Breakout roles make movie stars — actors can go from having nondescript careers to becoming the talk of Tinseltown overnight if they impressively pull off an important role that stands out as memorable, even if it’s not as the protagonist. For some, the breakout role only paves the way for a career full of iconic characters, some much more memorable than the actor’s first project. For example, Margot Robbie’s breakout role in The Wolf of Wall Street made headlines, but she is now most famous for playing the main character in Barbie.
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However, some stars, while they achieve the same status in the future, are always associated with their first big role. Their breakout performances turned them into movie stars, and while they may go on to do highly successful work, the actors’ most famous roles will always be their breakthrough. For example, Bruce Willis went on to do Unbreakable and The Sixth Sense among other highly appreciated performances, but he’ll always be most famous for playing John McClane in Die Hard and its sequels.
10 Abigail Breslin – Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
As Olive Hoover
Abigail Breslin Birthdate April 14, 1996 Birthplace New York City, New York, USA Notable Projects Zombieland , The Call , Little Miss Sunshine
While Abigail Breslin has had success in later roles, her most famous character will forever be Olive in Little Miss Sunshine, a performance for which she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10. The iconic line she says about what makes a person a loser has become enshrined in the movie hall of fame as one of the greatest lines ever written, and part of its fame is Breslin’s emotionally endearing delivery.
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One of the greatest child star performances in film history, Breslin’s ability to hold her own opposite veteran actors like Toni Collette and Steve Carell makes her performance rather awe-inspiring. She’s moved on to develop quite an interesting filmography, with all kinds of genres and roles, from action in Zombieland to horror in Scream Queens. Her career’s still young, and there’s a chance she’ll deliver an even more brilliant performance than what she did for Little Miss Sunshine, but for now, it is rightfully her most famous movie.
9 Chris Hemsworth – Thor (2011)
As Thor
Chris Hemsworth Birthdate August 11, 1983 Birthplace Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Notable Projects Thor , Thor: Ragnarok
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Working in the MCU has done wonders for many performers, practically reviving Robert Downey Jr.’s nearly-dead career. While he’ll always be most famous for playing Tony Stark, his breakout role was in the ’80s. However, for Chris Hemsworth, his big break in Hollywood happened with Thor. Playing the hammer-wielding Norse God made him a household name, and he went on to make three more individual films based on his character, also appearing in four Avengers films.
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Hemsworth has made a name for himself as an action star, playing the protagonist in innumerable action movies, including the Extraction films, which he produced as well. Most recently, he starred in the latest installment of the Mad Max franchise. He’s become so popular that people can’t stop fan-casting Chris Hemsworth for major roles. While there are many impressive titles and performances in his filmography, he will always be most famous for playing Thor, a role people keep wanting him to reprise.
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8 Emilia Clarke – Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
As Daenerys Targaryen
Emilia Clarke Birthdate October 23, 1986 Birthplace London, England, United Kingdom Notable Projects Me Before You , Game Of Thrones
The Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen, is perhaps the most important character in Game of Thrones. To be cast as her was an impressive achievement, but to be cast as her for one’s first major role is even bigger, especially if they manage to deliver quality work at the same level as industry veterans like Lena Headey and Charles Dance. Emilia Clarke did this and went from being practically unknown to being the face of a lot of people’s favorite character in just a few appearances.
It’s no surprise that the major character she played on what was once the most famous TV show of all time remains her most popular role.
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While Clarke hasn’t done as many movies as one would expect her to have given the success of her breakout role, she has made some notable performances, most famously in Me Before You, but also more recently in the MCU’s Secret Invasion. She displays an interesting range of genres in her work, from romcom to sci-fi action thriller, but it’s no surprise that the major character she played on what was once the most famous TV show of all time remains her most popular role.
7 Mark-Paul Gosselaar – Saved by the Bell (1989-1993)
As Zack Morris
Mark-Paul Gosselaar Birthdate March 1, 1974 Birthplace Panorama City, California, USA Notable Projects Saved By the Bell , the passage , Heist
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The charming and handsome Zack from Saved by the Bell proved to be the role Mark-Paul Gosselaar would need to break into the industry. Somehow, one of the shadiest characters in the sitcom, Zack, managed to be endearing entirely because of Gosselaar’s charismatic persona. The sitcom itself became a breakout show, amassing almost 90 episodes, and spawning many films and spin-offs in the years to follow. Gosselaar’s protagonist definitely deserves a major chunk of credit for the show’s popularity.
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Gosselaar rode the momentum of his success to carve out an impressive career for himself. Most recently, he starred in the NBC crime drama series Found as an antagonist. Found has been renewed for Season 3, and Gosselaar will be back to continue his role. While his filmography now comprises many shows over the years, Zack is on another level because of nostalgia and Saved by the Bell being a milestone for TV.
6 Julia Roberts – Pretty Woman (1990)
As Vivian Ward
Julia Roberts
Discover the latest news and filmography for Julia Roberts, known for Pretty Woman and Erin Brockovich.
Birthdate October 28, 1967 Birthplace Smyrna, Georgia, USA Notable Projects Closer , Erin Brockovich , Pretty Woman Professions Actress , Producer
One of the most famous breakout roles of all time, Julia Roberts’ performance as Vivian Ward in Pretty Woman remains her most iconic role. Roberts is one of the most successful movie stars of those who broke into Hollywood in the 1990s, and has a very impressive roster of films to her name, from Erin Brockovich to Notting Hill. Yet nothing tops her work in Pretty Woman.
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Roberts has come to be known as the queen of sitcoms, helming many hits and flops in the genre during its peak of popularity. But she’s done projects of all kinds, such as crime thrillers including two Sam Esmail projects, the film Leave the World Behind, and the limited series Homecoming. However, after the former’s release, the film that hit the top 10 on Netflix is Pretty Woman, proving that it’s still her most popular film role. The feisty, funny, and feminist-by-the-standards-of-the-time persona of Vivian Ward will always continue to charm fans.
5 Zach Galifianakis – The Hangover (2009)
As Alan
Zach Galifianakis
Birthdate October 1, 1969 Birthplace Wilkesboro, North Carolina, USA Notable Projects The Hangover , Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) , The Hangover Part II
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Zach Galifianakis made his way in the industry as a master of absurdist, borderline questionable comedy, making jokes on subjects people would steer clear of in today’s political climate. His talk show Between the Ferns features some very objectionable jokes, but nothing crosses the line of what’s okay to say more than the things he says as Alan, the man he played in his breakout film, The Hangover, and its sequels.
Alan lives on the line between intolerable and endearing because, on the one hand, he manages to offend everyone he speaks to; but on the other, he’s like a lost man trying his best to make friends who might have his back. Galifiankis’ awkwardness in the role provides the balance necessary for his character to have both the effects of offending people and earning their empathy simultaneously.
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4 Kristen Stewart – Twilight (2008)
As Bella Swan
Kristen Stewart Birthdate April 9, 1990 Birthplace Los Angeles, California, USA Notable Projects Twilight , The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Based on Stephanie Meyers’ novel of the same name, the cult-classic vampire romance Twilight was so successful that it went on to have four sequels, each starring Kristen Stewart as the protagonist Bella Swan. Stewart rose to popularity amid controversy over her relationship with co-star Robert Pattinson and the criticism she faced for being a poor actress because of her flat performance as Bella. Her career made a radical shift soon after the release of the final Twilight film; she has been doing Indie films since then.
Kristen Stewart was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture in 2022 for portraying Princess Diana in
Spencer
(2021),
directed by Pablo Larraín.
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However, Stewart’s professional image is forever attached to Twilight. While fans who have followed her closely know how much she has distanced herself from who she was back then and the film itself, it remains her most well-known role. Ever since coming out as queer, she has chosen to play LGBTQ+ characters and completely changed her persona both behind and in front of the camera. However, unfortunately, none of her subsequent projects have found the same popularity as Twilight. A Twilight TV remake is now in the works, reviving discussions about Stewart’s performance in the original films.
3 Harrison Ford – Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)
As Han Solo
Harrison Ford
Discover the latest news and filmography for Harrison Ford, known for Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
Birthdate July 13, 1942 Birthplace Chicago, Illinois, USA Notable Projects Star Wars: The Force Awakens , Blade Runner , Raiders of the Lost Ark Professions Actor , Producer , Pilot , Carpenter
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When it comes to the action and thriller genres, there are a few staple actors who always come to mind, and Harrison Ford is one of them. He has appeared in some iconic roles during his career spanning over five decades, in highly successful franchises, like Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, and, of course, Star Wars. Han Solo’s best quotes from Star Wars make him one of the most beloved characters in film history, who has earned the admiration of legions of fans over the years.
Ford’s charismatic bad-boy persona as the bounty hunter/spaceship pilot who joins the resistance against Darth Vader makes him an appealing screen presence. His chemistry with Carrie Fisher also made Leia and Han a fan-favorite couple for the Star Wars fandom. Ford has had one of the best action-hero careers ever, and he has many iconic roles, but none can compete with the popularity of Han Solo — and for good reason.
2 Carrie-Anne Moss – The Matrix (1999)
As Trinity
Carrie-Anne Moss Birthdate August 21, 1967 Notable Projects The Matrix Resurrections
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Not only did The Matrix put director duo Lana and Lilly Wachowski on the map, it also gave Carrie-Anne Moss her big break. The action blockbuster served as a breakthrough in special effects with the revolutionary use of slow motion to enhance the impact of martial arts choreography and parkour stunt work. Moss’ Trinity is one of the main characters who is mostly at the center of the action. Dressed in black leather, she jumps across rooftops and dodges bullets with poise.
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Moss has gone on to star in very exciting projects, from Netflix’s Marvel show Jessica Jones to Disney’s Star Wars show The Acolyte. Her filmography mostly consists of leading roles in mystery thrillers and action blockbusters, but her most prominent presence is in the Matrix franchise, for which she has reprised her role as Trinity in all the sequels. Matrix: Resurrections confirmed Moss’ status as permanent, and she should be returning for the next film as well.
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1 Macaulay Culkin – Home Alone (1990)
As Kevin McCallister
Macaulay Culkin Birthdate August 26, 1980 Birthplace New York City, New York, USA Notable Projects Home Alone , Home Alone 2: Lost in New York , Richie Rich
Forever etched into everyone’s memories as the adorable kid from Home Alone, Macaulay Culkin is rightfully most remembered for his breakout role in the 1990 comedy, one of the best Christmas films without Santa Claus. This is part of the reason that he hasn’t had as much success as an adult star in the industry as he did as a young child actor. That being said, his career in his youth can hardly be discounted as comprising only the two Home Alone films he helmed.
The timelessness of
Home Alone
and its sequel is reason enough to explain why Culkin’s most famous role remains Kevin McCallister.
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From Richie Rich and My Girl to The Good Son and Uncle Buck, Culkin’s adorable charisma got him cast in many films when he was still a youngster. Of his roles post-adulthood, the most notable is in Saved! He makes quite an impression in this movie but hasn’t had much success since. The timelessness of Home Alone and its sequel is reason enough to explain why Culkin’s most famous role remains Kevin McCallister. It is one of the most refreshing and memorable breakout roles of all time, and Culkin’s infectious energy makes it a must-watch every Christmas.
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