Did you know, many of our favourite movie stars began their careers on daytime soap operas? That’s right, some of the biggest stars in Hollywood started out on daytime TV before the bright lights of the red carpet and black-tie events became the norm.
But which soaps did they start out on? Which show has produced the most movie stars and how many of those have gone on to receive a major movie accolade?
To find out, we’ve looked at 100 movie stars who began their careers on soap operas, tracking where they went next.
The results may surprise you.
1. Neighbours
Out of all the shows we analysed Neighbours came out on top with 13 stars, but as yet doesn’t have any award winners on its roster. Chris Hemsworth came close back in 2012, when he was nominated for the rising star award at the BAFTAs for his role as Thor in Marvel’s The Avengers. His brothers Luke and Liam also made their major TV debut on Ramsey Street.
2. Home and AWAY
Australian soaps are putting up tough competition as Home and Away has 12 actors and actresses going on to star in a Hollywood movie. One of the most famous of these was the late Australian actor and director Heath Ledger, who was well-known for his role as the menacing Joker in the DC Comics remake of Batman: The Dark Knight. This role helped him win a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a BAFTA for best supporting actor. Those born in the 90s may also remember a much more youthful Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You.
3. hOLLYOAKS
Taking joint second place was Hollyoaks, the Channel 4 show also producing 12 Hollywood stars over the years. Famous faces include Nathalie Emmanuel, who starred in Maze Runner and Fast and Furious 7 – not to mention a coveted role in Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen’s right hand woman.
For ex-Hollyoaks stars Rachel Shenton and Chris Overton, the fairytale is just beginning. They recently picked up the Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel acted in, and was the creative force behind it, while Chris, her fiancé, directed it.
Finally (and ok, we’re stretching this one a bit) James Corden also played a guest role in Hollyoaks back in 2000.
4. eASTENDERS
Albert Square has been home to many a famous face over the years, with Eastenders stars making up 10% of those we analysed. Ben Hardy, who played Peter Beale in 189 episodes, made his film debut as Archangel in the superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse. He then went on to play Roger Taylor in the 2018 Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Danny Dyer is one of the few who went from films to TV, appearing in the likes of Football Factory before taking up his role as landlord of The Queen Vic.
5. oNE lIfE tO Live
Broadcasting for more than 43 years, One Life to Live, has had some big names grace the set over the years, including Oscar and Golden Globe winner Tommy Lee Jones, Matrix-star Laurence Fishburne and Heroes’ leading lady Hayden Panettiere, alongside many others.
6. Another World
Another World is the only American soap opera to make the top five, despite the likes of Brad Pitt and Kelsey Grammer kick-starting their acting careers on the show. Between the two of them they’ve received four Golden Globes – Pitt for his supporting role in 12 Monkeys and Grammer for best performance by an actor in a TV series for both Cheers and Frasier in 1996, 2001 and 2012.
7. As The World Turns
Of all the soaps reviewed, As the World Turns has produced the most major award winners. Julienne Moore alone has won a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a BAFTA, closely followed by James Earl Jones who has two of the three. Marisa Tomei, who plays Spiderman’s Aunt May in many the Marvel movies, is the recipient of various accolades including an Academy Award and nominations for a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
8. All My Children
Names like Sarah Michelle Gellar, who went on to secure leading role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kelly Ripa who now has her own talk show and Golden Globe and Academy Award winner Melissa Leo all cut their teeth on All My Children. Lacey Chabert, known to the younger generations for her role as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls also landed one of her first roles on the show.
9. Coronation street
They may be at the lower end of the top 10 but Coronation Street has produced some household names none the less. The Absolutely Fabulous icon, Joanna Lumley, OBE, appeared in a handful of episodes back in 1973, just half a decade after Sir Ben Kingsley graced our soap screens. Anna Friel also made a fleeting appearance as a young actress and later went on to star in both Emmerdale and Brookside too.
10. Emmerdale
We know him for his portrayal of Grant Mitchel in more than 1000 episodes of Eastenders, however, Ross Kemp actually started out his soap career on Emmerdale, before going on to win a BAFTA for his Sky One documentary series ‘Ross Kemp on Gangs’. The likes of Craig Fairbrass (known for his role in the Rise of the Footsoldier film series) and Jenna Coleman who played the long-standing role of Jasmine Thomas for four years before moving into films like Captain America: The First Avenger.
1. Neighbours
Out of all the shows we analysed Neighbours came out on top with 13 stars, but as yet doesn’t have any award winners on its roster. Chris Hemsworth came close back in 2012, when he was nominated for the rising star award at the BAFTAs for his role as Thor in Marvel’s The Avengers. His brothers Luke and Liam also made their major TV debut on Ramsey Street.
2. Home and AWAY
Australian soaps are putting up tough competition as Home and Away has 12 actors and actresses going on to star in a Hollywood movie. One of the most famous of these was the late Australian actor and director Heath Ledger, who was well-known for his role as the menacing Joker in the DC Comics remake of Batman: The Dark Knight. This role helped him win a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a BAFTA for best supporting actor. Those born in the 90s may also remember a much more youthful Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You.
3. hOLLYOAKS
Taking joint second place was Hollyoaks, the Channel 4 show also producing 12 Hollywood stars over the years. Famous faces include Nathalie Emmanuel, who starred in Maze Runner and Fast and Furious 7 – not to mention a coveted role in Game of Thrones as Daenerys Targaryen’s right hand woman.
For ex-Hollyoaks stars Rachel Shenton and Chris Overton, the fairytale is just beginning. They recently picked up the Oscar for best live action short film, The Silent Child. Rachel acted in, and was the creative force behind it, while Chris, her fiancé, directed it.
Finally (and ok, we’re stretching this one a bit) James Corden also played a guest role in Hollyoaks back in 2000.
4. eASTENDERS
Albert Square has been home to many a famous face over the years, with Eastenders stars making up 10% of those we analysed. Ben Hardy, who played Peter Beale in 189 episodes, made his film debut as Archangel in the superhero film X-Men: Apocalypse. He then went on to play Roger Taylor in the 2018 Freddie Mercury biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody.
Danny Dyer is one of the few who went from films to TV, appearing in the likes of Football Factory before taking up his role as landlord of The Queen Vic.
5. oNE lIfE tO Live
Broadcasting for more than 43 years, One Life to Live, has had some big names grace the set over the years, including Oscar and Golden Globe winner Tommy Lee Jones, Matrix-star Laurence Fishburne and Heroes’ leading lady Hayden Panettiere, alongside many others.
6. Another World
Another World is the only American soap opera to make the top five, despite the likes of Brad Pitt and Kelsey Grammer kick-starting their acting careers on the show. Between the two of them they’ve received four Golden Globes – Pitt for his supporting role in 12 Monkeys and Grammer for best performance by an actor in a TV series for both Cheers and Frasier in 1996, 2001 and 2012.
7. As The World Turns
Of all the soaps reviewed, As the World Turns has produced the most major award winners. Julienne Moore alone has won a Golden Globe, an Oscar and a BAFTA, closely followed by James Earl Jones who has two of the three. Marisa Tomei, who plays Spiderman’s Aunt May in many the Marvel movies, is the recipient of various accolades including an Academy Award and nominations for a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and three Screen Actors Guild Awards.
8. All My Children
Names like Sarah Michelle Gellar, who went on to secure leading role as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Kelly Ripa who now has her own talk show and Golden Globe and Academy Award winner Melissa Leo all cut their teeth on All My Children. Lacey Chabert, known to the younger generations for her role as Gretchen Wieners in Mean Girls also landed one of her first roles on the show.
9. Coronation street
They may be at the lower end of the top 10 but Coronation Street has produced some household names none the less. The Absolutely Fabulous icon, Joanna Lumley, OBE, appeared in a handful of episodes back in 1973, just half a decade after Sir Ben Kingsley graced our soap screens. Anna Friel also made a fleeting appearance as a young actress and later went on to star in both Emmerdale and Brookside too.
10. Emmerdale
We know him for his portrayal of Grant Mitchel in more than 1000 episodes of Eastenders, however, Ross Kemp actually started out his soap career on Emmerdale, before going on to win a BAFTA for his Sky One documentary series ‘Ross Kemp on Gangs’. The likes of Craig Fairbrass (known for his role in the Rise of the Footsoldier film series) and Jenna Coleman who played the long-standing role of Jasmine Thomas for four years before moving into films like Captain America: The First Avenger.
Morgan Freeman spent some of his early acting days performing in the American soap opera Ryan’s Hope before going on to become one of the most respected figures in modern cinema. Nominated for five Golden Globes so far, he won Best Actor back in 1990 for his performance in Driving Miss Daisy. He’s also been nominated for five Oscars in his career to date, winning the accolade in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby.
He was also awarded The Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012; an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”.
He was also awarded The Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012; an honorary Golden Globe Award bestowed by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for “outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment”.
According to IMDb, few actors in the world have had a career quite as diverse as Leonardo DiCaprio’s. From relatively humble beginnings on TV sitcom Growing Pains and an appearance in soap opera Santa Barbara in 1990 to major teenage heartthrob in Titanic. From there, he went on to become leading man in Hollywood blockbusters like Shutter Island, Inception and The Wolf of Wall Street.
His career to date has delivered him a BAFTA win in addition to three earlier nominations, three Golden Globes and a further seven nominations. He also received four Oscar nominations before he finally won in 2016 for his leading role in The Revenant – which by that point was more than well-deserved.
The original Charlie’s Angel, Demi Moore, and the Star Wars star Mark Hamill both spent some of their earlier acting days in America’s oldest soap opera General Hospital.
And finally, would you believe Keira Knightly, James McAvoy, David Tennant and Russel Brand all made child-star appearances in British police drama The Bill? Google it, the throwback photos are a real hoot.
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