If you can believe it, it’s been 15 years since audiences were introduced to Chris Hemsworth’s God of Thunder via the first Thor movie! The actor is now set to reprise his role in Avengers: Doomsday and theoretically, Secret Wars. On top of that, Hemsworth previously said he was already kicking around Thor ideas for beyond that. While many are excited about what's to come, the franchise's OG director, Kenneth Branagh, is reflecting on Hemsworth's fitness and eating habits while making that first movie.

Branagh directed Marvel Studios' Thor and, as the British filmmaker told Business Insider, he fought hard to land that gig. To mark the film's 15th anniversary, Branagh recently shared considerable insight into the making of his sole MCU entry. While talking about working with Chris Hemsworth, Branagh was sure to highlight how the actor built muscle for his role, and I'm tired just hearing about the whole chickens that were involved:

For a little context here, a whole chicken is about 1500 calories on average – which is crazy to me, because that’s personally around how much I eat in a day. In terms of Chris Hemsworth’s fitness regimen for playing a superhero, he was probably eating something like 4,000 calories, and that's the amount one of his stuntmen ate to transform for the role too, per Centr.

Eating that much chicken sounds exhausting to me, but the actor had to keep his bulky physique intact for the shoot. Food consumption was just part of the process, though, as copious amounts of push-ups were also involved, as Branagh recalled:

It’s funny, because many people may not think about all the methods actors like Hemsworth utilize to stay fit, but it must have been pretty incredible to witness. 200 pushups? I get tired doing just a few – but I’m also not someone who plays a Marvel hero, of course. What’s even wilder is this is something that Hemsworth has had to somewhat maintain since he’s been playing Thor every few years since then.

Hemsworth has had to fluctuate his weight too for the other roles he’s played in between. For example, he recently talked about having to lose “a lot of weight” right after the first Thor movie to star in Ron Howard’s Rush in order to “fit into the race car”. Given it's been over a decade since Hemsworth worked with Branagh on that first film, I'd imagine that actor and his fitness team have all of this down to a science at this point. So I wonder how many chickens he might've eaten and how many push-ups he may have performed for his latest outing as Thor.

On that note, when Chris Hemsworth starts promoting Avengers: Doomsday, I hope he discusses his current fitness habits for filming. In the meantime, know that Hemsworth will be seen in that aforementioned superhero movie alongside Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Tom Hiddleston, Pedro Pascal, Paul Rudd, Florence Pugh, Channing Tatum and many more big stars. on December 18 as part of the 2026 movie schedule.

For the most part, movies are made to be watched and rewatched over time, but relatively few contain a core message that grows in import with each year that passes. V for Vendetta is undoubtedly one of those movies, because despite it being 20 years since it hit theaters, James McTeigue’s political thriller is every bit as relevant and reflective of our current political climate as it is an exciting, action-packed thriller.

Featuring one of Natalie Portman's most captivating performances, and boasting the Matrix’s Wachowskis as producers, V for Vendetta is an adaptation of the critically acclaimed graphic novel by Alan Moore, David Lloyd and Tony Weare. The source material is also timeless in a sense, but it’s the live-action flair from McTeigue, star Hugo Weaving, and stuntman extraordinaire David Leitch (John Wick) that turned V and that instantly recognizable mask into a global phenomenon. When I spoke to the filmmaker timed with the film’s 20-year anniversary, he spoke to its continued power as a film amidst the world’s cyclical politics, saying:

Now, we could spend the rest of 2026 talking about politics and how we're all doomed and boned no matter what. OR...we could talk about how V for Vendetta boasts arguably the coolest dominoes scene in all of cinema.

V For Vendetta's Dominoes Sequence Is Still Very Magnificent And Satisfying

Of all the ways for a character to make a final quiet statement before going out with knife fights and a massive blaze of glory, a perfectly crafted domino rally shaped like the character's own symbol is pretty incredible. I don't see Batman or Ethan Hunt or the aforementioned John Wick pulling this sweet move off. It's arguably one of the most satisfying ways for a movie to enter into its big climax, so I had to ask James McTeigue about how hard it was to make that come together. As he put it:

l cannot imagine how much of a nightmare it would have been had Leitch, while in costume, sneezed too hard and accidentally toppled the entire array of dominoes before the cameras started rolling. If it was me, I'd probably superglue the mask straight to my face to avoid ever being seen again. I guess it wouldn't be that haunting.

Still, I wonder if the stress embedded in a sequence like that is why we don't see giant domino set-ups in more movies. It looks great, and is never unsatisfying. Pretty sure the Avatar movies would have made twice as much money if each of them had a scene like this. Or not. You know, it's hard to tell.

James McTeigue On Bringing That Haunting And Explosive Ending Together

After the dominoes give way to V's fantastic slo-mo knife fight, V for Vendetta rockets forward to its humdinger crescendo, with Evey sending the explosive-filled train (and her vigilante lover-mentor's body) beneath the Tower of London and other major landmarks, in order to blow them all sky-high. But not before a massive crowd of Londonites take to the streets wearing black robes and V masks, giving all the authorities quite an unsettling experience just before boom-time.

To be expected, that final sequence was a highly technical combination of a variety of filmmaking techniques brought together to turn England's capital into the most destructive fireworks celebration imaginable. As McTeigue put it:

Any time filmmakers are able to totally shut down busy areas of major cities in this way, it blows my mind. Obviously the easiest way to make this happen was at night, when there are fewer people out and about, but it still must have been a stressball of organization to make sure all the planned shots could be fit into those filming windows. Not to mention wrangling all those hundreds of extras and getting the costuming and timing to work. All it takes is one clumsy actor to botch the whole shebang.

As well, McTeigue talked about also utilizing minatures to get the explosions looking so spiffy, saying:

I gotta say, even if all of V for Vendetta's political and ideological storytelling felt silly in today's modern political climates, those explosions would still look absolutely astounding in comparison to the plethora of awful-looking digitally created explosions that currently being overused in movies, usually for budget's sake. It's hardly a coincidence that two of the film's stunt coordinators David Leitch and Chad Stahelski, went on to insprei the long-awaited Oscar category championing such efforts.

It's a perfect enough movie that I don't quite understand why there was ever any talks about remaking the movie into one of the upcoming DC TV shows produced through James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Studios. Instead of doing all that, just rewatch the 2006 classic, either by picking up the 4K Blu-ray set, or by streaming it via HBO Max subscription.

If you’re big fans of Jenna Ortega, Natalie Portman and Charli XCX, you’ll be happy to know these powerhouse women are teaming up for a new movie with such a wild plot. Their 2026 movie release, The Gallerist, follows a desperate gallerist who ropes her assistant into transforming the corpse of a rude art influencer—who dies on-site—into a shocking work of art. Speaking of works of art, the three stars turned their red carpet premiere into an unforgettable fashion moment with their unique blends of style and glam.

Given Ortega, Portman and Charli XCX are starring in a movie about the art world, it's fitting that their fits for the premiere were eye-popping. At the 2026 Sundance Film Festival at Eccles Center Theater, the three leading ladies were fire on the red carpet, wearing distinctive blends of high fashion that deserved to be displayed in an art exhibit:

For stars who are wearing such muted tones, it’s so ironic what a commanding statement each outfit brings. Jenna Ortega, who’s known for her gothic red carpet moments, decided to go for a lighter Muglar look. Her ensemble from the spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection consists of a light tan long-sleeved collared shirt with padded shoulders. Her long shirt was a darker-toned tan that matched the color of her sleeves. Accessorized with Le Silla heels, the Wednesday star’s look screams sophistication and grace.

In some of Natalie Portman’s most famous movies, she's played a galactic queen, and she brought that same royal elegance to Sundance. As part of the Oscar winner’s refined look, she wore a long, brown wool coat with a black turtleneck top that gives a winter-by-the-mountains vibe. Now, that’s modern-day royalty right there.

Charli XCX wore muted tones similar to Ortega's, but her red carpet outfit blended her signature brat summer edge with avant-garde chicness. Styled by Simon Carle, the British pop star wore a cream-colored mini dress.

However, the most unconventional standout feature of the songstress' fit is the clear PVC rain poncho she’s got over the dress. The white lace along the bottom edges almost creates a packaged, doll-like result. The “Fancy” singer’s movie career is just beginning, as she's also co-starring with Kylie Jenner in The Moment and appearing in the upcoming horror film Faces of Death. And, if Charli's Simon Carle ensemble indicates anything, it's that fans can expect her to look quite chic when she arrives at premieres.

The stars of The Gallerist certainly slayed the Sundance red carpet, wearing art-inspired and distinctive styles that were perfect for their movie’s twisted tone. Just as their comedy-thriller is all about the fearless endeavors to achieve art, Natalie Portman, Jenna Ortega, and Charli XCX turned their premiere looks into a masterpiece of their own. Keep checking in to find out when the film flick will get a wide theatrical release.

I’m calling it now, the fifth of November should be a day when we all re-watch 2005’s V for Vendetta. I’m going to add it to my own personal 2025 movie schedule. November 5th is Guy Fawkes Day in the United Kingdom, and for us Yanks, that doesn’t mean much. In Great Britain, and in the movie, it’s a significant day. We can have our own little bit of fun here in the former colonies, where the celebrations of Guy Fawkes Day ended around the time we revolted against the crown in 1776, by watching the rare non-superhero comic book movie about a dystopian future in London.

The Movie Is A Good, If Scary, Reminder That Anything Is Possible

We should never take for granted the freedoms that democracy has given us, and V for Vendetta is a realistic, yet stark reminder that all governments, no matter how stable, can be delicate. It's one of the best movies about a dystopian future ever produced by Hollywood, based on one of the best comic books of all time from the enigmatic Alan Moore.

The movie was supposed to be released on November 4th, 2005, just in time for the Guy Fawkes celebrations that year, but its release had to be pushed back to March 2006 after being shown at some festivals in 2005. That means the movie turns 20 around now. You can pick whichever date works for you, but for me, I’ll be watching tonight. The story of Evey Hammond (Natalie Portman in one of her best roles) works any time of year, but when the nights start getting dark early, it’s perfect. So here we are, the fifth of November.

Let’s Not Get Too Crazy Here

I’m not advocating for violence against the state, as V (Hugo Weaving) does in the movie. No, political violence is never the right answer... except in V for Vendetta, of course. The holiday in the U.K. is actually to celebrate the prevention of political violence, while the movie encourages it against a totalitarian, fascist state that the country has become in the “near-future.”

We also have the Fourth of July here in the United States, where we do pretty much the same thing as the Brits do today. We light off fireworks, build fires in the backyard and celebrate all that makes our country great. We celebrate overthrowing a tyrannical government every year on the 4th, the U.K. commemorates the prevention of a violent overthrow, but the intention is the same: to have a good time honoring our histories. Or is it honouring?

I’m a little bummed there aren’t any anniversary screenings of V for Vendetta this year. Maybe we’ll get them on the 2026 schedule. In the meantime, I’ll be renting it on demand with my Amazon Prime Video subscription and hoping that our future is nothing like London’s future in the movie.

There was a point in the early 2000s when Keira Knightley was one of the most famous actresses on the planet, mostly thanks to portraying Elizabeth Swann in Disney’s megahit Pirates of the Caribbean but also due to roles in Star Wars, Love Actually, Bend it like Beckham and more. To me, she’s pretty perfect, but to some other fans she’s …. apparently Natalie Portman?

While promoting her new movie The Woman in Cabin 10, Keira Knightley revealed that she gets approached by fans all the time. The only problem? They aren’t always her fans. She told HitsRadioUK she’s so used to this happening now that when fans send Portman a compliment, she just openly accepts it, saying:

’m sure there are plenty of people who know who Portman is, but fans of George Lucas’ Star Wars probably completely understand the mixup. In fact, Natalie Portman definitely understands the mix-up, as she’s admitted people think she’s Keira Knightley all the time, too.

Back in 1999, when the then-latest Star Wars movie The Phantom Menace came out, Knightley famously was dressed up as Queen Amidala in the movie, while Portman played the real Amidala dressed as a handmaiden. People still mix the two up in the movie, and Knightley herself is occasionally confused about her Star Wars gig, so I suppose it shouldn't be a surprise this happens elsewhere, too. However, if you saw them together in real life, you’d probably never make the mistake, as Keira grew from her 12-year-old self into a woman who is reportedly 5’7” while Natalie Portman capped at around “5’3” (and her shortness is legendary in the Marvel Universe).

Keira Knightley Can Always Tell When A 'Real' Fan Knows Who She Is

Of course, some of her best fans are still kids, in particular athletic kids, who are still watching her and inspired by her work in Bend if like Beckham. When asked what she most gets recognized for, she said in the same interview:

So, the fans who know exactly who she is probably make up for any blips from those Star Wars fans who still mix them both up more than 25 years later.

She’s in good company, as people think Mark Wahlberg is Matt Damon a fair amount. (Which, honestly what? At least Matt Damon knows Jesse Plemons is his look-alike.) And the legendary mix-up of Dylan McDermott and Dermot Mulroney has existed long enough SNL has mocked it. More recently, Glen Powell and This is Us’ Justin Hartley have been frequently mistaken for one another. So this sort of thing happens more than you might think.

The death of any well-known person tends to get the world to stop and notice it, but few people in the world have quite the reputation of Jane Goodall. The primatologist, who was both a different sort of celebrity, known all over the world for her work in helping humans understand the animal world, and people from Leonardo DiCaprio to the designer of a Walt Disney World theme park, are remembering her work.

Leonardo DiCaprio, a known activist, wasn’t simply a fan of Jane Goodall. In a post to Instagram, the Oscar winner called Goodall a “dear friend.” He wrote extensively about her work, promoted the Goodall Institute and said…

Another celebrity known as much for her activism as her acting is Jane Fonda. She posted a picture of herself standing with Goodall and included her own heartfelt post. Fonda said we should treat all beings on earth with love and respect as a way to honor Goodall’s legacy and said…

Goodall was the subject of documentaries as well as the voice of many nature programs. As such, she became one of the leading faces in the area of conservation of our natural world.

Actress Reese Witherspoon added multiple Stories to her own Instagram honoring the legacy of Jane Goodall. One was a video of Goodall speaking on the importance of conservation as a way to preserve our ecosystem. Another was a beautiful picture in remembrance.

Natalie Portman was another actress who was lucky enough to meet Jane Goodall in person. She called the primatologist her “ultimate hero,” celebrating her not only as a scientist but as a woman who broke new ground in a largely male-dominated field.

One actor who likely had a very different relationship with Jane Goodall was Michael Douglas. Douglas was one of the first designated UN Messengers of Peace, a role bestowed upon people who work in the arts who promote the work of the United Nations. Douglas was honored with the role in 1998, which he still holds today. Jane Goodall was named a Messenger of Peace in 2002. He posted an image of the pair together saying…

One person who may not be quite the celebrity of the others on this list, but who has a perspective on Jane Goodall that is truly unique, is former Walt Disney Imagineer, and recent Disney Legend Joe Rohde. Rohde was the lead Imagineer on the Disney’s Animal Kingdom project, in which Jane Goodall worked as an advisor. Rhode reveals that he saw Goodall only about a week ago, which made the news of her death even more of a shock. As somebody who knew her personally, Rohde celebrated not only her well-known work, but also the person that she was, saying…

Jane Goodall clearly had a great impact, not only on the study of primatology but on all the people she met as she did her work and promoted its importance to the world. She will be truly missed.

All the SPOILERS are ahead.

When it comes to great psychological thrillers, Darren Aronofsky’s movies will always be in that conversation because the filmmaker is such a master at the genre. This year, Black Swan is turning fifteen years old, and it’s a great time to rewatch the movie, especially for how much its messages about perfectionism hold up. I know I recently did, and I want to break down Nina’s journey and what leads to its tragic ending that leads to the star ballerina’s death.

Black Swan became a big hit despite its small budget when it came out in the winter of 2010 and became an award season darling, earning Natalie Portman her Oscar. Fifteen years later, as Aronofsky has a new film among 2025 movie releases with Caught Stealing, I think Black Swan is very much worth your time to revisit, especially for how the filmmaker takes the audience through Nina’s intense psychological journey as she plays the Swan Queen in a production of Swan Lake. Let’s get into my reading of the ending:

The Meaning Behind The Black Swan Ending Is Actually Explained Upfront

When Aronofsky spoke about his inspiration for Black Swan to USA Today while promoting the movie back in 2010, he said he became interested in the ballet world after his sister studied it herself and he was exposed to tons of productions of Swan Lake. He was initially interested in the idea of being “haunted by a double” since the production itself is about the dual roles of a White Swan and Black Swan.

And, within the first ten minutes of the movie, when the artistic director at Nina’s company arrives to practice to announce his production of Swan Lake, it’s spelled out right there the reasoning behind Nina’s ultimate death in the movie. As Vincent Cassel’s Thomas says:

Thomas also calls the production of Swan Lake a “visceral and real” version of the classic ballet, and that’s in turn exactly what the movie Black Swan is. However, Nina’s storyline is not revolved around a prince, it’s her obsessive dream to be the best at her profession, and the fear that she’ll become like her mother (played by Barbara Hershey), who was once a ballet dancer too, but never got the chance to fully reach her potential after getting pregnant with her.

Thomas's Search For Perfection Is A Losing Battle For His Students

The way Nina is able to win the role of the Swan Queen in Swan Lake early in the movie is by convincing Thomas that she can play both parts of the White and Black Swan. Nina is determined to do just about anything to win Thomas’s approval, but as shown through Winona Ryder’s character of Beth, it’s a losing battle.

Beth was the star ballerina before Nina, who Thomas said was once “perfect” but during Nina’s run-ins with Beth throughout the film, we see that her pursuit of perfection has left her on a dark path. While she was once the apple of his eye and his “little princess,” ultimately he kicked her off the company, seemingly due to her age, and moved on to find a new star. As Black Swan continues, we see how Beth’s life is on a downward spiral after leaving the company, from dealing with an accident that leaves her without the ability to walk (assumedly due to her being drunk at the party that announces Nina's role in Swan Lake), to revealing her tendency to self harm when Nina visits her in the hospital.

Beth symbolizes the ugly path Nina is going on led by Thomas's pushing his students to be “perfect” in order to be worthy of greatness. While Beth should serve as a cautionary tale for Nina, it seems she's been fueled by perfectionism since she was a child by her mother's own toxic background in ballet, and she only follows in her footsteps.

Lily Isn't The Villain, But She Does Represent Nina's Darkest Fears

That brings us to Mila Kunis’s character of Lily, who embodies the traits of the Black Swan that Nina is having trouble portraying in the ballet. In one scene that occurs not long after Nina earns the role, Thomas points out how Lily has all the traits he’s looking for in the Black Swan, and this gets to Nina.

Now, Portman’s role is an unreliable narrator, who often has hallucinations and imagines things that turn out to be in her head throughout the film. In Nina’s eyes, Lily is out to get her role, but oftentimes when Lily appears the Black Swan version of Nina is close behind, which to me symbolizes what Lily really represents. I think Lily symbolizes Nina’s darkest fears of being replaced and not being “good enough” to achieve this perfectionism she’s obsessed with. While she’d like to believe that Lily is behind things, the perpetual reappearance of her seeing herself in Lily shows that the real enemy is herself.

The Black Swan Ending Reminds Us Perfection Is Impossible

That leads us to the ending of Black Swan, when Nina performs the ballet and finally embodies both roles. While starring in Swan Lake, Nina’s hallucinations have her stabbing Lily in order to finally become the Black Swan. However, as we later find out before the final scene of the play, Lily is perfectly fine and not bleeding out in her dressing room as she imagines she is. While we don’t see it happen literally, Nina stabbed herself with the shard of glass, effectively killing herself by the end of the show, much like the character she’s embodying jumping off the cliff and killing herself at the end of the tragic ballet.

As she dies, Nina is happy as she tells Thomas she “felt it” that she “was perfect” during the performance. Nina fully embraced the role of the Swan Queen he was obsessing over since getting the part, but I think her death shows how pursuing perfectionism is impossible. The only way she was able to achieve it was in her death, because as humans it’s just not in our nature to be without flaws.

Black Swan is truly such an excellent film that takes the classic ballet and spins it into a layered character study and solid reminder how putting too high expectations can be a version of self harm to ourselves.

Alexandra Daddario has been turning heads for nearly as long as I’ve been working on the Internet, but she took a break from celebrity fashion for a bit after she and husband Andrew Form welcomed their little one around Halloween this past year. She took a bit of a break from the limelight afterward, but I am pleased to report she’s back on the fashion scene in a stunning dress that I agree is among “the most beautiful” I’ve seen.

Daddario has been partnered with Dior since 2023, when she signed on to be an ambassador for the notable high-end fashion brand. She reps both the lovely clothes from the brand, as well as the La Collection Privée fragrance collection, so while we can’t tell how the actress smelled from this pics, there’s every reason to believe it was rather fragrant. You can take a look at her sheer Dior gown with matching underwear, below.

The Dior event was held in Rome at the Villa Albani Torlonia. Natalie Portman, Rosamund Pike and more were in attendance. Chiffon, lace and other sheer materials certainly seemed to be the dress code of the night.

Ethereal was certainly the feel the celebrities in attendance seemed to be going for, but it may have been a bit chilly out, too. Natalie Portman was seen with a blazer on over her gorgeous-but-whispy dress, and Daddario and others were seen with umbrellas.

The San Andreas actress shared a post to social media with some of her favorite looks of the night, gushing they were among "the most beautiful" she'd ever seen.

To note: This isn't the first time Alexandra Daddario has turned heads for stunning fashion. A favorite of mine was her confectionary cotton candy dress. But she also turned heads at an F1 event earlier in 2025, and there was recently that time she and Brie Larson rocked the same dress to the same event. Insofar as her taste in sheer, that was there before it was on trend on red carpets, as she's recalled the dress she wore when she landed her Emmy nomination.

I have to agree with Daddario's take on the event. Despite the rain, everything looked pretty and in place, and I'm excited to follow the actress on her next Dior adventure, whenever and wherever it takes her.

I’m not going to take apart Fountain Of Youth, the latest in the 2025 movie schedule that you can check out with your AppleTV+ subscription. I do think it’s a fun movie, in a “movie of the week” kind of way. I love that the movie is at least trying to be something new and not relying on existing IP, something Hollywood doesn’t take enough chances on these days. The Guy Richie film delivers in being an enjoyable adventure movie perfect for a Sunday afternoon. It also tries to set itself up for a sequel, or even a franchise, and on that front, I’m not so sure it works.

Fountain Of Youth Seems To Be Inventing The Next Indiana Jones

John Krasinski and Natalie Portman star as brother and sister Luke and Charlotte Purdue, the children of a famed, late archaeologist. Luke is the charming adventurer in the family, going so far as to commit daring art heists to find the clues he is looking for to discover the mythical Fountain of Youth. Charlotte is the more pragmatic sibling, working as a curator in an art museum that Luke burglarizes.

Luke eventually convinces Charlotte to join him in his quest, and the adventure begins in full. I won’t get into too many spoilers here, but the movie trots along at a decent clip, with some completely unrealistic things happening to get to the answers they seek, very much akin to some of Indiana Jones’ adventures, especially from the last couple of movies (not a ringing endorsement, I know). Throw in a dash of The Da Vinci Code’s faux intellectualism, and it seems clear that Richie and Co. are hoping to build a franchise.

The Ending Of Fountain Of Youth Is Especially Heavy-Handed

Once the adventure is over and our heroes have saved the day by making the correct moral decision, and the villain, played Domhnall Gleeson, who is given far too little to do here, is vanquished, Charlotte and Luke have a back and forth that is about as subtle as a lost ark to the head.

Charlotte is ready to team up with her brother again to seek other lost treasures. They trade friendly barbs about what they could look for next, while giving no answers (and the cast isn’t letting on, either, about a potential sequel). There are, of course, dozens of potential artifacts or mythical places to search out in a franchise. That doesn’t mean there will be one, though.

Fountain Of Youth Just Isn’t Strong Enough To Launch A Franchise

Krasinski is great in the movie, and he’s much more realistic as a reluctant action hero than, say, as Jack Ryan in the Amazon show of the same name, which he starred in. Portman is, as always, great, but something doesn’t work here. The dialogue is a little cheesy, and the plot, while a great idea, doesn’t hold together. There is no villain that we know of until the end, and even that feels forced, despite Charlotte’s foreshadowing.

Then there is the sort of ham-fisted dialogue at the end, trying to set up a sequel. It’s all just a little too presumptive and, frankly, cheesy, the way they do it. Sure, movies have long set up franchises and sequels, but usually that’s once they are established. Fountain of Youth isn’t there yet. I’d be all for giving the characters one more chance, but will audiences and Apple agree? I just don’t know.

Spoilers for The Fountain of Youth are ahead! If you’d like to watch this new adventure film, you can stream it with an Apple TV+ subscription.

After a globe-trotting, action-packed adventure to find The Fountain of Youth, John Krasinski and Natalie Portman’s siblings, Luke and Charlotte, seemed like they were more than ready to go on another treasure hunt. Then, at the very end of the 2025 movie schedule entry, The Fountain of Youth, Charlotte’s son declared that he knew what they should find next.

So, with that in mind, I asked the cast of this Guy Ritchie film that’s new to streaming this week what they’d like to find next if The Fountain of Youth gets a sequel. I have to say, their answers didn’t disappoint.

Natalie Portman And John Krasinski Stayed Tight-Lipped About The Fountain Of Youth’s Next Quest

First off, we have Portman and Krasinski. When I posed this question to them, they stayed tight-lipped about what their next adventure could be. In fact, the Black Swan actress was quick to tell me:

Her on-screen brother quickly backed her up, saying that they didn’t want to give anything away. However, he also made his excitement for a potential sequel known by saying:

Obviously, I would have loved to hear their hopes and dreams for a new treasure hunt. However, this coy response tells me that there might be talks of a sequel, and that, my friends, is something I’d like to see.

However, while they didn’t tell me their grand treasure hunting aspirations, Portman ended on a joke that made me laugh. After The Office actor said he’d find anything with her, she quipped that they could find her “keys” next. Honestly, I’d watch that.

However, Domhnall Gleeson Had A Fun Pitch For A Potential Fountain Of Youth Sequel

I’d also watch the idea Domhnall Gleeson pitched when I asked him and Eiza González this question. Gleeson’s Owen Carver likely wouldn’t be in the sequel, considering that final scene in the fountain. However, the actor did have an idea for what Luke and Charlotte could hunt down next, explaining:

Tír na nÓg is an Irish myth that, as the About Time actor said, means Land of Youth. According to Irish Central, this place is a supernatural realm of “youth, beauty, health, abundance, and joy.” So, this sounds like a world where the idea of The Fountain of Youth is amped up, because it’s the “Land of Eternal Youth,” not just one singular item. So, it feels like a fun story to follow for a sequel because it would be connected to the first film while also focusing on a new myth, culture and treasure.

While Eiza González wasn’t so sure about it because of how much it rains in Ireland, Gleeson hammered home the idea, saying:

That got her on board, and it got me on board as well.

Like great adventure films like Indiana Jones, The Fountain of Youth could easily expand into a franchise that sees these characters hunting down lots of incredible treasure. These responses made me hopeful that it could happen. And who knows, if we do get a sequel, maybe they could go find Tír na nÓg or even Natalie Portman’s keys, no matter what way they go, I’ll be sat.

Natalie Portman’s newest movie has her committing a global heist with John Krasinski in Fountain of Youth (which is streaming on your Apple TV+ subscription). The 2025 movie release has the two playing siblings on a mission to find the mythological spring. As for whether Portman has “stolen” anything in real life, the actress hesitated to answer until she got on the subject of Anakin’s braids from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones.

It’s a natural trend for stars to take props from sets as a memento of their hard work. Tom Holland has admitted to stealing big props from Spider-Man sets like Tony Stark’s glasses, and Keanu Reeves kept items from The Matrix and John Wick. As for when Natalie Portman was asked on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert if she’d ever “stolen” anything before, she looked a bit hesitant to answer. But when the question changed to whether she ever took anything from a movie set, she was quick to say a monogrammed lighter from Jackie and an unusual prop from Star Wars:

And here I thought Natalie Portman was going to say she stole one of Padme’s many hairpieces or accessories! That’s so strange to put a little Padawan braid in your pocket or purse. But then again, it’s hard to escape the set with a giant laser sword. So a little hair extension could be a good reminder of who her Star Wars husband used to be before joining the dark side. Now I’m curious if she ever wore it in secret.

Funnily enough, Natalie Portman said that George Lucas never knew that Anakin’s Padawan braid was in her possession. If the Star Wars creator were ever to wonder where that precious hairpiece went, the Oscar winner had an answer for Stephen Colbert:

So somewhere far, far away, there's a little clip-on braid floating around that was once on the head of Hayden Christensen. If the rumor ends up being true that Natalie Portman could return to Star Wars, the props team may have to take inventory of their Padawan braids.

George Lucas may not have known that Natalie Portman took a Padawan braid, but her co-star Hayden Christensen sure did. Don’t worry, there’s no hard feelings, as the Canadian actor previously shared a sweet story of knowing Portman kept his hair prop and playfully offered his forgiveness to her. Something tells me he used his Jedi mindtricks to find that one out. You can watch the Instagram video of Portman’s interview in full below:

While Natalie Portman hesitated to answer if she'd ever "stolen" anything, she was quick to talk about her hilarious previous experience stealing one of Anakin’s Star Wars braids. Well, that’s one way to remember her prominent time playing the Queen of Naboo. You can see Portman and Hayden Christensen’s clip-on braid in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones with your Disney+ subscription.

When The Fountain of Youth premieres on the 2025 movie schedule, I have a feeling a bunch of people are going to feel nostalgia for the adventure films they grew up on. So, with that in mind, I asked the film's stars, John Krasinski, Natalie Portman, Domhnall Gleeson and Eiza González, about the most formative films from this genre. While Indiana Jones was their most common answer, the Baby Driver actress provided a solid reason for why we should add Disney movies to this list, too.

Indiana Jones Was The Common Response When I Asked About Formative Adventure Films

Growing up, adventure films like National Treasure defined my childhood, and Guy Ritchie’s The Fountain of Youth feels like it could do the same thing for a new generation. So, when I interviewed John Krasinski and Natalie Portman, who play siblings in this movie that will be streaming on Apple TV+ very soon, I asked them about the formative action/adventure films from their childhood.

The Office actor was quick to answer with some of the best action movies ever, saying:

Portman replied by saying she “couldn’t agree more” with her co-star. Like The Fountain of Youth, both Indiana Jones and The Goonies tell the stories of epic adventures and fearless heroes.

Indiana Jones turned out to be the most common film to come up among this cast, too, when asked this question. That’s because, not only did Krasinski mention it and Portman agree with him, but Domhnall Gleeson also told me:

Truly, when I think of classic adventure films, I picture Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones first, then the dinosaurs from Jurassic Park, those kiddos in The Goonies, and Nicolas Cage stealing The Declaration of Independence in National Treasure. However, those are all notably live-action films, and Eiza González told me why some animated classics need to be included here, too.

However, Eiza González Made A Great Point About Disney Movies

As I mentioned, when I asked this question to Eiza González, she took the road less traveled with her answer. While she mentioned live-action gems like The Mummy and Tomb Raider, she also noted that what makes an adventure movie an adventure movie is a story about friends who go on a journey and learn something about themselves and the world along the way. Therefore, we have to include some of the best Disney animated classics on this list, too, as she said:

Truly, Aladdin, The Lion King and so many other animated films are also wonderful adventure flicks, and as González said, they fit into this category of formative film.

For generations, these flicks have been watched by kids as they’ve grown up, and like Indiana Jones, they show us some truly epic and inspiring tales.

So, when you think back on all the magical adventure movies that defined your childhood, don’t just think live-action. Get those Disney movies in there too, and then let that reflection lead to a rewatch, I mean, all those animated flicks mentioned and the Indiana Jones movies are available with a Disney+ subscription.

Then, on May 23, make sure to use your Apple TV+ subscription to tune in for The Fountain of Youth, an epic brand-new adventure film that all the actors mentioned are a part of.

Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman already have Marvel movies in common, with Portman as Jane Foster and Ruffalo as The Hulk. But before they delved into the superhero genre, they were also known for acting in intimate, steamy movies. Fortunately, the former MCU actors will be diving back into the rom-com genre by starring in a Netflix movie together, and I’m already loving the premise.

One of the most fascinating things about these two is their ability to blend into any genre. This year, Portman has starred in the heist action-adventure movie Fountain of Youth (which is streaming on your Apple TV+ subscription) and will be in the animated 2025 Netflix release The Twits. Ruffalo is busy this year too, with the HBO crime miniseries Task. But if you’d like to see them come back to their rom-com goodiness roots, they’ll both star in Lena Dunham’s new Netflix movie Good Sex. Can I just say that I’m already digging the rom-com’s original premise? Here's the intriguing plot from the streamer on X:

Now, this is a love triangle I can get into. It’ll be very interesting to see a 40-year-old have to choose between two different age groups and see which leading man gives her those steamy vibes. There have been plenty of recent movies that show age has nothing to do with who’s good in bed, such as the A24 thriller Babygirl, The Idea of You (one of the best Amazon Original Movies), Netflix’s Lonely Planet and more.

But at least in this case, it’s not just about the older woman going out with the younger guy (played by Tucker Pillsbury a.k.a Role Model). The 40-year-old Ally also has a man in her 50s sweeping her off her feet. Compared to the usual love triangles having to do with the rich and the poor, at least an unconventional setup like this will leave me guessing who Ally would choose.

If anyone can pull off an original premise like this, it’s Lena Dunham. She’s an actress/writer/director who’s never been afraid to delve into sexual themes. After all, her HBO show Girls got the world talking, which not only showed physically how sex can be messy, but also the emotional insecurities that come with it. With the Emmy nominee not afraid to tackle sex with honesty and humor, I have no doubts she’ll do the same with her new Netflix movie.

It’ll be so nice to see Mark Ruffalo and Natalie Portman head back into the rom-com genre. You can’t forget about Ruffalo sweeping Jennifer Garner off her feet in 13 Going on 30, Reese Witherspoon in Just Like Heaven, and Jennifer Aniston in Rumor Has It… Some of Portman’s best movies happen to be in romantic comedies as well, like Garden State and No Strings Attached. As these two are capable of sharing chemistry with any of their screen partners, I’m sure the duo being paired together will bring something sexy and electric to their new movie.

Good Sex’s entertaining premise already has me sold knowing that Lena Dunham has written and directed Natalie Portman to get into a love triangle with Mark Ruffalo and Tucker Pillsbury. With the two leads heading back to the rom-com genre and the creative force of Girls behind it, how can we go wrong? Check out our 2025 movie releases in case the new Netflix rom-com finds its way there.

The end of May is a bit of a different animal on streaming platforms. It seems like every week in recent memory, we’ve seen the beginning of some sort of high-profile dramatic series on one streaming platform or another. And while some of those shows are still ongoing, most notably Peacock’s Poker Face, there’s a bit less “new” in that regard this week.

That’s not to say there isn’t some absolutely great stuff you won’t want to miss. It’s just a fairly eclectic list, and while it’s unlikely you’ll be interested in everything debuting this week, there’s almost certain to be at least one thing to check out.

Tucci In Italy - May 19 (Disney+)

Travel shows aren’t everybody’s cup of tea, but rarely have we seen one that’s hosted by somebody as engaging as the great Stanley Tucci, whose culinary expertise is also put to great use in Tucci in Italy. Available with a Disney+ subscription, the NatGeo documentary series, a follow-up to his previous Searching For Italy series, sees the actor explore the nation via its food. Get ready to be very hungry.

Untold: The Fall Of Favre - May 20 (Netflix)

Brett Favre was once one of the biggest stars in the world of professional football, but as the title suggests, The Fall of Brett Favre will be looking at a different side of the athlete, including alleged off-the-field misdeeds, including a reported mishandling of government money for his own benefit.

Nine Perfect Strangers, Season 2 - May 21 (Hulu)

The first season of Nine Perfect Strangers only got middle-of-the-road reviews, but it clearly did something right as it's back for a second season. A new star-studded cast and a new location form around Nicole Kidman as a guru with some unorthodox methods to help people heal.

Fountain of Youth - May 23 (Apple TV+)

Late May is prime summer movie season, and while that usually means having to go to a theater, one new film that seems just perfect for this time of year will only be available with an Apple TV+ subscription. Fountain of Youth stars John Krasinski and Natalie Portman as siblings searching for the fabled source of eternal youth. Guy Ritchie directed what feels like the closest thing to National Treasure 3 we’re likely to get.

Fear Street: Prom Queen - May 23 (Netflix)

It’s a good idea in general for horror fans to have a Netflix subscription, and that’s especially the case this week. In 2021, R.L. Stine’s Fear Street books were turned into three of the best horror movies on Netflix. Now, get ready for the fourth installment, Prom Queen.

Pee-wee As Himself - May 23 (Max)

A generation grew up with Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman, but the actor and comedian’s untimely death robbed fans of years of fun. A new two-part documentary series, Pee-wee as Himself, available with a Max subscription, will take fans inside the head of Pee-Wee Herman, quite literally, as it will include significant interviews with Reubens made before he passed away.

The Last Showgirl - May 23 (Hulu)

Pamela Anderson was one of the hottest stars of the 1990s, but she came roaring back to the screens last year in The Last Showgirl. Anderson won numerous awards for her portrayal of an aging showgirl, showing just what a great actress she’s always been. You can now check out her performance with a Hulu subscription.

Next week sees May come to an end and June get started. If nothing else, this will mean a flood of library content hitting most streaming services, so check back here so we can help you make sense of it all.

Natalie Portman is an example of an actress who had so much personality at a young age shone through each of her roles. Her acting career started at the age of 12, starring as a vengeful girl in The Professional, and then she gained international fame for playing a young queen in the Star Wars movies. Looking back on her childhood career, the Israeli-born actress says she feels “really lucky" to have broken into Hollywood so young, but doesn’t hold back on the dangers of child stardom.

When you think about it, Natalie Portman had a lot of heavy roles starting in Hollywood. She crushed her first movie role playing Mathilda Lando in The Professional (who deals with the trauma of having her whole family murdered), the depressed stepdaughter of Al Pacino’s character in Heat, and Queen of Naboo in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. While speaking to Net-a-Porter, Portman got real about being “really lucky” to have an early Hollywood start, but still refused to ignore the dangers of child stardom:

The Academy Award winner makes a point about being seen as “a woman” to audiences compared to a child on screen. Sure, kids are living professional careers whether they get into character for a movie or sell out concerts. But like the allegations in the docuseries Quiet on Set (which is streaming with a Max subscription) taught us, child actors sadly can get taken advantage of. Many haven’t made it to the age of 40 due to their careers being prioritized over any substance abuse and mental health struggles. Fortunately, stars like Natalie Portman haven’t undergone the tragic consequences of a child star career.

Previously, Natalie Portman shared her “conflicting” feelings over starring in The Professional. While she expressed being grateful that the role of Mathilda gave her an acting career, the Beautiful Girls actress looked back at the action-thriller film and saw it as a bit “cringey.” Having to portray a sexualized role as a pre-teen made her feel she needed to look more conservative for her own safety. At the time, the Luc Besson movie was slaughtered critically for the sexualization of Mathilda and having a 12-year-old character in such a violent environment. But after over three decades, The Professional is now seen as a cult classic, and I’d like to believe Portman's performance had a lot to do with that.

The Golden Globe winner’s career has gone nowhere but up since her child star days. She made a name for herself in the MCU as Jane Foster in the Thor movies, won her first Oscar for her haunting performance in Black Swan, and we’ve got her upcoming heist movie, Fountain of Youth, to look forward to.

Natalie Portman may not be a child anymore, but she told Net-a-Porter how much she loves getting older due to the friendships she’s had for the past three decades or so. While a thriving career can give you purpose, growing friendships can indeed do the same thing.

Even though Natalie Portman avoided the worst of child stardom, she’s still very much aware of the dangers that lurk for upcoming talent. Many young starlets can learn from the Jackie actress that it is possible to thrive in Hollywood at a young age without having to lose yourself in the process. You can watch Portman’s career continue to flourish in the upcoming adventure movie, Fountain of Youth, coming to your Apple TV+ subscription on May 23rd.

Considering just how big the Marvel Cinematic Universe has become, even if you’re not a huge fan, you probably have a movie or two that you enjoy. Of course, the actors who appear in the MCU have their favorites as well. And a lot of them, as it turns out, actually love the same movie: Thor: Ragnarok.

Speaking with six different actors who have appeared in the MCU, Disney’s D23 Fan Club finds four of them of them who are big fans of Taika Waititi’s first outing directing a Marvel film. Both Simu Liu and Iman Vilani list it among their favorites, as does Ant-Man star Paul Rudd, who said…

However, one of the more surprising people who put Ragnarok on the top of their list was Natalie Portman. She’s one of the few who picks a franchise that she’s actually part of, but she picks the one Thor movie she wasn’t in, saying…

To be fair, it’s completely understandable why so many people love Thor: Ragnarok, it’s actually just a flat-out great movie in my opinon. Portman’s comment that it makes you smile the whole time is right on the money. The movie is fun, funny and exciting in equal measure. Whatever it is you love about Marvel movies, or just movies in general, Thor: Ragnarok has it. It’s one of the best MCU movies to date.

Paul Rudd, being a part of one of the other comedy-focused corners of the MCU is sure to appreciate the movies in the franchise that have made you laugh. Natalie Portman made her return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the movie that followed Ragnarok. It seems quite likely that her love for it is part of the reason Taikia Waititi was able to convince her to come back in a single meeting.

The fact that many of the follow-up Thor: Love and Thunder took things a little too far (even Chris Hemsworth sees it as a failure) shows just how precarious the balance was, and how easy it was to overdo it all.

One thing that’s probably worth noting, is that of all the movies mentioned by the various stars, none of them call a movie that has been released post-Avengers: Endgame their favorite. That’s probably something that Marvel would like to change. Perhaps one of the other upcoming Marvel movies will become somebody's favorite.

For decades, some of the best franchise blockbusters have dominated Hollywood, even more so in recent years, with the outpouring of upcoming superhero movies and content that often feels more engineered by data than driven by artistic vision. However, according to Natalie Portman, filmmaker Brady Corbet is doing something different. After watching the 3-and-a-half-hour epic (it even has a built-in intermission) The Brutalist, she praised his ability to tell sweeping, ambitious stories that starkly contrast the current industry trends.

In a guest column for Deadline, the Oscar-winning actress—who previously worked with Corbet on Vox Lux—reflected on how The Brutalist showcases an alternative to today’s studio-driven model. She wrote:

Portman’s admiration for Corbet’s approach seems to stem from his ability to craft historically rich narratives with an intimate, character-driven focus. The Brutalist, which tells the story of an immigrant architect navigating post-World War II America, was shot in just 33 days on a budget of under $10 million. Despite these constraints and its “brutal” lengthy run time, the film has been hailed as one of the most visually and thematically ambitious films in recent years, earning comparisons to cinematic classics from David Lean and Sergio Leone. It just goes to show you that despite most people feeling that 90-minute movies are ideal when done right, sometimes long movies are just better.

The Thor star highlighted how Corbet’s work stands apart in a landscape often dictated by financial risk aversion and formulas designed for mass-market appeal. She praised The Brutalist, now a multi-Golden Globe winner, for its ability to bring history to life in a way that feels both deeply personal and universal, particularly through its protagonist, László, whose life and career mirror those of real-world Brutalist architects like Marcel Breuer and Louis Kahn.

Beyond its historical themes, Portman drew connections between The Brutalist and Vox Lux, the 2018 drama she starred in under Corbet’s direction. Both films center on individuals who become symbols of their time, reflecting larger societal shifts through their artistry—whether in architecture or music. In Vox Lux, Portman’s Celeste channeled national tragedy into her pop stardom, while The Brutalist follows László as he transforms his wartime trauma into groundbreaking design.

With the flick earning critical acclaim, our own Eric Eisenberg gave The Brutalist a strong 4-star review, and its many 2025 Oscar nominations, it’s clear that Corbet’s vision is resonating. And if Portman’s glowing review is any indication, this film is more than just a standout—it’s a statement.

For those eager to experience The Brutalist, it's already on the 2025 movie release schedule. Be sure to check your local theater listings or look for its streaming release in the coming months.

The Academy Award for Best Actress has been handed out every year since 1929 — it was initially awarded to star Janet Gaynor for her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans — and in the near-century since, it's been presented 97 times to 79 actresses. Winning that coveted statuette is unsurprisingly a dream come true for many a big-screen performer, but the award does come with added attention on the actress's next projects. Will whatever they work on next be as critically acclaimed or commercially successful? Here are 32 films that Oscar-winning actresses did after taking home the Academy Award, and how they were received.

Emma Stone

The whole La La Land Oscars brouhaha at the 2018 ceremony was quite memorable, but clearly so was star Emma Stone's performance as aspiring actress Mia Dolen opposite Ryan Gosling's jazz pianist Seb Wilder. One of Stone's best movies, the role earned the star her first Best Actress win (she would strike gold yet again with her 2024 victory for Poor Things). Her next performance also stirred up awards buzz: she was nominated for a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for portraying tennis legend Billie Jean King in the sports drama Battle of the Sexes.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep's history with the Academy Awards is long and legendary: over her decades-spanning career, she's been nominated for a record 21 Oscar nominations, winning thrice. After taking home the Supporting Actress statuette for Kramer vs. Kramer, Streep got her first big Best Actress win for one of her most iconic performances: as the titular character of the devastating 1982 drama Sophie's Choice. Her next role was just as haunting: as Karen Silkwood in the 1983 thriller Silkwood, for which she earned yet another Best Actress nod.

Michelle Yeoh

Along with kicking major butt, Michelle Yeoh made history with her starring role as Evelyn Quan Wang in the 2022 action-dramedy Everything Everywhere All at Once, for she became the first Asian performer to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. Following that notable win in 2023, the Wicked star lent her voice to the sci-fi flick Transformers: Rise of the Beasts as Airazor, a Maximal warrior who transforms into a peregrine falcon. That title earned largely mixed reviews, and it currently sports a 51% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Jessica Chastain

After losing out on the Oscar for Zero Dark Thirty, Jessica Chastain took the Best Actress trophy home for her transformative role as televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker in the 2022 bio-drama The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Her next project was far less successful with awards bodies — the action-spy thriller The 355 was both a critical and commercial bomb, reportedly losing Universal an estimated $93 million. Robbie Collin of The Daily Telegraph wrote: "Despite the strong cast, this is the film equivalent of a corn-syrup-based fizzy drink being passed off as chic in taller, slimmer cans."

Frances McDormand

Three-time Best Actress winner Frances McDormand took home her first Oscar in 1997 for her instantly iconic performance as Minnesota police chief Marge Gunderson in the classic Coen Brothers dark comedy Fargo. Later that year, the acclaimed performer joined a heavyweight lineup of actresses — including Glenn Close, Cate Blanchett and Jennifer Ehle — in the World War II drama Paradise Road. However, despite that acting clout, the film received mixed reviews, with its approval rating at a lowly 43% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Brie Larson

Child actor turned Marvel superhero Brie Larson took her career to a whole new level with her performance as kidnapping victim Joy "Ma" Newsome in the 2015 survival drama Room, for which she swept the subsequent awards season and took home the Best Actress Oscar. In 2016, the Lessons in Chemistry lead starred in another survival drama, this time the Ben Wheatley-directed action-comedy Free Fire. CinemaBlend's own Gregory Wakeman wrote of the film: "Free Fire has enough gun blasts and violence to entertain, but ultimately lacks the requisite surprises or savvy to be anything more than a frivolous diversion."

Olivia Colman

Olivia Colman's Best Actress win for her portrayal of Queen Anne in the black-comedy period piece The Favourite was a deserved yet delightfully shocking moment at the 2019 Oscars. Her next role was equally strange, but less acclaimed: she appeared alongside Kaitlyn Dever, Jim Gaffigan and Walton Goggins as snake-handling fundamentalists in the horror mystery Them That Follow. Though it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance, it earned mixed reviews from critics.

Cate Blanchett

One of the most versatile actors in the industry — she's played Queen Elizabeth I and Bob Dylan, for crying out loud! — eight-time Oscar nominee Cate Blanchett secured her first Best Actress win in 2014 playing a neurotic former socialite in the Woody Allen-directed dramedy Blue Jasmine. And speaking of versatility, the Aussie star followed that awards win with a voice role in the animated fantasy sequel How to Train Your Dragon 2, which got its own Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature.

Sandra Bullock

Rom-com queen Sandra Bullock received her first Best Actress nomination and win in 2010 for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in the biographical football drama The Blind Side. Her next film credit was the Stephen Daldry-directed 2011 drama Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, which did manage to score a Best Picture nod but not without controversy. Chris Krapek of The Huffington Post called the film "not only the worst reviewed Best Picture nominee of the last 10 years, [but] easily the worst film of 2011."

Katharine Hepburn

Hollywood icon Katherine Hepburn earned four Academy Awards for Best Actress out of 12 nominations across her illustrious film career—a record for any performer. The leading lady's first Oscar win was in 1934 for the Pre-Code drama Morning Glory (the rest would come later in the star's life), which she followed up with John Cromwell's Spitfire. Some viewers found Hepburn miscast as "hillbilly" faith healer Trigger Hicks — the film has a 35% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman didn't win the Best Actress Oscar for one of her most beloved performances, as cabaret star Satine in Moulin Rouge! but she instead secured the big win only a year later for playing English writer Virginia Woolf in The Hours. The Babygirl star's first post-award project was the 2003 avant-garde thriller Dogville, written and directed by Lars von Trier. Though the film prompted quite a polarizing response from critics at the time of release, it did end up on several best-of-the-decade roundups, including The Guardian and Paste.

Jennifer Lawrence

If they didn't already love her from her work in the David O. Russell dramedy Silver Linings Playbook, the world certainly fell for Jennifer Lawrence when she charmingly tripped up the stairs to accept her Best Actress statuette in 2013. That fall, she would reprise her role as Katniss Everdeen in the second Mockingjay movie, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, which is widely considered the best installment of The Hunger Games film series (it's got a solid 90% Rotten Tomatoes rating) and earned Lawrence a Critics' Choice nod.

Helen Mirren

Dame Helen Mirren is a regal onscreen presence no matter what the role, but her performance as Queen Elizabeth II in the 2006 docudrama The Queen welcomed her among the Hollywood royalty known as Oscar winners. However, despite the film title, she didn't strike gold with her next project: the Nicolas Cage-led adventure flick National Treasure: Book of Secrets, alongside Jon Voight, Harvey Keitel, Ed Harris and Diane Kruger. Per Rotten Tomatoes, critic consensus said of the 35% "Rotten" movie: "A talented cast goes to waste in the improbable National Treasure: Book of Secrets."

Jodie Foster

One of Hollywood's most acclaimed child stars — she was only 12 years old when she starred opposite Robert De Niro in the Martin Scorsese masterpiece Taxi Driver, earning her first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress — Jodie Foster successfully segued into more adult fare with the 1988 legal drama The Accused. As an assault survivor Sarah Tobias, Foster received a Best Actress win—it wouldn't be her last, with the star winning the same award for her next film release, one of the greatest horror movies of all time, The Silence of the Lambs.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry made Oscar history when she became the first African-American woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for her performance as a struggling widow in 2001's Monster's Ball. After becoming an Oscar winner, Berry became a Bond Girl — bikini-sporting NSA agent Jinx, to be exact — in the 2002 spy flick Die Another Day, opposite Pierce Brosnan as 007. However, the latter is widely considered to be the worst entry in James Bond's canon.

Julie Andrews

A legendary performer across both screen and stage, Julie Andrews won her Best Actress Oscar in 1964 for a truly iconic role: as the titular nanny extraordinaire in Mary Poppins. And she didn't stop there — the very next year, she would get yet another Academy Award nomination for an equally beloved character, as The Sound of Music's Maria, the sweet, singing governess to the Von Trapp family. Talk about an epic filmography!

Kathy Bates

One of the best Kathy Bates performances, as obsessive superfan Annie Wilkes in the 1990 Stephen King thriller Misery, earned the talented actress her first Academy Award nomination and win. (She would have three more Oscar nods across her decades-spanning career.) Bates' next film role was in the South African drama The Road to Mecca, based on the Athol Fugard play of the same name — the performer was praised for both her acting and her accent work.

Hilary Swank

Before there were transgender characters like Emilia Pérez (Emilia Pérez), Sin-Dee Rella (Tangerine), or Raymond Rayon (Dallas Buyers Club), there was Brandon Teena, the real-life trans man at the center of the 1999 drama Boys Don't Cry. Hilary Swank's harrowing, career-making performance as Teena earned the star her first Best Actress award, with critics like Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman calling the actress a "revelation" in the film. Reactions to her next movie, the 2000 supernatural thriller The Gift, were far more mixed. A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by [director Sam] Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."

Renée Zellweger

After prior Best Actress nominations for two of her best movies, Bridget Jones' Diary and Chicago — plus a Best Supporting Actress win for Cold Mountain — Renée Zellweger finally got her big Best Actress win for her portrayal of Judy Garland in Rupert Goold's Judy. After taking a multi-year break from acting, Zellweger's much-anticipated next film credit will be a return to a beloved role, in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman was so convincing as a troubled ballerina in the 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan that she thought the film was a docudrama while making it. So, it's no surprise, then, that her tour-de-force performance garnered the star an Academy Award for Best Actress. Ever one to keep you guessing genre-wise, Portman's next role was in the 2011 stoner fantasy-comedy Your Highness, which sadly was a box office bomb and received largely negative reviews from critics.

Cher

The "Goddess of Pop" Cher officially added the title of "Oscar winner" to her already legendary showbiz career with her 1988 Best Actress triumph for one of her best movies, the acclaimed rom-com Moonstruck. Her next movie role came two years later as Rachel Flax, the saucy single mom to young Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci in the 1990 dramedy Mermaids. The heartfelt title has been dubbed an "underappreciated 1990s coming-of-age gem" by The Guardian, which singled out Cher's performance as "nothing short of magical."

Kate Winslet

One of the greatest performers of her generation, it took Kate Winslet a whopping six Oscar nominations before she finally took home the Academy Award for Best Actress, for playing a former Nazi camp guard in 2008's The Reader. Her next onscreen role was in the 2011 black comedy Carnage, by disgraced director Roman Polanski. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the performances of the cast, including Winslet's — she earned a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress in a Motional Picture Musical or Comedy.

Julia Roberts

After a decade that solidified her as rom-com royalty, Julia Roberts proved her dramatic bonafides by winning the Best Actress Oscar for playing the title role in the 2000 legal drama Erin Brockovich, one of her best movies. America's Sweetheart returned to her romantic comedy roots with her next film, fittingly entitled America's Sweethearts, though critics weren't too sweet on the movie. It only holds a 33% approval rating at Rotten Tomatoes, with the site's consensus reading: "Despite its famous cast, the movie lacks sympathetic characters and is only funny in spurts."

Susan Sarandon

After Oscar nominations for Atlantic City, Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo's Oil and The Client, Susan Sarandon was finally named Best Actress by the Academy for playing Sister Helen Prejean in 1995's Dead Man Walking. Her next film was the decidedly lighter kids' flick James and the Giant Peach, in which Sarandon voiced the character of Miss Spider. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with Randy Newman's score earning an Oscar nod; however, the film was a box office failure, grossing $300,000 less than its budget.

Marion Cotillard

French movie star Marion Cotillard became the first actor to win an Academy Award for a French-language performance for her transformative turn as legendary singer Édith Piaf in the 2007 music biopic La Vie en Rose. Her next film credit was another biographical drama — this time, the Michael Mann-directed gangster film Public Enemies, alongside Johnny Depp and Christian Bale. Though many critics praised the leading performances, reviews were mixed, with the title holding a 68% Rotten Tomatoes rating.

Marlee Matlin

Marlee Matlin's acting debut in 1986's Children of a Lesser God saw the actress making Oscar history not once but twice: she became the first deaf performer to ever win an Academy Award, as well as the youngest winner in the Best Actress category. The CODA star followed up that momentous victory with the 1987 Western Walker, starring Ed Harris, Richard Masur and Peter Boyle. The historical drama was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 38th Berlin International Film Festival but received very polarized reviews and was a failure at the box office.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Fun fact: Gwyneth Paltrow wasn't initially supposed to star as Viola de Lesseps in the 1998 Bard-inspired romantic comedy Shakespeare in Love — Julia Roberts was. But Gwyn is no doubt grateful the latter ultimately left the production, as the role won her a Best Actress Oscar. Her next project was equally acclaimed: 1999's Anthony Minghella-helmed thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley scored five Academy Award nominations.

Audrey Hepburn

Screen legend Audrey Hepburn won her first Oscar in 1953 for her debut starring role, as Princess Ann in the classic black-and-white comedy Roman Holiday. The British beauty would later be nominated four more times for films like her first post-award project, the 1954 Billy Wilder-directed dramedy Sabrina, as well as The Nun's Story, Breakfast at Tiffany's and Wait Until Dark.

Sally Field

The Academy likes her, they really like her — yes, Sally Field has won not one but two Best Actress statuettes, the first being for her inspiring performance in 1979's Norma Rae and the second five years later for another one of her best films, Places in the Heart. Following her first win, Field reprised her role as Carrie, or "Frog," in 1980's Smoky and the Bandit II opposite her real-life love Burt Reynolds. Though the sequel was a box office success, prompting a third film, it received almost entirely negative reviews from critics.

Charlize Theron

One of the best Charlize Theron roles was also the star's most remarkably unrecognizable: the South African-born actress earned a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of real-life prostitute and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in the 2003 crime drama Monster. Her next big-screen performance was the 2004 war drama Head in the Clouds, which saw Theron acting opposite her then-romantic partner Stuart Townsend. The film was a critical and box office failure; in the San Francisco Chronicle, Walter Addiego wrote: "If not for the presence of Charlize Theron, it's hard to imagine this film would have attracted anywhere near the kind of attention it's gotten."

Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon proved she was more than just a musical sidekick with her Oscar-winning performance as June Carter Cash in the 2005 Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. The Legally Blonde star was next seen in the harrowing 2007 political thriller Rendition opposite Jake Gyllenhaal, Meryl Streep and Peter Sarsgaard. However, "the impressive cast cannot rescue Rendition, which explores complex issues in woefully simplified terms," reads the critics' consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, with the film at a paltry 47% approval rating.

Elizabeth Taylor

Through much of the mid-20th century, celluloid icon Elizabeth Taylor was one of MGM's most bankable stars. In fact, her final film for the studio — 1960's Butterfield 8, playing glamorous call girl Gloria Wandrous — earned the movie star her first Academy Award for Best Actress. Her next performance was just as iconic: as the titular Egyptian queen in the 1963 historical epic Cleopatra, which received nine Oscar nominations and four wins, though, alas, none for Taylor specifically.

Being a celebrity is a tricky thing. Because while it's a dream for many and brings awesome opportunities, fame also makes one's personal life into a very public matter. Celebrity couples like Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively know this, as to pairs who went through divorces like Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck. Both Reese Witherspoon and Natalie Portman recently went through divorces themselves, and an insider revealed the sweet way Reese "stepped up" for her fellow Oscar winner while they both went through hard times.

In August of 2023, Natalie Portman and her husband separated after 11 years together, while Reese Witherspoon and her husband did the same a few months earlier. This timing definitely turned heads, and it turns out that it bonded the two iconic actresses. An alleged insider close to the stars spoke to Ok Magazine, and revealed how the Big Little Lies star stepped it up to be a good friend. In their words:

How sweet is that? Witherspoon has been shown to have close relationships with a number of A-list ladies in Hollywood, so perhaps this story shouldn't be all that surprising. But since the Legally Blonde icon was also going through struggles of her own, it makes her act of sisterhood all the more powerful.

From the above comments, it sounds like Witherspoon had a positive influence on Natalie Portman's life and career. The same anonymous insider spoke about how the two women's relationship progressed, offering:

While some fans might assume that there would be feelings of competition between wildly successful actresses, that's simply not the case. Natalie Portman and Reese Witherspoon seemingly have a great relationship, partly thanks to efforts made by the latter icon. And it's sweet to see the way they supported each other during trying times in their personal life.

Both Portman and Witherspoon are attached to a number of upcoming projects. For now, check the 2025 movie release dates to plan your trips to the movies this year.

There are popular franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations have grown up with the galaxy far far, away, (which is streaming with a Disney+ subscription) so there are tons of passionate fans who have spent years watching the Star Wars movies in order. Over the past few years a number of actors from the prequel trilogy have reprised their roles, including Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. A wild Star Wars rumor claims Natalie Portman is finally returning as Padme, and I love how it might go down.

With George Lucas' franchise showing no signs of slowing down, upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows are covering different points in the timeline. Fans have been waiting since the prequels for Portman to possibly reprise her role as Padme Amidala, and a rumor circulating online (via CBM) claims that she'll once again play Luke and Leia's mother in Season 2 of Ahsoka.

This is just a rumor at this point, so we should probably take it with a grain of salt for the time being. But since the Ahsoka series had plenty of focus about the title character's past in the animated series, it doesn't seem totally out of the question. After all, the first season featured Hayden Christensen as Anakin/Vader.

Of course, the Padme's death in Revenge of the Sith adds a major roadblock to how, narratively, Portman might finally play that role again. If the rumor is true, then I have to assume that might be done via a flashback or a Force vision in the World Between Worlds like (the one she had of Anakin and Rex).

Since George Lucas' Star Wars prequels were released, Natalie Portman has remained synonymous with her three movies as Padme, the Galactic Senator and former Queen of Naboo. The Oscar-winning actress said she was open to returning to Star Wars, but the big question was how and when. While some might have been hoping to see her on the big screen, the most logical way for this reprisal to occur is probably through a TV show like Ahsoka.

Only time will tell if this casting rumor plays out, but the pressure seems on for returning Star Wars shows like Ahsoka and Andor. A future is no guarantee for their of these burgeoning franchises, as was made evident when The Acolyte was cancelled, despite how many cliffhangers were included in the finale. And bringing back more legacy characters like Padme might be one way to keep Rosario Dawson's series top of mind for the fandom.

Aside from her role as Padme, fans are also wondering if/when Portman will return as Jane Foster in an upcoming Marvel movie, especially after Thor 4's credits scene showed her in Valhalla.

It's currently unclear when Ahsoka's second season will arrive on Disney+. For now, check out the TV premiere list to plan your next binge watch.

After Jenna Ortega starred in one of the biggest 2024 movies, she can’t stop, won’t stop finding work with some major talent. Word is she’ll work next with Oscar winner Natalie Portman in a movie called The Gallerist, and whoa, did the premise make me do a double take.

The Gallerist will apparently follow an owner of an art gallery who attempts to make her next big sale a dead man at the renowned Art Basel Miami art show in a fit of desperation. While no further details about the plot was disclosed in the Deadline report, it would see Natalie Portman and Jenna Ortega leading the same movie. Oh, and it would be the first feature directed by Cathy Yan since Birds Of Prey.

While it’s tough to tell whether The Gallerist would be a black comedy, thriller or straight up horror movie (as Ortega often gravitates to with her work), the pair of these talents together seems worth dying over… a fictional guy who becomes a piece of art, that is. I could see a movie like delving into the problems that come with commodifying things, or satirizing the lengths one could go to for art.

Between the two, I picture Natalie Portman being the gallerist, and goodness knows we’ve seen her play desperate with Black Swan. The movie’s script has been written by Cathy Yan and newcomer James Pedersen. I don’t know about you, but I’ve been so excited about Yan’s next project since her very underrated DC movie, plus she directed a particularly excellent episode of Succession in 2021. Natalie Portman would also be producing the movie with a few notable producers, many of which worked together on the 2021 Matt Damon flick Stillwater.

The Gallerist could join a slew of upcoming Jenna Ortega movies and TV shows from the star after the Beetlejuice sequel became one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year (so far). Ortega had the chance to work with all sorts of major talent for the Tim Burton flick, and Winona Ryder told us she was “the missing puzzle piece” the second movie needed to work.

Ortega has already filmed a movie with Paul Rudd called Death Of A Unicorn, as well as the Taikia Waititi adaptation of Klara And The Sun. She is currently filming the second season of Wednesday for Netflix. Natalie Portman was in one of the best movies of 2023 with May December, and led Apple TV+’s Lady Of The Lake earlier this year. Next, she’ll also be in the Guy Ritchie adventure film, Fountain Of Youth with John Krasinski and have a voice role in The Twits.

Here’s hoping The Gallerist does book these two powerhouse actresses, because I really need to see this wild premise play out.

There are plenty of celebrity fashion looks that have been immortalized on the big screen, but there are also plenty of other famous dresses that never hit a red carpet. Maybe they should have. We've compiled a list of some of the best gowns (and looks) from films that could totally have worked on a red carpet, if given the chance. Here are some of the coolest takes.

Lily James In Cinderella

When I think of a ball gown, to me the 2015 Cinderella look of Lily James is a great example of a dress that’s carpet ready. It’s somehow timeless and modern, it’s an indescribable blue color, and it brought an animated concept to life in just the perfect way. A top-notch stunner for any era.

Emma Watson In Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 1

I know you thought I was going to bust out Hermione’s iconic Yule Ball gown look here, even though she’s said the scene was uncomfortable in the past. While it’s a sweet dress for a teenager, it’s the stunning red number Watson’s character wears to Bill and Fleur’s wedding I deem to be most red carpet-worthy.

Jennifer Lopez In Maid In Manhattan

Jennifer Lopez played a maid who borrowed a gown for a night out on the town in Maid in Manhattan. While the flick may not make anyone's list of best rom-coms, the dress is perfect for any best list. It was a peachy pink and very on trend in the early aughts, and its silhouette – and the iconic jewelry she paired it with – would very much still be on point on the carpet today.

Halle Berry In Die Another Day

Halle Berry may be more known for an iconic bikini scene in Die Another Day, but it's her purple dress that really stands out when she's playing Jinx. The color and silhouette are stunning years later, but this is one dress that's also even more brilliant once you see it from behind.

Julia Roberts In Pretty Woman

A far cry from the look we meet her in, Julia Roberts’ Vivian Ward dons a romantic red dress for a night out with Richard Gere’s Edward. The two end up entangling their lives in myriad ways, but the dress is still the most memorable moment from the movie for me.

Margot Robbie In The Wolf Of Wall Street

Black dresses will never go out of fashion, and Margot Robbie looks like a cool woman in a little black dress in Wolf of Wall Street. It's not the only fashionable moment in Scorsese's film, but it's the look I would choose if I were having to go to a fun event. The earrings amp the look up considerably, too. Her whole vibe has me rethinking my wardrobe.

Aubrey Hepburn In Sabrina

One of the most iconic ball gowns of all time, Hepburn’s famous Sabrina dress may never have happened if she hadn’t pushed and befriended designer Givenchy. They made movie history together, and red carpet history in other cases. This dress would not have been out of place there.

Natalie Portman In Black Swan

Black Swan may be one of the best psychological films, but the costume design is also superb, from outfits worn on the stage to everdaywear. The white gown Portman’s character wears from Rodarte has one of the coolest backs I’ve ever seen. Nearly 15 years later, I wish she or someone would bust it out again.

Lady Mary In Downton Abbey

Lady Mary was a bit of a fashionista across the entirety of the Downton Abbey series and its two subsequent movies, but this lush sapphire blue Prussian gown from 2019’s Downton movie stands out as a favorite and also the one that’s most red carpet worthy. Maybe in this day and age I’d drop the gloves, though (even if celebs like Taylor Swift and JLo are bringing gloves back).

Billy Porter In Cinderella (2021)

The Cinderella cast all had amazing outfits, but Billy Porter's fabulous godmother (Fab G) dress in the 2021 Cinderella is all bold colors and lush satin. It's very much a Porter-perfect look that still stands out years later.

Keira Knightley In Atonement

Keira Knightley’s green dress in Atonement is very much a dress of the era it is portraying, but it’s also the sort of classic look in the perfect color and fabric that could be worn by anyone, in any formal situation, in any time period. If I had to choose a dress to rock to a movie premiere or a wedding or pretty much any occasion, this look from the 2007 (but period) movie would be it.

Charlize Theron Snow White And The Huntsman

Hear me out: Charlize Theron looks so extra in Snow White and the Huntsman but she never looks more extra than when she’s wearing the dress with the extravagant shoulders. Puff sleeves come in and out, but I’m really ready for some avante garde looks to hit the red carpet and this is a great take on a totally unique style.

Kate Hudson In How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days

The early aughts were a prominent time for formalwear gowns dominating movie posters, and the Kate Hudson rom-com era was no exception. The good news is the gold dress she sported opposite Matthew McConaughey still holds up more than 20 years later and is a color she should continue to sport on the red carpet.

Grace Kelly In Rear Window

Grace Kelly had a lot of iconic dresses in a lot of movies that could have fit the criteria of this list, but my favorite has to be her tulle look from Alfred Hitchcock's Rear Window. It's no wonder the ballet-inspired look has come back in 10 Things I Hate About You and other movies.

Jennifer Lawrence In Catching Fire

The Hunger Games has some solid fashion design, particularly when it comes to characters like Snow, Effie and others living in the capital. But if you really want to make a statement, how about a dress that catches fire and turns into a second fashion statement? Tell me you wouldn’t like to see this on the red carpet!

Kate Winslet In Titanic

When Jack and Rose meet in Titanic, she’s dressed for dinner in a gorgeous red and black beaded dress that would stand out in any crowd. It’s a good thing she catches Jack’s eye in this dress, or Titanic would have been a different movie.

Angela Bassett In Jumping The Broom

Listen: Paula Patton’s character has a lovely wedding dress in Jumping The Broom (not to mention a really cute purple plaid dress at the beginning of the movie), but Angela Bassett is the actress to keep your eye on. As the matriarch in a wealthy family, Bassett’s character is the one with the polished, structured looks I’d feel most confident in on the red carpet.

Rita Hayworth In Gilda

I’m not sure how many people revisit Rita Hayworth’s Gilda these days, but when I think of old Hollywood glamor, her satin gown and matching gloves always come to mind. This was the role that made Hayworth a household name and that dress would still have a moment if it debuted today.

Sonoya Mizuno In Crazy Rich Asians

There's a lot of just epic fashion in 2018's Crazy Rich Asians, but the stellar standout moment is Araminta's wedding, which just has so many great looks from the main cast. At the end of the day, despite the gorgeous setting and shiny, happy people, it's the dress that's to die for.

Vivien Leigh In Gone With The Wind

Leigh gets the opportunity to wear a lot of lovely fabrics in 1939’s Gone with the Wind but none seem as carpet worthy (somewhat ironically) as the dress made out of curtains. It's a memorable color combo and an all-time great movie look.

Hilary Duff In A Cinderella Story

While allegedly Sam is wearing an "old" wedding dress when she shows up in this gorgeous white number, the tulle look is a classic one. Hilary Duff wore the dress with pink Chuck Taylors on the cover for the film, and casualizing a dress with sneakers has become a popular trend in the time since.

Emma Watson In Beauty And The Beast

A Disney ballgown that really hits the mark, Emma Watson’s yellow Belle dress does the animated character justice while fitting the actress like a glove. The color might not work on everyone, but it’s such a perfect fit.

Whitney Houston In The Bodyguard

I think Whitney Houston’s Queen of the Night costume is probably the one we all think about first when we think about The Bodyguard, but it’s her simple black halter dress and beaded hair and bracelet accessories that would really stand out on a red carpet and give something a little special.

Aubrey Hepburn In My Fair Lady

Eliza may have made a bet with Professor Higgins to help her sound like a lady, but it's not hard to believe Audrey Hepburn at least looks like a lady in this dress. The thick, sparkling necklace gives it an additional upgrade. Beautiful.

Ariana DeBose In West Side Story

Ariana DeBose's yellow dress in Spielberg's West Side Story is a direct nod to the 1961 movie musical, but it's an updated take on the look. Originally, Rita Moreno wore a famous lavender dress, but DeBose's is an upgraded color and has a little more swish in it. It's gorgeous and the type of look I hope is popularized again.

Marilyn Monroe In How To Marry A Millionaire

Marilyn Monroe rocked lots of iconic gowns over the years, but the thing I like about this satin dress is the one shoulder strap. It's fitted like a glove and the pink color is fabulous. It's hard to pick one thing about this dress that is most successful. It's just perfect.

Barbara Bach In The Spy Who Loved Me

Plenty of Bond girls have had great outfits over the course of more than 50 years, but when Bond meets Anya Amasova, her navy gown really pops thanks to the Swarovski crystal trim. I love that it's not a flat color, and the leg slit adds a sweet extra touch.

Lana Condor In To All The Boys I've Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You

Lana Condor has a lot of beautiful clothing in the To All The Boys movies. Of all her sweet looks, my favorite is the one in the sequel that Stormy lends her from her impeccable collection. It's vintage perfect, and a lovely color to boot.

Lori Singer In Footloose

Lori Singer’s Ariel dress looks great on her, and it fits the character well. Despite the movie coming out in the eighties, the off-shoulder style comes in and out, and its simple silhouette would be perfect for a low-key movie premiere. As vintage is making a big comeback, perhaps it’s a style we’ll see back on the carpet in coming years.

Rachel Leigh Cook In She’s All That

Laney’s red makeover dress is on-trend now the ‘90s and early aughts are making a comeback. Its spaghetti straps and slim silhouette are simple, but would still really would turn heads on the red carpet today. I love the matching red pumps she pairs the look with as well.

Margaret Avery In The Color Purple

Shug Avery's bright looks in The Color Purple stand out. It may be more of a show dress, but if I had to kick it on the red carpet, I'd want something just as sequiny. Maybe I'd throw in some pearls to boot.

Anne Hathaway In The Idea Of You

A lot of people would say Ms. Hathaway's iconic fashion movies are either The Princess Diaries or The Devil Wears Prada, and while neither are wrong choices, my pick has to go to her character in The Idea of You. When Solene meets Hayes in her beautifully tailored, creamy Fendi number, his head was turned, but so was mine.

Luckily, we're likely to see many more red carpet-worthy looks on the big screen for years to come!

A great performance from a precocious young actor can steal scenes and even entire movies and TV shows. Like the kids on this list, who have so much personality at such a young age it's crazy. From TV stars like Gary Coleman on Diff'rent Strokes to supporting roles in movies that end up being the most-talked-about bits of the films, like Jonathan Lipnicki in Jerry Maguire, these kids are just oozing charm and talent. 

Shirley Temple

You can't have a list like this without the original Hollywood kid star, the great Shirley Temple. Though Temple acted in films into her late teens before retiring in 1950, she is really best remembered for her roles as a clever witty kid in movies like 1935's Curly Top and 1936's Stowaway. After Temple retired, she went on to have a successful career as a spokesperson and even a foreign diplomat. 

Macaulay Culkin

There are very few kids that could ever carry a movie, much less a franchise, like Macaulay Culkin did with the Home Alone movies. The first movie is one of the most successful movies of all time, and while the entire cast of Home Alone is amazing, the movie would not be the same with anyone else as Kevin McCallister. 

Quvenzhané Wallis

Quvenzhané Wallis' performance in Beasts of the Southern Wild is, in all senses, a revelation. Her performance is so powerful and nuanced on a level that even many adult actors can't match. It was so good, that Wallis became the youngest actress ever nominated for an Academy Award. 

Ke Huy Quan

Ke Huy Quan comeback with his amazing, award-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All At Once was the feel-good story of 2022. It came, of course, four decades after he first blew audiences away with roles like Short Round in Indiana Jones and the Temple Of Doom and Data in The Goonies, where he showed just how much personality a kid can have on screen. 

Peter Billingsley

For a generation of kids, A Christmas Story is THE definite Christmas movie. It was so popular that for a time, it would run a loop on cable TV around the holiday. Of course, while the whole cast is memorable, Peter Billingsley's role as Ralphie is the one people talk about the most. 

Soleil Moon Frye

The 1980s were awash with precocious kids leading shows and few were on a higher level than Punky Brewster. The lead character, played by Soleil Moon Frye, found herself in all kinds of spots, usually funny, though sometimes serious and Frye could handle it all. 

Emmanuel Lewis

For six seasons, Emmanuel Lewis brought joy to American homes as the orphaned Webster in the show with the same name. Like others in the decade, Lewis carried a network show with his comedic timing and cuteness. The diminutive Lewis, who was diagnosed with pituitary dwarfism, used his condition to his advantage, not to mention his great acting, to get people laughing everywhere. 

The Olsen Twins

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen are examples of kids who left acting behind, but their joint performance as Michelle Tanner in Full House will always be beloved by fans of the show. The twins both had enough personality to fill a soundstage when they played the role, starting when they were just babies. Incredible. 

Haley Joel Osment

Haley Joel Osment's big break came as the intense kid who could see dead people in The Sixth Sense. Like a few others on this list, he's a child star who is still acting today and it's not hard to see why given the talent he displayed at just 11 years old. 

Millie Bobby Brown

By the time Millie Bobby Brown was the ripe old age of 12, when she first starred in Stranger Things on Netflix, the actress was a seasoned vet. She had already had regular roles on a couple of TV shows both in the US and her native UK and had made a number of guest appearances on shows like NCIS and Grey's Anatomy. Of course, it would as a Eleven in Stranger Things that really proved how great she is. 

Christian Bale

Christian Bale is one of the best actors of his generation, something he started to prove very early in his life when he took on the starring role of a war orphan in  Steven Spielberg's Empire of the Sun. Bale was only 13 at the time and his performance is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It's hard to fathom the ability to do that as barely a teenager. 

Gary Coleman

There isn't a more famous catchphrase from 1980s TV than "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" Of course, those words were part of seemingly every single episode of Diff'rent Strokes. Gary Coleman's role as Arnold, the orphaned kid taken in, with his brother, by Mr Drummond was one of the most popular characters of the decade.  

Anna Chlumsky

While Macaulay Culkin was the big "star" of My Girl when it was released, his counterpart, played by Anna Chlumsky is every bit as charming as wonderful as Caulkin. Chlumsky's talents were on full display as a kid, talents that would eventually earn her many Emmy nominations for her work as an adult in Veep.

Jonathan Lipnicki

Let's be honest, is there a cuter kid than Jonathan Lipnicki in Jerry Maguire? His charm and unintentional wit is totally off the charts in the rom-com. He even knows how much a human head weighs (8 pounds) and that bees and dogs smell fear. No too shabby. 

Tatum O'Neal

When Tatum O'Neal won the Oscar for starring alongside her father, Ryan O'Neal, in  Paper Moon in 1974 she became the youngest person to ever win the award at just age 10. That pretty much says it all. While other kids have been nominated, she was the first kid to win. She continued to show her talents and personality in movies like The Bad News Bears and Nickelodeon before personal problems derailed her promising career. 

Henry Thomas

Acor Henry Thomas has had a long career in TV and on film, but the movies we all best remember are when he was a child actor full of skill and personality in movies like E.T. and the underrated Cloak & Dagger. E.T. was one of the most successful movies of all time and is ranked as one of Steven Spielberg's best movies, thanks in large part to Thomas' performance. 

Jaleel White

It's true that Steve Urkel on Family Matters is one of the more polarizing characters in TV history, but Jaleel White's performance as the nerdy neighbor shouldn't be controversial. He was perfect in the role and people are still making references to it decades later, which tells you all you need to know. 

Hailee Steinfeld

In literature, there are few kids with more personality than Mattie Ross in Charles Portis' classic novel True Grit. It takes a young actor with an equally big personality to play her on-screen and in the Coen Brother's 2010 adaption, Hailee Steinfeld just crushes the role. 

Drew Barrymore

When you come from Hollywood royalty, like the Barrymore family, you'd better have some acting chops. Drew Barrymore proved just how great she was before she was even seven years old when she starred in her breakout role as Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. She continued acting as a kid in movies like Firestarter and Irreconcilable Differences, before moving on to adult roles and eventually, her own talk show. 

Keshia Knight Pulliam

The Cosby Show was among the most popular shows of the 1980s and while Bill Cosby was undoubtedly the star of the show, Keshia Knight Pulliam, who played the youngest Huxtable child, Rudy, stole a TON of scenes in every season. Who could ever forget the lip-syncing scenes with the whole family, and not immediately recall her legendary moments in those scenes? 

Hayley Mills

How about not one, but two roles that prove just how much personality one child actor can show off? For Hayley Mills, The Parent Trap wasn't her first movie, but it is the one most remembered from her child-acting days. She plays both twins in the movie and does it so well, that you'd swear it would have to be two people, even though they look alike. 

Abigail Breslin

Little Miss Sunshine was the surprise hit of 2006 and that was in no small part (pun intended) to Abigail Breslin's brilliant performance as Olive, the girl at the heart of the dysfunctional family's road trip. you know someone is a star when they stand out from a cast that includes Alan Arkin, Paul Dano, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette.

Anna Paquin

These days Anna Paquin is probably best known for her work in the X-Men series, but she really burst onto the scene as an 11-year-old in The Piano, for which she became one of the youngest actors to ever win an Academy Award. More than three decades later she's still lighting up the screen. 

Alfonso Ribeiro

In the 1980s television was filled with precocious kids tearing it up on shows like Silver Spoons. Ricky Schroeder may have been the star as young Ricky, a role that launched his career, but his best friend, Alfonso, played by Alfonso Ribeiro, stole a lot of the scenes he was in. After Silver Spoons, Ribeiro danced into our hearts as Carlton on The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. 

Natalie Portman

It is undeniable that Natalie Portman is one of the finest actors of her generation and her career all started when she was just 12 in Leon: The Professional. It's a complicated role, one that even many adult actors would struggle with, but Portman showed right away just what kind of acting chops she had in the movie. It's a challenging role for audiences, thanks to her fantastic performance. 

Alyssa Milano

Alyssa Milano's career has gone through some peaks and valleys, like many actors. One of the highest peaks came when she was just a kid, starring as Samantha in Who's The Boss?, a classic '80s sitcom. Tony Danza played her father and the chemistry between them was legendary. Maybe one day we'll get that reboot we've been waiting for. 

Jerry Mathers

In the whole history of American television, one of the most enduring characters has to be from its golden age in the 1950s, Beaver Cleaver. Played by Jerry Mathers, The Beav was an instant hit with kids and parents alike and the show ran for decades in reruns all over the country. Mathers even returned to play The Beaver during the Baby Boomer nostalgia fad of the 1980s. 

Keisha Castle-Hughes

When Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar in her breakout role in The Whale Rider, she was the youngest person to ever receive that honor. Her performance is fully deserving of the praise she received and she's continued to receive well-earned praise for her roles in Game of Thrones as Obara Sand, and as Hana Gibson in FBI.

Jodie Foster

Playing a role like Jodie Foster played in Taxi Driver takes a truly special actor. Foster, who was just 14 when she played the complicated role, has gone on to have an incredible and empowering career in Hollywood, but it's hard to imagine her having a tougher assignment than that part, with such adult complications, in Taxi Driver. 

Dafne Keen

There is something so magical about kids playing roles that really wrestle with adult themes and one of the best recent examples is Dafne Keen in Logan. It's a complicated role, dealing with complicated subjects and Keen is sublime throughout the movie. 

Heather O'Rourke

Heather O'Rouke's all too tragic life was taken way too soon. The Poltergeist star died when she was just 12 years old, but in those 12 years, she left a heck of an impression on the world. Her performance in Poltergeist completely steals the legendary horror film. 

Natalie Wood

While Natalie Wood is too often remembered for all the wrong reasons, in her short life (she died when she was just 43), she packed a ton of memorable performances in that life. One of the most enduring has to be her role in Miracle on 34th Street, which came when she was just 9 years old. 

Sometimes an actor just explodes on the scene with their first movie. Many of the people on this list have even been nominated and won awards for their first roles. Most, of course, have gone on to have long, successful careers, so let's look back at these actors who absolutely crushed it in their first roles. 

Lupita Nyong'o - 12 Years A Slave

It didn't take long for Kenyan native Lupita Nyong'o to make a huge splash in Hollywood. After a little time working on movie sets behind the camera, she studied acting at Yale and landed her seminal role in 12 Years A Slave almost immediately after graduating. The performance speaks for itself, and Nyong'o deservingly took home an Oscar for it. Amazingly, three years later, she won a Tony in her Broadway debut in Eclipsed.

Sean Penn - Taps

Sean Penn has had a long, storied career and while many may assume his breakout role came as the stoner Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High, but a year before cracking up audiences in that cult classic, he played a very different role as a would-be soldier at a military academy in Taps. Notably, Tom Cruise also made his breakthrough role in the movie alongside Penn. 

Reese Witherspoon - The Man In The Moon

Over the last 4 decades or so, Reese Witherspoon has not only become one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood, but a major force behind the scenes as a producer. It all started for the Nashville native with her debut in The Man In The Moon in 1991. It's always impressive when a newcomer can lead a personal film like this, and Witherspoon showed early how good she is by doing so. 

Natalie Portman - Leon: The Professional

There are a few actors in Hollywood who broke big when they were very young. From the moment you see Natalie Portman on screen in her first role as Mathilda in Leon: The Professional, you know she's going to be big. Yeah, it's an uncomfortable movie to watch for obvious reasons - Portman was just 13 - but seeing how brave she was to take on a complicated role like that, it was clear she was destined for greatness. 

Edward Norton - Primal Fear

Has there ever been a more terrifying and convincing debut performance from an actor than Edward Norton in Primal Fear? It's one of the all-time great grifter films and Norton's performance is the major reason why. He's scary, both in character and in talent. 

Florence Pugh - The Falling

It's hard to believe Florence Pugh made her debut in The Falling in 2014. It seems like the actress has been around forever as she keeps picking amazing roles and crushing the performances, just like her first. 

Kevin Bacon - National Lampoon's Animal House

Every actor in Hollywood is connected to Kevin Bacon, as the game claims, and that's because for more than five decades he's been giving amazing performance and amazing performance. His first movie, the classic comedy National Lampoon's Animal House is certainly no exception as he plays a snobby, snarky, frat boy to perfection. There is nothing he can't do.  

Halle Berry - Jungle Fever

In 2001 Halle Berry became the first African-American woman to win the Best Picture Oscar for Monster's Ball. That was just 10 short years after she made he incredible debut in Spike Lee's Jungle Fever. The former beauty pageant contestant has been one of the most reliably great stars in the years since, starring in some of the biggest franchises in Hollywood including the X-Men, James Bond, John Wick, and much more. 

Jennifer Hudson - Dreamgirls

After finishing seventh in the third season of American Idol, we all knew Jennifer Hudson could sing. When she was cast as Aretha Frankin-like Effie White in Dreamgirls, it didn't surprise anyone. At least, we weren't surprised until we all saw just how her powerful voice was matched by her powerful acting. She took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in her big-screen debut. 

Eddie Murphy - 48 Hrs.

By the time Eddie Murphy starred in 48 Hrs. alongside Nick Nolte in 1982, he was already a bonafide TV star from his time on SNL. Known for his great characters and hilarious lines on SNL, it wasn't clear if he could carry a movie. 48 Hrs. settled that, he definitely could and he's been leading them ever since. 

Marlee Matlin - Children Of A Lesser God

Marlee Matlin has been breaking down barriers since the very beginning of her career. Deaf from the time she was a small child, there must have been many people who told her she could pursue her dreams. Instead, she became not only the deaf actor to win an Oscar in his debut movie, Children Of A Lesser God, but the youngest woman to take home the statue as well. 

Anne Hathaway - The Princess Diaries

From the very beginning, Anne Hathaway has been wowing audiences. Her first movie is still one of her most beloved, The Princess Diaries. She even got to star alongside true film royalty. Julie Andrews. She didn't seem intimidated then, and she never has been since. 

Tim Curry - The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Tim Curry's first movie has become the dictionary definition of a cult classic. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a flop when it was released, but in the decades since, it's become one of the most popular movies of all time with a fanbase that is not just dedicated, but rabid in its love for the movie and for Curry's character, Frank-N-Furter.

Emma Stone - Superbad

Superbad is one of those comedies that very really gets old, especially if you grew up with it as a staple of your DVD rotation. Emma Stone's character Jules is not the kind of character you'd expect to be as funny as she is, which makes Stone pretty much perfect for the role, as she is as effortlessly funny as she is effortlessly beautiful. She's gone on to tackle some characters with incredible depth, but she set the foundation in Superbad. 

Oprah Winfrey - The Color Purple

There is really nothing Oprah Winfrey can't accomplish. She was already on her way to becoming the biggest daytime talk show in history by the time she landed a role in Steven Speilberg's classic The Color Purple. It turns out Winfrey can do a whole more than coax the most out of guests on her talk show, she can act really act, earning an Oscar nomination in her film debut. 

Julie Andrews - Mary Poppins

It's really hard to believe that Julie Andrews didn't make her true film debut until she was nearly 30 years old, when she appeared as the legendary Mary Poppins in the film of the same name. Of course, Andrews was well-established as a stage actor at that point, but still, it was the golden age of Hollywood, you'd think she would have been cast in something well before Mary Poppins. At least we can be grateful she was cast here. 

Alan Rickman - Die Hard

Hans Gruber in Die Hard is, without a doubt, one of the greatest villains of the 1980s. Knowing that it was the film debut of the incredible Alan Rickman makes it all that more impressive. He plays the role with such confidence and panache, that it's almost too much to believe it was his first movie role, but it was. 

Anna Paquin - The Piano

Anna Paquin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Piano. She was just 11 years old! Anyone who does that deserves a spot on any list like that. She's the second youngest ever to win an Oscar and in the years since she's continued to wow us with her work. 

Jamie Lee Curtis - Halloween

Jamie Lee Curtis basically invented the modern scream queen in horror movies in her debut in Halloween. It's a genre she's only returned to a few times in her long, impressive career, but we're sure glad it's where she got her start. 

Hailee Steinfeld - True Grit

It's a little remarkable how many young girls pop up on a list like this. One of the most recent examples of a teenager just crushing her film debut is Hailee Steinfeld. Not only did she have the pressure of playing a beloved literary character like Mattie Ross in True Grit, but she also had to act alongside legends like Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, and Josh Brolin. She doesn't just hold her own, either, she steals the movie. She rightly received an Oscar nomination for her work.  

Glenn Close - The World According To Garp

Glenn Close burst on the scene with award-winning performances on Broadway before transitioning to film with her debut on the silver screen in The World According To Garp where she picked up where she left off on the stage, getting nominated for an Oscar. She would earn Oscar nominations (but sadly no wins) for her next two movies as well, The Big Chill and The Natural. 

Robert Duvall - To Kill A Mockingbird

Robert Duvall's career goes all the way back to the 1950s, when he first appeared as Boo Radley in one of the most beloved movies about the American South, To Kill A Mockingbird. He only has a small role, as the character with an outsized effect on the plot who is only seen at the end, but he embodies the character so many kids learn to love when they first read the book in high school. 

John Malkovich - Places In The Heart

There is no question that John Malkovich is one of the finest actors of his generation. He's completely fearless in all the roles he plays and that's true going all the way back to his first role as a blind World War I vet in the Depression-era film Places in the Heart alongside Sally Field, Danny Glover, and Ed Harris. 

Lily Tomlin - Nashville

Though she was already a comedic legend on TV, having appeared on Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, Lily Tomlin showed what range she really had as a gospel singer and mother to two in Nashville. She's continued to show those skills over and over in the decades since. 

Gal Gadot - Fast & Furious

Gal Gadot is best known as Wonder Woman these days, but she made her debut in another giant Hollywood franchise when she appeared in Fast & Furious, the fourth installment of the Fast And Furious series. The ex-Israeli army veteran has impressed fans of the movies in each of her 3 appearances by performing most of her own stunts.  

Kerry Washington - Our Song

Our Song is an underrated movie that is everything great about independent filmmaking. It's an intensely personal story about a unique moment in time for the characters and the audience. Kerry Washington simply blows audiences out of the water with her powerful and heartfelt performance. It's incredible how good she was in her first movie. 

Dustin Hoffman - The Graduate

So, technically Dustin Hoffman had already had a small role in a film before The Graduate (a movie called The Tiger Makes Out). For all intents and purposes, he introduced himself to the world with an Oscar-nominated performance in one of the most iconic movies in Hollywood history, The Graduate. It's a movie people still love talking about and lauding, even nearly 60 years later. 

John Cazale - The Godfather

The incredible and tragic story of actor John Cazale is well-known among movie buffs. Cazale only starred in five movies before he died of cancer at just age 42. All five of those movies won the Oscar for Best Picture The first, his first, was, of course, The Godfather. Though his character, Fredo, would play a larger role in the sequel, he still established himself as one of the greatest of his generation before we all lost him too soon.  

Gabrielle Union - She's All That

Actor Gabrielle Union has definitely made her mark not only on Hollywood but on the world with her stellar performances and her charity work outside of film. HE burst onto the scene in She's All That and she's never slowed down since. 

James Dean - East Of Eden

The great James Dean is one of the biggest "what ifs" in Hollywood history. Though he did have some uncredited roles in a few movies, the young actor starred in just three movies, including his first East Of Eden. For that role, he would receive an Oscar nomination, though he wouldn't live to see it, as he was killed in a car crash before being nominated. A feat that would be repeated the next year with Giant.

Jason Schwartzman - Rushmore

Though Jason Schwartzman comes from a prominent Hollywood family, that didn't guarantee success. Instead, he went out in his first movie role, in Rushmore, and absolutely embodied his character of Max. It's every bit as impressive as anything his mom Talia Shire has done, and that is no small feat. 

Keisha Castle-Hughes - The Whale Rider

When Keisha Castle-Hughes was nominated for an Oscar at just 12 years old for The Whale Rider, you knew she was one to watch for. She was, at the time, the second-youngest person nominated for an Oscar and not only was the nomination well-deserved, but she's continued to justify the voters' confidence in her with her roles over the last couple of decades. 

The 2010s were a transformative decade for movies as directors like Damien Chazelle, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele hit the mainstream, and many actors exploded into stardom or gave career-defining performances in movies like theirs. Now, it’s time to celebrate some of the best films of this decade and the performers who starred in them. 

Emma Stone – La La Land 

This ode to Old Hollywood and modern romance from Damien Chazelle is widely beloved in part because of Emma Stone's performance. If you go back to reviews for La La Land, you’ll see Stone and Ryan Gosling praised for their work as they played Mia and Sebastian, two aspiring artists who fall in love with each other. Notably, Emma Stone won her first Oscar for the film because of the wonderful performance she gave as the up-and-coming actress. 

Kristen Wiig – Bridesmaids

When it comes to Bridesmaids and all its hilarious lines and gags, we all need to say a collective thank you to Kristen Wiig. Not only did the Saturday Night Live alum lead the stellar ensemble cast of this 2011 flick, but she also wrote the movie with Annie Mumolo, and they got an Oscar nomination for it. 

Mahershala Ali – Moonlight

Moonlight, which famously won Best Picture in 2017, is a coming-of-age film that follows Chiron through three stages of his life, focusing on him exploring his sexuality and identity. In it, Mahershala Ali plays Juan, a man who has a pivotal role in Chiron’s early life. Famously, Ali won his first Oscar for his moving performance in this film. 

Daniel Kaluuya – Get Out

Get Out is considered one of the greatest horror movies of all time, and it marked the directorial debut of Jordan Peele. While this film about the deeply dark turn a trip takes after a white woman brings her Black boyfriend home to meet her family is career-defining for its director – as he’s gone on to become quite the name in the genre – it also marked a major breakout for Daniel Kaluuya who played the film’s lead, Chris. 

Amy Adams – Arrival 

Arrival is unquestionably one of Amy Adams’ best movies, and to this day, folks are still livid that she wasn’t nominated for an Oscar for it. She plays Louise, a linguist assigned to decipher and translate an alien language. However, as Arrival’s ending makes abundantly clear, there’s way more to it than that, and one of the major reasons this movie works is because of Adams’ masterful, emotional and nuanced performance. 

J.K. Simmons – Whiplash

In Whiplash, one of J.K. Simmons’ best films, he plays a brilliant and brutal jazz conductor and instructor named Terence Fletcher. During the film, Miles Teller plays a young drummer named Andrew who is determined to become great, and his intense relationship with Terence and the notion of being the best is what makes Damien Chazelle’s film magnificent. On top of its overall acclaim, Simmons also won an Oscar for his performance.

Hugh Jackman – Logan 

Logan was Hugh Jackman’s last ride as the Wolverine, and it was basically perfect. While he’s returned to the role since in Deadpool and Wolverine, Logan still serves as a wonderful conclusion to the iconic X-Man’s story. It was also a game-changing Marvel film, as it brought a level of grit and intrigue that we hadn’t really seen in a movie from this universe before. 

Ben Affleck – Argo 

Much like Good Will Hunting, Argo marked a major milestone in Ben Affleck’s career. It was one of the films that solidified him as a top-tier director, and on top of that, he also starred in the film about a CIA agent disguised as a producer who goes into Tehran on a mission to save a group of Americans. Oh, also, the film went on to win Best Picture at the Oscars too. 

Jesse Eisenberg — The Social Network

The Social Network cast is stacked, however, it wouldn’t be what it is without Jesse Eisenberg’s performance as Mark Zuckerberg at its center. His nuanced performance which is somehow both collected and chaotic compliments Aaron Sorkin’s fast-talking script perfectly, and he expertly helped build up tension in the film that director David Fincher is known for. All around, that made for a perfect, heart-pounding drama about the rise of Facebook.

Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf Of Wall Street  

While Leonardo DiCaprio has a long list of career-defining performances, and he and Martin Scorsese have made many great movies together, you can’t deny that his portrayal of Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street tops that list. 

Brie Larson – Room

The film Room, which is about a mother and her son escaping captivity, is masterfully led by Brie Larson, who plays Ma. Both she and Jacob Tremblay, who played her son Jack, were praised for their performances, and in 2016, the actress won an Oscar for her work. 

Daniel Craig – Knives Out

Now, I know that Daniel Craig’s tenure as James Bond was still happening in the 2010s. However, an equally important and brilliant role he took on was as detective Benoit Blanc in Rian Johnson’s first whodunnit Knives Out. Now, after leading the cast of Knives Out, Craig has gone on to reprise his role as the Southern detective on multiple occasions, because he loves it and so do we. 

Ryan Gosling – Drive

If you look over Ryan Gosling’s best movies, on one side you’ll find his brilliant comedic films – like Barbie and The Nice Guys – and on the other side, you’ll find his stoic and dramatic performance, like the one he gives in Drive. Put simply, Drive wouldn’t work without the actor’s lead performance, because the entire film hinges on him and his abilities. 

Ryan Reynolds – Deadpool

After years of working to get it made and some well-timed leaked footage, finally, in 2016, Deadpool came out and we got to see Ryan Reynolds in his element as the Merc with a Mouth. 

Casey Affleck – Manchester By The Sea 

In a film about a man returning home to reckon with his past and grief after losing his brother, Casey Affleck gives an emotional and commanding performance. Not only did he win an Oscar for his work in this drama, but it’s also one of the big defining roles of his career. 

Chris Evans – Captain America: The Winter Soldier 

Chris Evans began and ended his tenure as Steve Rogers in the 2010s. While all his outings as the star-spangled man with a plan were excellent, nothing tops his performance as Cap in the political thriller that is the Russo brothers’ Captain America: The Winter Soldier, which is easily one of the best Marvel movies ever made. 

Ralph Fiennes – The Grand Budapest Hotel 

Under Wes Anderson’s precise direction, Ralph Fiennes occupied the pastel world of the Grand Budapest Hotel with grace and style. His fast-talking M. Gustave went on quite the adventure in this film, and he won over the hearts of audiences with his quick wit, smooth charm and impeccable work ethic. 

Natalie Portman – Black Swan 

Throwing it back to the beginning of the decade, Darren Aronofsky’s 2010 psychological thriller Black Swan showed us Natalie Portman’s talents in a new light. While she had been on the scene and in big movies for years, this film marked a major milestone in her career as her performance as a tortured ballerina got her an Academy Award. 

Matthew McConaughey – Dallas Buys Club

Obviously, for a couple of decades before this, Matthew McConaughey was known and beloved for fun movies like Dazed and Confused and How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days. However, in 2013, Dallas Buyers Club marked a notable shift in his career. Not only did he win an Oscar for this dramatic turn as a man who finds out he has AIDS, but he also went on to star in acclaimed projects like Interstellar and True Detective one year later, cementing himself as a magnificent dramatic actor with serious range. 

Jennifer Lawrence – Silver Linings Playbook

Yes, Jennifer Lawrence leading The Hunger Games cast is one of the biggest triumphs of her career. However, amid all of that, she starred in the beloved dramedy Silver Linings Playbook with Bradley Cooper, and that’s the film for which she won her Oscar. This magnificent film about two people learning to live and thrive through grief and mental illness, is a thoughtful and funny film that Lawrence steals with her amazing performance. 

Brad Pitt – Moneyball 

Moneyball is the story about the general manager of the Oakland A’s using his business savvy and what little money his team had to assemble a rag-tag team of MLB players. Brad Pitt plays said manager, Billy Beane, and I mean it when I say the movie really wouldn’t work without him. He’s at the center of it, and he carries it to victory just like his character did with the A’s.  

Chadwick Boseman – Black Panther 

We sadly lost Chadwick Boseman way too early, however, his legacy will live on forever. This is in part because of his performance as the King of Wakanda, T’Challa. Black Panther was a historic moment in modern movie history, and his incredible take on the titular hero is a big reason why. 

Margot Robbie – I, Tonya 

Before I, Tonya, Margot Robbie was beloved for her supporting and ensemble roles in films like The Wolf of Wall Street and Suicide Squad. However, one of the movies that helped solidify her as both a leading lady and super producer was I, Tonya. She played Tonya Harding and produced the film under the banner of her company LuckyChap – which went on to make films like Barbie and Promising Young Woman. 

Florence Pugh – Midsommar

Florence Pugh exploded onto the scene with the haunting Ari Aster film Midsommar. The movie is now considered one of the best horror movies of all time, and a big reason why is Pugh’s performance. 

Saoirse Ronan – Lady Bird

Talk about a dynamic duo. Greta Gerwig and Saoirse Ronan are a match made in heaven, and that was solidified into fact when the actress played the titular Lady Bird in the director’s breakout film. Not only did fans fall in love with Ronan’s performance as the defiant teenage gal, but she also received wide acclaim and an Oscar nomination for it. Plus, it was the beginning of a glorious partnership between her and Greta Gerwig as they then went on to make Little Women together. 

Timothée Chalamet – Call Me By Your Name

These days, when people think of Timothée Chalamet, they likely think of him as Paul Atreides, the leader of the Dune cast. However, before that (and in a different decade) the film that sprung him into the mainstream was Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name. The deeply romantic and tender coming-of-age drama was led beautifully by Chalamet, and since then he’s taken on more roles that have helped cement him as one of the top-leading men of his generation. 

Anna Kendrick – Pitch Perfect

If you were a kid in 2012 (like I was), odds are you learned the “Cups” song. The movie about college acapella was a phenomenon in the early 2010s, and it served as a big breakout leading role for Anna Kendrick. Not only was she funny as Becca, but everyone also became aware that she had the singing voice of an angel.  

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years A Slave

Lupita Nyong’o’s first feature film was 12 Years A Slave. Her performance in the movie by Steve McQueen won her an Oscar in 2012 and solidified her as a top-tier dramatic performer. Since then, she’s gone on to star in massive blockbusters like Black Panther and A Quiet Place: Day One. 

Joaquin Phoenix – Joker

There have been many amazing takes on the Joker, and Joaquin Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck was a totally new one. In Joker, we see the villain’s origin story, and it’s a film that’s unlike any other DC project. The haunting performance ultimately won the actor an Oscar, and he reprised the part again in Joker: Folie à Deux.

Charlize Theron – Mad Max: Fury Road

The movie is named after Mad Max, and he’s great, don’t get me wrong, but Furiosa steals the show. Charlize Theron’s performance as the driver in Mad Max: Fury Road is fierce and jaw-dropping, and she’s one of many reasons why George Miller’s movie is considered one of the best action films. 

Michael Cera – Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

You can’t have Scott Pilgrim vs. The World without a perfect Scott Pilgrim and that’s who Michael Cera is. He perfectly played the awkward yet heroic protagonist in Edgar Wright’s beloved film, and to this day, it's considered some of his best work.

Matt Damon – The Martian

This Ridley Scott movie is literally about one man who is stuck on Mars. Yes, there are other people in the film trying to save him. However, overall, The Martian is Matt Damon’s movie. He plays the stranded astronaut and scientist, and the heart, charisma, intelligence and even humor he brings to the space drama is unforgettable. 

All around, the 2010s were full of films that are on their way to becoming all-time classics, and it’s in part thanks to the brilliant actors who starred in them. 

Whether it's in biopics or in other historical movies, playing an important person often leads to some of the most amazing performances put on film. There are far too many to count, much less list here, but we do think you'll agree that this list of 32 actors playing famous people rank among the best. 

Ben Kingsley - Gandhi

The 1982 epic Gandhi starring Ben Kingsley as the revered leader of India and icon to peaceful protestors all over the world is an amazing movie. At the heart is Kingsley's amazing, transformative performance. He looks and sounds just like Gandhi, it's almost uncanny. 

Margot Robbie - Tonya Harding

When the news first broke that Australian Margot Robbie was cast to play controversial US Olympic figure skater Tonya Harding in I, Tonya, it's safe to say that many were skeptical. It took the actor all of about 30 seconds of screen time in the movie to prove those skeptics very wrong. Robbie is fantastic as the troubled skater with a family life that you wouldn't wish on anyone. 

Paul Dano - Brian Wilson

The Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy seems to have been overlooked by many, but if you're a fan of The Beach Boys, you need to see it. John Cusack plays the older Wilson in the 1980s and it is fantastic. Paul Dano, who plays the Pet Sounds-era Wilson, is simply amazing. He completely disappears into the role. 

Reese Witherspoon - June Carter Cash

Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix are both amazing in Walk the Line as June and Johnny Cash. Really both deserve to be on this list, but we've the honor to Witherspoon if only because she won Best Actress at the Oscars in 2006. 

Robert Downey, Jr - Charlie Chaplin

It took a long time for Robert Downey to win an Oscar, which he finally did for Oppenheimer. More than 30 years before that win, he earned his first nomination for 1992's Chaplin for playing the legendary actor and Hollywood trailblazer. It's a movie that doesn't get talked about much these days, but it's still great. Especially Downey's performance. 

Natalie Portman - Jackie Kennedy

Jackie Kennedy has to be a tricky person to play. She is so iconic and so well known to so many people that the scrutiny would be stressful. Luckily for all of us, Natalie Portman hit it out of the park when she played the former First Lady in Jackie. 

Meryl Streep - Margaret Thatcher

It's hardly surprising to see Meryl Streep's name on any list of great performances. She has been arguably the best actor in Hollywood for 50 years. One of her finest performances came in 2011's The Iron Lady where she played the first female prime minister of the United Kingdom, Margaret Thatcher. 

Rami Malek - Freddy Mercury

You knew we couldn't have this list without including Rami Malek's incredible performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic about the late Queen singer, Bohemian Rhapsody. It's not all about the prosthetic teeth, as Malek nailed so many nuances and mannerisms of the icon rock star. Just as in real life, the performance at Live Aid at the end of the movie brings down the house. 

Val Kilmer - Jim Morrison

If you grew up in the '90s, The Doors was probably a seminal film for you. Val Kilmer blew audiences away as the late Jim Morrison. It was so good you'd swear you were watching the real Morrison as he rose to fame and then burned out quickly before tragically becoming a member of the "27 Club" in 1971.

Denzel Washington - Malcolm X

A powerful personality takes an actor with equal strength to pull off and in Malcolm X, Denzel Washington is more than up for the task. Playing the combative, controversial civil rights leader could not have been easy, yet Washington brings him back to life in every way. It's the reason everyone should see this biopic. 

Faye Dunaway - Joan Crawford

Faye Dunaway gives the performance of a lifetime in Mommie Dearest. It's scary and mesmerizing. Joan Crawford was one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood in the Golden Age in Hollywood, but this movie changed the public's opinion of her forever - and not for the better. 

Jennifer Lopez - Selena

Before played the murdered superstar Selena in the movie of the same name, Jennifer Lopez had had a few roles in movies, but after Selena, she was the legend we all know today. It's a groundbreaking performance. 

David Oyelowo - Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr.

Everyone in America has heard the powerful voice of Martin Luther King, Jr. hundreds of times. His speeches are part of everyone's education. That makes David Oyelowo's turn as the civil rights leader that much harder - and that much more impressive. It's just fantastic. 

Cate Blanchett - Bob Dylan

Okay, we admit, technically Cate Blanchett is playing a character named "Jude Quinn" in I'm Not There, but c'mon, let's be real, she's playing Bob Dylan. It's an uncanny performance as well. There is actual footage of Dylan from that time in his career in the excellent D.A. Pennebaker-directed Dont Look Back. Compare that to Blanchett and you'll realize just how great she was. 

Daniel Day-Lewis - Abraham Lincoln

Of all the amazing performances on this list, Daniel Day-Lewis as Abraham Lincoln in Lincoln just may be the best. It frankly could be the greatest acting performance of all time. There's an argument for it, at least. He's simply incredible and brings the tragic president to life like no one else has before or since, and likely never will. 

Cillian Murphy - J. Robert Oppenheimer

Cillian Murphy won a well-deserved Best Actor Award for playing J. Robert Oppenheimer in Oppenheimer. It's a subtle, smoldering performance, just like the personality of the real Oppenheimer. Playing the scientist in his greatest moments in life and his lowest, it's a fantastic showing by the Irish actor. 

Cynthia Erivo - Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman is one of the most important people in US history, but one that hasn't been explored on film nearly as much as you might expect. Luckily, when someone did decide to finally tell her full story on the big screen in 2019's Harriet, they had the good sense to cast Cynthia Erivo as the former slave-turned-freedom fighter. She's amazing. 

Forest Whitaker - Idi Amin

Forest Whitaker is pretty great in everything he's in. He cranks his talent up to another level in The Last King Of Scotland as the brutal dictator of Uganda, Idi Amin. He's so good there are even moments where viewers might feel compassion for the man, despite his worst tendencies as the leader of the country. 

Jessica Chastain - Tammy Faye Bakker

If you were around in the 1980s, you remember all the insanity around Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Jim Bakker crying on TV with Tammy Faye right next to him is something no one will forget. Jessica Chastain's turn as the evangelical preacher's wife is just as memorable. 

Philip Seymour Hoffman - Truman Capote

it's hard to imagine anyone will ever play Truman Capote as well as the late Philip Seymour Hoffman in Capote. The role completely takes control of the actor in the best way. It might as well been the writer himself. You completely forget there is even an actor behind the role. 

Daniel Kaluuya - Fred Hampton

Fred Hampton was a controversial and complicated leader in the Black Panther Party in the 1960s. Casting a Brit like Daniel Kaluuya in the role was a daring choice by the filmmakers of Judas and the Black Messiah, but it paid off brilliantly as Kaluuya nails the role. 

Gary Oldman - Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill has been played on the big and small screen by plenty of great actors. John Lithgow (The Crown), Brendan Gleeson (Into the Storm), and Albert Finney (The Gathering Storm) have all garnered praise for playing the legendary prime minister. Gary Oldman, who won an Oscar for playing Churchill in 2017's The Darkest Hour may just be the best. His reading of those famous speeches is just mesmerizing. 

Angela Bassett - Tina Tuner

Tina Turner was a fierce woman, who deserved a fierce performance and she got one with Angela Bassett in What's Love Got To Do With It. Bassett's performance is transcendent and certainly deserved the Oscar nomination she received. She should've won it! 

Austin Butler - Elvis Presley

Austin Butler got so caught up in his performance as Elvis Presley in Elvis that critics of the actor complained that even months later he was still talking like the King of Rock and Roll. he wasn't, but that does say something about how good he was in the Baz Luhrmann-directed bio flick. 

Jesse Eisenberg - Mark Zuckerberg

When The Social Network was first announced, many were confused as to how someone could make an interesting movie about the founding of Facebook. It turns out, that if you get a great writer like Aaron Sorkin, a great director like David Fincher, and someone like Jesse Eisenberg to play the Mark Zuckerberg, you can make it look easy. The movie is great, and Eisenberg's performance is pitch-perfect. 

Leonardo DiCaprio - Howard Hughes

Howard Hughes is one of the most mercurial and odd celebrities in US history. In The Aviator, Leonardo DiCaprio fully embodies everything about the director and businessman. He takes on his greatest triumphs and sinks to the depths of Hughes' despair in the lowest points of his mental illness with the same gusto. 

Charlize Theron - Aileen Wuornos

Serial killer Aileen Wuornos was a terrifying person. A true monster, as the name of the movie about her is called. That's not to say a viewer can't have some sympathy for the circumstances that brought her to the point of murder, but you can't excuse her. Charlize Theron does an incredible job bringing all of that to the role in Monster. 

Sean Penn - Harvey Milk

Milk is one of the great political movies of the last few decades and the biggest reason why, besides the inspiring story, is Sean Penn's performance as Harvey Milk. Like Penn has done so often in his career, he completely disappears into the character. It is Harvey Milk.  

George C. Scott - George Patton

George S. Patton was a great, and complicated leader in World War II. He was responsible for some of the greatest military gains in the war, and he couldn't keep himself out of trouble with his controversy. George C. Scott's portrayal of the general in Patton is amazing. Even though the opening scene of him making a speech in front of the flag is fictional, it sets the tone perfectly and the movie never lets up. 

Cate Blanchett - Katharine Hepburn

Leonardo DiCaprio is fantastic in The Aviator as Howard Hughes, but he's not the only great performance in the movie. Cate Blanchett as the iconic Katharine Hepburn is, well, iconic. There's just no better word for either. It's not only a spot-on impression, the portrayal nails everything that was great about Hepburn. 

Robert De Niro - Jake LaMotta

Jake LaMotta was one of the toughest prizefighters of all time. His incredible story and Robert De Niro's performance are the two things that make Raging Bull legendary. Scorsese's direction is pretty great too. 

Helen Mirren - Queen Elizabeth II

it's really hard to play a person who has been on television screens all over the world for decades. Helen Mirren takes on that difficult task in Queen Elizabeth II. The late Queen was an icon in every sense of the word and playing her could not have been easy, yet, when you have the talent of Helen Mirren, it looks easy. It surely wasn't. 

Chris Hemsworth and Natalie Portman are a great match on screen as Thor and Jane Foster in Marvel’s Thor films. However, from a cinematic perspective, the actors weren’t physically the best combination. The Portman/Hemsworth height difference ended up being a bit of a problem for the filmmakers behind the movies, and the Black Swan actress revealed how the production team hilariously ended up making their kissing scenes less awkward.

When the duo sat down with the titular host of The Graham Norton Show, the actors revealed a number of behind the scenes stories about making the Thor movies. While the actors may have had chemistry, their height difference was significant and it would sometimes look strange on camera. Apparently Portman would make Hemsworth look massive, considering how short she is. She may have felt tall when she acted as Mighty Thor, but even bulking up couldn’t change her stature. Production had to build a ramp so she could kiss him on screen. The Oscar winner explained:

For context, Portman is 5’3'', which is definitely on the shorter side for a Hollywood actress. Hemsworth on the other hand is an entire foot taller than the actress, standing at 6’3''. The ramp situation probably was beneficial for the Blackhat actor’s neck, which would’ve had to be craned down pretty far for the performers to kiss without any assistance. Most of the kisses between the two are shot in a close up, so audiences wouldn’t even notice the ramp structure, and one particular smooch in Thor: The Dark World is cleverly filmed with Hemsworth on a lower balcony step than Portman, making the kiss natural and romantic.

It’s actually quite common for height differences between leads to become a factor when pairing actors. Zendaya initially was worried that she was too tall to star opposite Tom Holland in Spider-Man: Homecoming because she is slightly taller than her male counterpart. Thankfully, Marvel saw this as a nonissue because the two are great together. When shooting Priscilla, Jacob Elordi’s large height difference with Cailee Spaeny was also noticeable, but director Sofia Coppola used it to her advantage to frame Elvis as a physically “larger than life figure.” Portman’s casting, like Zendaya’s, must’ve just been too perfect to pass up, and production found a way to make the logistics between the scene partners possible.

I wonder if this is going to be a continued problem for the actors, who have played love interests in three Thor movies up until this point. While Portman returned for 2022’s Thor: Love and Thunder, it is uncertain if more Thor films will continue to play their characters in a big capacity in additional films within the MCU, especially considering Thor: Love and Thunder's ending. A prequel is always possible, but as of now, Marvel seems more interested in exploring new characters within the franchise. However, I personally love these two together and would welcome seeing them play love interests again someday, even if a ramp is required.

You can see Natalie Portman and Chris Hemsworth together in Thor, Thor: The Dark World, and Thor: Love and Thunder, which are all streaming now with a Disney+ subscription. For more information on other MCU projects heading to theaters and streaming in the near future, make sure to consult our guides of upcoming Marvel movies and upcoming Marvel TV shows.

Most actors don't just come out of the woodwork and immediately get awards attention, box office success and global stardom. Many start out taking bit parts in big movies or supporting character gigs opposite more successful performers. From Academy Award winners like Charlize Theron and Viola Davis to superhero stars like Tom Holland and Ben Affleck, here are 32 now-famous faces you might not remember popped up in famous movies before they were big. 

Matt Damon

In his movie debut, a very young Matt Damon can briefly be seen in 1988's Mystic Pizza as Steamer Windsor, the younger brother of Adam Storke's Charles, the clean-cut, country-club love interest of fun-loving pizzeria waitress Daisy (Julia Roberts). Steamer is present at an awkward dinner where Charles brings Daisy home to meet the family. 

Viola Davis

In the 1998 crime comedy Out of Sight, which is undoubtedly one of Steven Soderbergh's best movies, Viola Davis has a small role playing Moselle Miller, the wife of boxer Maurice "Snoopy" Miller (Don Cheadle). She would later go on to act alongside her Out of Sight co-star Jennifer Lopez in another crime flick, 2015's Lila & Eve.

Philip Seymour Hoffman

The 1992 Martin Brest melodrama Scent of a Woman memorably stars Al Pacino as a blind retired colonel and Chris O'Donnell as the prep-school student hired to watch over him, but it also features Philip Seymour Hoffman in one of his earliest performances as a fellow student named George Willis, Jr.

Carey Mulligan

The Bennet household is a bustling one in Joe Wright's 2005 adaptation of the Jane Austen classic Pride and Prejudice, so much so that you might have overlooked that — along with the likes of Keira Knightley, Rosamund Pike and Jena Malone — a teenaged Carey Mulligan is one of the Bennet sisters. (It's just one of many movies that prove Mulligan should be a much bigger star.) 

Elijah Wood

Long before he embarked on a quest to destroy the One Ring as Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, Elijah Wood was a successful child actor in films like The Adventures of Huck Finn, The Good Son, North and Flipper. However, before those starring roles, the pint-sized performer showed up as "Video Game Boy #2" in Back to the Future Part II.

Octavia Spencer

The 1999 Drew Barrymore comedy Never Been Kissed is jam-packed with unexpected actor appearances, from Jessica Alba to James Franco — together they play a dopey but popular high school couple — to Octavia Spencer. The latter plays a coworker of the main character Josie Geller (Barrymore) at the Chicago Sun-Times. 

Timothée Chalamet

With everything that goes on in Christopher Nolan's Interstellar — you know, that whole part about the astronauts who have to travel through a wormhole near Saturn in search of a new home for humankind — viewers may have forgotten that a fresh-faced Timothée Chalamet as Tim, the teen son of Matthew McConaughey's Cooper. 

Brie Larson

Well before she received an Oscar or donned a superhero cape, Captain Marvel star Brie Larson was a tween actress who had a main role in the short-lived WB sitcom Raising Dad. One of her first big-screen gigs, however, was as a popular Six Chick in the 2004 Jennifer Garner favorite 13 Going on 30. (Don't feel too bad, Mark Ruffalo didn't remember her either.) 

Charlize Theron

If you're a fan of The Wonders, you no doubt remember band members Guy (Tom Everett Scott), Lenny (Steve Zahn), Jimmy (Johnathon Schaech) and the bass player (Ethan Embry). However, you may not so readily remember that Charlize Theron is also in That Thing You Do!, as Guy's ex-girlfriend Tina, who leaves him for her dentist. 

Joe Manganiello 

Before making the ladies sweat in the Magic Mike franchise, Joe Manganiello was making Peter Parker sweat for an entirely different reason in Sam Raimi's Spider-Man film series, playing the high-school bully Flash Thompson. His character dated Kirsten Dunst's Mary Jane before she ended up with Spidey himself (Tobey Maguire). 

Seth Rogen

The titular teen protagonist of Donnie Darko (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) doesn't just have to deal with those disturbing visions of a rabbit-costumed man named Frank. He also has to deal with a pair of high school bullies, one of whom is played by Seth Rogen in his first ever movie appearance. 

Amy Adams

The Steven Spielberg-directed crime comedy Catch Me If You Can featured several now-well-known actresses before they were household names, including Ellen Pompeo, Elizabeth Banks and Amy Adams. The latter acted opposite Leonardo DiCaprio (played teenage con artist Frank Abagnale Jr.) as Brenda Strong, a young hospital worker who falls for Frank and his fraud. 

Keira Knightley

Given her uncanny resemblance to Natalie Portman, it's only fitting that a teenage Keira Knightley appeared as Sabé, a handmaiden and royal decoy for Portman's Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace. Even Knightley herself could use a reminder about who she played in the space trilogy!

Michael Fassbender

Years before memorable film roles in Inglourious Basterds, Jane Eyre, the X-Men movies and his Oscar-nominated turn in Shame, Michael Fassbender made his film debut in the 2006 action epic 300. He played the character of Stelios, a young, spirited and highly skilled Spartan soldier fighting under Gerard Butler's King Leonidas.

Sandra Oh

"Gupta? Mhm. Mhm. Mhm. The queen is coming!" It's one of the most memorable lines uttered in The Princess Diaries and it's said by none other than a pre-Grey's Anatomy Sandra Oh. Joining Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews in the beloved cast, Oh plays the humorous vice principal at Mia Thermopolis's school. 

Margot Robbie

Before her big breakout in The Wolf of Wall Street — and even longer before she painted the world pink with the phenomenon that is Barbie — rom-com fans got their first introduction to Margot in the 2013 romantic dramedy About Time. Robbie plays Charlotte, a woman that the main character Tim Lake (Domhnall Gleeson) is crushing on before he meets his true love, Mary (played by Rachel McAdams).

Joaquin Phoenix

The 1989 Ron Howard-directed comedy Parenthood already has a stacked cast — Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Keanu Reeves, Mary Steenburgen and Dianne Wiest, to name a few — before you even remember that one of the youngins in the movie is played by a teenage Joaquin Phoenix, then going by his birth name Leaf.

Samuel L. Jackson

It's hard to remember a time when Samuel L. Jackson wasn't a major movie star, but in the 1970s and '80s, the iconic actor was racking up bit parts in big titles, including Eddie Murphy's Coming to America. In the 1988 rom-com, Jackson plays a character known as "Hold-Up Man," an armed robber who has held up the local fast-food restaurant called McDowell's five times. 

Kristen Stewart

Though she has been acting professionally since grade school, Kristen Stewart didn't become a global star until she played moody teen Bella Swan in 2008's vampire romance Twilight. But years before that, she played a memorable part in the 2002 David Fincher thriller Panic Room, appearing opposite Jodie Foster as her character's daughter. 

Dakota Johnson

\Dakota Johnson had her big Hollywood breakthrough leading a beloved book-to-film adaptation, as Anastasia Steele in the erotic Fifty Shades film series. But she actually showed up in another huge movie five years earlier: 2010's The Social Network, as a college coed who spends the night with Sean Parker, played by Justin Timberlake. 

Gabrielle Union

Before she led the Clovers to cheer competition victory in 2000's Bring It On, Gabrielle Union was given supporting roles in '90s teen favorites like 10 Things I Hate About You and She's All That. The latter was actually her film debut, in which she appeared as popular girl Katie, a member of Zack Siler's (Freddie Prinze Jr.) friend group. 

Nicolas Cage

Technically, Nicolas Cage wasn't in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. But Nicolas Coppola was — when he made his feature film acting debut in the 1982 coming-of-age comedy, the actor was still going by his birth name. However, the Oscar-winning star would later change his name professionally to avoid nepotism allegations. (He is, of course, the nephew of director Francis Ford Coppola and actress Talia Shire, and a cousin of director Sofia Coppola and actor Jason Schwartzman.)

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp memorably made his big-screen debut in the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street, but movie fans might not remember that a short while later, he also appeared in Oliver Stone's war film Platoon as a young soldier fighting in the Vietnam War alongside the likes of Charlie Sheen, Willem Dafoe, Tom Berenger, Forest Whitaker and Kevin Dillon. 

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has had a prolific acting career ever since she was a tween, starting from when she starred as the young protégée of a hitman in the 1994 action film Léon: The Professional at only twelve years old. Though that was an instantly memorable introduction to the performer, you might have forgotten that only a year later, she worked alongside screen greats like Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in the Michael Mann-directed classic, Heat. 

Tom Holland

He's most famous for spinning webs as Spider-Man but long before that, Tom Holland was making his film debut (and making audiences weep) in the 2012 disaster drama The Impossible, as a young boy desperately trying to reunite with his family following a horrific tsunami. 

Vince Vaughn

The heartwarming 1993 sports drama Rudy — about a young man (Sean Astin) who dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame — features an ironic pair of film-acting debuts. It was the first movie roles of both Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn, playing teaching assistant D-Bob and tailback Jamie O'Hara, respectively. That duo would famously go on to star in the 1996 buddy comedy Swingers. 

Ryan Gosling

Another early football role for a Hollywood heavyweight, a young Ryan Gosling already had some big TV gigs under his belt (The Mickey Mouse Club, Young Hercules) before he appeared as Alan Bosley, the wiry cornerback of T. C. Williams High School's football team in Remember the Titans. And if you remember that locker-room singalong, you know the little Goose had charisma even then!

Mila Kunis

Yes, that is a mini Mila Kunis in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves — she played a friend of Wayne Szalinski's (Rick Moranis) niece, who throws a house party once it seems like all of the grown-ups have left for the evening. (Instead, the adults have been accidentally zapped to microscopic proportions, naturally.) 

Daniel Craig

Before he was Bond, James Bond, Daniel Craig was Ballard, John Ballard, in the 1998 historical drama Elizabeth. The British actor portrayed a priest-slash-assassin who conspired with the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston) to overthrow Queen Elizabeth I (played by Cate Blanchett) from the throne. Of course, Bond would never treat the Queen of England that way!

Jake Gyllenhaal

Given that filmmaking is a family business for Jake Gyllenhaal — he is the son of film director Stephen Gyllenhaal and screenwriter Naomi Foner, and the younger bro of the great actress Maggie Gyllenhaal — it's not a shock that the actor started young. He made his film debut at age ten in 1991's City Slickers, playing the son of Billy Crystal's character Mitch Robbins. 

Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is best known for playing crisis management expert Olivia Pope in the ABC drama series Scandal, but more than a decade earlier, she showed off her fix-it skills as Chenille Reynolds in Save the Last Dance, helping Julia Stiles's character Sara better integrate into their South Side high school and hip-hop culture at large. 

Ben Affleck

Like his famous best friend Matt Damon, Ben Affleck also began his acting career as a child and while eagle-eyed moviegoers no doubt remember spotting him in early-'90s films like School Ties and Dazed and Confused, they may have forgotten his uncredited early cameos, such as "Basketball Player 10" in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. 

There are a lot of reasons that a young actor may change their name. Sometimes it's as simple as just wanting a cool new name. Often it's because someone is already in the union was using the actor's real name and they have to adjust. Here's a list of some of Hollywood's biggest stars and their real names. 

Ben Kingsley (Krishna Pandit Bhanji)

The great Ben Kingsley won an Oscar for his role in the great biopic Gandhi. It makes sense he would play the Indian freedom fighter, as Kingsley himself is Indian. Born to an Indian father and an English mother, Kingsley grew up in England and while his father was a practicing Shia Muslim, Kinglsey is not and considers himself a Quaker. He changed his name for that oh-so-common reason, that he feared a foreign-sounding name would hurt his career. 

Whoopi Goldberg (Caryn Elaine Johnson)

The story is both hilarious and heartfelt. She was born Caryn Elaine Johnson in New York, but when she started acting, she was accused of being flatulent, so Whoopi "short for whoopee cushion." Her surname came from a Jewish ancestor, Goldberg, so she could celebrate the diversity in her family line. 

Judy Garland (Frances Ethel Gumm)

Judy Garland first started in show business as a singer with her sisters, going by their names, The Gumm Sisters. After they were billed as the "Glum Sisters" for a show, it was suggested they change their name. Judy Gumm took her mother's maiden name, Garland, and the rest is history. 

Martin Sheen (Ramon Gerard Estevez)

Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Gerard Estevez, but he changed it when he broke into the business for the same reason so many others have made the decision, to be less ethnic, as early in his career they said he looked Irish. One of his sons, Charlie Sheen, chose to use the same screen name, but one of his other sons, Emilio Estevez, chose to use his given name. Sheen's daughter, Renée Estevez, an occasional cast member of The West Wing with her father, also stuck with the family name. 

Vin Diesel (Mark Sinclair)

Vin Diesel took on that name after being born Mark Sinclair when he worked as a bouncer as he tried to break into show business. "Vin" comes from his adoptive surname, Vincent, and Diesel came simply because he wanted a cool name as a bouncer. 

Miley Cyrus (Destiny Hope Cyrus)

Though she was born Destiny Hope Cyrus, Miley Cyrus decided to go by the moniker she's best known as because that was simply what her family called her growing up. Her nickname in the family was originally "Smiley" which was eventually shortened to Miley. Her first couple of professional acting gigs, in the TV show Doc and the Tim Burton movie Big Fish, she was billed by her real name, Destiny Cyrus. 

Cary Grant (Archibald Alec Leach)

Early in his Vaudeville career, the great Cary Grant used his real name, Archibald Leach. When he got to Hollywood, as is so often the case, the studio didn't think the name wasn't "box office" enough, so he changed it to Cary Grant. 

Natalie Portman (Natalie Hershlag)

Natalie Portman's real name is Natalie Hershlag, but unlike so many others, she didn't change it because the name was "too ethnic" or not generic enough. As she explained to Vanity Fair in 2024, it was because she wanted to create a separate identity for her work and personal life. 

Portia De Rossi (Amanda Lee Rogers)

Portia de Rossi's name change came, at least originally, because she simply wanted a more exotic-sounding name when she started acting in her teens. Her given name, Amanda Lee Rogers, was just bland. She later revealed it may have been in part because she was struggling with her sexual identity as well. After marrying Ellen Degeneres in 2008, she changed it again, this time combining her real and stage names, Portia Lee James DeGeneres. Professionally she is still Portia de Rossi though. 

Joaquin Phoenix (Joaquin Rafael Bottom)

The Phoenix family has a fascinating history, one that includes time in the cult Children of God. When the family left that group, they made a collective decision to change their last name to one of rebirth, and Joaquin Rafael Bottom became Joaquin Phoenix.

Jamie Foxx (Eric Marlon Bishop)

Born Eric Marlon Bishop in 1967, Jamie Foxx took his stage name early when he was a standup. He says that he noticed women often got preferential spots during open mics, so he decided he wanted a more androgynous name, choosing Jamie. For his last name, he picked it as a tribute to his favorite comedian, Redd Foxx. 

John Wayne (Marion Robert Morrison)

It was a lot more common back in the day for actors to adopt cooler-sounding stage names and that was pretty much the case for Marion Robert Morrison, who ended up John Wayne. It's easy to see why he did it, whether it was a good idea or not. It worked for him. 

Tom Cruise (Thomas Cruise Mapother IV)

Top Gun: Maverick star Tom Cruise didn't change much, but it was a meaningful change. His real name at birth was Thomas Cruise Mapother IV, obviously named after his father, hence the suffix. Cruise had a very difficult relationship with his dad, so when he began his career, he dropped the Mapother in part to distance himself from his then-estranged father. The two later reunited when his father was on his deathbed. 

Olivia Wilde (Olivia Cockburn)

Actor and director Olivia Wilde's story about why she changed her name is pretty simple. She decided she wanted to stage name, and at the time was acting in Oscar Wilde's play The Importance of Being Earnest, which she loved. So she went with Wilde as a homage to the legendary playwright. 

Meg Ryan (Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra)

It's pretty easy to see why Meg Ryan chose to simplify her name when she started acting. Margaret Mary Emily Anne Hyra sure is a mouthful, so cutting a 25-letter name down to a seven-letter one makes sense. Meg is short for Margaret and Ryan is the maiden name of maternal grandmother. 

Kirk Douglas (Issur Danielovitch)

In another example of early Hollywood stars fearing their given names would hold them back for sounding too ethnic, Kirk Douglas changed his name from Issur Danielovitch. He told People it was because he feared it would hold him back and it sounded "too Semitic." 

Mahershala Ali (Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore)

Like others on this list, it's easy to see why Mahershala Ali changed his name from Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore. Not only is Mahershalalhashbaz really hard to spell and pronounce, but the Green Book actor also converted to Islam as a teenager, taking Mahershala Ali as his Muslim name. 

Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jeane Mortenson)

One of the most famous name changes in Hollywood history is Norma Jeane Mortensen changing her name to Marilyn Monroe. There is no big story behind it, it simply was a snazzier name and Monroe was her mother's maiden name. 

Michael Keaton (Michael Douglas)

This one is easy to understand. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice star Michael Keaton's real name is Michael Douglas. Obviously with an actor already in the union (Romancing The Stone star Michael Douglas), Keaton had to come up with a new name for billing. He chose the last name out of respect for early Hollywood star Buster Keaton. 

Michael Caine (Maurice Joseph Micklewhite)

If you think Maurice Micklewhite is a bit of a mouthful, you're not alone. English legend Michael Caine thought so too. In 2016, he legally changed his name from Micklewhite to Caine, because, according to the Batman Begins actor says it caused too much confusion at airports. 

Winona Ryder (Winona Laura Horowitz)

This one is a little in dispute - though not really. Charlie Sheen once claimed he gave Winona Horowitz her new name, Ryder, after listening to The Doors song "Riders on the Storm." Ryder says she got it when her father asked if she wanted a stage name while they were listening to Mitch Ryder. 

Demi Moore (Demetria Gene Guynes)

The story of Demi Moore's stage name (changed from Demetria Guynes) is both mundane and unique. Before she started appearing in acting roles, Moore married musician Freddy Moore when she was 18. So while Moore was her married name, it was a new name, just as her career was taking off. Demi is simply short for Demetria. 

Dove Cameron (Chloe Celeste Hosterman)

Dove Cameron has never explained why she chose Cameron as her stage name, but her reason for choosing Dove is bittersweet. Dove was her father's nickname for her and after he took his own life, she decided she wanted to go by that, in tribute to him. 

Cher (Cherilyn Sarkisian)

It takes a lot of gall and a lot of talent to decide you're going to go with a one-name moniker, and Cher has oodles of both. It's not hard to see what she did, she simply shortened her first name, Cherilyn, and dropped her last. 

Olivia Colman (Sarah Caroline Colman)

Like others on this list, Olivia Colman couldn't join the actors union with her birth name, Sarah Colman, so she changed it. As she explained in 2013, Colman chose Olivia because it is one of her best friends from college's name and she loved it. 

Carmen Electra (Tara Leigh Patrick)

There aren't many people who can claim the legendary Prince gave them their name, but Carmen Electra can. Way back at the start of her career, when she was working with the Purple One, he decided Tara wasn't good enough and named her Carmen. In 2023, Tara Leigh Patrick officially changed her legal name to Carmen Electra, because who wouldn't?

Lily James (Lily Chloe Ninette Thomson)

Like others here, Lily James renamed herself in honor of her late father, James. Though Thomson was also her father's name, of course, she wanted to do more, deciding taking on the stage name "James" to do so. 

Nicolas Cage (Nicolas Kim Coppola)

Nicolas Cage's first movie role was basically just a background character in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. He is billed in the credits by his legal name, Nicolas Coppola, and yeah, it's that Coppola. While on the set of Fast Times, his co-stars would endlessly quote his famous uncle's (Francis Ford Coppola) movies. He decided then and there he needed to distance himself from his famous family (Talia Shire is his aunt, and Sophia Coppola and Jason Schwartzman are cousins).

Julianne Moore (Julie Anne Smith)

Julie Smith is a pretty common name, and when the great Julieanne Moore hit Hollywood, she soon discovered the name was already taken in the union. She tried different combinations, but they were all spoken for. In the end, she combined her first and middle names, and took her father's name, Moore, as her surname. It's like having to go through dozens of combos to find the right vanity plate, but in the end, it's hard to imagine the actor with any other name. 

Mindy Kaling (Vera Mindy Chokalingam)

It seems Hollywood is still getting people to change their names if they or people around them fear a real name is too complicated or foreign. Indian actor and writer Mindy Kaling is a recent example when she simplified her name from Vera Mindy Chokalingam to Mindy Kaling. 

David Tennant (David John McDonald)

Former Dr. Who and Jessica Jones star David Tennant has a tried and true story as well, his real name, David McDonald, was taken. He explained some years ago on James Corden's show, where he also explained that he chose "Tennant" because he saw the name from a music magazine in an article about Neil Tennant of The Pet Shop Boys. 

Chevy Chase (Cornelius Crane Chase)

Chevy Chase comes from a very blood-blue family who can trace their roots in America back to the Mayflower. Cornelius Crane Chase, the Vacation star's real name, reflects this perfectly. The reason he goes by "Chevy" is because his grandmother started calling him that when he was a kid. So, not much of a story here, but he's real name is just so posh, that we had to include it here. 

Helen Mirren (Helen Lydia Mironoff)

Like others, this one is just a technicality. Helen Mirren was born Helen Lydia Mironoff in London to an English mother and a Russian father. When Mirren was 10 years old, her father anglicized the family name to "Mirren." 

Some actors are best known and even defined by a single character that has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world. However, in many cases, said iconic character does not necessarily reflect the performer’s strongest performance, which they often tend to save for the role that they hope will earn them an Academy Award nomination or, at least, challenges them the most. The following is our attempt to distinguish the most iconic roles from our choices picks for the absolute best roles of some of Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Chris Evans

The role that skyrocketed Chris Evans to the A-list and the one he will always be most famous for is Steve "Captain America" Rogers from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. However, his talents are even better utilized in his scene-stealing performance in the Knives Out cast as the hilariously smug and conniving Ransom Drysdale.

Amy Adams

The world first fell in love with Amy Adams when she absolutely nailed the Disney Princess schtick as Giselle in 2007’s Enchanted. Yet, she is truly a captivating, commanding, and heartbreaking force to be reckoned with in Denis Villeneuve’s powerful 2016 alien invasion movie, Arrival, as linguistics expert Louise Banks — which, surprisingly, is not one of the six roles that earned her an Oscar nomination.

Kurt Russell

For many people, when they see Kurt Russell, they see the dystopian anti-hero Snake Plissken in Escape from New York from 1981 or helicopter pilot R.J. MacReady in another great John Carpenter movie, 1982’s The Thing. Yet, even the actor’s biggest fans might agree that those performances pale in comparison to his acclaimed portrayal of Wyatt Earp in the 1993 Western movie classic, Tombstone.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie first captivated audiences everywhere as Naomi Lapaglia in 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street and her portrayal of Harley Quinn in the DCEU immediately became one of the Batman villain’s most essential iterations. However, the Australian actor gave, arguably, her most captivating and essential performance as infamous figure skating champion Tonya Harding in the 2017 biopic, I, Tonya, which also earned her her first Oscar nomination.

Nicolas Cage 

Nicolas Cage is at his most iconic when he is at his most unhinged and few characters define that better than Castor Troy — a ruthless terrorist who switches faces with FBI agent Sean Archer (John Travolta) in Face/Off. Of course, it is Cage's performance as severe alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas that earned him an Oscar win.

Julia Roberts 

Having been referred to as the Queen of rom-coms, it would make sense to call Julia Roberts’ strongest contribution to the genre — Vivian Ward from 1990’s Pretty Woman — the most iconic of her career. Yet, her strongest contribution to cinema might actually be her Academy Award-winning performance in the title role of 2000’s Erin Brockovich, which is based on the true story of a legal assistant’s crusade in a California water pollution scandal. 

Tom Hanks

Our choices for both the most iconic role and the best role of Tom Hanks’ career each earned him an Academy Award. While the lovable title hero of 1994’s Forrest Gump is easily the more famous, the actor is at his most gripping and moving as gay, HIV-positive lawyer Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia from the previous year.

Ryan Gosling

Playing Noah in 2004's romantic instant classic The Notebook broke Ryan Gosling into the mainstream and playing the nameless wheelman protagonist of 2011's Drive showed his action star potential. The first time critics and audiences truly began to notice his strengths as a versatile performer, however, was when he played a teacher wrestling with his vices in 2006's Half Nelson.

Robert Downey, Jr.

There was no better choice to play Tony "Iron Man" Stark — the role that effectively resurrected Robert Downey Jr.'s career — in what would become the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Yet, has the actor truly ever been better than when he played Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast in 2023? Just ask the Academy.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence breathed refreshing new life into the cinematic version of YA dystopian novel hero Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies. She especially breathed refreshing life into the already beautiful story of love and self-acceptance at the center of Silver Linings Playbook with her Oscar-winning performance as the widowed Tiffany Maxwell.

Jim Carrey

The one role that best represents Jim Carrey’s one-of-a kind erratic style of physical comedy is the ceaselessly goofy title hero of 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. There are certainly traces of that persona in unwitting TV star Truman Burbank from 1998’s The Truman Show, but the performance brought out a certain emotional depth and devastating earnestness we had not yet seen from the actor.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson was already a top A-lister when she was cast as Natasha “Black Widow” Romanoff for the MCU — a role that, arguably, became bigger than the actor herself. Yet, her infectious, Oscar-nominated performance in 2019’s Jojo Rabbit as Rosie — the mother of a young aspiring Nazi who is secretly hiding a young Jewish woman — is the heart and soul of Taika Waititi’s dazzling World War II-era satire.

Matt Damon

Is there anything better than watching Matt Damon kick butt in the Jason Bourne movies as the titular amnesiac spy? How about watching him pour out his heart and soul as a young and brilliant, but emotionally troubled custodian in 1997’s Good Will Hunting, which he also co-wrote the Academy Award-winning screenplay for?

Jamie Lee Curtis

Playing Laurie Strode in Halloween may have made her the ultimate horror Scream Queen and playing IRS inspector Deirdre Beaubeirdre in Everything Everywhere All at Once may have finally earned her an Oscar, but neither reflect her absolute best work in our opinion. Her Golden Globe-winning role as Helen Tasker — a woman who discovers her husband (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a spy — shows the extent of her versatile range and is easily the performance from 1994’s True Lies.

Michael Keaton

When you think of Michael Keaton, the first character you picture could be Bruce Wayne from Tim Burton's live-action Batman movies or the title role of another Burton classic called Beetlejuice. Yet, the actor's defining role might really be the one that earned him his first Academy Award nomination: down-and-out actor Riggan Thomson in Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance).

Adam Driver

Typically, any Star Wars actor can call their role in the celebrated sci-fi franchise the most famous character they have ever played and Adam Driver’s Kylo Ren is certainly no exception. His performance as the Sith Lord is an essential highlight of the sequel trilogy, but his rich, emotionally devastating, and uniquely funny performance as Charlie Barber in 2019’s Marriage Story — his second Oscar-nominated role — really proved he was a force to behold.

Clint Eastwood

The Mount Rushmore of Western Movie Stars undeniably includes Clint Eastwood, whose own carving into the monument would probably be dressed like his three roles from Sergio Leone's "The Man with No Name" or "Dollars" Trilogy — made of up A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly. Well, forgive us, but we believe that coldblooded-killer turned mild-mannered family man William Munny from 1992’s Unforgiven — which he also directed — is his stronger and deeper contribution to the genre.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams is transcendent as the ultimate ruthless teen queen, Regina George, in the 2004 high school movie classic, Mean Girls. Yet, she is at her most grounded and most captivatingly understated in her Oscar-nominated portrayal of Boston Globe investigative journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in 2015’s Spotlight.

Tom Cruise 

Among Tom Cruise’s many iconic roles — especially Maverick in the Top Gun movies and Ethan Hunt in the Mission: Impossible movies — we are not sure that we would include Ron Kovic in that least. Yet, we do believe the actor has never been better than in his impassioned, Academy Award-nominated portrayal of the real-life Vietnam vet-turned-war-protester in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July.

Emma Watson

Most people — especially Harry Potter fans — still see Hermione Graigner whenever they see Emma Watson. However, one role that came closest to replacing the talented wizard as the British actor’s most celebrated work is Sam Button from the tender 2012 coming-of-age drama, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford is the face of two of cinema’s most iconic action movie heroes: Indiana Jones and Han Solo from the Star Wars movies. Yet, we have seen the legend give a performance as intense, grounded, and human as Detective Captain John Book in Witness, which also earned him his sole Academy Award nomination.

Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges had already achieved a storied and widely acclaimed career by the time he landed his definitive role as freewheeling burnout, The Dude, in Joel and Ethan Coen’s 1998 cult favorite comedy classic, The Big Lebowski. It would take another 12 years before he gave his definitive performance as disillusioned country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart, which made him an Oscar winner.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Jack Dawson from James Cameron’s high-grossing Best Picture Oscar winner, 1997’s Titanic, remains the one role Leonardo DiCaprio is most often associated with despite winning his Oscar for 2015’s The Revenant. However, it is his remarkable portrayal of Howard Hughes, from his rise as an inventive aristocrat to his falls as a disturbed recluse, that earns the highest praise from us. 

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman has an extraordinary collection of unique characters under her belt, but none are quite as distinct or recognizable as Satine in Baz Luhrmann’s 2001 musical smash, Moulin Rouge! Yet, the following year saw her give a transformative, Oscar-winning performance in The Hours as renowned author Virginia Woolf during a dismal time in her life.

Christian Bale

Christian Bale had audiences floored by his performance as Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which solidified him as one of the best Batman actors in cinematic history. However, we believe we already saw him at his best in 2000’s American Psycho, giving a brilliantly nuanced performance as a strangely compelling sociopath named Patrick Bateman.

Natalie Portman

Rewatching the Star Wars prequel trilogy is made easier for even its harshest critics by Natalie Portman’s empowering, grounding, and ultimately heartbreaking performance as Naboo’s queen-turned-senator, Padmé Amidala. Yet, we have it on good authority that even those fans of a galaxy far, far away would rather rewatch 2010’s Black Swan and experience her unsettling, bravura, Academy Award-winning turn as Nina Sayers — a ballerina driven mad by her devotion to the lead role of Swan Lake.

Daniel Radcliffe 

Daniel Radcliffe certainly made for a great “The Boy Who Lived” in the Harry Potter movies, but even some of the franchise’s biggest fans might agree that the English actor has only gotten better since exiting the Wizarding World. In fact, some might say he has gotten better as the roles got weirder, and none have been weirder than when he starred in 2022’s Weird: The Al Yankovic Story as a hilariously exaggerated version of the legendary musical parodist.

Kate Winslet

Much like Titanic made Leonardo DiCaprio a star, starring in the blockbuster historical tragedy as Rose Bukater turned Kate Winslet into one of the top actors of her time. In spite of her wonderful performance there, many would agree the role mainly paved the way for even better opportunities, such as her Oscar-winning performance in 2008’s The Reader as Hanna Schmitz.

Oscar Isaac

Oscar Isaac was certainly on the path to achieving A-list status before joining the cast of 2015’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but playing the charming resistance pilot was his one-way ticket across the bridge. That same year, however, he delivered a captivatingly complex and intriguingly layered performance as tech innovator Nathan Bateman in Alex Garland’s classic A24 sci-fi drama, Ex Machina

Reese Witherspoon

As Elle Woods in 2001’s Legally Blonde, Reese Witherspoon brings warmth, humor, and authenticity to a character who could have easily been an annoying, one-note stereotype. As June Carter Cash in 2005’s Walk the Line, she absolutely steals the show from Joaquin Phoenix’s Johnny Cash with her powerful, Oscar-winning portrayal of the legendary singer.

Henry Cavill

Being, essentially, the spitting image of Clark Kent made Henry Cavill an ideal choice to play Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, but not quite the perfect choice. The English actor’s signature charm, charisma, and sense of humor shine through much stronger as American secret agent Napoleon Solo in Guy Ritchie’s The Man from U.N.C.L.E., which we think is gleaming proof of his 007 material.

Brie Larson

You could say that Carol Danvers has become such a popular character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe because Brie Larson is the one portraying her in Captain Marvel and subsequent films. For that, we can likely thank her magnificent, heart-wrenching, Oscar-winning performance in 2015’s Room as a single mother held captive with her son.

There are the characters we cherish and the performances we adore. Both are equally important reasons for why we love our favorite actors.

The Lonely Island produced a number of the most memorable SNL sketches of all time, including “Lazy Sunday,” “D**k in a Box,” and “Laser Cats.” The comedy trio is also known for their music videos (which we've ranked), and produced the dirty and hilarious Natalie Portman music video sketch in 2006 called "Natalie Raps" (or “Natalie’s Rap.") The Star Wars actress hardcore raps ironic and outrageous verses about her public image. The rap is a well-remembered segment, showcasing a previously unseen talent from Portman. However, the Saturday Night Live writers had some misgivings when the idea was first pitched to them, and Seth Meyers recently explained why he initially was worried. 

Seth Meyers and The Lonely Island have a podcast, on which they break down all of the SNL Digital Shorts and how they came to be. Their most recent episode, which was shared to YouTube, focused on “Natalie’s Rap,” and the comedians chatted about how they were able to utilize the Oscar winner's hidden talents to produce the hilarious sketch. While it ended up being a match made in heaven for SNL, there was initially an issue. Meyers explained that sometimes when celebrities want to show a different side of themselves on the sketch, it’s a recipe for disaster. The late night host said:

Jorma Taccone of the Lonely Island agreed with this sentiment, which is why they were all initially worried when Natalie Portman said that she wanted to rap on the show. The comedian said: 

However, once Natalie Portman started spitting a “filthy” Lil' Kim verse, the guys immediately knew they had something special on their hands and could definitely make is work. It was comedy gold, to say the least. Andy Samberg said: 

The sketch in question features heavy and aggressive cursing from Natalie Portman, which was a real subversion of her public image. At that point in her career, she was arguably best known for playing the ever earnest Padmé Amidala in Star Wars. She's also a Harvard graduate, something that's mentioned in the sketch as well. All in all, she was one of the most famous actresses in the world and seemingly untouchable.

Having her fully commit to a dirty, foul-mouthed rap was daring, and one can understand those early concerns. Though you can't argue with the finished result. The group also ended up recreating the hardcore moment in 2018 when she came back to host and shared a whole new rap about Star Wars, Jar Jar Binks and more. (It would've been sweet if she'd come back as an SNL Season 49 host and given us “Natalie’s Rap 3.”) Check out the original sketch below:

The sketch in question features heavy and aggressive cursing from Natalie Portman, which was a real subversion of her public image. At that point in her career, she was arguably best known for playing the earnest Padmé Amidala in Star Wars. She's also a Harvard graduate, something that's mentioned in the sketch as well. All in all, she was one of the most famous actresses in the world and seemingly untouchable. 

Having her fully commit to a dirty, foul-mouthed rap was daring, and one can understand those early concerns. Though you can't argue with the finished result. The group also ended up recreating the hardcore moment in 2018 when she came back to host and shared a whole new rap about Star Wars, Jar Jar Binks and more. (It would've been sweet if she'd come back as an SNL Season 49 host and given us “Natalie’s Rap 3.”)

The continued love for the OG sketch is a testament to the genius of “Natalie’s Rap." While the comedians may have had some reservations when the idea was first pitched to them, god bless them for hearing the actress out and going through with it. While not every celebrity's talent is worth exploring on Saturday Night Live, this was a rare gem. 

“Natalie’s Rap” is just one of the well-viewed sketches that's hit the web, and you should read up on some of the most popular SNL clips on YouTube. You can also stream previous Saturday Night Live episodes in full now with a Peacock subscription. 

Of all the mysteries of life, one that continues to confound us is what, exactly, lies beyond our planet. After thousands of years of peering into outer space as far as we could, we began to look for those answers in a very concrete way by sending people to the stars, and our movies have reflected our desire to know more, meaning that a number of humanity’s biggest and brightest stars have played space-faring individuals on screen. Here for you now are 32 famous actors who’ve played astronauts.

Sandra Bullock (Gravity)

Let’s start with one of the more harrowing views of space travel, Gravity, which garnered a number of Academy Award wins after its 2013 release. Sandra Bullock stars as Dr. Ryan Stone, who’s on her first space mission in order to help upgrade a telescope. But, things very quickly go wrong when she’s doing a spacewalk, and debris from a recently deactivated satellite hits the shuttle and leaves her stranded with many of her crew dead, Ryan floating through space, and desperate to find a way back to earth all on her own.

Brad Pitt (Ad Astra)

A space trip that doesn’t go too much better involves Brad Pitt’s Roy McBride in 2019’s Ad Astra. When Roy is tasked with traveling to Mars to see if the crew of a mission that was searching for other intelligent life, which was led 29 years earlier by his father, is still alive, he’s unwittingly thrust into a situation that’s far more dangerous than even standard space travel is known to be.

Ryan Reynolds (Life)

Noted comedic actor and big-screen superhero talent Ryan Reynolds has also donned a space suit for the very much not comedic Life, a 2017 ode to terror in space. After a probe returns to the International Space Station with soil samples from Mars, what is at first a dormant cell quickly turns into, well, life, and begins to cause a lot of horrific trouble for Reynolds’ engineer and the rest of the crew.

Halle Berry (Moonfall)

If you’re starting to sense a theme here, that outer space is dangerous, congratulations, because you really are paying attention. In the sci-fi disaster epic, Moonfall, Halle Berry’s NASA deputy director has to investigate when the moon begins to leave its orbit and come closer to Earth, threatening all of civilization. When she digs deeper into the mystery, however, she finds a government cover-up that goes back many decades and is forced to head back into space with a small crew to take care of the growing problem herself.

Michael Peña (A Million Miles Away)

Considering the incredible number of films we have where those who head into space are prominent characters, there are actually relatively few based on the lives of real people. A Million Miles Away stars Michael Peña as José M. Hernández, a Mexican-American engineer who served as a migrant worker when he was a child and went on to become an astronaut who worked aboard the International Space Station.

Viola Davis (Solaris)

There are many sci-fi films of the mind-trip variety and Solaris is no different. Viola Davis portrays one of the last surviving members of a space station crew orbiting the titular alien world, who must then try to help George Clooney’s visiting psychologist understand the truly strange phenomena that led to the death or disappearance of most of the crew. If you enjoy a twisty ending that leaves you with lots of questions, you’ll enjoy this one.

Mark Wahlberg (Planet Of The Apes)

You know this story; you love this story. Planet of the Apes saw Mark Wahlberg take over the role of an astronaut who crashes on a foreign planet, only to find that apes are now the dominant species, while humans are mostly without speech and used as slave labor. 

Chris Evans (Sunshine)

And here we have yet another space movie where a mission does not quite go as planned. Sunshine features stars like Cillian Murphy, Michelle Yeoh and a pre-Captain America Chris Evans as the crew of a ship that’s been tasked with traveling to our dying sun to deliver a bomb in the hopes of reigniting it so that our planet can avoid another catastrophic ice age.

Adam Driver (65)

Ever wonder what Earth was like about 65 million years ago when dinosaurs still ruled the land? Well, that’s what alien astronaut Mills (Adam Driver) accidentally finds out when his ship is struck by a large field of asteroids and crashes on our planet, leading him to have to protect the only other survivor as they flee many dangerous beasts in an attempt to get to a faraway escape pod so they can return home.

Sigourney Weaver (Alien)

It’s possible we’d have far fewer of these “if it can go wrong on a space mission it will” science fiction films without what many consider one of the best horror movies of all time, Alien. The classic stars Sigourney Weaver as Ripley, one of a seven-person crew who unknowingly stumble upon the ultra-dangerous xenomorphs that would go on to become legendary in sci-fi horror, which quickly leads to pretty much nothing but increasingly bad times on their doomed mission.

Tom Hanks (Apollo 13)

We’ve hit upon another story based on some real-life adventures! In Apollo 13, Tom Hanks stars as Commander Jim Lovell who, along with Command Module Pilot Jack Swigert (Kevin Bacon) and Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise (Bill Paxton), board their 1970 mission to the moon in order to become the third American crew to land there. However, trouble starts almost immediately.

Natalie Portman (Lucy In The Sky)

While not completely a true life story, 2019’s Lucy in the Sky is billed as being “loosely inspired” by the life of NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak. The plot concerns Natalie Portman’s Lucy, who has just returned from her first space mission, which had such a huge impact on her that she no longer feels connected to her family or life here. As she pushes herself to return on the next mission, she undergoes a mental breakdown that sends her life into a tailspin.

Glen Powell (Hidden Figures)

While the amazing biopic, Hidden Figures, focuses on three Black women (Katherine Goble Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer), and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe) who worked as NASA mathematicians during the height of the Space Race in the 1960s, we do still get an astronaut in this film. Twisters star Glen Powell plays John Glenn, who became the first American in orbit in 1962.

Robert Pattinson (High Life)

You’d think a movie called High Life would finally focus on some good times in space, but…nahhhhh. Robert Pattinson is a member of a crew of convicts on death row who’ve been sent to retrieve energy from a black hole, with the experiments of their commander leading to a child being born on board while crew members spiral out of control.

Tom Cruise (Oblivion)

Tom Cruise’s 2013 film, Oblivion, features him in a twisty plot that involves a post-apocalyptic Earth, evil A.I., even more evil aliens, and his character trying to figure out exactly what’s going on with his assigned mission. This is a good one that people hardly ever talk about.

Jodie Foster (Contact)

Based on the 1985 novel by Carl Sagan, Contact stars Academy Award winner Jodie Foster as a scientist who specializes in the search for extraterrestrial life, and finds a big clue toward that goal when she locates a radio signal that appears to be sent from a distant star, and is eventually chosen as the person to make first contact with the alien race behind the signal. Contact is an amazing film that is a must-see for sci-fi and space movie lovers.

Colin Farrell (Voyagers)

This movie is a real (space) trip. Voyagers stars Colin Farrell as the leader of a crew of very young adults who were bred away from humanity and had some of their hormones and emotions suppressed in the hope of keeping them manageable. But, when two of the crew realize what’s been done to them and convince everyone to stop taking the chemical, well, the proceedings get extremely emotional and tension doesn't let up for quite some time.

Matthew McConaughey (Interstellar)

By now, it’s probably pretty clear that our idea of space travel and exploration is mainly one of danger, especially from the unknown, and Christopher Nolan’s wildly successful Interstellar is certainly another addition to the film canon that shows us that. In it, Matthew McConaughey plays a former NASA test pilot who’s chosen to lead a mission through a wormhole that is hoped to lead to at least one habitable planet for humanity, which is dealing with a global famine that’s threatening an extinction event. 

Idris Elba (Prometheus)

Those Alien xenomorphs just won’t leave us alone, will they? In Prometheus, we get their origin story as a crew following an ancient star map searches for the beginnings of humanity, but instead finds…you know, a secret plot and lots of terror. Idris Elba portrays Janek, the heroic captain of the doomed spaceship.

Adam Sandler (Spaceman)

If you’ve ever gotten the sense that space travel can be kind of lonely, Adam Sandler’s Spaceman turns that idea up to 11. His astronaut is six months into a solo mission that sees him missing his wife and the unborn child he left behind, when he realizes he has a stowaway: an alien creature who can communicate telepathically with him, and seeks to understand humans while helping alleviate the astronaut’s loneliness.

Ryan Gosling (First Man)

This biographical drama sees Ryan Gosling play Neil Armstrong, who became the first man to walk on the moon in 1969. The story follows Armstrong, his wife Janet (Claire Foy), and other astronauts and NASA figures as they prepare for the famed Apollo 11 mission that led to Armstrong making history.

Angela Bassett (Supernova)

Even two-time Oscar nominee Angela Bassett has taken a turn at playing a space explorer whose time there does not go as planned. When she and her crew answer a distress call from thousands of light years away during their deep space mission, things go from bad to worse at, well, the speed of light.

Matt Damon (The Martian)

Matt Damon famously starred in one of the best sci-fi movies of all time, playing astronaut Mark Watney, who’s forced to survive on Mars alone after being accidentally left behind when he’s presumed dead by the rest of his crew as they’re forced to evacuate. 

Bruce Willis (Armageddon)

Possibly the best non-traditional astronaut movie ever made, Armageddon stars good guy Bruce Willis as an oil driller recruited to go into space with a team of his mean so that they drill into a massive asteroid, implant a nuke in it and blow it up in the hope of stopping it from destroying the planet and human civilization as we know it. I got excited just writing that!

Laurence Fishburne (Event Horizon)

In space, no one can hear you scream. Unless you’re on a spaceship with other people that’s destined to run into loads of trouble, then, you know, all of those people will probably be able to hear you. There’s lots of screaming in 1997’s Event Horizon, which stars Laurence Fishburne as the captain of a rescue ship that goes to answer a distress call sent by a ship that disappeared several years prior. There’s a vivisection in this one. I’m starting to think we should just leave space alone.

Robert Duvall (Deep Impact)

You must remember Deep Impact, as it was released about two months before the more popular Armageddon, but featured a comet being on a collision course with our precious homeworld. Robert Duvall plays the pilot for the crew that’s dispatched to (you guessed it) drill into the comet and nuke it to smithereens. The mission does not go off without a hitch, and that’s why they call this a disaster movie.

Ethan Hawke (Gattaca)

In a society where most babies are created with genetic altering to make sure they have only the best traits of each parent, a man (Ethan Hawke) who was born without that practice poses as a man who was altered so that he can reach his dream of becoming an astronaut without all of the discrimination that people like him suffer in a society where people are expected to be “perfect” to have the best opportunities in life.

Sam Rockwell (Moon)

Ok, so maybe being in space, in general, isn’t always terrible. But it definitely seems like being alone in space for an extended period could be a bad sign for your future. Such is the case with Moon, where Sam Rockwell plays the lone human operating a mining facility on the titular celestial body, who comes to a startling revelation as he nears the end of his three-year work term.

Clint Eastwood (Space Cowboys)

Clint Eastwood has portrayed a number of (basically) good guys, so it makes complete sense that he would have stepped into the shoes of an Air Force pilot who retired long ago, but ends up leading a mission of other retired pilots to fix an old Soviet communications satellite that’s in danger of crashing to Earth.

Liv Tyler (Space Station 76)

As you’ve likely noticed, there are not a lot of comedies among this bunch, but Space Station 76 is definitely one of them. This “retro-futuristic” parody stars Liv Tyler as the newly arrived station’s co-pilot, who soon comes to realize that the apparently utopian lives of those on board are hiding some very real problems.

Alan Rickman (Galaxy Quest)

Here is another comedy that’s been a cult hit pretty much since its release in 1999. Galaxy Quest focuses on the cast of a fictional Star Trek-like series who are pulled into a hilariously real war between alien races, when the kind, gentle aliens have seen their show and believe it’s a documentary.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw (The Cloverfield Paradox)

The Cloverfield franchise grew with this 2018 entry, which stars Gugu Mbatha-Raw as an engineer aboard an orbiting space station where the plan is to test a particle accelerator in the hope of using it to provide the planet with infinite energy. You know what happens, right? Things don’t go as planned.

Many of our finest actors have pretended to travel in space for our entertainment, and this list gives you a number of amazing options should you decide to launch an astronaut movie binge session.

Anyone who has seen Sofia Coppola’s Lost in Translation must wonder for at least a second if there is truth in Bill Murray’s character of a famous American actor in Japan to film a commercial. Well, there definitely is. Huge American and European stars have been hawking products in Japanese commercials for decades. 

Some of the biggest names in Hollywood, some of whom you’d never expect to be selling cars and shampoo in the States, are happy to do it in Japan. While there was a time those stars may have been labeled as “sell-outs” in the U.S. for doing commercials, it was very lucrative to appear in ads in Japan, without the baggage. Here are just a few of the celebrities who have made those Japanese ads. 

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman is known in the U.S. for her Miss Dior perfume commercials, but in Japan, she’s better known for selling Lux shampoo. The commercial we found is a pretty standard shampoo commercial, very similar to one you’d see in the States with long, flowing locks being flung to and fro. 

Jodie Foster

Two-time Oscar winner Jodie Foster is one of those actors you’d least expect to see in a commercial, but in the ‘90s, Foster starred in a campaign for Honda Civics. The commercials are pretty bland, with lots of shots of a smiling Foster standing near the Hondas she was selling. 

George Clooney

He may be one of the biggest movie stars of all time, but George Clooney isn’t above slinging coffee in Europe or doing extensive voice-over work on American commercials. In Japan, he’s the face of Kirin Beer in at least a couple of commercials, co-starring with some CGI songbirds. 

Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves has developed a reputation for being one of the nicest guys in Hollywood. It makes sense that a product would be interested in having him as a spokesman. In the United States, he occasionally does a commercial or two, most notably for Squarespace. In Japan, he’s also popular. Like a lot of Western celebs, he’s been hired by the whiskey maker Suntory to do commercials. As always, he looks cool doing it. 

Madonna

At the height of Madonna’s fame in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it would’ve been very rare to see her endorse a product on TV in the United States, but in Japan, she was part of a big campaign for Takara, a whiskey made by Blanton’s for the Japanese market. The commercials don’t look like they took up much of the Material Girl’s time, however, as they are just cuts from her music videos spliced with buzzwords and shots of the bourbon. 

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Lately, Arnold Schwarzenegger has been showing up in more and more commercials. At the 2024 Super Bowl, he was in a State Farm ad, for example. It seems the former Governator likes the idea of picking up a nice paycheck for a minimal amount of work, and who can blame him? It’s something he’s been doing in Japan for decades, going back to the pinnacle of his fame in the ‘90s when he endorsed an energy drink called Alinamin V. These might be the strangest of all the commercials too, featuring Schwarzenegger’s giant head popping out the bottle and other over-the-top images. 

Miles Davis

No one defines “cool” quite like Miles Davis did. The late jazz legend had a reputation for being prickly, but fans still wanted to be him. His sound on trumpet was unique, as was his style, and it all oozes authenticity. Endorsing products in the U.S. might have branded him a “sell-out” to his fans, but in the ‘80s, he could go to Japan, where he was also a big star, and shoot commercials for Honda Scooters, and no one would be the wiser in North America. 

Britney Spears

Britney Spears might be the least surprising person on this list. At the height of her fame in the late ‘90s, she’s exactly the kind of celebrity that would be huge in Japan. Spears took advantage of that fame, starring in a series of commercials for Go Go Tea. The pop star also appeared in an ad for Mikakuto Gummy Candies as well. 

Harrison Ford

Back in 1996, Entertainment Weekly reported that Hollywood stars could make anywhere from $500K to $2 million for a couple of days’ work on a Japanese commercial. It explains why actors like Harrison Ford, who no one would have expected to see in an ad in the ‘90s in America, would spend a few days in Japan shooting commercials for Kirin beer. We don’t know how much he made, but it’s safe to assume the Star Wars star made enough to pay Jabba back and then some. 

Cameron Diaz

SoftBank is one of the largest holding companies in Japan and it loves to bring over American stars to promote its services. One such star was Cameron Diaz, who in the mid-’00s starred in commercials and print ads all over Tokyo for the cell phone giant. No doubt such a campaign made it possible for the actress to semi-retire in 2014. 

Brad Pitt

Coffee, specifically canned coffee, seems to be one of the more lucrative areas of advertising for Western stars in Japan. None other than Brad Pitt even showed up in one in the ‘90s. Pitt stars as an office worker getting more work done after drinking a can of Roots Coffee. 

Bruce Willis

Bruce Willis is big in Japan. He’s been spotted selling everything from cars to financial services. Daihatsu and SoftBank have both hired the Die Hard legend to hawk their wares. He even learned a phrase or two in Japanese for the spots. 

Sharon Stone

Just as in America and Europe, Japanese beauty brands love to hire a famous actress to taut their product’s ability to make everyone as beautiful as they are. Sharon Stone was a major spokeswoman for Vernal soaps, for example. Stone also appeared in commercials for jewelry and other luxury wares. 

Ben Stiller

When you watch the Kirin ad Ben Stiller did back in the late ‘90s, it makes you wonder if it was the main inspiration for Zoolander. It feels like an outtake from the movie about a male model, it’s so goofy. Don’t get it wrong, it’s supposed to be over-the-top and funny, so it fits the character of Derek Zoolander perfectly, even if Stiller wasn’t actually playing the role. It’s also better than Zoolander 2.

Francis Ford Coppola

Of course, the most famous example in the West of a star doing Japanese commercials is the fictional Bob Harris (Bill Murray) doing Suntory ads in Lost In Translation. The inspiration for the film, or part of it, had to be Sofia Coppola’s father, Francis Ford Coppola doing ads in Japan in the ‘80s and ‘90s. Including one for Fuji Cassettes, and yes, Suntory whiskey. 

Sylvester Stallone

Rocky star Sylvester Stallone got on the Japanese advertising train back in the mid-’90s, including doing some very strange commercials for Bayern Sausages. An Italian-American doing ads for German sausages in Japan. It’s the UN of commercials! 

Brooke Shields

Back in the ‘80s, Brooke Shields was huge. For much of the decade, she found a lot of work in Japan in ads for everything from tissues to coffee to stereos. No doubt that helped her pay for her Princeton education, where she studied during a break from her career in the mid-’80s. 

Richard Gere

In 2009, Japanese company Suntory bought Orangina, the sparking orange beverage from France. Almost immediately, Suntory did what they had done so often in the past, they hired an American actor for an ad campaign. Richard Gere starred in a few commercials for the brand at the dawn of the 2010s, playing a classic Japanese comedy character from the ‘60s and ‘70s named Tora-san.  

Audrey Hepburn

By the early 1970s, Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn had already semi-retired from acting, starring only sporadically in a few movies in the ‘70s before bowing out completely. Still, she did work in Japan occasionally in commercials, including one for wigs from 1970, which seems pretty odd, but hey, it’s Audrey Hepburn, so who are we to question it?

Leonardo DiCaprio

Even the great Leonardo DiCaprio has gotten in on the Japanese ad business, hawking credit cards in the ‘90s and Jim Beam more recently. You might expect the latter, but definitely not the former, in the United States. 

Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway is another glamorous actress who has been known to pop up in luxury and beauty ads in Japan. One product, Lux Shampoo, is well known for using American stars in its ads for its products. The rom-com star pitched for the company a few times in the mid-’00s. 

Sammy Davis, Jr.

Suntory Whiskey definitely takes the win for grabbing some of the biggest stars from the U.S. to sell its products. Even way back in the ‘70s, it was paying Sammy Davis, Jr. to do commercials for them. They even got him to scat for one of them, and it’s a gem. 

Tommy Lee Jones

Tommy Lee Jones has been a regular in Japanese commercials for a long time, and watching some of the more bizarre ones, he’s clearly having a lot of fun. It definitely references his role in the Men in Black series, but beyond that, it’s hard to pin what they are about, exactly, except that he’s selling coffee. 

Nicolas Cage

It’s no surprise to find Nicolas Cage on this list, now is it? Going back a couple of decades, the actor did a series of commercials for Pachinko games, which are Japanese slot machines and pinball machines.

Kyle MacLachlan

In what might be the absolute best and most bizarre entry on this list, Kyle MacLachlan starred in a whole series of commercials for Georgia Coffee as Dale Cooper from Twin Peaks. The commercials played out like a bizarre mystery, just like the show, and also featured other characters from the show, and the famous intro. It’s truly awesome… and weird… and awesome.

Sean Connery

If you want someone elegant and cool to advertise your whiskey, why not hire James Bond himself, Sean Connery? That’s exactly what Suntory did in the early ‘90s and he’s everything you want him to be in the ad. 

Hugh Jackman

When you have the talents of a true song-and-dance man like Hugh Jackman, it’s smart to take advantage of that. It’s what Lipton Ice Tea did in 2010 to amazing results with the Deadpool & Wolverine star dancing around a Japanese hotel. 

Cindy Crawford

Cindy Crawford was the most famous model in the world in the ‘80s and ‘90s, so it’s no surprise she’d been seen on Japanese TV selling lots of stuff, as she was virtually everywhere else in the world. For example, in Japan, she hawked a sports drink called Pocari Sweat. Sweat seems like an odd thing to name your drink, but Crawford could sell anything in those days. 

John Travolta

Canned drinks are huge in Japan and the competition for customers is intense, which has led to a lot of American stars getting lucrative gigs. John Travolta is one such star, who was hired to appear in an ad for Tokyo Drink. Naturally, he danced his way through it. 

Hulk Hogan

Professional wrestling has long been hugely popular in Japan. American wrestling stars like Hulk Hogan have been traveling to Japan to work for decades. With that fame, came commercials for the Hulkster, like one in the early ‘90s hawking Hitachi Air Conditioners. 

Quentin Tarantino

It’s not always just actors either. Quentin Tarantino, whose Kill Bill movies are a tribute to Japanese culture, popped up in an ad for SoftBank’s cell phone service. The director looks like he had a blast making the spots, too. 

Kiefer Sutherland

When 24 debuted, it instantly became one of the biggest hits on TV, and that success translated to Japanese TV as well. So much so, that Kiefer Sutherland was hired by the energy drink Calorie Mate to star in a series of commercials in the style of the spy show. 

There was a time when “selling out” was a real concern for artists and their fans. It’s far more common today to see big stars in commercials. Before it became okay to be seen selling stuff on TV, those big names could head to Japan for a nice paycheck, without retribution from hardcore fans. Until the internet, it was rare for an American or European to even know the stars had done it. Now with the internet, we get to see all these great commercials they were doing. 

For as long as there have been famous people, there have been celebrity couples. Fans love being cued into the personal life of their favorite A-lister, with pairs like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce consistently making headlines. Oscar-winning actress Natalie Portman met her husband working on Black Swan, but after rumors of separation the pair have quietly gotten divorced. 

The chatter about Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied separating began circulating over the summer, and there were rumors that infidelity might have factored into it. Now according to People, the pair is divorcing after 11 years together. Let's break it all down.

According to the report, the pair quietly filed for divorce eight months ago, so this has been a long time coming. It was finalize last month in France, where the family lives with their children. While the pair have been quiet, a rep from Portman confirmed the split to People. An anonymous source also provided a quote about how the Star Wars icon is doing, which reads:

There you have it. While this is no doubt a challenging time for their entire family, it seems like Portman is faring well with her divorce from Millepied. We'll just have to see how the former couple co-parents, and if they exercise Gwyneth Paltrow's term conscious uncoupling. 

As previously mentioned, Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied met while working together on Darren Aronofsky's acclaimed drama Black Swan. He was her choreographer on the project, and was also a scene partner as one of the dancers working with Nina. In People's report, the same anonymous source spoke about how the former pair are focusing on their family, saying:

Despite the rumors about cheating, this certainly makes it seem like Portman and her ex are being mature about their split. And considering the high stakes of their relationship and family unit, that's saying something. 

It's unclear if the pair will continue living in France, or if their split might end up seeing either party move. But there are definitely a ton of questions surrounding this latest celebrity divorce. 

Natalie Portman's most recent film project was May December, which is available with a Netflix subscription. While we wait for her to return to the screen, check out the 2024 movie release dates. 

Natalie Portman has had a longstanding film career, and has become a household name from her work in franchises like Star Wars and Thor, as well as her indie film work in Black Swan and this year’s May December. No matter how established, Portman still is sometimes mistaken for another famous actress. While I can’t imagine not recognizing Portman, I totally see the resemblance between her and another well-established actress. 

Portman was recently featured in the Hollywood Issue of Vanity Fair alongside other A-Listers like Bradley Cooper and Pedro Pascal. During the interview for the publication, the magazine had the actors ask each other questions, including if they get recognized on the street and mistaken for someone else. Colman Domingo said that one time he was mistaken for Idris Elba, which I personally can’t see. However, when Portman mentioned being mistaken for Keira Knightley, I totally understood. It didn’t seem to bother the Jackie actress, and she takes it as a compliment. She said: 

This hasn’t been the only time the resemblance between the two actors has been pointed out. Keira Knightley played the double for Natalie Portman’s character in Star Wars Episode 1: A Phantom Menace. In the film, Knightley’s "Sabe" is used as a decoy to protect the real Queen of Naboo, Padme, played by Portman. With all the makeup Portman had to wear in that film, the made-up Knightly was almost indistinguishable from the real Padme Amidala. It’s been a while since they starred in a movie together, and Knightley even admitted to forgetting her role within Star Wars, so I think they are overdue for another collaboration. 

Portman isn’t the only actor who has been wrongly recognized. Just recently The Hollywood Reporter mistook Justin Hartley for Glen Powell at the Golden Globes. Mark Wahlberg has also talked about being called Matt Damon fairly often, and tries to be as nice as possible when he does. These are all pretty flattering doppelgangers, so I doubt the mistakes are ever taken maliciously. I definitely see the resemblance between all of these stars, but Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley are the most uncanny. 

It’s about time that these two use this resemblance to their advantage. I could totally see them playing sisters in a Joe Wright period drama Knightley is synonymous with, or even a cerebral surrealist indie film Natalie Portman is often drawn to. They are both wonderful actresses, but with such similar looks, it wouldn’t take a lot of acting to convince audiences that these two could be related. Portman has a number of upcoming projects coming down the pike, but not trying to make something happen with Knightley soon feels like a missed opportunity. 

It may be a while before seeing Natalie Portman and Keira Knightley on screen together, even if it is a possibility. In the meantime, fans can check out Portman in May December, which is currently streaming for Netflix subscribers. You can also see Keira Knightly in her latest film, The Boston Strangler, which is also now streaming with a Hulu subscription. 

The top actors in Hollywood make a lot of money, but anyone will tell you that the real money is in production. That means that many of the biggest stars in the world have formed their own companies to produce both their own films and other projects that interest them. 

Often, these company names and logos appear at the beginning of the movies, along with larger, more recognizable studios like Paramount and Disney. Here is a list of many of the actors with their own production companies, along with the name of the company to look out for. 

Jordan Peele - Monkeypaw Productions

Jordan Peele has become one of the most exciting and interesting directors and producers in recent years. His Monkeypaw Productions has produced or co-produced his own movies, like Get Out, Us, and Nope, as well as other films like Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman, and Adamma Ebo's Honk For Jesus, Save Your Soul.

Tom Hanks - Playtone

Tom Hanks' Playtone has been wildly successful on the big and small screens. With movies starring Hanks like Cast Away, Charlie Wilson's Way, The Polar Express, and Greyhound, as well as films not starring him, like Mamma Mia and its sequel, the company keeps winning. It has also hit it big on TV with shows like Band of Brothers, The Pacific, and John Adams on HBO, and the CNN series about each decade of the last 60 years. 

Elizabeth Banks - Brownstone Productions

Elizabeth Banks has been on a hot streak with her company Brownstone Productions. It's most notable for the Pitch Perfect franchise, but the company has also co-produced movies like 2019's Charlie's Angels, and that surprise 2023 hit about a bear that gets into something it should not have in the woods, with scary (and hilarious) results. 

Reese Witherspoon - Pacific Standard

When Reese Witherspoon started Pacific Standard in 2012, she did so with the express purpose of highlighting and producing projects with strong female leads, crews, and topics. So far, it's been a huge success with films like Gone Girl and Wild, as well as TV shows like The Morning Show, and Big Little Lies. 

Adam Sandler - Happy Madison Productions

Adam Sandler movies are not for everyone, but wow, do they make him a lot of money through his company, Happy Madison. Though the two films it's named after Happy Gilmore and Billy Madison were not his productions, almost everything he's been in since 2000 is, and it continues to make a ton of money for the actor. The company has even dabbled in TV, most notably with The Goldbergs.

Drew Barrymore - Flower Films

Drew Barrymore's company, Flower Films, has produced or co-produced a ton of movies since she founded it in 1999. With movies like Donnie Darko, 50 First Dates, Fever Pitch, and the Charlie's Angels franchise, it is safe to assume Barrymore has made a pretty penny. Of course, it also produces her daytime talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show. 

Queen Latifah - Flavor Unit Entertainment

Queen Latifah's Flavor Unit Entertainment started out producing movies with moderate budgets that she starred in, like The Cookout and Beauty Shop, but these days, it's been successful on TV with her show, The Equalizer.

George Clooney - Smokehouse Pictures

Smokehouse Pictures is the second company founded by George Clooney after he shut down Section Eight Productions in 2006. Most movies he's starred in or directed since 2008 have been produced under the Smokehouse banner, including Leatherheads, Monuments Men, and The Boys In The Boat, plus other projects like Ocean's 8 and Argo.

Sandra Bullock - Fortus Films

Sandra Bullock may not be acting as much these days, but her production company, Fortus Films, is still humming along. Through the company, Bullock has produced movies like Miss Congeniality and its sequel, Two Weeks Notice, and The Lost City.

Courteney Cox - Coquette Productions

Friends star Courteney Cox and her ex-husband David Arquette started Coquette Productions together in 2004. The business relationship continued after the couple split six years later, though they haven't actually produced much in recent years. 

Brad Pitt - Plan B Entertainment

Plan B Entertainment was started by Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and producer Brad Grey in 2001. In 2004, Pitt and Grey bought Aniston out in the midst of her split from Pitt. Since then, the company has gone on to major success, with three of its movies, The Departed, 12 Years a Slave and Moonlight all winning Best Picture Oscars, with seven others receiving nominations for the award. 

Sterling K. Brown - Indian Meadows Productions

This Is Us star Sterling K. Brown named his production Indian Meadows Productions after the name of the neighborhood he grew up in outside St. Louis. Though it's just getting started, there are some interesting things on the way as Brown's star continues to shine brightly. 

Margot Robbie - LuckyChap Productions

Margot Robbie may have gotten snubbed at the 2024 Oscars for Barbie, but you can be sure she wasn't snubbed out of money as one of the producers of the hit movie. Robbie's company, LuckyChap Productions, has also produced movies Robbie starred in like I, Tonya and Birds of Prey as well as other projects she didn't star in like Saltburn and Promising Young Woman.

Leonardo DiCaprio - Appian Way Productions

Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions produced two Oscar-winners with The Aviator (which won five) and The Revenant (which won three, including Best Actor for DiCaprio). Through the company, DiCaprio not only produced feature films, but documentaries, as well. 

Nicole Kidman - Blossom Films

While Nicole Kidman's Blossom Films has dabbled in movies, most notably the 2011 rom-com Monte Carlo with Selena Gomez, it has found its biggest successes on the small screen. With shows like Big Little Lies, The Undoing, Nine Perfect Strangers, and 2024's Expats. 

Michael Douglas

Further Films, founded by Michael Douglas, doesn't have the portfolio that others may have on this list, as they seem to have found a niche in thrillers and suspense films like Swimfan, Don't Say a Word, 2017's Flatliners, and the streaming show Ratched.

Natalie Portman - Handsomecharlie Films

Natalie Portman named her company, Handsomecharlie Films, after her beloved dog, and she's put together a nice run of movies. She's produced many of her own projects, like No Strings Attached and Jane Got a Gun, as well as a surprise that she didn't star in, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. 

Eddie Murphy - Eddie Murphy Productions

Eddie Murphy started betting on himself early in his career through Eddie Murphy Productions and it has paid off, big time. Starting with Raw in 1987, the company has produced some huge movies for the legendary comedian, including Coming To America, Harlem Nights, Boomarang, The Nutty Professor, and Norbit. 

Barbra Streisand - Barwood Films

Barbra Streisand has produced many of her own projects through her company, Barwood Films. 1976's A Star Is Born, The Prince Of Tides, and Yentl are a few of the examples of her biggest successes. Barwood has also dabbled in TV movies, like the groundbreaking What Makes a Family in 2001, about a lesbian couple having a child together. 

Alec Baldwin - El Dorado Pictures

Alec Baldwin's El Dorado Pictures has been in the news a lot in recent years due to its connection to Rust and the tragic events that occurred on set. Baldwin has produced quite a few of his own projects through the company over the years and even got into the TV game show space with the revival of Match Game, which he also hosted. 

Tina Fey - Little Stranger

Tina Fey has one of the sharpest wits in Hollywood, so it's no surprise she would use those same brains to produce. From critically acclaimed movies like 2024's Mean Girls to wildly successful TV shows including 30 Rock and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Fey, and her company Little Stranger, continue to crush it. 

Laurence Fishburne - Cinema Gypsy Productions

The biggest success Laurence Fishburne and his company Cinema Gypsy Productions has seen thus far is the sitcom black-ish, but he's also produced some great movies of his own that have flown under the radar, but are worth checking out, in Five Fingers and Akeelah and the Bee.

Jodie Foster - Egg Pictures

It's no surprise that an actor and director like Jodie Foster, who has been in show business for basically all of her life, would be a producer as well. Through her Egg Pictures production company, she produced many of her own projects, starting with Nell in 1994 and Home for the Holidays in 1995. She closed the company in 2002 when she decided that producing wasn't for her. 

Clint Eastwood - Malpaso Films

Without question, one of the most successful companies on this list is Malpaso Films, founded by Clint Eastwood. It has served as the production company for almost all of the films Eastwood has directed and its history stretches back to the mid-1960s. Many of his classic films, including Unforgiven, The Bridges of Madison County, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Dirty Harry, Escape from Alcatraz, Million Dollar Baby, Sully, and many more have all been produced or co-produced by Malpaso. 

Halle Berry - 606 Films

Halle Berry's 606 Films has an interesting origin story. Though it was formed as part of her deal to star in Extant, the name has an important meaning. She named it after CA Senate Bill 606, a law intended to protect celebrities' children from the paparazzi.

It was an important issue for Berry, and when the company was formed, her partner, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, said, "606 Films is named for the anti-paparazzi bill, Senate Bill 606, which Halle fought so hard for and won, when no one believed it could be achieved. It truly informs the spirit of our company — making dreams possible, one bill at a time."

Mel Gibson - Icon Productions

Mel Gibson is not the most universally loved man in Hollywood, to be sure, but he's often bet on himself with his Icon Films, and more times than not, it's worked. Since 1989, he's financed many of his own projects completely through Icon, making movies like Hacksaw Ridge, The Passion of the Christ, and We Were Soldiers, plus co-producing maybe his most iconic movie, Braveheart. 

Salma Hayek - Ventanarosa Productions

Ventanarosa Productions, founded by Salma Hayek in 1999 has most often focused on Latin-centric projects, including Hayek's own Frida and the hit TV show, Ugly Betty. Ventanarosa also works throughout Latin America, producing Spanish-language films and TV. 

Will Smith - Overbrook Entertainment

Will Smith grew up in the West Philly neighborhood of Overbrook, which he took for the name of his production company as well, Overbrook Entertainment. Through it, Smith has produced many of his own projects, starting with Ali in 2001. King Richard, for which he infamously won the Oscar for Best Actor in 2022, was also produced by Overbrook. On the small screen, the Netflix hit Cobra Kai is an Overbrook production, as well. 

Amy Poehler - Paper Kite Productions

Amy Poehler's Paper Kite Production has dabbled in movies, but most of its success has been on TV and streaming. With shows like Russian Doll, and Broad City, you can see that Poehler likes sticking with what she knows, comedy. You might be surprised, though, that the company has also found success with reality TV and even feature length documentaries.

Danny DeVito - Jersey Films

Danny DeVito is obviously proud of his New Jersey roots, naming his production company Jersey Films. He also has to be proud of the output from the company with films like Pulp Fiction and Get Shorty. He's found a lot of success on TV too, with Reno 911! Another of Jersey's films, Erin Brockovich, was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards in 2001.

Charlize Theron - Denver And Delilah Productions

Denver and Delilah Productions' first film was Monster, starring the company's founder, Charlize Theron. That seems to have inspired a bit of a theme, as the company has produced other serial killer-related projects, like Netflix's show Mindhunters, and the HBO docuseries Last Call: When a Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York. There are also a few non-serial killer films, like Bombshell, Atomic Blonde, and Murder Mystery.

Will Ferrell - Gary Sanchez Productions

Before Adam McKay and Will Ferrell had their falling out in 2019 and dissolved Gary Sanchez Productions, the company had been wildly successful, releasing some of the funniest movies and shows over the last couple of decades. Step Brothers, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, Daddy's Home, Eastbound & Down, and Drunk History are just a few examples. Add to that a little HBO show called Succession, which has won just a few Emmys, and wow, what a success story. 

As this list shows, success as an actor often leads to success in production as well, so actors will continue to open up their own shops, and will continue to crush it, for sure. 

Natalie Portman may have been snubbed by the Academy this week after her performance as actress Elizabeth Berry in May December didn't earn her a 2024 Oscar nomination. (The Todd Haynes-directed flick as a whole failed to connect with the awards body in the same way as this year's Best Picture nominees did, except in the Original Screenplay category.) However, Portman did get some recent praise for a similarly prestigious entity: Rihanna herself. The two A-listers had an amazing fangirl moment, and there's video of it!

While attending the Christian Dior Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2024 show at Paris Fashion Week on Monday, January 22, the Black Swan actress had her cute encounter with the iconic music performer, which was documented in a video posted on Instagram by photographer Stephane Feugere:

As the "Work" singer posed outside the runway show in a textured Dior gown, matching belted coat, black baseball cap and plenty of diamonds, we can hear Portman approach the singer in the clip and say:

After warmly ribbing Natalie Portman for her fangirl question, Rihanna can be heard telling the Oscar winner that she, too, is "a fucking fan" and reciprocates the love:

The Star Wars alum -- who herself was looking glamorous in a full Dior Pre Fall 2024 ensemble, including a black wool and silk jacket, vest and shorts -- seemed overwhelmed by the praise being lavished on her by the eternally cool RiRi, telling the singer: 

The Hollywood icons capped off the sweet back-and-forth with Rihanna asking photographers to take a "queen shot" picture of the two of the, so she could "remember this happened tomorrow." 

And Portman herself commemorated the meeting by posting a photo of her embrace with Rihanna onto her Instagram grid on January 24:

Cheered on by celebrity friends like Barbie star America Ferrera and her May December castmate Julianne Moore in the comments, Natalie captioned the snap:

The supportive, unscripted moment between the two stars is reminiscent of a similar public encounter at last week's fan-favorite Emmy Awards ceremony, during which Bravo superfan Jessica Chastain fangirled over Garcelle Beauvais, one of the stars of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. The moment, which saw the dynamic duo sweetly gushing over each other in praise, was similarly captured by an onlooker and posted on social media. We love to see queens supporting queens!

So, though Natalie Portman didn't get an Academy Award nomination this time around, public kudos from RiRi are a pretty good alternative. (Plus, the actress did get a Golden Globe nod for Best Actress this year, alongside her May December co-stars, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton.)

The star will next be seen as Maddie Schwartz in the upcoming Apple TV+ show Lady in the Lake, which is based on the novel of the same title by Laura Lippman and co-starring Moses Ingram, Y'lan Noel and Mikey Madison. After production was suspended following a scary threat, the limited series finished filming in late 2022 and should be on track to hit the streamer during the 2024 TV schedule. And we already know of one likely viewer: noted Natalie Portman fan Rihanna!

In the meantime, May December is available to streaming using a Netflix subscription.

It pretty much goes without saying that the Star Wars movies are deeply embedded within the framework of popular culture at this point in time. George Lucas’ beloved science fiction franchise not only links fans but also the various actors who’ve played roles in the galaxy far, far away over the years. That’s why so many were hyped when Padmé Amidala actress Natalie Portman finally met Mark Hamill, who plays her on-screen son – Luke Skywalker. Like so many, I think it’s really cool that the meetup finally happened at this year’s Golden Globe Awards, but what I'm really loving is that Harrison Ford and Lily Gladstone got to geek out over the franchise that same night. 

Natalie Portman Spoke Out About Finally Crossing Paths With Mark Hamill

The meeting between Natalie Portman and Mark Hamill feels like it’s been in the making for some time now. Portman mentioned as early as 2018 that she’d like the opportunity to meet her Star Wars son. It was ultimately Hamill who confirmed his run-in with Portman by sharing a photo to social media. The Oscar winner subsequently spoke about the experience during her recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! (which was shared on YouTube). Based on her comments, Portman was absolutely delighted to meet the man who portrayed her character’s child in the Original and Sequel trilogies: 

As a fan, I can’t help but smile over the fact that Natalie Portman was finally able to meet her fellow Star Wars alum. It’s also wonderful to hear that she was able to meet Carrie Fisher before her passing in 2016. Moments like these are truly special, and one gets the impression that Portman truly relishes them. That also seems to ring true when it comes to Lily Gladstone and her own experience at the Golden Globes this year.

Lily Gladstone’s Encounter With Harrison Ford Sounds Downright Fun

On the same night that the actors who portrayed Amidala and Skywalker, Lily Gladstone got to meet one of their heroes. The Killers of the Flower Moon star revealed on The Tonight Show (as shared on YouTube) that she had several interactions with Han Solo actor Harrison Ford throughout the Globes. They were sitting in proximity to each other and struck up a conversation as she explained. Gladstone, who was inspired to get into acting due to her desire to be an Ewok, revealed that to Ford, who apparently provided an A+ response: 

Harrison Ford also chatted with fellow legend Kevin Costner that night but, based on this story, I can’t see how that would top his conversation with Lily Gladstone. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t just a little envious of the fact that the Certain Women star was able to have that moment with him. Gladstone also explained how Ford totally channeled Han Solo while lending her a helping hand during the evening: 

You have to love a true gentleman! All in all, it sounds like the Star Wars family and fandom were well represented during the award show. But I’m particularly happy for Lily Gladstone,  who was also one of the 2024 Golden Globe winners. If she hasn’t already, here’s hoping she gets to meet Natalie Portman, Mark Hamill and more franchise alums.

You can check out Luke, Padmé and the Ewoks by streaming the Skywalker Saga using a Disney+ subscription. You can also read up on upcoming Star Wars movies and TV shows, especially in the event that Lily Gladstone does land the role she’s long coveted.

Director Guy Ritchie is famous for attracting A-list actors throughout his career, as he's shown through his frequent collaborations with Jason Statham, compiling the star-studded cast of 2019’s The Gentlemen, and getting Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law to play Sherlock and Watson. The filmmaker’s next movie proved this again as it will see John Krasinski and Natalie Portman playing brother and sister. Plus, the adventure at the center of the film sounds like it will be a blast. 

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Guy Ritchie has assembled Krasinski and Portman for an upcoming Apple film called Fountain of Youth. The movie will reportedly revolve around estranged siblings who work together on a “global heist” to discover the legendary Fountain of Youth. Over the years, the mythological spring that allegedly restores one’s youth has been the subject of many films from Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides to Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain. This one looks to be a fun globetrotting adventure flick that has me excited already. 

Apparently, both John Krasinski and Natalie Portman will be some kind of history buffs who follow their knowledge of the past to chase after the fountain’s promise of immortality. 

Considering Krasinski and Portman are usually rather picky when it comes to what projects they get behind, there must have been something special about Fountain of Youth. The script was penned by James Vanderbilt, of the recent Scream films, Murder Mystery flicks and The Amazing Spider-Man movies, plus he wrote the screenplay for one of the best movies of the 2000s, Zodiac.  

The news surrounding Guy Ritchie’s latest movie comes as the director recently wrapped work on The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, an action war film starring Henry Cavill, Jake Gyllenhaal and Eiza González. The project was recently added to the 2024 movie schedule for April 19 alongside The First Omen and Challengers. 

While the release strategy has not been decided upon, the Fountain of Youth sounds like it could be the right movie to go to theaters before becoming available to stream with an AppleTV+ subscription, like other recent Apple movies like Killers of the Flower Moon and next month’s Argylle. 

Guy Ritchie has been lining up movie after movie in recent years, considering he had two movies come out in 2023 between The Covenant and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre. He’s also been attached to Disney’s Aladdin 2, after helming the billion-dollar box office smash and sharing hopes to return to Agrabah. He was also chosen to make the live-action Hercules in 2022, but we’ve yet to hear much regarding the movement of either Disney project. 

I can’t wait to see what Ritchie does with Fountain of Youth, and what John Krasinski and Natalie Portman bring to the upcoming adventure! 

It’s not everyday that people in the universe of Star Wars movies get to meet their parents. The Skywalker family certainly seems to have a problem with keeping it family together, which means that it’s not always in the cards for actors like Mark Hamill and Natalie Portman to meet. And yet, as this year’s Golden Globes helped usher in the 2024 movie schedule, mother and son were able to finally meet, taking a family photo for the ages between Luke Skywalker and Queen Amidala. 

During the show that would crown the 2024 Golden Globes winners, nominee Portman and presenter Hamill had a chance to catch up. That naturally meant it was time to take a photo of these franchise vets, giving us this snapshot of the stars from The Phantom Menace and A New Hope: 

It's time for a quick lesson in the Star Wars family tree, just in case you're kind of confused here.  Queen Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) fell in love with Jedi-in-training Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen). Their forbidden love affair eventually produced a pair of twins: Luke (Mark Hamill) and Leia (Carrie Fisher).

Separated so their father, now going by the name of Darth Vader, couldn't turn them to the Dark Side, Luke was sent to live with the Lars family on Tatooine, and Leia was sent to Alderaan to be raised by the Organas. With all of that history out of the way, you can now why it’s kind of crazy that Natalie Portman and Mark Hamill haven’t met before this point in time. 

It only gets weirder when considering the parties that have returned to the Star Wars fold, Hamill included, once the Sequel Trilogy kicked things off. But putting all of that aside, it’s nice to see this long-awaited meet up finally happen during a night of Hollywood glamor and awards. 

If only there was a way that Jo Koy, the host of the 2024 Golden Globes, could have been clued into this meeting. Permitting that this moment took place before or during the show, of course. It may not have changed Koy’s absolutely roasted monologue, but it may have helped provide some joke material that wouldn’t have inspired the Golden Globes backlash that the popular comedian inspired after his recent gig. 

Sadly, The Force can’t be with us all on nights such as this. But for Natalie Portman and Mark Hamill, there was some sort of luck in the air to finally get to chat face-to-face, faux mother-to-faux son. Maybe there’s some sort of possibility that the Portman/Hamill ticket could host next year’s Golden Globes, as not only do these performers share a cinematic lineage, they’re also quite funny. 

If you're looking to celebrate both Natalie Portman and Mark Hamill, you're in luck. Both of these Star Wars veterans are currently featured in recent buzzed about titles available with a Netflix subscription. Natalie Portman is currently starring in the film May December, while Mark Hamill was a part of The Fall of the House of Usher cast. There's nothing like the family business to keep the world of streaming debuts interesting.  

As we head into 2024, Marvel Studios fans only have one movie to circle on the upcoming calendar: Shawn Levy’s Deadpool 3, which will arrive in theaters in July and follow Deadpool (Ryan Reynolds) and Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) on a multiversal adventure… at least, that’s what we think the sequel is going to be about. Only having one movie on the calendar appears to be Marvel’s effort to steer back toward “quality over quantity,” as several fans have felt that Phases 4 and 5 of the MCU have lacked when compared to The Infinity Saga. That’s not to say the Infinity Saga was without its faults. There were more than a few missteps as Kevin Feige built his unprecedented cinematic universe, and if you watch the Marvel movies in order, you can see where the growing pains took place. 

One such early stumble was Chris Hemsworth’s sequel Thor: The Dark World, the eighth Marvel Studios movie and the second story in the studio’s Phase 2. Marvel was riding high at the time, given the mammoth success of the superhero team-up movie The Avengers, and Shane Black’s Iron Man 3 earning more than $1 billion at the worldwide box office. Behind the scenes on Thor: The Dark World, however, things weren’t nearly as smooth.

How Patty Jenkins got involved.

The recent book MCU: The Reign of Marvel Studios has some fascinating passages on the struggles between Kevin Feige, his filmmakers, and the Creative Committee that Marvel Entertainment had established in New York City. Quite often, this group of comic-book writers and toy-making executives passed notes to the Hollywood arm, aiming to boost sales… usually to the detriment of the creatives working on the movies. When the book reaches Thor: The Dark World, it’s revealed that the film’s original director, Patty Jenkins, met resistance from the Creative Committee on her planned direction. 

Jenkins got the job, in part, because Thor star Natalie Portmana lobbied on her behalf. The director was coming off of the critically acclaimed Monster, a 2003 drama that earned Charlize Theron her Academy Award. As Jenkins remembers it:

Patty Jenkins’ original idea for the movie, however, differed from the version that we originally got. And the Creative Committee made things difficult. 

What went wrong for Patty Jenkins?

According to the book, many of the decisions being made by the Creative Committee at that time were driven by toy sales. And it was the committee’s belief that kids weren’t buying anything that wasn’t male, and white. This led to the death of a planned Power Pack movie, because the characters were too young and diverse. And it prevented Hela from being the planned villain of Thor: The Dark World.

Marvel Producer Craig Kyle confirms this in the book, stating:

It’s staggering to think about how different the MCU might have been if Hela could have been introduced in Thor: The Dark World. Fans who are following the most recent season of Marvel’s What If?, available to anyone with a Disney+ subscription, know that Hela plays a significant part of the narrative, and could have impacted the live-action slate of MCU movies. We also go on to learn, though, that Jenkins saw Thor: The Dark World as the potential to deliver an MCU Romeo and Juliet, building on the Shakespearean themes embedded by Thor helmer Kenneth Branagh. But the Creative Committee had other thoughts. 

Part of it was driven by toy sales, and Marvel Entertainment not believing that a cosmic love story between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) would move merchandise. And part of it was driven by the MCU’s overall need to establish the Infinity Stones. Ultimately, Jenkins received a new script draft that deemphasized her romance, and ramped up both Malekith the Dark Elf and the Aether. So she walked. 

Said Jenkins:

So Patty Jenkins quit, and let her opportunity to direct a Marvel movie fall by the wayside. Sadly for Natalie Portman, however, she didn’t have that luxury. 

What effect did this have on Natalie Portman?

When Marvel Studios managed to sign Natalie Portman for the role of Jane Foster in Thor, it was a casting coup for a young studio that was still trying to establish itself. Remember, Robert Downey Jr. wasn’t the bankable all-star that Iron Man helped turn him into, and the two Chrises – Evans and Hemsworth – were still unproven. The early Marvel movies landed a few heavy-hitting character actors in supporting parts, but Portman’s signing was significant. 

And now the director that she actively recruited was gone. And Portman was contractually obligated to stay. She wasn’t happy, at all. And in the MCU book, it’s reported that Portman declared herself finished with the franchise, refusing to make herself available for reshoots… something essential for blockbusters, and a huge part of the Marvel process. Apparently, for the post-credits scene featured below, Marvel had to put Hemsworth’s real-life wife Elsa Pataky in a long, brown wig to shoot this final kiss:

Hilarious. The magic of movies! 

In the end, things worked out for almost all involved. Patty Jenkins went on to helm Wonder Woman, considered by most to be one of the best superhero movies ever made. Natalie Portman agreed to return to the franchise to play The Mighty Thor in Taika Waititi’s Thor: Love and Thunder. Except, Alan Taylor took over for Jenkins, delivered a stinker of the movie, but rebounded with The Many Saints of Newark, a stellar prequel to The Sopranos. We don’t know yet the future of Thor in the MCU, but the saga needs legacy heroes, so we expect to see Hemsworth in his Thor suit sometime in years to come.

The fourth solo Thor movie may be one of the lowest-rated Marvel movies to date, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t much to love about the flick. For my money, one of the best things about Thor: Love and Thunder (maybe all of Phase 4) was Natalie Portman’s return as the totally ripped Mighty Thor. The Annihilation star is excellent in the role, and the internet could not get enough of Portman when she was revealed in the first looks. Honestly, the actress’s return is one of the best (ironically, maybe worst) things about the flick. In a recent interview, the Oscar-winning actress dives into what made bulking up as Jane Foster so ‘gross,’ and it honestly makes a tone of sense. 

In a recent Vanity Fair's Scene Selection series interview, Natalie Portman took a trip down memory lane, revisiting key moments from her illustrious career. The Star Wars veteran actress discussed some of the unique challenges of beefing up while sharing her thoughts on the transformative experience of embodying a towering 6'3" character. As she tells it: 

The visual impact of seeing herself as a towering figure on screen left a lasting impression, and Portman expressed a sense of awe at the experience. However, it wasn't all smooth sailing for the acclaimed actress as she delved into the physical preparations required for the role of the Mighty Thor. She continued: 

Despite the challenges and the less-than-appetizing protein shakes, the Black Swan star remains open to stepping into the shoes of a superhero once again. When asked if she would undergo a similar transformation for any upcoming Marvel movies, Natalie responded with enthusiasm:

Being in upcoming superhero movies obviously has its perks when it comes to impressing her kids. So, the joy it brings to her family makes the intense preparation and physical demands worthwhile for the 42-year-old actress. Frankly, I’d love to see her return to wield Mjolnir, but based on the Thor 4's ending, that may be out of the realm of possibility. But, when it comes to comic book movies, never say never. 

Natalie Portman's most recent project, May December, finds her on one of the major streaming platforms this December. This 2023 movie schedule project is a dark comedy following an actress, played by Portman, as she immerses herself in spending time with the woman she's set to portray in a TV movie, portrayed by Julianne Moore. You can watch it with a Netflix subscription. Or, you can revisit her time as Doctor Jane Foster in the MCU with a Disney+ subscription. 

Inherently, May December is very dramatic, however, throughout the film, you can’t help but laugh at how ridiculous the situation is. This project on the 2023 movie schedule is a dark comedy all about an actress, played by Natalie Portman, going to spend time with a woman she’s going to play in a TV movie. Things get really intense as Portman’s character gets really into her role, and while speaking with CinemaBlend, the Oscar winner explained the humorous process of playing Elizabeth, and why acting can be “completely absurd” at times. 

While Natalie Portman’s character Elizabeth takes her job as an actress very seriously, the real actress behind her finds the process quite humorous. While speaking with CinemaBlend’s Sean O’Connell during an interview about May December, she laughed about her character’s show “Norah’s Ark,” and opened up about nodding to the "silliness" of this job. She said: 

During the interview, O’Connell asked about a scene in the movie where Elizabeth responds to a compliment about “Norah’s Ark,” and how you can tell she has said this a thousand times. Portman's character takes her job so seriously, and she’s making a TV movie, so while filming these moments, the Black Swan star had fun nodding to some of the sillier elements of acting. As the actress stated, she really found her character's situation and mentality quite humorous, and it led to her thinking about how “completely absurd” acting can be. 

May December acts as a commentary about acting and performance, and the potential danger of someone playing out another person’s story. The project, which could likely become one of Portman’s best movies, follows an actress as she transforms into Gracie (Julianne Moore), the woman she’s studying. As Elizabeth spends more time with Moore’s character, her voice changes, her style shifts, and she falls deep down the rabbit hole of prepping for this character with a very complex and controversial past.  

Throughout the film, there are funny moments of her taking the work too seriously and acting as if she’s a very prestigious performer preparing for a role that could win her an Oscar when she's actually working on a TV movie about a tabloid case. However, this process Portman’s character goes through is also intense and almost scary at times. The film balances comedy and drama extremely well, and that’s partially due to her incredible performance as Elizabeth. 

Clearly, Natalie Portman enjoyed making this movie, and she found playing an actor to be an amusing experience. As she said, portraying Elizabeth had her contemplating how “absurd” her job can be, and she enjoyed nodding to the “silliness” that comes with acting. However, she also turns in an incredible dramatic performance as a woman who falls deeply into character. 

Overall, May December, Natalie Portman and her co-stars, Julianne Moore and Charles Melton, are receiving tons of praise for their film, and it’s looking like it could become one of Netflix’s best movies. Todd Haynes’ movie is such a fascinating look into a woman preparing to play a role that focuses on an incredibly controversial couple, and the lengths she goes to to find the “truth” is both haunting and even funny at times. 

To see this complex, and at times humorous, performance from Natalie Portman, you can stream May December with a Netflix subscription. 

There are popular movie franchises, and then there's Star Wars. Generations have grown up on the galaxy far, far away, resulting in a massive fanbase of passionate moviegoers. With the Skywalker Saga over, all eyes are on the upcoming Star Wars movies coming down the line. We've seen the return of various actors such as Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen, but what about Natalie Portman? Funny enough, Portman sounds open to a Star Wars return as Padme. And I'm so hyped about this concept.

Lucasfilm recently revealed its plans for a new Star Wars trilogy, with each movie set at very different points in the timeline. The prequel trilogy has gotten a ton of love lately, thanks to live-action shows that are available with a Disney+ subscription. Natalie Portman recently appeared on Watch What Happens Live, where she was asked if she has plans to return to the beloved space opera. She responded by saying:

Do you hear that sound? It's Star Wars fans out there collectively cheering at the mere idea of Portman returning to the franchise. It's been a long time since she brought Padme to life, so I'm curious about what type of story might inspire her to return as that signature character. Fingers crossed it actually happens. 

Portman's comments come as she's promoting her movie May December, which is available with a Netflix subscription. Eventually a caller asked about Star Wars, which is likely a very common occurrence-- despite the nearly decades that have passed since Revenge of the Sith hit theaters back in 2005. But now that the time has passed, she seems ready to play Padme again if the right project pops up. 

Perhaps this shouldn't be surprising, as Portman has continued to do major genre work on blockbusters like MCU. In fact, she went from love interest to bonafide superhero in Thor: Love and Thunder as Mighty Thor. It's unclear if her time in that franchise is up, but I wouldn't be surprised if Disney cut her another great deal for her Star Wars return.

Over the past few years, Star Wars' prequels have been getting more love, after being the butt of jokes for years. Fans who were kids when those movies came out are now adults, ones who are happy to see that era expanded thanks to various live-action shows on Disney+. 

As previously mentioned, Ewan McGregor returned to Star Wars in the Obi-Wan Kenobi series, which bridged the gap between the prequels and OG trilogy. Hayden Christensen also appeared as Anakin Skywalker/ Darth Vader, before returning again in Ahsoka. Let's hope that Natalie Portman is the next one to join in on this trend. 

It's currently unclear when Star Wars will return to theaters, but Natalie Portman's May December is out now. Be sure to check out the 2024 movie release dates to plan your next movie experience. 

I personally get a huge kick out of it when actors play actors on screen. The line that separates a performer from their actual existence blurs all the more in these scenarios, sometimes giving us unparalleled insight into who these actors are. Todd Haynes’ May December, one of the best movies on Netflix at the moment, offers up a prime example. Natalie Portman stars in the film as Elizabeth, a successful television actress who is studying for a new role, in which she’ll play a character based on Gracie (Julianne Moore), a former teacher who fell in love with one of her much younger students. The premise packs all the expected melodrama of a Haynes movie, as well as the dark humor. And one of those jokes, according to Portman, was a behind-the-scenes revelation. 

You can watch May December right now with a Netflix subscription, and you really should if you haven’t yet. Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, shock, are incredible in it. Maybe it will even break Portman’s streak about never appearing in a Best Picture winner. Throughout the movie, we learn as much about Portman’s actress character, Elizabeth, as she learns about Gracie. One note that stands out is the name of Elizabeth’s hit TV show, Norah’s Ark. But as Portman tells CinemaBlend during an exclusive interview, that wasn’t supposed to be the name of the show. 

At the beginning of our conversation, I jokingly asked her which awards she assumes Elizabeth won for her work as “Gracie.” She got a good laugh out of that and answered, “Daytime Emmy, maybe?” Her co-star, Julianne Moore, countered, “People’s Choice.” After which Portman elaborated:

The only thing better than learning about the title Animal Hospital is if we learned that Natalie Portman and Todd Haynes had filmed some footage of it, to include as a bonus on the eventual May December DVD release. Forget Portman returning to the Star Wars universe, or even agreeing to stay in the MCU following Thor: Love and Thunder. I need three seasons on Norah’s Ark on Netflix by 2024. 

Have you watched the May December trailer yet? It hints at the gold that’s waiting for you in the movie.

This year is drawing to a close, but the Hollywood calendar rolls on. Keep track of all the anticipated upcoming 2024 movies that we are keeping an eye on, and use our guide to plan out your movie weekends in the months to come.

Celebrities are just like us, especially because they have off days just like the rest of us. The unfortunate truth is that when people like George Clooney or Scarlett Johansson have those moments, it’s more visible than when the rest of us encounter them. Especially when those sour notes become the lowest rated movie from major Hollywood stars like them. How many of these acting performances in notable disasters -- based on the critics freshness scores on Rotten Tomatoes -- do you remember? 

Meryl Streep - Lions For Lambs (2007) - 27%

If a movie like Lions for Lambs is the lowest rated film in your canon, you’re probably a legend like Meryl Streep. And that just so happens to be the film that ranks in the last slot on her history with the Tomatometer. Then again, the also iconic Tom Cruise co-starred in this picture, and his lowest ranked film scored even lower on the same scale.

Tom Hanks - The Bonfire Of The Vanities (1990) - 15%

One of the most infamous box office disasters in history is still Brian De Palma’s adaptation of The Bonfire of the Vanities. There are many reasons that it flopped, and Tom Hanks has shared thoughts on the matter on occasion. He’d certainly know the subject inside and out, as even he called out his own miscasting, in this supposed lowest point of his filmography. 

Angelina Jolie - Original Sin (2001) - 12%

How bad could a movie be that pairs Angelina Jolie and Antonio Banderas in a torrid love affair? Well, it can apparently be horrific if you’re going by Jolie’s RT resume. 2001’s Original Sin sits as her lowest ranked film, with not even its unrated cut able to generate a sizzle around the picture.

Denzel Washington - Heart Condition (1990) - 10%

Try this on for size: Denzel Washington once haunted Bob Hoskins, as a lawyer whose donated heart goes into Hoskins’ hard living detective. That was an actual plot for the ‘90s comedy Heart Condition, and you can see why critics weren’t exactly kind to this one; even with the charms of Washington and Hoskins involved.

Amy Adams - Serving Sara (2002) - 4%

Some stars are collateral damage for other stars’ failed starring vehicles. When Matthew Perry and Elizabeth Hurley’s rom-com Serving Sara crashed and burned, it took Amy Adams along with it. Well, in the context that it’s her lowest rated film on Rotten Tomatoes. Other than that, Ms. Adams seems to still be riding high, as she totally should be.

George Clooney - Grizzly 2: The Revenge (1983) - 8%

On one hand, Grizzly 2: The Revenge is a campy horror movie that looks like it’s earned its 8% RT score. At the same time, it’s kind of unfair to Clooney, as well as co-stars Laura Dern and Charlie Sheen, to be lumped in with the film’s failings as their characters are a classic case of disposable young teen victims.

Viola Davis - The Architect (2006) - 11%

The Architect couldn't have possibly been someone's attempt at cashing in on Crash's Best Picture win, could it? It sure seems like it, and critics weren't biting at writer/director Matt Tauber's adaptation of this stage drama. Actor Viola Davis survived this metaphorical wreckage though, and two years later she'd find herself in Doubt, with her first Academy Award nomination to show for it. 

Matt Damon - Suburbicon (2017) - 28%

Suburbicon had a lot going for it: an all-star cast that included Matt Damon, Oscar Isaac, and Julianne Moore, a script with Coen Brothers involvement, and George Clooney in the director’s chair. And yet, this attempt at pitch black satire of the idyllic ‘50s collapsed under its own ambitions, acting as the rock bottom of Damon’s resume. 

Taylor Swift - Valentine’s Day (2010) - 18%

Sorry Swifties, but Taylor can’t always win. Case in point is her role in the ensemble rom-com Valentine’s Day; which acts as the lowest ranked project she’s racked up as an acting talent. Though if you count the record-breaking Eras Tour movie, that’s the absolute tops. It may be apples and oranges, but it's something fun to keep in mind.

Ryan Reynolds - R.I.P.D. (2013) - 12%

Admit it: you probably thought X-Men: Origins - Wolverine was going to be Ryan Reynolds’ lowest rated movie. As it turns out, that’s not even in Reynolds’ bottom 10 movies. What did happen to be the Deadpool star’s lowest rated film was the misguided comic book romp R.I.P.D. That’s right folks: it’s rated even lower than Green Lantern!

Sandra Bullock - Speed 2: Cruise Control (1997) - 4%

When a movie like Speed becomes a breakout hit, you’d be crazy not to try and make a sequel. That’s not a guarantee that you should make that next movie, as we saw with 1997’s Speed 2: Cruise Control; the movie that is the low water mark for Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock’s Rotten Tomatoes scores. 

Tom Hardy - This Means War (2012) - 26%

How does a romantic action-comedy where Tom Hardy and Chris Pine fight over Reese Witherspoon lose? If you’ve seen This Means War, you might have an answer to that question already handy. Tom Hardy’s lowest ranking effort on his own personal Tomatometer, it’s one of his rare losses when it comes to the world of movies. 

Julia Roberts - Mother’s Day (2016) - 8%

Actors, be careful when accepting roles in all-star ensemble rom-coms. It’s a genre that’s given us Love, Actually, but also gave us Valentine’s Day, New Year’s Eve, and Mother’s Day. Taylor Swift can count that first film as her lowest RT score, and Academy Award winner Julia Roberts has the last one in that line as hers. So live and learn.

Ben Affleck - The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) - 5%

What’s the last thing Ben Affleck wanted? A mid-profile flop like The Last Thing He Wanted. This is the absolute bottom of Affleck’s Rotten Tomatoes scored films, which may or may not surprise some film fans. Your range of shock probably depends on how you feel about Jersey Girl and/or Gigli. Which is saying something, as Gigli was disowned by its director.

Scarlett Johansson - The Spirit (2008) - 14%

After Robert Rodriguez’s Sin City and Zack Snyder’s 300 became surprise hits with audiences, author Frank Miller’s work seemed poised to take off. And then The Spirit came along, and cratered those hopes along with Scarlett Johansson’s Rotten Tomatoes scores. You Lucy apologists out there just scored an important victory for the next time someone questions your taste in movies.

Robert Downey Jr. - Johnny Be Good (1988) - 0%

Even at the height of his powers as a young performer, Robert Downey Jr. had his fair share of unsuccessful films. None of those flops had the power to counter the absolute 0 that 1988’s Johnny Be Good scored. To his credit, the movie was more of a starring vehicle for Anthony Michael-Hall, but this one still has to sting. 

Jennifer Lawrence - House At The End Of The Street (2012) - 12%

A survivor of many threats thrown at her on the big screen, Jennifer Lawrence can battle some tough forces and still come out the victor. Just look at her 2012 output, which saw her score her lowest RT result with the horror film House at the End of the Street; but also saw her on the road to winning her first Oscar in Silver Linings Playbook. 

Dwayne Johnson - Tooth Fairy (2010) - 17%

The failure of Black Adam was a humbling that some probably believed Dwayne Johnson had coming. Longtime fans of The Rock would know better though, as looking back a bit further in his career, you start to run into movies like Tooth Fairy. That practically makes Black Adam look like Batman vs. Superman if you think about it long enough.

Anne Hathaway - The Last Thing He Wanted (2020) - 5%

While Anne Hathaway's career highlights are abundant -- including The Devil Wears Prada, Interstellar, Rachel Getting Married (for which she was nominated for an Oscar), and Les Miserables (for which she won an Oscar) -- like every other actor on this list, she's not immune to the occasional poorly-received movie. In her case, it's a very low rating for the 2020 movie The Last Thing He Wanted. 

Henry Cavill - Hellraiser: Hellworld (2005) - 0%

We’re not going to say that Henry Cavill’s part in Hellraiser: Hellworld is part of his tough luck with James Bond. If an actor can star in a movie like this and still be invited to audition for Casino Royale, then maybe their acting chops were honed enough to be a part of the James Bond movies after all. 

Charlize Theron - The Last Face (2016) - 8%

A lineup like Jared Harris, Javier Bardem, and Charlize Theron is something a movie would kill for. Adding a director like Sean Penn just sweetens the pot if you’re a certain type of moviegoer. Well, that combination did work on 2016’s The Last Face, and it was a result so abysmal that it came in as Charlize Theron’s worst rated film on Rotten Tomatoes.

Bradley Cooper - Brother’s Justice (2010) - 0%

There was a time when Dax Shepard decided to co-direct a mockumentary where he pretended to try and become an action star. That movie was Brother’s Justice, and good luck remembering it ever existed past it being mentioned here and now, as Bradley Cooper’s lowest rated movie of his career. 

Halle Berry - Dark Tide (2012) - 0%

Even in the presence of infamous trash fires like Catwoman, there’s a movie that reigns even higher in Halle Berry’s not-so-greatest hits. 2012’s Dark Tide is the deep end of the pool for the X-Men alum, being thrashed by critics upon its release. Want to know what happens to a flop that’s struck by lightning? The same thing that happened to Dark Tide.

Will Smith - After Earth (2013) - 12%

“Wild Wild West was less painful than After Earth.” Will Smith’s dig at this infamous bomb is admittedly more entertaining than the movie itself, even if his slam of the M. Night Shyamalan directed picture unfairly slams Wild Wild West as anything but a silly fun house of comedy. Your mileage may vary on that gigantic spider adventure, but we can all agree that at least it isn’t After Earth, which is Smith's lowest rated movie.

Nicole Kidman - Grace Of Monaco (2014) - 9%

Going into its release window, Nicole Kidman’s Grace of Monaco looked like an awards season darling waiting to happen. But a last minute shift that robbed the movie of a domestic theatrical release, plus an infamous difference between the theatrical and “writer’s” cut changed those fortunes oh so quickly; and with an RT score to prove it.

Morgan Freeman - Just Getting Started (2017) - 4%

You can’t help but want to root for a movie like Just Getting Started. A comedy where Rene Russo, Tommy Lee Jones, and Morgan Freeman collide sounds like a fun night out on paper. Alas, that recipe doesn’t always cook up a winner, and this absolute stinker proves it, marking the tail end of the spectrum of films Freeman has starred in. 

Emma Stone - Movie 43 (2013) - 4%

Considering how many big ticket stars were suckered into making Movie 43, it’s surprising that it hasn’t cropped up as the nadir of more of the filmographies on this list. Which may be a compliment to Emma Stone, as if this is the movie that’s supposed to represent her “worst,” then maybe Aloha wasn’t as big of a misfire as we thought.

Tom Cruise - Cocktail (1988) - 9%

Out of all the movies that Tom Cruise is known for, Cocktail seems to be one that people rarely talk about. A dramedy digging into the highs and lows of being a hot shot bartender, it feels like Top Gun with a liquor license. This flick might hold its liquor, but its Tomatoes are scattered on the floor, resulting in the worst hangover on Cruise’s resume.

Natalie Portman - Planetarium (2016) - 15%

A Natalie Portman period drama can be hit or miss, and in the case of Planetarium, it apparently was the latter. You're probably wondering how you haven't heard about a movie where Portman and Lily Rose Depp play sisters that can see ghosts during the '30s. Well, this is the same year that Portman starred in Pablo Larrain's Jackie, and that film was the clear winner of the Black Swan star's year in 2016.

Brad Pitt - Cool World (1992) - 4%

How bad do you have to screw up to land a movie named Cool World with an insanely cool Brad Pitt all the way at the bottom of his filmography? If you really want the answer, you should see the film for yourself. Some bombs of great infamy just have to be experienced firsthand to truly understand the failure they brought upon their stars.

Jennifer Aniston - ‘Til There Was You (1997) - 5%

The “stable friend” is a character that can still provide a breakout hit for an actor, as even the balanced party of a movie like ‘Til There Was You gets some laughs. But not even a gag involving Jennifer Aniston and a kitten could save the film, which seems like a surefire formula that’s hard to pass up. Even in 1997, this movie’s response seems particularly harsh. 

Chris Hemsworth - Red Dawn (2012) - 15%

Remaking a Patrick Swayze classic like Red Dawn seemed like a match made in Hell since day one. Even though Chris Hemsworth was already the god of thunder in Thor, that didn’t make up for a movie so dubious that even the horribly photoshopped posters didn’t seem to care about selling it.

As you can see with the films we've just recalled, it didn't exactly crush the careers and dreams of these heavy hitters of the movies. At the same time, we'd recommend not mentioning them in polite conversation, unless you're absolutely sure that the situation is ripe for a fun story about some bad times. 

The list of Best Picture winners is short, and exclusive, which means that even some of the most acclaimed, decorated, and generally well-liked actors of all time haven't taken home the grand prize at the Academy Awards. You might be surprised by the number of celebrities we have listed below — many of which have Oscars of their own — that have never starred in a Best Picture winner.

Denzel Washington

As one of a few actors who have two Oscars to their name, you might assume that some of the best Denzel Washington movies were also guaranteed a Best Picture win, right? Surprisingly, the star of Glory and Training Day has never made a movie that won the Academy's big prize, but at least he can say that King Kong still ain’t got nothing on him.

Heath Ledger

If what many consider to be one of the Academy’s greatest mistakes (awarding Crash Best Picture over Brokeback Mountain in 2006) had not happened, Heath Ledger’s name would not be on this list. However, the late Australian actor still left behind a stunning legacy only so many actors can dream of. Notably, he won a posthumous Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as the Joker in one of the best superhero movies, The Dark Knight.

Christian Bale

Five of Christian Bale’s best movies have been nominated for Best Picture (The Fighter, American Hustle, The Big Short, Vice, and Ford v. Ferrari), but to no avail. At least his performance in The Fighter — David O. Russell’s 2010 boxing biopic — earned him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Robert Downey Jr.

It is already hard enough to believe that Robert Downey Jr. has only two Oscar nominations (for Chaplin and Tropic Thunder), and that none of his many great movies outside of the MCU have achieved the highest honor, either. However, things could change at the 2024 Oscars, given his stunning work in the Oppenheimer cast and the promising chances for Christopher Nolan’s glowing biopic.

Toni Collette

Toni Collette is an extraordinarily talented actor with the accolades to prove it, including an Oscar nomination for 1999’s The Sixth Sense. However, the classic M. Night Shyamalan movie is also one of a few Toni Collette movies to be nominated for Best Picture (also including 2006’s Little Miss Sunshine), but she hasn't been in a winner yet.

Will Smith

From TV sitcoms to sci-fi blockbusters to critically acclaimed biopics, Will Smith’s filmography is pretty extraordinary, but it does not include Best Picture winners. If that does change for him soon, he may be unable to celebrate the honor in person. This is because he has been banned from future ceremonies for the next decade after slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars — which also happened to be the night he won Best Actor for King Richard.

Harrison Ford

Two of Harrison Ford's most iconic characters were featured in two Best Picture Nominees -- the original Star Wars movie, where he played Han Solo, and the first Indiana Jones movie, Raiders of the Lost Ark -- but neither of them won. At least Ford, who does have an Oscar nomination for fellow Best Picture nominee 1985’s Witness, can say those films, among others, made him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.

Scarlett Johansson

Some of the most significant films of Scarlett Johansson’s career were Best Pictures nominees — such as her breakthrough role in one of the best movies of the 2000s, Lost in Translation, and her dual Oscar-nominated performances the same year for Jojo Rabbit and Marriage Story. Of course, none of these films took home the top prize.

Ryan Gosling

There was a time when it seemed like Ryan Gosling would not be eligible for a list like this when we thought La La Land won Best Picture in 2017. However, it turned out to be a case of mistaken envelopes and the real winner was Moonlight. The Barbie cast member was also in the nominated film The Big Short, and there are sure to be more Ryan Gosling movies getting Oscar consideration.

Glenn Close

Glenn Close is one of those actors whose longtime losing streak at the Academy Awards — eight nominations, zero wins — continues to baffle audiences. Add on the fact that none of her best movies have won Best Picture either and the notion becomes simply unspeakable.

Jennifer Lawrence

The Academy loves Jennifer Lawrence — nominating her four times and awarding her the Best Actress Oscar for 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook. However, they seem to like her just a bit more than Jennifer Lawrence’s best movies, none of which have received the Best Picture award.

Julia Roberts

I suppose Julia Roberts’ multiple nominations and one win — for Erin Brockovich — had me convinced that she had been in a Best Picture winner at some point. In truth, said biopic from 2000 is actually the only Best Picture nominee among Roberts’ filmography so far, and it lost to Gladiator.

Meg Ryan

Would you believe that Meg Ryan has never been nominated for an Academy Award? Well, what if I told you that none of her movies — which include some of the best romantic comedies of all time, like When Harry Met Sally — were considered for the top prize either? Some talents just do not get the recognition they deserve.

Laura Linney

Curiously, Laura Linney has been nominated for her performances in 2000’s You Can Count On Me, Kinsey from 2004, and 2007’s The Savages — none of which even received Best Picture nominations. She has been in a Best Picture nominee though — Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River — however, that did not win either.

George Clooney

For a while, George Clooney’s filmography seemed to consist primarily of Best Picture nominees, such as Syriana (for which he won Best Supporting Actor) and Good Night, and Good Luck (which also earned him nods for writing and directing). However, in terms of the Best Picture category, that’s all any of them ever amounted to being; nominee.

Samuel L. Jackson

With a resume as lengthy and renowned as his, you would think Samuel L. Jackson has been in at least one Best Picture winner but he has not… yet. He has starred in quite a few Best Pictures nominees — many of which are Quentin Tarantino movies like Pulp Fiction, for which he received his sole Oscar nomination.

Hugh Jackman

Tom Hooper’s 2012 adaptation of Les Miserables earned eight nominations including one for Best Picture and and another for Best Actor for Hugh Jackman, but those categories were not among the three it did win. At least the Australian X-Men movie star has had the honor of hosting an Oscar ceremony before.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt has won a Golden Globe for Gideon’s Daughters, a Screen Actors Guild Award for 2018’s A Quiet Place, and three BAFTA nominations for The Devil Wears Prada, a special “Rising Star Award” from the same year, and The Girl on the Train. However, never has the Academy given her a nod, nor have any of Emily Blunt’s movies even been nominated for Best Picture.

Jake Gyllenhaal

The fact that Jake Gyllenhaal has only been nominated for an Oscar once — for Best Supporting Actor in 2005’s Brokeback Mountain surprisingly enough -- is crazy. To learn that said LGBTQ+ romance movie is the only film of his to receive a Best Picture nomination is equally baffling.

Matthew McConaughey

Mathew McConaughey has starred in two films nominated for Best Picture — Dallas Buyer’s Club, for which he won his Best Actor Oscar, and The Wolf of Wall Street — which were both released in 2013. Even with favorable odds like that, neither acclaimed drama took home the gold that year.

Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman has been nominated for three Oscars, and she took home one in 2011 for Black Swan. Darren Aronofsky’s twisted tale of ambition gone too far is also the actor’s only film to be nominated for Best Picture.

Gary Oldman

Gary Oldman is one of those actors who was overdue for his Oscar for a long time before he broke the streak with his transformative performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour. Before (and after) his win, the British actor appeared in just a couple of Best Picture nominees — namely Oliver Stone’s JFK and David Fincher’s Mank.  

Amy Adams

The fact that none of Amy Adams’ movies have earned a Best Picture Oscar — despite six being nominated, including American Hustle and Arrival — is not particularly shocking. What is shocking is that the actor also has six nominations of her own and has never won any of them.

Angela Bassett

Years after she was nominated for an Academy Award as Tina Turner in What’s Love Got To Do With It, Angela Bassett made history as the first actor to receive an Oscar nomination for a Marvel movie performance (as Queen Ramona in Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Yet, her first Marvel movie, 2018’s Black Panther, is her only Best Picture nominee. 

Jeff Bridges

In addition to taking home an Oscar for Crazy Heart, Jeff Bridges has many Best Picture nominees under his belt, from 1971’s The Last Picture Show to Hell or High Water from 2016. Not a single one of them took him the grand prize, but I think the Academy’s biggest misstep in regards to acting legend was not nominating him for playing The Dude in The Big Lebowski.

Michael Caine

Despite two Academy Award wins to his name (one for 1986’s, Hannah and Her Sisters, and the other for 1999’s The Cider House Rules) Michael Caine cannot say he has starred in a Best Picture. Unfortunately, since the 90-year-old actor told The Telegraph that he is “sort of retired now,” he may never receive that honor.

Robin Williams

The late Robin Williams led a tremendous, widely beloved career that really made us laugh, through movies like 1993’s Mrs. Doubtfire, as well as cry, like with his Academy Award-winning performance in Good Will Hunting. That 1997 favorite and 1989’s Dead Poets Society are the only two Best Picture nominees he starred in.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry gave a landmark performance in 2001's Monster's Ball which earned her a historic Best Actress Oscar win. However, that film was not nominated for Best Picture, and neither has anything else the actor has starred in.

Sean Penn

Sean Penn has won Best Actor twice -- first for 2003's Mystic River by director Clint Eastwood and second for the title character of the powerful 2008 biopic, Milk. Neither of those acclaimed dramas got a Best Picture win, leaving the Fast Times at Ridgemont High cast member empty-handed in that particular regard.

Sandra Oh

With 13 Emmy nominations to her name, former Grey's Anatomy cast member Sandra Oh is better known as one of the greatest modern actors from the small screen. That would explain why her otherwise impressive big screen career -- which includes Alexander Payne's Best Picture-nominated Sideways -- does not include any grand prize winners at the Oscars at the moment.

Bradley Cooper

The otherwise bewildering fact that none of Bradley Cooper's many Oscar-nominated performances -- such as in 2012's Silver Linings Playbook or 2014's American Sniper -- nor his many Best Picture-nominated films -- including the two aforementioned films -- have resulted in any wins is not particularly a concern of mine. What I am surprised, and concerned, about is the snub for directing A Star is Born, which hopefully gets made up for when the upcoming Netflix movie, Maestro, comes out.

Viola Davis

I am happy that we live in a world in which an actor of momentous talent such as Viola Davis has been recognized and rewarded by the Academy with her Oscar win for 2016's Fences. That alone makes me, at least, content with the fact that there are still no Best Picture winners on her resume as of today.

Perhaps there will come a day when the names on this list change drastically and many of the actors above can say they have been in a Best Picture Oscar winner. For now, just keep cross your fingers and keep your hopes up for the next ceremony.

From her controversial first role in The Professional at 13 to becoming a bonafide superhero in the Marvel universe, Natalie Portman has established herself as a key voice in the Hollywood industry across her 30-year career thus far. I always admire the actress for using her platform to speak up as well, whether that be about animal rights, the environment, being a pivotal name in the Time’s Up initiative or supporting women’s soccer by investing in her own team. Along these lines, Portman’s latest comments about the female gaze are sure to turn some heads, but I appreciate her opening up this conversation about how gender is spoken about in film. 

As Portman gears up for her latest movie May December to come out later this year, which is among 2023's Netflix movie release dates, she got candid on her thoughts about the idea of the female gaze. Let’s break it down.  

What Is The Female Gaze? 

Before I define the female gaze, we have to contextualize something else first: the male gaze. The male gaze is a theory where women are depicted by male artists (like writers and directors) in a way that perceives them as sexual objects that exist for the pleasure of a heterosexual male viewer. In recent years, more and more movies (including from male directors) are shifting away from making female characters simply objects. 

The female gaze is the idea that female artists have their own specific perception in a piece of art that doesn’t objectify them as mere sexual objects. This definition is more complicated, because it’s not simply the male gaze in reverse, nor is there a specific element it's defined by like the male gaze, since it's more about what it's without. That being said, the theory has been used a lot more lately in vernacular when things like movies are being discussed. 

What Are Natalie Portman’s Comments On The Female Gaze? 

Enter Natalie’s Portman’s interview with Vanity Fair France (via Variety’s translation from French to English). The actress shared her thoughts on the female gaze, and she actually rejected the idea, saying this: 

Portman also went on to say she doesn’t have a preference for male or female directors when choosing projects, either. It makes sense given the actress has had multiple opportunities to play complicated women in movies by male directors, including Darren Aronofsky’s Black Swan, which she won her Oscar for and Pablo Larrain’s Jackie, which earned her a third Academy Award nomination in 2016. 

Why I Appreciate Natalie Portman Making This Point

I think it’s very easy to approach complicated concepts like the male gaze with a binary perspective to match it like “the female gaze,” but as Natalie Portman challenged in her recent interview, it’s just not that simple. Just like I don’t think the male gaze is inherent in every single movie directed by a man, the female gaze does feel like a more reactionary concept than anything else. 

I appreciate Portman’s comments, because I think it’s important to continue to talk about the ways in which gender plays a role in how people are depicted in movies and television. Placing genders in a box as either inherently sexist for male-directed projects or inherently forward and progressive for women-directed projects is rather dismissive of the individual judgment of a given director. 

Of course, there are going to be different ways in which men vs. women approach directing movies, and it's worth discussing both concepts. In other words, the idea of the female gaze is ... complicated, but that's kind of the whole point. I love how Natalie Portman has always worked with a breadth of filmmakers across her career, and how she is open to all kinds of roles, whether that be returning to Star Wars or starring in Todd Haynes’ romantic drama, May December, which hits Netflix December 1. 

Natalie Portman and her husband, Benjamin Millepied, have been at the center of significant speculation as of late. This past June, sources alleged that Millepied was engaged in an extramarital affair, which had reportedly ended by the time the news was reported. Others also said he and Portman were still together and that they were aiming to work through their issues. However, insiders now indicate that the couple’s attempts to fully reconcile were unsuccessful, as they’re reportedly separating after 11 years of marriage. 

News of the separation was confirmed by Us Weekly, which spoke to one of its sources about the situation. A source told the outlet that the parents of two are “currently on the outs” and had “been trying to work on their marriage” before reaching this decision.” The 46-year-old Benjamin Millepied was said to have had an intimate relationship with Camille Étienne, a 25-year-old climate activist. As of this writing, neither Millepied or his Oscar-winning wife have publicly addressed their reported split. 

While the Annihilation star hasn’t spoken out about her estranged husband’s purported affair, individuals who claim to have knowledge on the matter have made claims. One person asserted that the 42-year-old Natalie Portman believes the “affair was a brief and stupid liaison that means nothing” to her spouse. And while Portman was allegedly “humiliated” by the rumors that arrived in the aftermath, she was apparently “willing to see if she’s capable of rebuilding her trust” in her longtime partner. That reported openness is said to have partially stemmed from her not wanting their two kids to “grow up in a broken home.”

This development in the ongoing marriage drama comes shortly after Natalie Portman raised suspicions that she and her spouse were parting ways. Portman was photographed this past Friday – which was also her 11th wedding anniversary – in Sydney, Australia. She was taking in an Angel City FC event at the time, and many seemed to notice that she wasn’t wearing her wedding ring.

France-born Benjamin Millepied, an accomplished dancer and choreographer, met the Marvel Cinematic Universe alum on the set of Black Swan in 2009. The actress tied the knot with Millepied in 2012 during a Jewish ceremony held in California. In 2011, the Star Wars icon gave birth to their first child, a son named Aleph. They’d welcome their second – daughter Amalia – in 2017. During their marriage, Millepied also converted to his wife’s religion, Judaism. 

As she sorts out her relationship with her husband, Natalie Portman remains one of the busiest stars in the entertainment industry. She starred in and produced the drama film May December, which will have a limited theatrical release in November before it becomes available to Netflix subscribers. She’s also looking towards the release of crime thriller Lady in the Lake, a limited series based on Laura Lippman’s novel of the same name. A release date for the show has yet to be announced, but fans can expect it to be streamable with an Apple TV+ subscription. 

Only time will tell whether Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied opt to formally announce their intention to separate. There are two possible details that we, the public, can probably assume, though. One of them is that the couple likely wants privacy as they navigate this period in their lives. The other is that they’ll probably seek to make their kids’ their top priority while dealing with this new normal.

Natalie Portman and her husband Benjamin Millepied have been married for almost eleven years. However, their marriage appeared to have hit a snag due to her husband’s alleged affair. As for how the Israeli-American actress has been reportedly feeling since the affair accusations surfaced, insider sources have the scoop.

It was recently disclosed that Natalie Portman’s husband Benjamin Millepied was accused of allegedly cheating on her with a younger woman. One insider told US Weekly that the Black Swan actress reportedly felt “humiliated” about the allegations but was still remaining committed to her marriage.

On August 4, 2012, Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied tied the knot in a Jewish ceremony. They were co-stars before they started dating after meeting on the set of Black Swan. Millepied played her character’s ballet partner and was a choreographer for the Oscar-winning movie. While this married couple tended to keep their love life private, we would see them all smiles side-by-side during red carpet appearances and postings of their adventures like their sight-seeing trip to Australia while she was filming Thor: Love and Thunder there. Together they share two kids: 11-year-old Aleph and their second child Amalia, who is six years old. That same source continued to say Portman was reportedly willing to “rebuild her trust” in her husband for the sake of their children not growing up “in a broken home.” 

A second source has said something very different about the Black Swan couple. This different source has believed that the Star Wars star allegedly “doesn’t know” if she and the French choreographer/dancer will ever fix their marriage after this scandal.

At the beginning of the year, Portman and her Black Swan choreographer were not only going strong in the romance department but had a growing working relationship too. Millepied made his directorial debut in the 2023 movie release Carmen which starred Scream VI’s Melissa Barrera and Aftersun’s Paul Mescal. The former New York City Ballet principal gave his wife credit for helping him prepare for his first-time director role being present on set. Portman, I’m sure, understood what her husband was going through stepping into those new shoes as she made her directorial debut with the drama A Tale of Love and Darkness back in 2015. He also previously told US Weekly how “inspired” he was by the Jackie star for her activism work with #MeToo and Time’s Up. 

Based on what these sources have said, it looks as if Natalie Portman and Benjamin Millepied will be working together to rebuild what has been reportedly broken. Make sure to keep up with CinemaBlend to be in the loop about where the situation with this married couple is reportedly heading.