Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

See Also

Famous biopics that lied to us

Famous biopics that lied to us

The most celebrated Japanese movies ever

The most celebrated Japanese movies ever

Is Disney the reason for your dating dilemmas?

Is Disney the reason for your dating dilemmas?

Directors who were fired from major movies

Directors who were fired from major movies

Forty years later: ‘The Breakfast Club' cast then and now

Forty years later: ‘The Breakfast Club' cast then and now

Easter movies that are worth a watch

Easter movies that are worth a watch

See Again

© NL Beeld

0 / 30 Fotos

Johnny Depp in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) -

The cult horror movie was the actor's first film. Depp plays Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of the protagonist, Nancy Thompson.

© NL Beeld

1 / 30 Fotos

Jon Stewart in 'Big Daddy' (1999) -

The American comedian plays Kevin Gerrity, Sonny's (Adam Sandler) roommate, who finds out he's the biological father of Julian (Dylan Sprouse).

© NL Beeld

2 / 30 Fotos

Henry Cavill in 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (2002) -

Before becoming Superman, the actor played Albert Mondego, the son of Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) and Mercedes Inguanada (Dagmara Dominczyk). He was 17 at the time.

© NL Beeld

3 / 30 Fotos

Kirsten Stewart in 'Into the Wild' (2007) -

A year before 'Twilight,' the actress could be seen playing Tracy Tatro, a teen singer from Slab City, California, who encounters Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) during his journey.

© NL Beeld

4 / 30 Fotos

Brad Pitt in 'True Romance' (1993) -

The actor starred in this 1993 movie directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino.

© NL Beeld

5 / 30 Fotos

Brad Pitt in 'True Romance' (1993) -

Brad Pitt plays Floyd. He does not have a lot of lines in the movie, but he does say, "Hey! Get some beer and some cleaning products!"

© NL Beeld

6 / 30 Fotos

Ben Affleck in 'Dazed and Confused' (1993) -

Ben Affleck plays bully Fred O'Bannion in this coming-of-age film directed by Richard Linklater, which follows a group of students in 1976.

© NL Beeld

7 / 30 Fotos

Ryan Gosling in 'Remember the Titans' (2000) -

Ryan Gosling plays Alan Bosley, one of the white students and football players in the racially-integrated T.C. Williams High School.

© NL Beeld

8 / 30 Fotos

Carey Mulligan and Jena Malone in 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005) -

The chemistry between sisters Kitty (Carey Mulligan) and Lydia Bennet (Jena Malone) in the movie is an absolute joy to watch.

© NL Beeld

9 / 30 Fotos

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 'A River Runs Through It' (1992) -

The actor plays a young Norman Maclean. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was six years old when he starred in Robert Redford's film.

© Getty Images

10 / 30 Fotos

Jude Law and Adam Scott in 'The Aviator' (2004) -

Jude Law plays actor Errol Flynn in this epic biographical movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Scott's character was Johnny Meyer.

© NL Beeld

11 / 30 Fotos

Abigail Breslin, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rory Culkin in 'Signs' (2002) -

Bo (Abigail Breslin) and Morgan (Rory Culkin) are the children of former reverend Graham Hess (Mel Gibson). Here they are with their uncle, failed baseball player Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix).

© NL Beeld

12 / 30 Fotos

Robert De Niro in 'New York, New York' (1977) -

Robert De Niro plays saxophonist Jimmy Doyle in this movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Pictured also is Liza Minnelli as singer Francine Evans.

© Getty Images

13 / 30 Fotos

Denzel Washington in 'Heart Condition' (1990) -

The award-winning actor starred in this buddy fantasy comedy as a dead black lawyer named Napoleon Stone. A racist cop receives his heart in a transplant, and Washington's character returns from the dead and asks him for help finding the men who murdered him.

© Getty Images

14 / 30 Fotos

Tommy Lee Jones and Faye Dunaway in 'Eyes of Laura Mars' (1978) -

Tommy Lee Jones plays police investigator John Neville and Faye Dunaway plays photographer Laura Mars, in this neo noir film directed by Irvin Kershner.

© NL Beeld

15 / 30 Fotos

Benicio del Toro in 'Licence to Kill' (1989) -

The actor plays Dario, the antagonist Franz Sanchez's personal henchman, in this 'James Bond' movie.

© Getty Images

16 / 30 Fotos

Meryl Streep in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' (1981) -

The actress plays two women, Sarah and Anna, in a forbidden love period drama set in 19th-century England.

© Getty Images

17 / 30 Fotos

Angelina Jolie in 'Cyborg 2' (1993) -

The actress plays the protagonist, spy and assassin Casella "Cash" Reese, in this sci-fi/action movie from 1993.

© NL Beeld

18 / 30 Fotos

Matthew McConaughey in 'Amistad' (1997) -

The actor plays lawyer and politician Roger Sherman Baldwin in this historical drama about a Spanish slave ship, directed by Steven Spielberg.

© NL Beeld

19 / 30 Fotos

Russell Crowe in 'Virtuosity' (1995) -

Crowe plays serial killer cyborg SID 6.7, who was created after a virtual reality simulation gone wrong.

© NL Beeld

20 / 30 Fotos

Jim Carrey in 'Once Bitten' (1985) -

Jim Carrey plays Mark Kendall, a virgin high school student who turns into a vampire.

© NL Beeld

21 / 30 Fotos

Sean Penn in 'The Falcon and the Snowman' (1985) -

Penn plays Andrew Daulton Lee, a drug dealer who turns to espionage, in the movie 'The Falcon and the Snowman.'

© NL Beeld

22 / 30 Fotos

Reese Witherspoon in 'American Psycho' (2000) -

Reese Witherspoon plays Evelyn Williams, the fiancée of psychopath Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale).

© NL Beeld

23 / 30 Fotos

Christian Bale in 'Empire of the Sun' (1987) -

A young Christian Bale plays Jamie "Jim" Graham, who struggles for survival during the Japanese occupation of China in World War II.

© NL Beeld

24 / 30 Fotos

Macaulay Culkin in 'Party Monster' (2003) -

Macaulay Culkin plays the drug-fueled party promoter Michael Alig. The movie is based on a true story.

© NL Beeld

25 / 30 Fotos

Scarlett Johansson in 'The Horse Whisperer' (1998) -

A young Scarlett Johansson co-starred with Robert Redford in 'The Horse Whisperer' (1998). The actress plays a traumatized teenager whose horse needs help following an accident that injured both.

© NL Beeld

26 / 30 Fotos

Hugh Jackman in 'Kate & Leopold '(2001) -

You may remember Meg Ryan in this one, but do you remember Hugh Jackman as an English prince who is transported from 1876 to modern-day New York City?

© NL Beeld

27 / 30 Fotos

John Travolta in 'Urban Cowboy' (1980) -

Travolta plays country boy Bud Davis, who moves to Pasadena, Texas, and ends up having a troubled relationship with cowgirl Sissy (Debra Winger).

© Getty Images

28 / 30 Fotos

Kirsten Dunst in 'Jumanji' (1995) -

The actress was 13 years old when she played one of the protagonists, Judy Shepherd, in the original 'Jumanji' movie.

Sources: (Insider)

See also: Actors who were way too young or too old for their roles

© NL Beeld

29 / 30 Fotos

© NL Beeld

0 / 30 Fotos

Johnny Depp in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' (1984) -

The cult horror movie was the actor's first film. Depp plays Glen Lantz, the boyfriend of the protagonist, Nancy Thompson.

©

NL Beeld

1 / 30 Fotos

Jon Stewart in 'Big Daddy' (1999) -

The American comedian plays Kevin Gerrity, Sonny's (Adam Sandler) roommate, who finds out he's the biological father of Julian (Dylan Sprouse).

©

NL Beeld

2 / 30 Fotos

Henry Cavill in 'The Count of Monte Cristo' (2002) -

Before becoming Superman, the actor played Albert Mondego, the son of Fernand Mondego (Guy Pearce) and Mercedes Inguanada (Dagmara Dominczyk). He was 17 at the time.

©

NL Beeld

3 / 30 Fotos

Kirsten Stewart in 'Into the Wild' (2007) -

A year before 'Twilight,' the actress could be seen playing Tracy Tatro, a teen singer from Slab City, California, who encounters Chris McCandless (Emile Hirsch) during his journey.

©

NL Beeld

4 / 30 Fotos

Brad Pitt in 'True Romance' (1993) -

The actor starred in this 1993 movie directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino.

©

NL Beeld

5 / 30 Fotos

Brad Pitt in 'True Romance' (1993) -

Brad Pitt plays Floyd. He does not have a lot of lines in the movie, but he does say, "Hey! Get some beer and some cleaning products!"

©

NL Beeld

6 / 30 Fotos

Ben Affleck in 'Dazed and Confused' (1993) -

Ben Affleck plays bully Fred O'Bannion in this coming-of-age film directed by Richard Linklater, which follows a group of students in 1976.

©

NL Beeld

7 / 30 Fotos

Ryan Gosling in 'Remember the Titans' (2000) -

Ryan Gosling plays Alan Bosley, one of the white students and football players in the racially-integrated T.C. Williams High School.

©

NL Beeld

8 / 30 Fotos

Carey Mulligan and Jena Malone in 'Pride & Prejudice' (2005) -

The chemistry between sisters Kitty (Carey Mulligan) and Lydia Bennet (Jena Malone) in the movie is an absolute joy to watch.

©

NL Beeld

9 / 30 Fotos

Joseph Gordon-Levitt in 'A River Runs Through It' (1992) -

The actor plays a young Norman Maclean. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was six years old when he starred in Robert Redford's film.

©

Getty Images

10 / 30 Fotos

Jude Law and Adam Scott in 'The Aviator' (2004) -

Jude Law plays actor Errol Flynn in this epic biographical movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Adam Scott's character was Johnny Meyer.

©

NL Beeld

11 / 30 Fotos

Abigail Breslin, Joaquin Phoenix, and Rory Culkin in 'Signs' (2002) -

Bo (Abigail Breslin) and Morgan (Rory Culkin) are the children of former reverend Graham Hess (Mel Gibson). Here they are with their uncle, failed baseball player Merrill (Joaquin Phoenix).

©

NL Beeld

12 / 30 Fotos

Robert De Niro in 'New York, New York' (1977) -

Robert De Niro plays saxophonist Jimmy Doyle in this movie directed by Martin Scorsese. Pictured also is Liza Minnelli as singer Francine Evans.

©

Getty Images

13 / 30 Fotos

Denzel Washington in 'Heart Condition' (1990) -

The award-winning actor starred in this buddy fantasy comedy as a dead black lawyer named Napoleon Stone. A racist cop receives his heart in a transplant, and Washington's character returns from the dead and asks him for help finding the men who murdered him.

©

Getty Images

14 / 30 Fotos

Tommy Lee Jones and Faye Dunaway in 'Eyes of Laura Mars' (1978) -

Tommy Lee Jones plays police investigator John Neville and Faye Dunaway plays photographer Laura Mars, in this neo noir film directed by Irvin Kershner.

© NL Beeld

15 / 30 Fotos

Benicio del Toro in 'Licence to Kill' (1989) -

The actor plays Dario, the antagonist Franz Sanchez's personal henchman, in this 'James Bond' movie.

©

Getty Images

16 / 30 Fotos

Meryl Streep in 'The French Lieutenant's Woman' (1981) -

The actress plays two women, Sarah and Anna, in a forbidden love period drama set in 19th-century England.

©

Getty Images

17 / 30 Fotos

Angelina Jolie in 'Cyborg 2' (1993) -

The actress plays the protagonist, spy and assassin Casella "Cash" Reese, in this sci-fi/action movie from 1993.

©

NL Beeld

18 / 30 Fotos

Matthew McConaughey in 'Amistad' (1997) -

The actor plays lawyer and politician Roger Sherman Baldwin in this historical drama about a Spanish slave ship, directed by Steven Spielberg.

©

NL Beeld

19 / 30 Fotos

Russell Crowe in 'Virtuosity' (1995) -

Crowe plays serial killer cyborg SID 6.7, who was created after a virtual reality simulation gone wrong.

©

NL Beeld

20 / 30 Fotos

Jim Carrey in 'Once Bitten' (1985) -

Jim Carrey plays Mark Kendall, a virgin high school student who turns into a vampire.

© NL Beeld

21 / 30 Fotos

Sean Penn in 'The Falcon and the Snowman' (1985) -

Penn plays Andrew Daulton Lee, a drug dealer who turns to espionage, in the movie 'The Falcon and the Snowman.'

©

NL Beeld

22 / 30 Fotos

Reese Witherspoon in 'American Psycho' (2000) -

Reese Witherspoon plays Evelyn Williams, the fiancée of psychopath Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale).

©

NL Beeld

23 / 30 Fotos

Christian Bale in 'Empire of the Sun' (1987) -

A young Christian Bale plays Jamie "Jim" Graham, who struggles for survival during the Japanese occupation of China in World War II.

©

NL Beeld

24 / 30 Fotos

Macaulay Culkin in 'Party Monster' (2003) -

Macaulay Culkin plays the drug-fueled party promoter Michael Alig. The movie is based on a true story.

©

NL Beeld

25 / 30 Fotos

Scarlett Johansson in 'The Horse Whisperer' (1998) -

A young Scarlett Johansson co-starred with Robert Redford in 'The Horse Whisperer' (1998). The actress plays a traumatized teenager whose horse needs help following an accident that injured both.

©

NL Beeld

26 / 30 Fotos

Hugh Jackman in 'Kate & Leopold '(2001) -

You may remember Meg Ryan in this one, but do you remember Hugh Jackman as an English prince who is transported from 1876 to modern-day New York City?

©

NL Beeld

27 / 30 Fotos

John Travolta in 'Urban Cowboy' (1980) -

Travolta plays country boy Bud Davis, who moves to Pasadena, Texas, and ends up having a troubled relationship with cowgirl Sissy (Debra Winger).

©

Getty Images

28 / 30 Fotos

Kirsten Dunst in 'Jumanji' (1995) -

The actress was 13 years old when she played one of the protagonists, Judy Shepherd, in the original 'Jumanji' movie.

Sources: (Insider)

See also: Actors who were way too young or too old for their roles

©

NL Beeld

29 / 30 Fotos

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

Do you remember their appearances?

Actors in surprising roles you might not remember

© NL Beeld

03/03/25 | StarsInsider

MOVIES Cinema

An actor’s career has to start somewhere, and while we're more used to seeing these famous faces in big Hollywood blockbusters, many of them had more modest beginnings. Having said that, some of these future A-listers did begin their careers on a high, but you simply may have not noticed.

In this gallery, we bring you some of the movies you probably forgot these actors were in. Click on for some delightful surprises.

Don’t miss out...

on the latest TV shows, movies, music, and exclusive content from the entertainment industry!

I accept terms & conditions and privacy policy.

I want to receive Exclusive Offers from partners (advertising)

You can easily unsubscribe at any time

Thank you for subscribing