19 Actors who made it big despite the skepticism from the industry

The acting industry has often underestimated big names. Before these stars achieved the stardom they enjoy today, both the public and the paparazzi looked at them with skepticism and doubt regarding their acting abilities and overall demeanor as Hollywood stars. However, instead of getting demotivated by these negative criticisms, these actors turned things around and worked hard to prove doubters wrong. Here is a list of 19 actors who made it big despite the skepticism from the industry.

19) Vanessa Hudgens

Vanessa Hudgens is a Filipina-American actress. Because of her ethnicity, people thought she might not make it big in Hollywood, as she didn't fit the conventional mold often followed in the industry. The prevailing opinion restricted her to ethnically diverse roles, rather than being part of mainstream productions. However, she proved these biases wrong, not only by breaking into mainstream roles but also by rising as a Disney star through her role in the High School Musical movie series and the Netflix movie series The Princess Switch.

18) Jacob Elordi

Jacob Elordi began his acting career with the Netflix movie The Kissing Booth. He then moved on to other lighthearted rom-com roles, which led people to believe he would be just another teen heartthrob rather than a full-fledged movie star. However, he proved the doubters wrong and showcased the depth he possessed as an actor with his profound and versatile roles in the HBO series Euphoria and in movies such as Saltburn, Priscilla, and others.

17) Sydney Sweeney

Actress Sydney Sweeney faced a lot of skepticism regarding her acting skills. People believed she gained fame momentarily due to her looks and doubted she would be able to achieve prominent status as an actress. However, through her persistent hard work and smart decision-making, she took on many standout roles and gained widespread popularity. Some of her famous works include Euphoria, The White Lotus, Anyone But You, and others.

16) Millie Bobby Brown

Actress Millie Bobby Brown's career was filled with rejections before she landed the role of Eleven in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. As a child actor, people doubted her ability to make a lasting impact with her acting and often rejected her. She almost quit acting before being selected for her life-changing role in Stranger Things. While working on the series, she tackled many emotionally demanding action scenes, which showcased her versatility as an actor. Now, she is one of the most sought-after actresses in Hollywood.

15) Judi Dench

Today, actress Judi Dench has achieved the status of an iconic star. She delivered commendable performances in the James Bond series from 1995 to 2012 and has also received wide appreciation for her roles in Shakespeare plays such as Macbeth, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and others. She is now celebrated for both her movie acting and her theater performances. However, earlier in her career, when she was trying to break into Hollywood, people doubted her abilities, thinking her acting was limited only to theater.

14) Mark Ruffalo

Mark Ruffalo has now reached the peak of his stardom with his role as The Hulk in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He has also delivered outstanding performances in numerous indie films, balancing them with big blockbusters like The Zodiac. However, his career has not always been this flourishing, and he has faced his fair share of rejections and skepticism. Due to his short stature, casting directors were convinced he couldn't play a leading man, but with his charisma, he proved them wrong.

13) Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder ruled the world of cinema in the 90s, starring in blockbuster hits like Edward Scissorhands, Bram Stoker's Dracula, Little Women, and Heathers. However, breaking into Hollywood wasn't easy. People thought she didn’t fit the typical mainstream actress stereotype of having a tall stature and blonde hair. Seen as an outsider or misfit, she faced skepticism. But Ryder refused to give in, staying true to herself and ultimately bringing about a revolution in the industry.

12) Gary Oldman

Because Gary Oldman began his acting career in British theatre, his acting style was filled with intense emotional representation. As a result, people believed he didn't possess the qualities typically expected of a leading actor. However, it was his commitment and transformation for every role—whether that of a hero or a villain—that helped him develop a reputation as one of the most versatile actors in Hollywood. He has worked in several great blockbuster films, including Darkest Hour, JFK, Dracula, The Dark Knight Trilogy, and many more.

11) Emilia Clarke

Before her game-changing role as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, Emilia Clarke was an easily forgotten name in Hollywood. She had worked on several notable projects, but her presence didn’t leave much of an impact. People doubted her as an acting star, but her role in Game of Thrones, left such a strong impact that she immediately entered the A-list celebrity category. Today, she is one of the most popular actresses, with hit roles in films like Me Before You and Terminator: Genisys.

10) Salma Hayek

Salma Hayek is a Mexican actress who, because of her ethnicity, faced significant typecasting issues in Hollywood. Additionally, her English had a certain accent, which people believed would hinder her progress in mainstream acting. However, with her perseverance and self-belief, she proved all the skepticism wrong. She has since worked in many notable films, including From Dusk Till Dawn, Once Upon a Time in Mexico, and Eternals, and has also made a mark in television with her role in Ugly Betty, which earned her an Emmy.

9) Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon with her blonde hair and perfect smile was considered a typical girl-next-door type of actor. People thought she did not bring anything new to the roles she would be cast in. In fact, because of her success with comedy films, her emotional intensity and dramatic capacity were also questioned. But her performance in the 1999 film – Cruel Intentions proved all of the initial skepticism wrong, as we could see her versatility as an actor.

8) Adam Sandler

Today, Adam Sandler is one of the most popular actors in Hollywood and the highest-paid one at that. His slapstick comedy, with its absurd tone, really resonates with audiences. He started his career with his work on Saturday Night Live during the 1990s, and people thought he would be limited to comedy roles. However, he proved them wrong when he began landing one comedy film after another and gradually, yet prominently, emerged as a great actor. He has delivered some amazing performances in movies like The Wedding Singer, Uncut Gems, and Murder Mystery.

7) Kate Winslet

After her breakout performance as Rose in Titanic, Kate Winslet began facing the problem of typecasting, as she was offered similar roles, with people thinking she lacked the dynamic ability an actor should have. She was determined to prove these criticisms wrong and turned down big-budget romance roles. Instead, she took on complex, small indie film roles and turned them into big hits with her acting skills. Some of these projects include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Holy Smoke!, Little Children, Revolutionary Road, The Reader, and others.

6) Arnold Schwarzenegger

Arnold Schwarzenegger used to be a bodybuilder with a thick Austrian accent when he knocked at the footsteps of Hollywood. Naturally, he was criticized and rejected as people believed that bodybuilders can't act. Some of his earlier work was laughed at and severely ridiculed. But then he created his own genre of roles as the muscle man. His rise to stardom is amazing as he has done some classic roles in films, like – The Terminator, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Judgement Day, Total Recall and many others.

5) Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock has certainly faced her share of skepticism regarding her dramatic abilities and issues of ageism, but she proved her critics wrong in both areas. She broke free from being typecast in sweet, romantic roles with her standout performances in films like Speed, Gravity, The Blind Side, Crash, and others. She defied the notion Hollywood had about aging actresses, taking on lead roles in films like The Proposal and Ocean's Eight when she was in her 40s.

4) Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie is an actor who has both looks and acting skills. When she started working in the industry, she was cast alongside big names like Leonardo DiCaprio, Charlize Theron, and Brad Pitt, and people thought she would be overshadowed, and that her career would succumb to this pressure. But she proved everyone wrong, with performances that often stood out alongside her already successful co-stars. This has earned her roles in great films like Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, Barbie, and others.

3) Ryan Reynolds

Ryan Reynolds, early in his career, established his reputation as a funny guy. Because of this, people began doubting his acting abilities, and he was often offered limited roles. When he was given a chance to prove this stereotyping wrong with the film Green Lantern, he didn’t quite succeed. However, he did not give up and managed to prove all of his critics wrong with his role in the 2010 film Buried and the 2016 film Deadpool. After this, he solidified his position as a versatile actor.

2) Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford was working as a carpenter when director George Lucas cast him as Han Solo in Star Wars. Due to his lack of experience and rugged appearance, many doubted his acting ability. However, he proved everyone wrong with his talent and became one of Hollywood's longest-working stars. After Star Wars, he starred in iconic films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Air Force One, Blade Runner, and many others.

1) Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is a testament to elegance, talent, and resilience. Her acting skills are unparalleled, as seen in films like The Devil Wears Prada, Mamma Mia, Sophie's Choice, and others. However, her start in Hollywood was filled with skepticism and challenges. People thought she didn’t fit the conventional beauty mold of a lead actress and that she appeared a bit old. But her intense and remarkable acting quickly silenced those criticisms, as her craft shone on the big screen.