Pivot To Prominence
Well, Hollywood reinvention is more than just plot lines in movies. It's real life for some of our favorite stars. Careers shift, images evolve, and sometimes, the final act looks nothing like the opening scene.
Matthew McConaughey
Matthew McConaughey's career trajectory is the stuff of Hollywood legend. What started with "alright, alright, alright" ended with an Academy Award. This man began acting in the 90s with breakout roles in movies such as Dazed and Confused and A Time to Kill.
Warner Bros., A Time to Kill (1996)
Matthew McConaughey (Cont.)
Frustrated by being typecast, McConaughey took a two-year hiatus from acting, during which he reassessed his career goals. He returned with a focus on more serious characters, marking the beginning of what is often referred to as the “McConaissance”.
Voltage Pictures, Dallas Buyers Club (2013)
Kristen Stewart
Critics initially dismissed Kristen Stewart as merely "the girl from Twilight," but her post-vampire career choices tell a different story. After starring in the $3.3 billion Twilight franchise, Stewart could have easily continued in mainstream blockbusters but instead chose a radical new direction.
Summit, The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009)
Kristen Stewart (Cont.)
Stewart's transformation came through deliberate choices to work with auteur directors like Pablo Larraín in Spencer, where her portrayal of Princess Diana earned her first Oscar nomination. Beyond acting, Stewart has become known for her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights.
SPENCER - Official Trailer - In Theaters November 5 by NEON
Ariana Grande
Her signature high ponytail and whistle notes are now instantly recognizable worldwide. However, Grande first entered entertainment through a completely different door. The pop superstar began her career on Broadway at age 15 before gaining fame as Cat Valentine on Nickelodeon's Victorious (2010–2013) and its spinoff Sam & Cat.
Top 10 Funniest Cat Valentine Moments on Victorious by MsMojo
Ariana Grande (Cont.)
This pop star’s transition to music dominance was meteoric and complete. Her first Grammy nomination came for her second album, "My Everything" (2014). She's now amassed over 90 billion streams globally. Her albums Sweetener (2018) and Thank U, Next (2019) reflect her personal struggles and growth.
Ariana Grande - Sweetener (official Teaser) by Universal Music Austria
Daft Punk
In case you didn’t know, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter didn't really start with electronic music. Before becoming Daft Punk, the French duo performed as an indie rock band called Darlin'. One reviewer famously dismissed it as “a bunch of daft punk”.
Sony Music Entertainment, Wikimedia Commons
Daft Punk (Cont.)
Taking that criticism and turning it into their new identity, Daft Punk revolutionized electronic music with albums titled Homework (1997) and Discovery (2001). Their 2013 album Random Access Memories incorporated live instrumentation and collaborating with Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams on “Get Lucky”.
chrisjortiz, Wikimedia Commons
Miley Cyrus
Between 2006 and 2011, her "Hannah Montana" persona made her a household name. She sold over 20 million albums and generated an estimated $1 billion in merchandise sales. Then came the pivotal 2013 MTV VMAs performance with Robin Thicke, which announced her dramatic reinvention to the world.
Miley Cyrus (Cont.)
Well, it was indeed her Bangerz era and the controversial Wrecking Ball video that shattered her child star image. Recently, in 2023, Miley released Endless Summer Vacation, featuring the hit single “Flowers”. It instantly became an international success.
Miley Cyrus - Flowers (Official Video) by Miley Cyrus
Rebel Wilson
A stunning 80-pound weight loss journey may have captured headlines, but Wilson's most significant change happened long before. Having a law degree from the University of New South Wales, she originally planned a career as an attorney until a malaria-induced hallucination convinced her to pursue acting.
Rebel Wilson (Cont.)
This individual’s ultimate breakout came at 31 with Bridesmaids (2011). Her Fat Amy character in Pitch Perfect cemented them as a comedy star, with the franchise grossing over $565 million worldwide. In 2022, Wilson came out as a part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Pitch Perfect 1 (2012), Universal Pictures
Robert Downey Jr.
Arrested multiple times between 1996 and 2001, our hero became virtually uninsurable in Hollywood due to his addiction struggles. His talent was never in question, though. He'd already received an Oscar nomination for Chaplin in 1992 despite his career seeming irreparably damaged by his personal demons.
Robert Downey Jr.(Cont.)
Downey's comeback started slowly with roles in Zodiac (2007). Thanks to Jon Favreau's controversial decision, he got him as Tony Stark, a character that changed everything. Apart from superhero blockbusters, he has displayed versatility in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Tropic Thunder (2008).
DreamWorks, Tropic Thunder (2008)
Shia LaBeouf
The autobiographical screenplay for Honey Boy came from an unexpected place. Court-ordered rehab following LaBeouf's 2017 arrest for public intoxication. The child star who rose to fame on Disney's Even Stevens had hit rock bottom, battling alcoholism and generating headlines for erratic behavior.
Shia LaBeouf (Cont.)
Of course, his method of acting extremes was already famous. For Fury, he pulled out his own tooth, and for The Tax Collector, he got actual tattoos. Despite ongoing personal controversies, his acting in American Honey showcases a profoundly transformed artist whose pain fuels his most authentic work.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears' big win in November 2021, which wrapped up her 13-year conservatorship, truly changed things for her. Before that watershed moment, Spears had evolved from a Mickey Mouse Club child performer to a teen pop phenomenon, selling over 100 million records worldwide.
Britney Spears (Cont.)
Her public 2007 breakdown, as she shaved her head, began a dark chapter few expected her to overcome. Between those extremes, Spears reinvented pop music with great stuff like the snake-draped I'm a Slave 4 U at the 2001 VMAs.
Britney Spears - I'm A Slave 4 U (Official HD Video) by Britney Spears
Scarlett Johansson
Few child actors successfully move to adult roles. Then came Scarlett Johansson, who didn't just survive but conquered Hollywood on her own terms. At age 12, she starred in The Horse Whisperer. Her portrayal of Charlotte in Lost in Translation established her as a notable actress.
Focus Features, Lost In Translation (2003)
Scarlett Johansson (Cont.)
In 2019, she received critical acclaim and Academy Award nominations for Marriage Story and Jojo Rabbit. Johansson's recent work includes the movies Asteroid City (2023) and Fly Me to the Moon (2024), along with voice roles in animated features such as Sing 2.
ASTEROID CITY (2023) | Official Trailer by The Cinematics
Mila Kunis
Let’s talk about a Ukrainian immigrant who couldn't speak English when she arrived in America at age 7. Learning through The Price Is Right and Days of Our Lives reruns, Kunis mastered English quickly enough to land a position on That '70s Show.
Mila Kunis | That 70s Show | 1998 by Ashton and Mila
Mila Kunis (Cont.)
Well, she was just 14 at that time, which means she lied about her age to secure the part (the minimum age requirement was 18). In 2010, she starred in Darren Aronofsky's psychological thriller Black Swan, playing a rival ballet dancer to Natalie Portman’s character.
BLACK SWAN Clip - Dream About Me? (2010) Mila Kunis by JoBlo Movie Clips
Jamie Foxx
The night Jamie Foxx won his Oscar for portraying Ray Charles, he joined an elite group of people who achieved both Academy Award and Grammy recognition in their careers. Starting on In Living Color in the 1990s, Foxx built his profession on sketch comedy and sitcoms.
FOX, In Living Color (1990-1994)
Jamie Foxx (Cont.)
His metamorphosis reached its peak with Ray Charles in Ray (2004). Foxx's preparation for his character was outstanding. For instance, he had prosthetics glued over his eyes to experience Charles' blindness. Additionally, the actor learned piano and lost 30 pounds for the same.
