Star-Making Role: Difference between revisions

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[[File:~~hugh_jackman_wolverine~~.jpg|link=X-Men (film)|thumb|400px|He was an accomplished stage actor in Australia before this. Because of this, you know who [[Hugh Jackman]] is.]]

[[File:hugh jackman wolverine.jpg|link=X-Men (film)|thumb|400px|He was an accomplished stage actor in Australia before this. Because of this, you know who [[Hugh Jackman]] is.]]

{{quote|"Everyone said I was an overnight success, but it was ten years leading up to that."|'''Naomi Watts''', in relation to her success with ''[[Mulholland Drive]]''}}

Every A-List star starts somewhere. They do bit parts and walk-on roles, sometimes even becoming "[[Hey, It's That Guy!|that guy]]". They may be a lesser part of an [[Ensemble Cast]] who becomes an [[Ensemble Darkhorse]]. They may even wind up doing [[Old Shame|something they may not be proud of later]]. Either way, when their memoirs are written or they sit down with James Lipton, ''this'' will be the role that they point to and say "that's where it ''really'' started for me" ~~-- the~~ rise from obscurity to getting first billing. The role may have been written for the specific purpose of making this specific person a star by showcasing their talents. More often than not, it's a case of taking the right part and running with it. This is the role they earn their name with. This isn't always a star's first role. It's not even their first film or series to be a major success. It's the first role where they stop being "[[Hey, It's That Guy!|that guy]]" and become known by their name alone.

Every A-List star starts somewhere. They do bit parts and walk-on roles, sometimes even becoming "[[Hey, It's That Guy!|that guy]]". They may be a lesser part of an [[Ensemble Cast]] who becomes an [[Ensemble Darkhorse]]. They may even wind up doing [[Old Shame|something they may not be proud of later]]. Either way, when their memoirs are written or they sit down with James Lipton, ''this'' will be the role that they point to and say "that's where it ''really'' started for me"—the rise from obscurity to getting first billing. The role may have been written for the specific purpose of making this specific person a star by showcasing their talents. More often than not, it's a case of taking the right part and running with it. This is the role they earn their name with. This isn't always a star's first role. It's not even their first film or series to be a major success. It's the first role where they stop being "[[Hey, It's That Guy!|that guy]]" and become known by their name alone.

See also [[Retroactive Recognition]] for reactions to roles the actor had before his SMR (think Harrison Ford as a bellhop in ''Dead Heat On A Merry Go Round'', [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-NehUB_7l0 here]). Contrast [[Star-Derailing Role]] for when the star goes in the opposite direction. Compare [[Breakthrough Hit]] (equivalent for creators).

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* [[Ellen Page]] in ''[[Juno]]''.

* [[Bill Murray]] and Harold Ramis in ''[[Ghostbusters]]''. [[Dan Aykroyd]] as well, as ''[[Blues Brothers]]'' hasn't been nearly as long-lasting in popularity.

* [[Claude Rains]] in ''[[The Invisible Man (film)|The Invisible Man]]'' ~~-- despite~~ the fact that [[One-Scene Wonder|his face appears in only the last scene]], in which he is a corpse.

* [[Claude Rains]] in ''[[The Invisible Man (film)|The Invisible Man]]''—despite the fact that [[One-Scene Wonder|his face appears in only the last scene]], in which he is a corpse.

* [[Sandra Bullock]] in ''[[Speed]]''

* [[Julia Roberts]] in ''[[Pretty Woman]]''