Fame comes in the most unexpected ways for some of these actors, whose paths to stardom are as unpredictable and protracted as they can be. Yet, thanks to one brilliant role, for the following 20 actors, fame came overnight. Whether through a blockbuster film-breaking performance or by virtue of a game-changing TV role, each of them was catapulted into the bright lights of fame. Their instant fame not only changed their lives but also gave rise to lasting legacies in the entertainment world.
1) Heath Ledger
Heath Ledger reigned over the teen world with 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), in which he became a heartthrob as Patrick Verona. However, it is his transformation into the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008) that will define his legacy. He won a posthumous Oscar, an eternal work of art. Meticulous with method acting, his untimely death at 28 left this pop culture left shaken. In recent years, Ledger's independent work, such as Candy (2006), has gained recognition, proving his diversity beyond stardom.
2) Bryce Dallas Howard
The career of Bryce Dallas Howard took off with the film, The Village (2004), where she also proves to be multi-talented. However, she cemented her stardom with her role as Claire Dearing in Jurassic World (2015). Howard's directing work, including Dad's (2019), as well as her involvement in various causes for women's rights, have made her more popular in recent times. Authenticity and multi-dimensional talents make this Hollywood actress a favorite, not to mention her starring in the series Jurassic World keeping her in front of cameras everywhere.
3) Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet is best known for her role as Rose in the movie Titanic (1997), catapulting her to world stardom. While winning further critical acclaim with an Oscar for The Reader (2008), her work in Mare of Easttown (2021) finally did the trick, and she was rewarded with an Emmy for Best Actress. With an incredible range and depth, Winslet continues choosing roles that challenge her along the way to cement her place in the annals of one of the finest actresses of her generation.
4) Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio became an overnight sensation when he was just 22 years old, starring in Titanic (1997). He afterward starred in lots of big-movie-quality performances and earned his first Oscar in The Revenant (2015). His partnership with Martin Scorsese, specifically in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), further cemented his status. Besides acting, DiCaprio is an active environmental activist with open protests on how the planet should be cared for and how animals should be left in the wild.
5) Rupert Grint
Rupert Grint became an overnight sensation playing Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series. His comedic timing and endearing performance made him one of the franchise's most bankable stars. Rupert Grint retreated from the public eye following Harry Potter, and his acceptance roles as Snatch (2017) and Servant (2019) have cemented his dramatic acting abilities. Even though he'd gone away for a good while, Grint's versatility in coming back to crafty projects with depth leaves proof that he is made to last.
6) Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis's portrayal in the film Halloween (1978) termed her as a "Scream Queen," but versatility made her more permanent in the limelight. She later starred in such films as Trading Places (1983) and A Fish Called Wanda (1988). In 2023 she won an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), proving her career is not limited to the realm of horror but dramatic depth as well. She's also an advocate of children's health, writing books and continuing into activism work.
7) Kristen Bell
Kristen Bell rose to fame playing the lead in the cult favorite Veronica Mars (2004-2007, 2019), where she played a brilliant and resourceful teenager playing a detective. Her wit and comedic skills were noticed by critics as well as audiences, which later catapulted her into the world of commercially successful films, particularly Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008), as well as Frozen (2013). She provided the voice for the film's famous character Anna.
8) Zoe Saldana
Overnight sensation Zoe Saldana became a star by playing the role of Neytiri in the movie Avatar (2009). Avatar emerged as the highest-grossing film of all time. Saldana further delved into her influence in pop culture while playing Gamora in Guardians of the Galaxy in 2014, extending her reach even deeper into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In 2023, she again ventured back into Avatar: The Way of Water, bringing out more of her compelling, strong, and endearing characters. Saldana’s career spans genres, and she remains one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actresses.
9) Cillian Murphy
It was following 28 Days Later in 2002 that Cillian Murphy became the face of Hollywood. However, it was a role in the Dark Knight trilogy that put him on everyone's radar. Since then, he has been associated with much-thought-provoking films like Inception in 2010 and Dunkirk in 2017. His performances will still be captivating as with Oppenheimer of 2023, where he plays the main character and is very critically praised for his ever-lasting stay in the Hollywood elite circle of actors.
10) Zachary Quinto
Zachary Quinto catapulted to stardom as the tortured Spock in the reboot of Star Trek with J.J. Abrams (2009), a new take on the franchise that captured a whole generation of fans for his rending interpretation. Further consolidating his reputation, Quinto portrayed characters in Heroes (2006-2010) and Hannibal (2013-2015). Lately, he returned to the Star Trek universe through various new projects and keeps accumulating a versatile career through his work in TV, film, and as a producer. He continues to increase his work with both acting and creative work.
11) Elliot Page
Elliot Page rose to international stardom after Juno (2007), for which he received an Oscar nomination. Later, Page became a cultural icon with his pioneering role in Inception (2010). In 2020, Page's announcement about his gender transition was hitting headlines and further cemented his position as an envoy of the LGBTQ+ community. Page's career is in evolution; his new role in The Umbrella Academy in 2019 and currently has resonated internationally, while advocating for others also gets him greater acknowledgment in his society.
12) Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian became an international sensation with Keeping Up with the Kardashians (2007), but it was her clever business acumen and social media savviness that catapulted her to superstardom. So much for the reality TV show. As a beauty mogul with SKIMS, she has dabbled further into law advocacy, specifically focusing on criminal justice reform. And even in 2023, she continues making headlines with her various fashion and business ventures proving that she is more than just a reality star. Her influence remains unparalleled in both media and business.
13) Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus was given international exposure at the age of 12 when she played Hannah Montana in the Disney Channel series (2006-2011). The show thrust her into fame overnight, and she soon signed up with a music career, churning out huge hits with albums like Breakout (2008) and Bangerz (2013). One reinvention after another, Cyrus has always been known to make bold steps ahead in her music, performances, and public persona. From the infamous Wrecking Ball video to being one of the coaches on The Voice, Cyrus is that multi-dimensional artist.
14) Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy, an overnight star since their great performances in Inception (2010) and more recently as Bane in The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Closeness and intensity mixed with his arduous roles in some of the films that have received universal acclaim, like Mad Max: Fury Road in 2015 and The Revenant in 2015, placing him somewhere among the finest versatile actors in Hollywood. Another precipitator of Hardy's success was his charisma on the silver screen in action and character films.
15) Ryan Reynolds
Overnight sensation following his appearance in Van Wilder: Party Liaison (2002), but it was with the film Deadpool (2016) that his sharp wit and charm as an anti-hero gave him lots of critical acclaim. Known for his comedic timing, he has appeared in many hits, including The Proposal (2009) and Free Guy (2021). Besides acting, he entered the business world by co-owning a Welsh football club called Wrexham AFC and launching the media company Maximum Effort. By 2023, Reynolds had solidified his position as one of the most successful and endearing stars in Hollywood.
16) Zendaya
Zendaya became famous with the Disney Channel show Shake It Up (2010-2013), but her career skyrocketed with the lead role of Rue Bennett in the series Euphoria (2019), for which she won an Emmy award and became a mouthpiece for mental health and gender equality. And into 2023, Zendaya continued her streak of superhero and action adventuring in Dune: Part Two and Spider-Man: No Way Home, cementing herself as an actress, powerful cultural icon, and advocate.
17) Chris Pratt
Chris Pratt found himself famous overnight for his comedic persona in Parks and Recreation, which ran between 2009 and 2015, and an action star in Guardians of the Galaxy, 2014. Peter Quill made him quite popular in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He furthered his success with Jurassic World, 2015, and its subsequent renditions, where he portrayed Owen Grady. In 2023, he features in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 and The Super Mario Bros. Movie, cementing his position as a leading actor in both the action and animation genres.
18) Daniel Radcliffe
Daniel Radcliffe has been famous all over the world since he was 11 years old as he played Harry Potter in the Harry Potter film series during 2001-2011. The role made him one of the highest-paid actors of all time, appearing on every household's television screen. After being Harry Potter, the actor opted for not one but several different movies, Swiss Army Man (2016) and The Woman in Black (2012), to avoid getting typecast. In 2023, he starred in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, which marked the comedy actor further set in the slate of versatile people.
19) Chris Pine
Overnight, Chris Pine, playing Captain James T. Kirk in J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reboot (2009), shone with charisma and authority across the screens. He rose to stardom and is truly one of the bright stars in Hollywood today. Mainly a film actor, Pine took up roles in movies such as Wonder Woman (2017), Hell or High Water (2016), and Into the Woods (2014). He proved himself to be versatile both in action and drama, and with Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves in 2023, further concretized his stardom.
20) Emma Watson
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Emma Watson was a global phenomenon at only 9 years old when she won the role of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series, from 2001-2011. That popular role of a book-smart, very principled character gained her recognition and stardom. In the post-Potter era, Watson turned in a varied set of film roles, from The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) to the more recent Beauty and the Beast (2017), besides doing much to champion women's rights as a UN Women Goodwill Ambassador.
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