Actors who have moved from TV to Film

[redrabbit]

Watching a fairly amusing Netflix movie - Longshot - which has a running gag about not many actors making the leap from TV to movie star status. The joke is that only George Clooney and Woody Harrelson made it.

My list (in under a minute, A Listers only) would include...

Clint Eastwood
Roger Moore
Bruce Willis
Will Smith
Michael J Fox

To my shame, can't think of any women. But only given it 60 secs thought.

Who else?

[redrabbit]

MX5Biologist said:

Peter Sellers
Daniel Craig
Patrick Stewart; sure he was in some BBC Play for the Day type things before a bit part in Excalibur (and stage parts)
Karen Gillan
Pierce Brosnan
Sean Bean
Ewan McGregor
Catherine Zeta Jones
Anna Friel

Good shouts, especially CZJ and Karen Gillan. I agree on all except Sean Bean and Anna Friel. A List evidence please?

[TTmonkey]

Jennifer Anniston has a very successful movie career. Might not have won any big acting prizes, but has many successful film credits.

She started on some TV show. Her female co stars have also done a few films.

[TTmonkey]

That girl from GOTs. What’s her name. Annoying.

[Jader1973]

Martin fking Freeman.

[elanfan]

That guy That was in Shameless - brain fade!

[Stuart70]

Guy Pearce
Isla Fisher
Chris Hemsworth
Naomi Watts
Heath Ledger
Russell Crowe
Margot Robbie

Sorry, lost interest now, Margot Robbie, mmmm

[selnic]

Can I add Kylie Minogue to the list.....mmmmmm

[Eric Mc]

Too many to list.

Actors, especially early in their careers, take whatever work they can get - so they will take parts in stage productions, TV, film bit parts, media events, working in museums, galas, re-enactors etc etc.

Virtually every UK actor who has become a major film star has appeared on TV - and on stage - because it's what you do.

[Planet Claire]

Helen Mirren
Judi Dench
Julie Walters

[StevieBee]

I think more interesting are those actors who's repertoire and success increases beyond what you'd imagine given their beginnings.

People like Jimi Mistry who spent years in Eastenders and Coronation Street or Michelle Ryan who left East Enders and next popped up as the Bionic Woman!

[kdri155]

One of my suggestion would be Ben Hardy, tv credits include Call the Midwife and Eastenders (Peter Beale) and he's
making a promising start in films with X-Men Apocalypse, Only the Brave, Bohemian Rhapsody and
6 Underground.

[Hub]

Simon Pegg

[coppernorks]

Steve Coogan
Sacha Cohen

[bigandclever]

Steve Carrell
Stephen Fry

Edited by bigandclever on Saturday 6th March 13:36

[Dr Jekyll]

Jenna Coleman.

[Voldemort]

Rowan Atkinson has done ok for himself since NTNOCN ended.

[98elise]

Benedict Cumberbatch

[98elise]

Eric Mc said:

Too many to list.

Actors, especially early in their careers, take whatever work they can get - so they will take parts in stage productions, TV, film bit parts, media events, working in museums, galas, re-enactors etc etc.

Virtually every UK actor who has become a major film star has appeared on TV - and on stage - because it's what you do.

I would guess the OP means successful/lead TV actors, who then went on to be successful/lead film actors.

As you say most actors will grab whatever they can in their early years, and I'm sure lots of TV actors have had later minor roles in movies.

[WonkeyDonkey]

elanfan said:

That guy That was in Shameless - brain fade!

James Mcavoy.

He's a strange one as I didn't find him particularly great in shameless then he started turning up in big budget films alongside Angelina Jolie. Done alright for himself.