In Hollywood, goodbye to a career-defining role isn’t always goodbye to the limelight. For others, it’s the jumping-off point for something greater. Here are 10 celebrities who took the roles that initially set them on their way and made them stepping stones for storied careers.
10. Jack Quaid (From The Hunger Games to The Boys and Beyond)
Jack Quaid’s first Hollywood moment was short-lived—he played Marvel, a blink-and-you’ll-miss-him tribute in The Hunger Games. But instead of disappearing, Quaid slowly built a name for himself. He broke out as Hughie Campbell in Amazon’s The Boys, proving he could carry a show. From there, he voiced a lead in Star Trek: Lower Decks, slashed his way into Scream, and even appeared in Oppenheimer. Not so bad for a man who began his career with a supporting role in Panem.
9. Josh Hutcherson (From Peeta Mellark to Five Nights at Freddy’s)
Josh Hutcherson was already performing before The Hunger Games, but portraying Peeta catapulted him to global superstardom. Following the franchise, his career went stagnant until he changed course with Hulu’s Future Man, where he demonstrated his comedic abilities. His return to form came in Five Nights at Freddy’s, which became a box office phenomenon. Hutcherson indicated that he’s more than a YA heartthrob—he’s a leading man.
8. Amandla Stenberg (From Rue to Cultural Power)
Amandla Stenberg, then just 12 years old, won audiences over playing Rue in The Hunger Games. Since then, they have built a career characterized by fearless decisions and activism. With The Hate U Give, Bodies Bodies Bodies, and a cameo in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Stenberg has combined art with activism, using their platform to make statements about gender, race, and identity. They’ve evolved from child star to one of Hollywood’s most influential young voices.
7. Liam Hemsworth (From Gale to The Witcher)
Liam Hemsworth’s Gale was overshadowed too often by Katniss’s love triangle—or by his brother Chris’s Marvel star. But Liam has been quietly establishing a solid career with movies such as Independence Day: Resurgence and Isn’t It Romantic. Now, he is poised to take on one of Netflix’s largest roles: Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. Replacing Henry Cavill will be no easy task, but if he succeeds, it will reshape his career.
6. Elizabeth Banks (From Effie Trinket to Director Extraordinaire)
Elizabeth Banks was unforgettable as the over-the-top Effie Trinket, but her actual glow-up was off-screen. With Pitch Perfect 2, she joined a short list of women to helm a film that grossed close to $300 million. She’s since directed Charlie’s Angels and cult favorite Cocaine Bear, while producing a consistent pipeline of projects through her company Brownstone Productions. Banks is now one of the most successful actor-turned-directors in the business.
5. Matthew Lewis (From Neville Longbottom to Leading Man)
Few glow-ups were more apparent than Matthew Lewis’s. No longer the gangly Neville Longbottom, he surprised fans by maturing into a bona fide leading man—so much so that “Longbottoming” was a meme. But aside from the makeover, Lewis has established a steady acting career in Me Before You, Ripper Street, Happy Valley, and All Creatures Great and Small. He even ventured into sports as a host for The Official Leeds United Podcast.
4. Emma Watson (From Hermione to Global Icon)
Emma Watson transitioned from Hogwarts’ brightest witch to a screen and off-screen powerhouse. She appeared in Perks of Being a Wallflower, Beauty and the Beast, and Little Women, all while graduating from Brown University. Watson has also left her imprint as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and HeForShe creator. With tens of millions of fans worldwide, she’s an equal measure activist and thought leader as she as an actress.
3. Daniel Radcliffe (From Harry Potter to Indie Darling and Theater Star)
After playing Harry Potter for a decade, Daniel Radcliffe could’ve coasted—but instead, he went in a completely different direction. He embraced quirky, ambitious projects like Swiss Army Man, Guns Akimbo, and the series Miracle Workers. On stage, he’s found equal success, with a Tony win for Merrily We Roll Along adding to his growing reputation as a serious performer. Radcliffe’s post-Potter career is proof of fearless reinvention.
2. Jennifer Lawrence (From Katniss Everdeen to Oscar Winner and Producer)
Jennifer Lawrence didn’t merely surf The Hunger Games tsunami—she rode it into a pool of prestige as one of the greatest actors of her generation. Still playing Katniss, she won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook, followed it with American Hustle, Joy, and her portrayal of Mystique in X-Men. Lawrence even became the highest-paid actress on Forbes’ list. Following a brief hiatus, she’s returned with movies such as Don’t Look Up and No Hard Feelings, producing her own projects in the meantime.
1. Robert Pattinson (From Cedric Diggory to Batman)
Robert Pattinson’s glow-up is perhaps the most dramatic. Having died valiantly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, he then became the poster boy for Twilight. Instead of getting typecast, he redirected himself to indie fare such as The Lighthouse and Good Time, earning him widespread critical acclaim. He came back to blockbuster status with Tenet and The Batman, and he’s not letting up—he just collaborated with Bong Joon Ho and is currently starring in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey. Teen vampire to a Caped Crusader, Pattinson has been transformed into one of Tinseltown’s most diverse leading men.