Have you ever been watching a film and thinking, “Wait… is that who I think it is?” only to catch yourself looking at the beginning of a superstar’s career? Hollywood is replete with tales where a blink-and-you ll-miss-it moment or one unforgettable scene is the springboard to stardom. These are ten actors who made tiny supporting roles the career-defining breaks they became.
10. Brad Pitt as J.D. in Thelma & Louise (1991)
One shouldn’t forget that a couple of years before being named People magazine’s Most Attractive Man Alive, not once but twice, Brad Pitt was simply a charming, somewhat quirky west cowboy hitchhiker equipped with a hairdryer and an infectious smile. Just a handful of appearances as J.D. in Thelma & Louise, directed by Ridley Scott, weren’t only the characters that Pitt stole – he took the whole movie. That scene at the motel was pretty much the vehicle by which his entire career was changed in a matter of hours. And a fun fact: Geena Davis was the one who chose Pitt for the role. Good call, Geena.
9. Ana de Armas as Joi in Blade Runner 2049 (2017)
Ana de Armas had steadily worked before this, but Blade Runner 2049 turned everything around. As Joi, the hologram AI who truly feels human, she added warmth and emotion to a character that could have been technical and cold. Having auditioned several times and mastered her English accent, Ana gave a memorable performance alongside Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford. That hologram glow-up directly resulted in Knives Out, No Time to Die, and an Oscar nomination for Blonde. Not too shabby for a “virtual” love interest.
8. Bradley Cooper as Sack Lodge in Wedding Crashers (2005)
Years before he was directing, singing, or voicing Rocket Raccoon, Bradley Cooper was the world’s most infuriating fiancé, Sack Lodge, in Wedding Crashers. His delectably punchable performance was so biting that director David Dobkin hired him on the spot—a not-so-common practice. That role brought Cooper the notoriety he required to break out, paving the way for everything from The Hangover to A Star Is Born. Evidence that even being a bad guy can be rewarding.
7. Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Margot Robbie’s performance as Naomi, better known as the “Duchess of Bay Ridge,” was the epitome of a breakout role. She held her own opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in one of Martin Scorsese’s more out-of-control films and commanded every second she was on screen. A complete newbie at the time, Robbie didn’t just stand her ground—she actually told DiCaprio to step aside when he stood in her light during a scene. From there, she was off: I, Tonya, Harley Quinn, Barbie, you name it.
6. Amanda Seyfried as Karen Smith in Mean Girls (2004)
Before singing her heart out in Mamma Mia! or earning awards for The Dropout, Amanda Seyfried debuted on the big screen as the sweetly dim Karen Smith in Mean Girls. She was initially being considered for the lead, but she wound up playing the lovable airhead when producer Lorne Michaels determined she’d perfect the role, and he was dead on. Karen may not be the sharpest, but Seyfried’s charm was radiant on the screen. On Wednesdays, we wear pink… and credit Mean Girls for opening up Amanda’s career.
5. Matthew McConaughey as David Wooderson in Dazed and Confused (1993)
“Alright, alright, alright.” With those three words, Matthew McConaughey transitioned from anonymous Texan to Hollywood legend. His cameo as the cool (and a little shady) Wooderson was not even slated for much, but McConaughey’s laid-back charm made him the film’s most quotable star. That role marked the beginning of an extended, convoluted path from rom-com lead to Oscar winner, aka the iconic McConaissance.
4. Marilyn Monroe as Miss Casswell in All About Eve (1950)
There was a small but show-stopping turn as Miss Casswell in All About Eve before she was Hollywood’s most glamorous blonde bombshell. Even with minimal dialogue, her stardom was not to be denied. Audiences and reviewers were unable to tear their eyes away, and that fleeting on-screen appearance propelled her towards stardom. It was the harbinger of the legend she would eventually become.
3. Emma Stone as Jules in Superbad (2007)
Emma Stone’s initial film appearance as Jules in Superbad was ideal. As the hip girl who sets off the movie’s misadventures, she exuded the same blend of charm and cleverness that would characterize her career. Since then, Stone was ubiquitous, Easy A, La La Land, Poor Things, and has won two Oscars. Not bad for a teen mayhem and worse fake ID comedy.
2. Kevin Costner as Jake in Silverado (1985)
Kevin Costner’s dynamic performance as the bad boy Jake in Silverado may have been a supporting role, but it almost screamed “leading man.” Director Lawrence Kasdan assigned him the part after he had removed his scenes from The Big Chill, and Costner capitalized on it. His charm and presence on-screen were impossible to ignore, opening the door to The Untouchables, Field of Dreams, and Dances with Wolves. At times, redemption arrives wearing a cowboy hat.
1. Channing Tatum as Jason Lyle in Coach Carter (2005)
Before becoming a household name with Magic Mike and Step Up, Channing Tatum was simply another face on the basketball court in Coach Carter. He never even played the sport, but his drive and presence were enough to earn notice. That little role led to every door: dancing, comedy, producing, directing. Tatum showed us that sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity (and a whole lot of hustle) to transform a few scenes into a legitimate career.
Hollywood adores an underdog tale, and these actors are living proof that greatness may begin with only a single brief scene. So the next time you see a familiar face nestled into the background of a movie, take notice. You may just be witnessing the beginning of the next big thing.