Breaking into the movie industry is notoriously difficult, and there are many struggling actors who have to work for many years before they land their breakout roles. It might be surprising to consider, but some of the biggest names in film and television seriously considered giving up on acting and finding a new career. Though many successful actors are best known for their breakout roles, these performers have only grown in name recognition and notoriety since earning parts in major projects that changed their lives forever.

Some of these actors might return to their most famous roles one day, as they’ve been a part of major franchises with significant longevity. Whether they made a name for themselves in niche independent projects or major blockbusters, these performers have become vital parts of the film industry, and imagining movies and TV without them is almost impossible. Not only do they give amazing performances and have great chemistry with their costars, but they work with unforgettable filmmakers who give them the opportunity to shine.

10

Naomi Watts

Mulholland Drive (2001)

When Naomi Watts was cast in Mulholland Drive, she established her career-long relationship with acclaimed director David Lynch and saved her career from obscurity. Like many actors, Watts had only landed a few small roles before being cast as Betty/Diane in Mulholland Drive, one of Lynch’s surrealist masterpieces that is universally praised as one of his best films. In the role, Watts showcases her diverse talents, as the split roles of Betty and Diane illustrate the different sides of a budding artist and Hollywood itself.

The fact that Mulholland Drive is a story about a struggling actress and the pressures of Hollywood made it fitting that this was the project that catapulted Watts into an illustrious career. Not long after Mulholland Drive, Watts broke into the blockbuster scene with Peter Jackson’s King Kong in 2005 and has worked across a variety of genres since then. It’s hard to imagine what Mulholland Drive would look like without Watts and how many films would’ve suffered without her contributions.

9

Melissa McCarthy

Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)

The comedic genius Melissa McCarthy has been an instrumental part of some of the best comedy movies of the past decades. From Bridesmaids to The Heat, McCarthy never fails to steal the show, no matter what project she’s a part of. However, in an interview with Howard Stern, McCarthy opened up about how she came close to leaving the industry forever before nabbing a role in Gilmore Girls. In the beloved series, McCarthy plays Sookie, the iconic best friend character who provides plenty of comic relief.

Running for seven seasons with a full order every year, Gilmore Girls was a steady source of success that propelled McCarthy through her times of uncertainty and convinced her to stick with acting. Though Sookie was a supporting role, it still gave McCarthy plenty of material to work with and helped her get cast as the lead in the sitcom Mike and Molly. While McCarthy is better known for her movie roles today, with these early TV series, she might’ve never taken on these projects.

Source: The Howard Stern Show

8

Jacob Elordi

Euphoria (2019–Present)

Jacob Elordi’s major role in Euphoria came on the heels of his breakout casting in Netflix’s The Kissing Booth, but it’s thanks toEuphoriathat the actor stuck with acting. Unfortunately, the overnight heartthrob status that Elordi earned fromThe Kissing Boothput a lot of pressure on the star and made him seriously consider what kind of roles he wanted to portray. While Nate Jacobs, hisEuphoriacharacter, is a dark and complex figure, it gave Elordi a lot to play with.

Since the last season of Euphoria, Elordi has proved he’s much more than his teen drama roots, playing Elvis in Sophia Coppola’s Priscilla and Felix in Saltburn​​​​​​.

It’s still unconfirmed what Euphoria season 3’s release window will be, as the next installment of the teen drama is slated to start filming soon after a significant hiatus. Since the last season of Euphoria, Elordi has proved he’s much more than his teen drama roots, playing Elvis in Sophia Coppola’s Priscilla and Felix in Saltburn​​​​​​. Though it will be sad to see Elordi say goodbye to Nate and Euphoria, the series gave Elordi what he needed to expand his horizons in film and TV.

Source: Teen Vogue

7

Lily Gladstone

Killers Of The Flower Moon (2023)

In the short time since Lily Gladstone rose to prominence thanks to her role in Killers of the Flower Moon, she’s already established herself as an actress who elevates every project she’s a part of. The actress has been vocal about how difficult it is for Indigenous American actors to find work in Hollywood, especially in projects that speak to them. Her earlier work in the independent film Certain Women and the hit TV series Reservation Dogs showcase her skills, but these parts weren’t coming with enough frequency before Killers of the Flower Moon.

Gladstone went so far as to start researching education courses for a career change when the director of Killers of the Flower Moon, Martin Scorsese, had her read for the part of Mollie. Her performance in the film earned her a nomination for Best Actress at the Academy Awards and has likely ensured that Gladstone isn’t going to step out of the spotlight anytime soon. Her work in the miniseries Under the Bridge opposite Riley Keough was one of her most exciting projects in 2024.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

6

Robert Pattinson

Twilight (2008)

Robert Pattinson considering ending his acting career in the wake of his work in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire goes to show that early breakout roles don’t always solve everything. Though Pattinson has tried to distance himself from the Twilight franchise in the years since it ended, it can’t be denied that his performance as Edward Cullen was instrumental in furthering his career. After being rejected many times following Harry Potter​​​​​​, Pattinson was starting to feel like acting wasn’t for him anymore.

His upcoming collaboration with Bong Joon-ho, Mickey 17, is slated for a 2025 release and will be a great addition to the actor’s and director’s filmographies.

Though Twilight has a mixed legacy, it’s an immensely popular franchise and introduced Pattinson to a wide variety of audiences and filmmakers. Every choice that Pattinson has made in the years following the end of Twilight has shown what a great eye he has for creative and boundary-pushing projects. His upcoming collaboration with Bong Joon-ho, Mickey 17, is slated for a 2025 release and will be a great addition to the actor’s and director’s filmographies.

Source: EOnline

5

Laverne Cox

Orange Is The New Black (2013–2019)

Finding complex roles that provide good representation has always been a struggle for trans actors, and before Laverne Cox was cast in Orange Is The New Black as Sophia, she was losing hope in the industry. The fact that Cox went on to be the first openly trans performer to be nominated for an Emmy for Orange Is The New Black speaks to how lucky audiences are that she stuck with acting. Her work on Orange Is The New Black was a vital part of the ensemble cast’s chemistry.

Most recently, Cox starred in Netflix’s dystopian sci-fi movie Uglies as Dr. Cable, the formidable villain at the heart of the story. Though Dr. Cable is a far cry from the kind and sensitive Sophia, the differences in these roles show how much range Cox possesses as an actress. Cox has always used her platform to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and discuss how the arts can be a place of acceptance and representation.

Source: People

4

Max Greenfield

New Girl (2011–2018)

Each actor on New Girl is a vital part of the show’s dynamic, but Max Greenfield is frequently cited as one of the funniest performers on the show. While playing Schmidt, Greenfield was never afraid to take the comedy to the next level and make himself the ʙuтт of the joke for the audience’s entertainment. Without him, it’s difficult to imagine how New Girl would’ve worked and if the series would’ve gone on for as long as it did.

Prior to working on New Girl, Greenfield’s biggest claim to fame was a recurring role on Veronica Mars, but that had ended many years before New Girl began.

Prior to working on New Girl, Greenfield’s biggest claim to fame was a recurring role on Veronica Mars, but that had ended many years before New Girl began. In the meantime, Greenfield thought seriously about leaving acting to focus on his family or even pivoting to a career in writing. It’s great that Greenfield decided to stick it out until he landed New Girl, as he’s also lent his skills to projects like his more recent sitcom, The Neighborhood​​​​​​.

Source: HuffPost

3

Hong Chau

Downsizing (2017)

Though Downsizing isn’t Hong Chau’s most critically acclaimed film, it’s what has allowed her to take on such interesting roles in film and television since. Many audience members might recognize her from her performance in Netflix’s smash hit TV series The Night Agent as Diane Farr. More recently, Chau could be seen in Yorgos Lanthimos’ triptych film Kinds of Kindness, as well as the 2022 film The Whale​​​​​​, for which she was nominated for an Academy Award.

Though Chau has been seen across film and television since being in Downsizing, she disappears into every role she takes on, allowing her to continue pushing herself as a performer. Downsizing was only Chau’s second feature film, and before landing the role, she started wondering if acting was the right path for her. Without her work in Downsizing alongside Matt Damon, many movies and TV shows would have lost a triumphant talent.

Source: Yahoo

2

Daniel Kaluuya

Get Out (2017)

One of Jordan Peele’s frequent collaborators, Daniel Kaluuya, wasn’t getting much traction in the industry before being cast as Chris in Peele’s unforgettable directorial debut, Get Out. The actor and director teamed up again for Peele’s recent work Nope. Since starring in Get Out, Kaluuya has received multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Judas and the Black Messiah. Though he had a high-profile role in Black Mirror, the limited roles and numerous rejections that Kaluuya faced made him disillusioned with acting.

Kaluuya has spoken about how racism and the lack of opportunities for Black performers in film and television played a large part in his decision to nearly quit acting. Thankfully, Peele saw what an underutilized talent Kaluuya was and brought him to the forefront of the industry with Get Out. Stories like Kaluuya’s speak to the importance of actors working with directors and creative teams that align with their artistic pursuits.

Source: IndieWire

1

Henry Cavill

The Tudors (2007–2010)

Henry Cavill has long since proved that he’s a classic leading man thanks to his starring roles in Man of Steel, The Witcher, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E.​​​​​​ However, before he was a major action and fantasy star, Cavill was having doubts about sticking with acting, even discussing that his backup plan was joining the Armed Forces. Thankfully, in 2007, Cavill landed his breakout role in the period drama The Tudors as Charles Brandon.

Though Cavill’s recent exit from Netflix’s fantasy TV show The Witcher was disappointing, there’s no doubt that Davill will use this opportunity to find new roles and expand his horizons. In the past decade, Cavill has been typecast as an action star, and while he fits this mold well, he has plenty of other skills as a performer. Though he lost out on playing James Bond early in his career to Daniel Craig, this has allowed him to explore lots of exciting work and led him to play Superman.

Source: Men’s Journal