8 Oscar profitable actors who took surprising TV roles

These days, lots of the finest roles are on tv, resulting in Oscar profitable actors which often focus completely on films by leaping on the small display. Though it's usually shocking to see Hollywood's principal stars go for tv roles, the serialized nature of prestigious dramas provides these nice actors of all time longer to develop their characters and provides three -dimensional and full shows.

Of Robert de Niro's current position in Netflix on the political thriller Zero day For Meryl Streep rising in a HBO drama, the change of Hollywood legends to the TV world is an thrilling change of rhythm. Previously, there was a definitive separation between the celebrities of cinema and TV, these strains had been more and more blurred as Legendary names current themselves for TV capabilities. This paradigm shift represents an incredible growth on TV being taken significantly as an inventive medium and highlights how the habits of change spectators have an effect on how Hollywood actors select their roles.

8

ROBERT DE NIRO

Zero Day (2025)

As one of many few chosen actors who work as we speak who may declare the title of the biggest American movie star of all time, Robert de Niro's profession speaks for himself. Of their acclaimed collaborations with Martin Scorsese to their work in The godfather half II with Francis Ford Coppola, De Niro was an necessary determine of the brand new Hollywood motion and obtained two academy awards. With a prize for finest supporting actor for taking part in a younger Vito Corleone and an Oscar for finest actor for his remodeling efficiency as Jake Lamotta in Raging Bull, De Niro is a real Hollywood icon.

With a filmography that targeted virtually completely on function -trails, it was shocking to see from Niro to make his TV debut in 81 in 2025 on the Netflix political thriller Zero day. With a formidable forged that additionally included Jesse Plemons and Lizzy Caplan, this tense story of a former US President investigating a lethal cyber assault was extremely related to the political division of latest occasions. Whereas Zero day Made for fascinating viewing, it was additionally removed from revolutionary, and it was disappointing that De Niro's hug on the finish of the small display profession was not with a extra engaging challenge.

7

Kate Winslet

Easttown Mare (2021)

Kate Winslet is absolutely one of many best actresses of the Fashionable Instances, which began her debut with an abund with a lamely underestimated movie by Peter Jackson Heavenly creatures Earlier than reaching world recognition by Titanic. Winslet has been acknowledged by the Academy many occasions, with seven Oscar nominations, the primary dated Sense and sensitivity When she was solely 21 years previous. It was in 2008 The reader That Winslet lastly received one of the best Oscar actress and solidified her popularity as a Hollywood icon.

Winslet was not unusual to tv both, as a result of in its early profession, she had a number of small display roles, such because the darkish science fiction station and the comedy Come again. Later, she embraced prestigious dramas with the lead position within the HBO miniseries MILDRED PIERCE. Nonetheless, it was with Easttown Mare That Winslet actually stunned viewers with a transformative efficiency. As a tough detective sergeant, Winslet made one of many largest performances in his profession on this thrilling Thriller Homicide Miniseries.

6

Matthew McConaughey

True Detective (2014 - Current)

Matthew McConaughey's profession was categorized by constant surprises. Whereas preliminary roles, reminiscent of Richard Linklater's Shocked and confused and The return of the Texas Chainsaw BloodbathHe highlighted his charisma, additionally they appeared to place it in much less critical elements. All through the 2000s, McConaughey gained prominence in a number of rom-withAnd it was not till its Oscar -winning presentation in Dallas Purchaser Membership That every thing has modified to this gifted Texan, and his profession gained a brand new life lease in what was dubbed by the media as "McConaSance".

With apparently all of the alternatives in entrance of him, McConaughey made the surprising choice to observe his position as Oscar winner with a change in tv within the HBO anthology collection True Detective. This turned out to be a superb choice, as a result of the lengthy -of -the -way nature of the present and the depth of its character, the Rust Cohle detective, additionally confirmed the widespread opinion that the general public had underestimated McConaughey all these years.

5

Julia Roberts

Homecoming (2018 - 2020)

As one of many best-known actresses of the Nineties, Julia Roberts represented the star of cinema whereas balanced beloved rom-with-notting hill with tougher roles, reminiscent of John Grisham adaptation Pelican Temporary. With an Oscar -winning efficiency within the Biographical Authorized Drama ERIN BROCKOVICHRoberts entered the twenty first century as one in every of Hollywood's most wanted and revered artists. Whereas Roberts often appeared on TV, as a memorable visitor position in AssociatesIt was an thrilling shock when she received the main position within the psychological thriller of Amazon Prime Homecoming In 2018.

With Roberts additionally as an government producer, Homecoming It was a deeply participating story that balanced thriller and conspiracy in a historical past of suspense concerning the Homecoming Transition Assist Middle, an facility that allegedly helps troopers to cross to civil life. Roberts carried out surprisingly HomecomingAnd the position performed a return to form after a collection of dimly shiny. Plainly Roberts took benefit of her time on tv, as she later starred within the political suspense miniseries Gaslit in 2022.

4

Nicole Kidman

The destroy (2020)

Nicole Kidman's movie profession was characterised by pure selection, as she appeared in every thing, from campaigning superhero films like Batman perpetually For deeply difficult roles like Stanley Kubrick's Large -eyed. This made her a film star within the truest sense of the Phrase, and her transformative efficiency because the problematic creator Virginia Woolf in The hours even received her an Oscar for finest actress in 2002. That was It's not the one position of Kidman who was acknowledged by the Academyas she additionally gained Oscar nominations to Moulin Rouge!Like this, RabbitLike this, Lionand Ricardos being.

With a formidable Hollywood film catalog, Kidman prevented main TV roles for many of his profession earlier than lastly becoming a member of different stars like Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley on HBO's Huge Little Lies. Nonetheless, it will be within the thrilling collection of thriller murders The destroy That Kidman actually stunned the viewers, as a result of his convincing efficiency as Grace Fraser turned the present into probably the most assisted HBO collection of 2020 (through Variety.) Performing alongside Hugh Grant, Kidman's efficiency on this Bingeable home drama saved viewers guessing to the tip.

3

Anthony Hopkins

Westworld (2016 - 2022)

As a real legend of motion, few actors who work as we speak boast the legacy of Anthony Hopkins, an artist whose shocking historical past with the Oscar speaks for himself. Hopkins' finest actor's finest actor for his nice efficiency of all time as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in The silence of the lambs It represented one of many shortest quantities of display time for main actors, showing on the display for less than 24 minutes and 52 seconds of the film. Together with his Oscar -winning position in his father on the age of 83, Hopkins additionally has the title of finest actor's finest actor of all time.

With so many iconic performances on his behalf, Hopkins may have prevented tv utterly if he wished to. Nonetheless, Hopkins stunned viewers with a profession position within the HBO Westworld science fiction collection. This efficiency helped add status to this system because it raised public expectations to this tv adaptation of a 1973 B film that the majority spectators have lengthy forgotten. With a horny position like Dr. Robert Ford, the co-creator of the holder Westworld Park, Hopkins created a shocking antagonistAnd his absence was extraordinarily felt after he left the present in season two.

2

Meryl Streep

Huge Little Lies (2017 - 2019)

Meryl Streep has turn out to be so synonymous with starring the movie that his identify itself can be utilized as an abbreviation for Oscar-worthy performances. With 21 Oscar nominations, Streep is in dispute for an Oscar greater than anybody else and received the prize 3 times Kramer vs. KramerLike this, Sophie's selectionand The Iron Woman. Whereas Streep had minor occasional TV rolesMore often than not, she targeted on function movies and was not thought-about a TV actress.

This modified when Streep was introduced as a forged member for the second season of Little Lies. Like a program that already featured large names like Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley, Streep was a very shocking addition to the forged and his position signaled how engaging tv roles had turn out to be in recent times to the highest Hollywood stars. Whereas Huge Little Lies The third season has not but been formally introduced, viewers will likely be excited to search out out if Streep will return to the small display for a number one position within the lengthy -awaited third installment.

1

Al Pacino

Hunters (2020 - 2023)

In relation to Hollywood legends, it's not spectacular than Al Pacino, a star who has a shocking viewers together with his many years performances. Having achieved its success in success as Michael Corleone in The godfatherPacino's technique of motion meant that he constantly acquired misplaced in his roles and gained an acclaim degree that solidified his standing as an incredible actor of all time. Whereas Pacino shockingly has just one Oscar victory for its management position in A lady's fragranceIt has 9 nominations for films like Canine's Afternoon DayLike this, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSSand extra lately, The Irish.

Whereas Pacino appeared in entrance of Meryl Streep within the HBO miniseries Angels in America and has TV films roles just like the biography Phil SpectorIt was not till 2020 that he utterly embraced tv together with his management position within the Amazon Prime collection Hunter. This conspiracy thriller was a shocking change of rhythm to Pacino and represented one in every of his finest profession roles. Because the historical past of Nazi hunters within the Seventies in New York, Hunter It was an enchanting glimpse in a sub -refered facet of the remaining free ends of the Third Reich.

Supply: Variety