Everyone loved Magic Mike, and it did wonders for bringing Joe Manganiello’s talent (and body) to the attention of fans around the world. However, the savvy movie viewer may remember Manganiello from an earlier role: Manganiello played Flash Thompson, Peter Parker’s school bully, in Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man franchise.
Joe Manganiello Wants a Piece of Tobey Maguire| Spider-Man (2002) | Now Playing, NOW PLAYING
Seth Rogen
Donnie Darko is a cult classic, and it is one of Jake Gyllenhaal’s best-remembered films. However, this film was also the first film role for another household name: Seth Rogan. Rogan played one of the high school bullies that plagued Darko’s life.
Amy Adams
As Leonardo DiCaprio runs around America, conning people out of their money as Frank Abagnale Jr in Catch Me If You Can, he runs into many young actresses who have yet to find their stardom. This includes Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks, and, yes, Amy Adams. Adams plays a “Candy striper” at a hospital that falls for Frank, as well as his con.
Keira Knightley
By 2005, when she starred in our already mentioned Pride & Prejudice, everyone knew who Keira Knightley was. However, long before that, she appeared in a far bigger film franchise: Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. The internet loves joking about how Knightley and Natalie Portman look alike; The Phanom Menace casting team agreed, as they cast Knightley to play a royal decoy for Portman’s Padme.
Twentieth Century, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, 20th Century Fox (1999)
Michael Fassbender
Most people would agree that Fassbender is a “serious” actor, who is known for his roles in movies like Shame and 12 Years a Slave, or taking on a younger version of an iconic character in X-Men. However, long before all that he was just Stelios, a young Spartan in 300.
Sandra Oh
Now, there is a generation of women who were the right age when The Princess Diaries came out that will argue on this role being “forgotten” as they’ve memorized every word of this movie. However, people who first met Sandra Oh during Grey’s Anatomy, or even later through Killing Eve, may be surprised to see Oh as the hilarious vice principal in this classic blockbuster.
Walt Disney Pictures, The Princess Diaries (2001)
Margot Robbie
The minute that Margot Robbie appeared in The Wolf of Wall Street, she entered a world where no one didn’t know who she was. Since then, she’s gone on to even bigger roles that continue to support her talent. However, before all of that, she appeared as Tim Lake’s crush before he met Rachel McAdams' Mary (his true love) in About Time.
The Last Night - About Time | RomComs, RomComs
Joaquin Phoenix
During the 80s and 90s, Joaquin Phoenix grew up in the shadow of his far more famous brother, the late River Phoenix. He’s since proven his acting chops; however, when he appeared in Parenthood (a blockbuster with Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Keanu Reeves to just name a few of its cast), he likely was still just “the other Phoenix boy”. He was still going by his birth name: Leaf.
Gary (Parenthood movie), megahappy2beme
Samuel L Jackson
Samuel L Jackson may just be the most famous star that we’ve named so far. You’d be hard-pressed to find someone in North America who hasn’t heard of Jackson. However, in the 1970s, Jackson was still just starting. That’s how he has gone under the radar so long as “Hold-Up Man” in Eddie Murphy’s iconic film Coming to America.
Coming To America - Samuel L. Jackson, The 80s Quadrant
Kristen Stewart
Whether you believe it made her famous or infamous, Kristen Stewart became a true star when she stepped into the role of Bella Swan in 2008’s Twilight. However, Stewart is another child star who racked up quite a few roles before snagging the big one. She even played Jodie Foster’s daughter in the iconic movie Panic Room.
Panic Room (4/8) Movie CLIP - Get Out of My House! (2002) HD, Movieclips
Dakota Johnson
Like Kristen Stewart, Dakota Johnson became a big name through a controversial role: she played Anastasia Steele in the Fifty Shades series (famously rumored to originate from a raunchy Twilight fanfiction). However, that wasn’t her first taste of success, at least as far as the film goes. She played Justin Timberlake’s one-night stand in The Social Network.
Dakota Johnson In The Social Network (2010) | Amy Ritter, Top 10 Films
Gabrielle Union
Where are my Bring It On girlies at? You know that Gabrielle Union stole the show as a fierce member of the Clovers cheer group. However, she’d been acting in rom-coms long before that, throughout the 90s. Her first role was in another big hit: She’s All That. Union played one of the popular girls in the friend group.
Beacon Pictures, Bring It On (2000)
Nicolas Cage
Personally, I will forever equate Nicolas Cage with the National Treasure franchise. However, Cage is the sort of actor who has been in so many things, that everyone has their own “go-to” Nic Cage film. Few, however, likely say Fast Times at Ridgemont High. However, that was Cage’s film debut. Of course, back then he was still going by his birth name, Nicolas Coppola.
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (5/10) Movie CLIP - Brad Gets Canned (1982) HD by Movieclips
Johnny Depp
Pick a Johnny Depp movie to call your favorite, any Johnny Depp movie, there are no wrong answers. Depp’s career has been prolific; he is even one of the rare cases whose first role, A Nightmare on Elm Street, also counts as his breakout role. However, his second film to release was just as big, though Depp is often forgotten. Depp starred with Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafo, Forest Whitaker, and more in Platoon.
Johnny Depp | A Nightmare on Elm Street | Best Moments by Larone - Movies & TV
Natalie Portman
We’ve already covered how Portman provides a cover for Keira Knightley’s secret forgotten role; however, Portman has one of her own. Portman made a splash instantly. Yet, that doesn’t mean all her roles were memorable. Many fans have gone back and been surprised to find a young Natalie Portman acting alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat.
Natalie Portman & Al Pacino in Heat (1995), Movie Vice
Tom Holland
Adorable, charming, and eternally youthful (or so it seems), Tom Holland made a name for himself by stepping into the role of Peter Parker for Marvel’s latest adaptation of the Spider-Man universe. However, Holland made his appearance in the world of film several years before in The Impossible.
The Impossible (4/10) Movie CLIP - What's Your Name? (2012) HD, Movieclips
Vince Vaughn
Rudy is a film classic, and is forever associated with its lead, Sean Astin. However, it was also the film debut of a couple of actors who’ve gone on to make a name for themselves. First is Jon Favreau, who played a teaching assistant, and the second is Vince Vaughn, playing tailback Jamie O’Hara.
Rudy (3/8) Movie CLIP - Rudy Sacks O'Hara (1993) HD, Movieclips
Ryan Gosling
Now, everyone knows that Ryan Gosling made his TV debut on The Mickey Mouse Club, but few people recalled that when he returned to the screen. It would take many years for him to build his stardom. While doing that, he appeared as a member of the football team in the football classic Remember the Titans.
Ryan Gosling's dance in "Remember the Titans", Sian I
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis reached fame at a fairly young age. She was only 15 or 16 when That ‘70s Show first aired. However, she’d been acting for several years before that, meaning there’s a treasure trove of baby “Kunises” to find if you know where to look. One place is Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves. Kunis plays the friend of Wayne Szalinski’s niece.
IMDb, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Daniel Craig
Daniel Craig didn’t make it big until he took on the biggest role of all: Bond, James Bond. This means that there are a lot of roles that Craig appeared in before anyone realized who he would become. One of these roles is in Elizabeth, starring Cate Blanchette. Craig played John Ballard, a priest who conspired against the Queen.
Daniel Craigs Darkest Role | Elizabeth, Critic Picks
Jake Gyllenhaal
As much as we love him, Gyllenhaal is a bit of a nepo baby—his entire family is in the film industry. Therefore, it’s not surprising he started acting at a young age. Gyllenhaal made his first film appearance in 1991 in City Slickers, playing Billy Crystal’s son.
Jake Gyllenhaal in City Slickers, BBM007
Kerry Washington
Scandal made Kerry Washington a household name. Everyone was tuning in to see what Olivia Pope would do next. However, she was an actress long before that show started. One of her “secret roles” is in Save the Last Dance. Washington’s character takes pity on Julia Stiles' character, helping her to fit in better at their school.
Ben Affleck
Most people know that Ben Affleck started acting young. Many of his early roles are already known, with the internet often pointing out seeing him in films like School Ties and Dazed and Confused. Though, some of his roles were uncredited. Such as his time as “Basketball Player 10” in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie.
Ben Affleck Was Cut from the 'Buffy' Movie by The Late Late Show with James Corden
Owen Wilson
Who else forgot that Owen Wilson was in Armageddon? Hopefully, it wasn’t just us who were surprised when Wilson appeared on screen as Oscar, a geologist. Armageddon has a pretty deep cast, so it’s an easy one to miss.
Every Line. Every Word. Owen Wilson's Oscar from Armageddon., YZARLA
Rami Malek
There are a couple of movies that Malek surprises us with. Anyone who had an awakening when the scary, dirty-wrapped mummy in Night at the Museum turned out to be Rami Malek is likely to not forget his role there. However, more surprising is Malek’s appearance in the surprisingly star-studded cast of additional vampires that appear in Breaking Dawn: Part Two.
Rami Malek in Breaking Dawn, Fangirl's Diaries
Kat Dennings
It’s less that we forget Kat Dennings' appearance in the Thor franchise because of her career, and more because the Marvel cast runs so deep, that it’s hard to keep track of everyone who played a part in the universe. Dennings, however, does play Natalie Portman’s sassy assistant, Darcy.
Glenn Close
Let’s give Marvel another point for a surprise appearance. With such a large cast and so much going on, it’s not surprising that a lot of people forget that Glenn Close is part of the Marvel universe too. She plays Nova Prime, the leader of the Nova Corps in Guardians of the Galaxy.
Guardians Of The Galaxy | The Nova Corps Thank The Guardians Scene | Disney+ [2014], TopMarvelClips
David Tennant
Whether you’re a fan of Doctor Who, Broadchurch, or Good Omens, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of David Tennant. He is a talented actor and a big name. However, how often do you forget that he was in the Harry Potter franchise? That’s right, he was Barty Crouch Jr. His appearance is fairly brief, which is a waste of all that talent.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire/Best scene/Daniel Radcliffe/David Tennant/Predrag Bjelac, Eli D
Lucy Liu
It seems impossible to think that you could forget Lucy Liu in anything. She’s smart, talented, and not to mention gorgeous in everything she does. When she appeared in Chicago, she had already reached fame from Charlie’s Angels. However, it still surprises viewers when they rewatch the film and see Liu on screen as Kitty Baxter.
Chicago: Kitty Baxter steals the spotlight, Binge Society
Colin Farrell
Colin Farrell is a well-known and prolific actor. He has been in many films and has many fans across the world. One of the films that doesn’t immediately come to mind, however, is Minority Report. Despite playing a key role in the film, Farrell fades into the background.
Matthew McConaughey
Tropic Thunder was a wild and star-studded comedy. It also made a few questionable choices that did not age well. In all of that chaos, it’s not a surprise that Matthew McConaughey’s portrayal of Rick Peck gets lost in the mess.
Tropic Thunder (4/10) Movie CLIP - Rick Peck, Hollywood Agent (2008) HD, Movieclips
Anthony Head
Anthony Head is a character actor who may not be a household name but is well remembered by anyone who watched him in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Merlin, or most recently, Ted Lasso. Despite this, he may have the smallest role possible in Sweeny Todd. He appears briefly, even speaking to the title character… and then disappears forever.
Anthony Head (Uther, BBC Merlin) talks about A Night Less Ordinary, Arts Council England
Anthony Anderson
Another Anthony, Anthony Anderson has made a name for himself following the huge success of his TV series, Black-ish. However, before that, he played many minor roles in huge films. This includes playing a pivotal (if small) role in the hit film The Departed.
Anthony Anderson Tearing It Up - The Departed - Really ?, Jay G
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