19 Actors who never starred in a main role in a TV show

The glitz and glamour of Hollywood often call our attention to these iconic faces that grace our screens, large or small. Actors like Matthew McConaughey, Olivia Colman, and the like have made their marks in both Film and Television. However, there’s a subset of actors whose distinguished careers have steadfastly avoided starring in main roles on the small screen. These actors have proved their talent through performances in movies that garnered critical acclaim and a place in the hearts of their audiences. There can be various reasons to stop them from going in the direction of television, from personal preference or a conscious decision to stick to cinema. For others, it could be a lack of good opportunities. Here's a list of 19 Actors who never starred in a main role in a TV show. Please note, this article is entirely based on the writer's opinion. Reader's discretion is advised.

19. Javier Bardem

This Academy-winning actor’s career started with small television roles. However, it didn’t take him too far and he made the switch early on to films. His breakthrough role that gave him international recognition was in a movie called Before Night Falls(2000). Since then, he hasn’t looked back and eventually earned his Academy Award in No Country For Old Men.

18. Marilyn Monroe

American actress Marilyn Monroe was the most popular actress of the 1950s and 1960s. Before entering the realm of cinema with her first role in Dangerous Years(1947), she used to be a model. Even after having a more than a decade-old acting career, the Some Like It Hot actress only appeared for a couple of episodes in The Jack Benny Program. Other than that the actress only appeared in movies.

17. Natalie Portman

Portman began her acting career at 12 with a film called Leon: The Professional(1994). Since then she has appeared in many movies, from box office hits like Star Wars and Thor to independent films like Black Swan for which she even earned an Academy Award. However, apart from her recent mini-series Lady In The Lake, where she co-starred with Moses Ingram, she hasn’t done any starring roles in TV shows.

16. Judy Garland

Judy Garland was an iconic star of old Hollywood. She had a long career as a movie actress but didn’t delve much into television roles. She mostly appeared as a guest star as herself. She was also the host of The Judy Garland Show (1963-1964) where she performed music and dance numbers with the guests and didn’t include acting in any capacity.

15. Emma Watson

Emma Watson’s acting career started by being a part of one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood history: the Harry Potter movies. After the series concluded, Emma appeared in other popular movies like The Beauty And The Beast and Little Women. However, she hasn’t played a main role on the small screen yet, other than being a part of a couple of docuseries and appearing in talk shows.

14. Cameron Diaz

The Charlie's Angels actress has been in Hollywood since the early 90s and has shown us time and again her talent and prowess on the silver screen: by doing action movies, comedy movies, and also animated movies like Shrek. However, the actress hasn’t crossed over and taken any major television roles yet, apart from hosting Saturday Night Live and appearing on talk shows.

13. Marlon Brando

Marlon Brando is regarded as one of the greatest actors in Hollywood. He has earned numerous awards for his talent and dedication as an actor, including two Academy Awards. The Godfather actor had a long enough career in Hollywood and if he wanted he would have starred in a main role in television too. He only appeared in a miniseries named The Roots: The Next Generations(1979).

12. Audrey Hepburn

The British actress Audrey Hepburn is still remembered for her fashion and style. The fashion, in her four-decades-long career, never starred in a TV show. She did appear as a guest star in some shows but that’s about it. Her legacy will always remain as a successful movie star for her roles in films like My Fair Lady and Breakfast At Tiffany’s.

11. Brad Pitt

Brad Pitt is one of the most renowned actors in Hollywood right now. He has been a part of several blockbuster movies like Troy, Fight Club, World War Z, and Once In A Time In Hollywood, for which he even won an Academy Award. Although, The Mr. And Mrs. Smith star has delved into television but never starred in a main role.

10. Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix is known for his intense and enigmatic performance on screen, making him an incredible actor. The Oscar-winning actor started his acting career in television and has appeared in several TV shows, in minor roles. But since the late 80s, his focus has been on working in the movies.

9. Willem Dafoe

Willem Dafoe has been an actor for almost 30 years. He acted in horror films like The Lighthouse, action thrillers such as The Boondock Saints and John Wick, and reprised his now-legendary role, the Green Goblin, in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Yet, he has only guest starred on television: one episode in 1986. Dafoe, for the most part, has been absent from television.

8. Scarlett Johansson

Having made her film debut at age 10 in the year 1994, Johansson got her first leading role in 1996, and over the years, she has become increasingly popular in the acting world, especially with her entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Natasha Romanoff. Apart from that, she has also done some voice acting, with animated movies such as Sing and Isle Of Dogs. At the beginning of her career, she had few television appearances, limited to minor roles, but she has hosted Saturday Night Live. Apart from that she hasn’t appeared in any major TV role.

7. Robert Pattinson

Pattinson started as an actor at the age of 17. But his claim to fame came when he was cast in the role of Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Then only a few years later, he landed the lead role in Twilight, which quickly bolstered Pattinson into dozens more film roles over the following years until he became a star in hits like The Batman and Tenet. Most of his TV appearances have been as himself, in interviews or award shows, rather than as a character in a TV series.

6. Helena Bonham Carter

Helena Bonham Carter's career has primarily consisted of movies, and among her notable roles are Fight Club and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Although she appeared in many episodes of The Crown as Princess Margaret, it wasn't a starring role.

5. Jake Gyllenhaal

Jake Gyllenhaal was born into a family that was already working in the industry, which led to his acquaintance with films at a very young age. He acted in some minor roles before doing the leading role in 2001's Donnie Darko with his sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal. Some of the films he has starred in are Spider-Man: Far From Home, Nightcrawler, and Southpaw. When it comes to television, he has appeared as a guest on talk shows and a television show Presumed Innocent.

4. Meryl Streep

This Hollywood icon has been acting since the 70s. In her four decades-long career, she has won many awards and has been nominated for major awards numerous times. The Devil Wears Prada and Mamma Mia! actress has also appeared in TV shows like Big Little Lies and Only Murders In The Building, but surprisingly never starred in a main role in a TV show.

3. Matt Damon

Matt Damon started his career with a small role in a movie called Mystic Pizza(1988). But his breakthrough role came when he played the title role in the movie Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote with Ben Affleck. Since then, Damon has shown his versatility as an actor in movies like Saving Private Ryan, The Martian, and Oppenheimer. He has appeared in a few occasional TV shows called, for example, 30 Rock and Entourage. Matt Damon's acting works, however, have mainly inclined more toward movies.

2. Christian Bale

Christian Bale is famous for all the great roles he has played, mostly Patrick Bateman in the movie American Psycho, Batman in the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy, and many more roles. However, Bale treasures his private life and avoids the limelight as much as possible. Although he started his career with a minor role in the television film Anastasia: The Mystery Of Anna(1986), he hasn't taken up any major roles in television.

1. Tom Cruise

At the age of 18, Tom Cruise moved to New York to pursue his dream of being an actor. This was where he started to try and audition for small roles in TV shows but to no avail. Cruise was then a busboy who signed up with an acting agency to try to better his chances of getting acting gigs whereupon he landed a role in the film Endless Love. Apart from being a part of a couple of docuseries, Cruise has not appeared in a main role in television.