14 Big Movie Stars Whose Path to Fame Started on TV
As you know, great things have small beginnings. Just like big scientific discoveries are preceded by a lot of studies, becoming a worldwide famous actor is almost always accompanied by the first roles on TV.
We at CHEERY decided to remember the roles that big actors of today started their careers with.
Chris Hemsworth
Chris Hemsworth, who became famous for the role of Thor in the Marvel universe, started the career in his homeland, Australia. When he was 19, he first appeared in the series Guinevere Jones (2002) where he played King Arthur.
Ryan Gosling
The first time Gosling was on the screen was in The Mickey Mouse Club, where talented teenagers showed their singing and dancing skills. After this show, he did his first series in 1995. It was an episode of a series about teenagers that tell scary stories by the bonfire Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1990-2000).
Jennifer Lawrence
Before playing the iconic Katniss Everdeen, fighting for her life and freedom in The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence appeared in many tv-series. One of them was Cold Case (2003–2010). There, her character asked a detective for help to find out more about the tragedy that happened to her mother.
By the way, her mom was played by Paula Malcomson who also portrayed Katniss Everdeen’s mother in The Hunger Games
Ellen DeGeneres
Who would have thought that the Emmy winner, comedian, and anchor of The Ellen DeGeneres Show, also started her career in tv-series? She had around 40 roles. She debuted in Duet (1987-1989) at the end of the 80s, and then appeared in its spin-off series Open House (1989-1990) as a bold secretary Margo Van Meter.
Tom Hardy
Tom Hardy has a bunch of very different roles. He’s done many different genres: from thrillers to detectives. And he started his career in an HBO mini-series Band of Brothers (2001) in the role of John A. Janovec.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Before becoming a worldwide famous star and getting such big roles as Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch had to show his talents in many series. He got his first role at the age of 26. He appeared in an episode of a mini-series Tipping the Velvet (2002).
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock started her acting career at the end of the 80s. The actress tried herself on tv, she did various tv-movies and series. Her most loyal fans remember her as Maria Santangelo in Lucky Chances (1990).
Penélope Cruz
The first Spanish actress to win an Oscar, debuted in a Spanish series Los mundos de Yupi in 1990. Penélope was the Sleeping Beauty in an episode.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski is not only famous as a model but also as an actress. You might have seen her in Gone Girl (2014), and We Are Your Friends (2015). And her very first step in the movie industry was a Nickelodeon teenage series iCarly (2007-2012) where she appeared in an episodic role twice.
Amanda Seyfried
Amanda Seyfried first appeared on the screen in 1991. She was in 16 episodes of As the World Turns (1956-2010).
Gal Gadot
Gal Gadot started her career in her homeland, in Israel. Before becoming Wonder Woman, she was in an episode of Shemesh (1997-2004) as a dancer.
Demi Moore
Young Demi Moore started her career as a model, but soon, inspired by her friend’s experience, she started attending a drama group and switched her attention to movies. She’s also done some series. One of the first series she did was General Hospital (1963-present) where she was a recurring character for 2 years.
Jennifer Coolidge
Jennifer Coolidge became popular thanks to the iconic role of Stifler’s mom in the provocative American Pie (1999). She also started her career with small, episodic roles in series. One of them was She TV (1994).
Bradley Cooper
Only the most attentive viewers can recognize the star of The Hangover, Bradley Cooper, in Sex and the City. His very first role was around 5 minutes in the second season of this very popular drama.
Can you think of any other actors to add to this list?