Photos of 15 iconic actors at the start of their careers vs. now

A stage actor by training, Meryl Streep was already a Tony nominee when she made her film debut in 1977's "Julia." She followed the World War II drama with several more critically acclaimed movies, like "The Deer Hunter," "Kramer vs. Kramer," and "Sophie's Choice" in the late '70s and early '80s.

Widely regarded as one of the most talented actors of her generation, Streep has starred in a huge number of critically acclaimed films and blockbusters alike over the last five decades, including "Mamma Mia!," "The Devil Wears Prada," "Julie & Julia," and "The Bridges of Madison County." If that list isn't evidence enough of her talent, she currently holds the record for both the most acting Oscar nominations of all time (21) and the most Golden Globe nominations of all time (33). Throughout the 2020s, Streep has made the move to streaming, appearing in Netflix movies "The Prom" and "Don't Look Up" and on series like Hulu's critically acclaimed "Only Murders in the Building." She'll soon reprise her role from "The Devil Wears Prada" in the film's forthcoming sequel.

Born in Beirut and raised in Toronto, Canada, Keanu Reeves was once interested in a career in ice hockey before turning his attention to acting during his teens. He made his professional acting debut in 1984 on the TV show "Hangin' In" and went on to appear in a variety of TV movies and local theater shows in the '80s. Then, just five years after "Hangin' In," Reeves got his breakout role, starring in the iconic 1989 time travel comedy "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure."

Throughout the '90s, Reeves starred in a wide variety of different film genres, from the 1990 crime caper "I Love You to Death" to the 1991 indie drama "My Own Private Idaho." Despite the breadth of his acting resume, Reeves is best known for his roles in '90s action-thrillers like "Point Break," "Speed," and, of course, "The Matrix." The latter launched Reeves into superstar status, and he's since reprised his role as Neo in three subsequent "Matrix" films. He's also become well known for another action movie franchise: the "John Wick" series, the latest installment of which, "Ballerina," hit theaters in June 2025.

Australian native Nicole Kidman's breakthrough role was in "Dead Calm," a 1989 film set on the Great Barrier Reef. Though she had been appearing in Australian movies since 1983, the psychological thriller was the first to bring her critical acclaim internationally. The following year, Kidman starred in "Days of Thunder" alongside Tom Cruise, whom she married later that year, and things took off for her from there.

These days, Kidman is best known for projects like "The Hours," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Moulin Rouge!" and "The Others." More recently, she's branched into TV, with well-received roles in series like HBO's "Big Little Lies" and Hulu's "Nine Perfect Strangers." For her performances, Kidman has won an Emmy, five Golden Globes, and an Academy Award (becoming the first Australian to win Best Actress). She also remains busy on the film front, starring in the critically acclaimed 2024 release "Babygirl" and the 2025 thriller "Holland."

Heartthrob George Clooney got his big break on "The Facts of Life," the beloved spinoff of "Diff'rent Strokes," which he appeared in during the mid-'80s. After a handful of episodes of "Roseanne" at the end of the decade, he shot to fame as Dr. Doug Ross on the drama "ER." It didn't take long for Clooney to shift his focus to the big screen though, starring in "From Dusk Till Dawn," "One Fine Day," "Out of Sight," and "Three Kings" in the late '90s.

At the turn of the 21st century, Clooney really showed off his acting chops in movies like "The Perfect Storm" and the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" and he won over the masses thanks to the "Ocean's Eleven" franchise. Clooney has had an illustrious career, winning two Academy Awards: one for his acting work in "Syriana" and another for producing "Argo." While he's slowed down on the acting front in recent years, his producing and directing credits continue to grow. His latest on-screen project is the Apple TV+ psychological thriller movie "Wolfs," which sees Clooney re-team up with his "Ocean's Eleven" co-star Brad Pitt. Elsewhere, Clooney has also made headlines for his political advocacy, famously calling for then-President Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 election.

Halle Berry was a beauty pageant contestant and model (she was first runner-up in the 1986 Miss USA competition) before she tried her hand at acting. Her breakthrough role was alongside Eddie Murphy in the 1992 rom-com "Boomerang." That led to a few other parts in the mid '90s before Berry was cast in the 1999 TV film "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge," which won her an Emmy and a Golden Globe.

In the 2000s, Berry appeared in the "X-Men" franchise as Storm, as a Bond girl in "Die Another Day," and as the eponymous Catwoman in the much-maligned 2004 film. But her most acclaimed role was in "Monster's Ball." She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2002 for her performance in the drama, becoming the first and only Black woman to ever take home that particular trophy—a record that still holds true today, more than 20 years later. Berry now also spends time behind the scenes as a filmmaker; she produced and starred in the 2024 psychological horror film "Never Let Go."

Though Leonardo DiCaprio starred in commercials as a youngster, his career really took off when he became a teenager. First, it was the TV series "Growing Pains" in the early '90s and his critically acclaimed performance in 1993's "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." Later that decade, films like "Romeo + Juliet" in 1996 and the box-office-smashing "Titanic" in 1997 made DiCaprio the star he is today.

Having worked steadily for the last three decades, DiCaprio's resume has been jam-packed with major projects from acclaimed directors, including hits like "Catch Me If You Can," "Inception," "The Wolf of Wall Street," "The Revenant," and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood." One of his most recent acclaimed projects, 2023's "Killers of the Flower Moon," saw him re-team up with Martin Scorsese; as for new collaborations, DiCaprio also stars in Paul Thomas Anderson's 2025 release, "One Battle After Another." Outside of work, he's a devoted environmental activist and a member of the United Nations Messenger of Peace program. He also frequently lands himself in the tabloids thanks to his eventful love life.

1960 was a big year for Jane Fonda—it marked her professional acting debut, in the Broadway flop "There Was a Little Girl," and her far more successful rom-com, "Tall Story." A decade later, the captivating actor took home her first Academy Award for her performance in "Klute."

Now the recipient of an additional Oscar, several Golden Globes, and an Emmy, Fonda has a resume a mile long. Some of her more well-known projects include the films "Julia," "Coming Home," and "On Golden Pond," as well as the Netflix series "Grace and Frankie." In addition to acting, Fonda found success with her workout videos in the '80s and '90s and she spends much of her time advocating for political causes.

British actor Christian Bale landed his breakthrough role at just 13 years old in Steven Spielberg's "Empire of the Sun" in 1987. He went on to have a successful career as a young actor throughout the '90s, working on projects like the Disney musical "Newsies," the TV adaptation of "Treasure Island," and historical dramas "Henry V" and "Little Women."

Unlike many other child actors who saw their star fizzle over the years, Bale has been just as successful, if not more so, as an adult. Some of his biggest hits have been "American Psycho," "The Fighter," "The Machinist," "American Hustle," and the "Dark Knight" trilogy. He has won both an Academy Award and two Golden Globes for his work.

Two of Angela Basset's earliest speaking roles were in 1991's "Boyz n the Hood" and 1992's "Malcolm X." But it was her depiction of Tina Turner in 1993's "What's Love Got to Do With It" that earned her wide acclaim, with one critic calling it "the performance of a lifetime."

Despite winning two Golden Globes, an honorary Academy Award, and, in 2024, her first Emmy Award, it seems Bassett has no plans to slow down anytime soon. More recently, she's endeared herself to a new generation of fans with her role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing as Queen Ramonda in "Black Panther," "Avengers: Endgame," and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever." For the "Black Panther" sequel, Bassett earned an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first actor in a Marvel movie to be nominated. She's also become a fixture on television, thanks to the horror anthology series "American Horror Story" and the Fox drama "9-1-1."

Frequently talked about as one of the greatest actors of all time, Robert De Niro's first major role was in a 1968 film called "Greetings." He'd spend the next several years working on lower-budget projects before his heyday in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s.

In 1973, De Niro collaborated with Martin Scorsese for the first time on "Mean Streets." That film made him a commercial success and opened the door for projects like "The Godfather Part II," "Raging Bull," "Taxi Driver," and "Goodfellas." De Niro has two Academy Award wins under his belt and has earned nine nominations in total, the most recent being in the Best Supporting Actor category for 2023's "Killers of the Flower Moon." Though his 2025 mob drama "Alto Knights" performed poorly at the box office, De Niro is also an accomplished producer and the founder of the world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival.

In the 1960s, Sally Field was the quintessential girl next door, getting her start on TV sitcoms like "Gidget" and "The Flying Nun" before moving to television movies like "Sybil" and to the big screen with films like "Smokey and the Bandit." Her range and ability to go from playing lighthearted and fun characters to more serious and dramatic ones is what cemented her as one of the most sought-after leading ladies of the '70s and '80s.

After winning two Academy Awards in the '80s, Field had her choice of roles. She starred in commercial hits that became instant classics like "Steel Magnolias" and "Mrs. Doubtfire" and critically acclaimed films like "Forrest Gump" and "Lincoln." She also appeared on TV series like "ER" and "Brothers & Sisters," and even made her way to Broadway. Field has also made her way to streaming—in August 2024, she picked up the starring role in Netflix's upcoming adaptation of "Remarkably Bright Creatures."

After appearing on hit TV series throughout the '80s, from "Growing Pains" to "Dallas" to "21 Jump Street," Brad Pitt was launched into the public eye as a cowboy-hat-wearing drifter in 1991's "Thelma & Louise." Following that career-changing role, Pitt was cast in several big-budget films throughout the remainder of the decade including "A River Runs Through It," "Legends of the Fall," and "Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles."

In the three decades since his breakout role, Pitt has proven himself to be an incredibly bankable actor, with some of his biggest films being "World War Z," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and the "Oceans" franchise. He's also an accomplished producer, having nabbed an Academy Award for producing the Best Picture-winning "12 Years a Slave." Outside of work, he's a passionate environmental activist and is well-known for his relationship history, which includes marriages to both Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie.

Many stars had a slow start in the industry, toiling away in small, low-budget roles for years before landing those big breakout parts. But not Julia Roberts. Just a year after she began acting professionally, she landed a part in the 1988 movie "Mystic Pizza," which she immediately followed up with "Steel Magnolias" and then "Pretty Woman"—both of which garnered Roberts her first two Oscar nominations.

Roberts has added a slew of rom-coms and dramas to her oeuvre over the course of her nearly 40-year-long career, including "My Best Friend's Wedding," "Runaway Bride," "Erin Brockovich" (which won her an Oscar), and the critically acclaimed 2023 sci-fi "Leave the World Behind." Roberts will next co-star alongside Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield in Luca Guadagnino's 2025 film "After the Hunt." In addition to her on-screen work, she owns a production company, is the face of cosmetics brand Lancôme, and works with charities like UNICEF and the Red Cross.

Denzel Washington got his start in the medical drama "St. Elsewhere" in 1982. He then transitioned to the big screen by starring in war dramas like "Glory," political dramas like "Malcolm X," thrillers like "The Pelican Brief," and heart-crushing Oscar winners like "Philadelphia."

The winner of two Academy Awards, two Golden Globes, and a Tony Award, Washington has split his time between the screen and the stage. Throughout the current century, some of his biggest hits include "Remember the Titans," "Training Day," "The Manchurian Candidate," and "The Equalizer." A force behind the scenes as well, he's acted as a producer and director on several envelope-pushing projects like 2016's "Fences." However, Washington hasn't left acting behind—he starred in "Gladiator II" in 2024 and appeared in Broadway's "Othello" alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in March 2025.

Demi Moore dropped out of high school as a teenager after setting her sights on an acting career. In 1981, she scored her first role playing journalist Jackie Templeton in "General Hospital." A slew of middle-grade films and TV shows followed, including "Parasite," "The Master," and "Blame It On Rio," before Moore landed her big break starring in the 1985 picture "St. Elmo's Fire."

Moore became a bona fide film star throughout the '80s and '90s with roles in "About Last Night," "The Seventh Sign," "Ghost," and many more movies now considered classics. However, after Moore took a break from Hollywood to raise her children with then-husband Bruce Willis, her career slowed down somewhat during the 2000s and 2010s—that is, until she made a meteoric comeback starring in "The Substance." The horror film, in which Moore plays an aging actor who takes an unconventional route to preserve her youth, premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2024 and became an almost instant hit, earning Moore her first Academy Award nomination. As of 2025, she also stars in "Landman" from Taylor Sheridan.