History HollywoodHypeMachine / ExamplesOnTheFence

* Much was expected of Creator/RachelMcAdams after ''Film/MeanGirls'' and ''Film/TheNotebook'', and she was immediately hailed as Hollywood's new it girl. With the successes of ''Film/WeddingCrashers'' and ''Film/RedEye'', the hype appeared to be justified. But her career stopped in its tracks when she took a break from 2006 to 2007, later admitting she never wanted to be a big movie star. She eventually made a comeback, with high points including ''Film/TheTimeTravelersWife2009'', ''Film/SherlockHolmes2009'', and ''Film/MidnightInParis'', but her movies have been generally hit or miss. Her career seems to be flourishing, although she could've been an A-lister if given the chance. That chance returned with her [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated performance in ''Film/{{Spotlight}}'', which won the award for Best Picture of 2015. She has kept that lucky streak going by appearing in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse films ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' and its sequel ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', while also returning to comedy with ''Film/GameNight''.

* Much like his ''Film/RedEye'' co-star Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/CillianMurphy is a case who deliberately didn't want to live up too much to the hype. His role as Jim in ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' was the first major exposure he got to American audiences before hitting the big-time in 2005 with ''Film/BatmanBegins'', ''Film/RedEye'', and ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto'' (the last of which got him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe nomination), and several media outlets touted him as the "next big star". However, he's gone out of his way to deliberately stay out of the spotlight, motivated by his immense discomfort with the Hollywood system of celebrity culture and annoyance with being {{typecast}} as a "villain actor" because of his performances in ''Batman'' and ''Red Eye''. While he's still steadily working and earning rave reviews for his performances (especially in ''Series/PeakyBlinders''), he could've been as A-list as anybody if he wanted to be. Luckily, his work in ''Batman Begins'' impressed director Creator/ChristopherNolan enough to make the actor a mainstay in his ProductionPosse. Murphy [[Film/TheDarkKnight has]] [[Film/{{Inception}} appeared]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises in]] [[Film/{{Dunkirk}} most]] of Nolan's work since then in a side capacity, before finally playing the lead as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the upcoming biopic ''Oppenheimer''.

* Much was expected of Creator/RachelMcAdams after ''Film/MeanGirls'' and ''Film/TheNotebook'', and she was immediately hailed as Hollywood's new it girl. With the successes of ''Film/WeddingCrashers'' and ''Film/RedEye'', the hype appeared to be justified. But her career halted in its tracks when she took a break from 2006 to 2007, later admitting she had never wanted to be a big movie star. She did eventually make a comeback, with high points including ''Film/TheTimeTravelersWife2009'', ''Film/MidnightInParis'', and the ''[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 Sherlock Holmes]]'' franchise, but her films have been generally hit or miss outside of that. Her career appears to be thriving, but she could have been an A-lister if given the chance. That chance came with her [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated performance in ''Film/{{Spotlight}}'', which won the award for Best Picture of 2015. She has since kept that lucky streak going by appearing in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse films ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' and its sequel ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', while also returning to comedy with ''Film/GameNight''.

* Much was expected of Creator/RachelMcAdams after ''Film/MeanGirls'' and ''Film/TheNotebook'', and she was immediately hailed as Hollywood's new it girl. With the successes of ''Film/WeddingCrashers'' and ''Film/RedEye'', the hype appeared to be justified. But her career halted in its tracks when she took a break from 2006 to 2007, later admitting she had never wanted to be a big movie star. She did eventually make a comeback, with high points including ''Film/TheTimeTravelersWife'', ''Film/MidnightInParis'', and the ''[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 Sherlock Holmes]]'' franchise, but her films have been generally hit or miss outside of that. Her career appears to be thriving, but she could have been an A-lister if given the chance. That chance came with her [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated performance in ''Film/{{Spotlight}}'', which won the award for Best Picture of 2015. She has since kept that lucky streak going by appearing in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse films ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' and its sequel ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness'', while also returning to comedy with ''Film/GameNight''.

** Creator/CourteneyCox was cast as the female lead in ''Film/AceVenturaPetDetective'' opposite Creator/JimCarrey in 1994, the same year ''Friends'' premiered. It was a hit with audiences despite receiving mixed reviews, establishing them both as movie stars (although Carrey would benefit from it more) while taking a massive haul at the box office. Cox was cast in the slasher film ''Film/Scream1996'' as Gale Weathers while in between seasons of ''Friends'', which defied both critical expectations and genre fatigue to become a hit on all fronts. It became the highest-grossing slasher of all time until ''Film/Halloween2018'', and revived the horror genre when it was starting to be dismissed as a dying field. Its positive critical and audience reception bred a [[Film/{{Scream}} franchise]] with many sequels, with Cox reprising her role in all of them so far. After ''Friends'' finished its run, Cox continued her television career with the flop ''Dirt'' (which was cancelled after two seasons) followed by the much more successful ''Series/CougarTown'' (which overcame a mid-season 2 hiatus, a season 3 premiere delay, and a network transfer from ABC to TBS before season 4 to air for six seasons). Although Cox's film career would be [[StarDerailingRole derailed]] by her lead role in the failure known as ''[[Film/ZoomAcademyForSuperheroes Zoom]]'' and her supporting role in the Creator/AdamSandler vehicle ''Film/BedtimeStories2008'', her RoleReprise in the ''Scream'' sequels nevertheless ensure she remains a prominent star.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Film/TheBabysitter2017'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. The scam accusations and controversy that came with her [=OnlyFans=] presence haven't helped matters. Meanwhile, Zendaya had a praised stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are unanimously considered one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya garnered tons of acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.

* Much was expected of Creator/RachelMcAdams after ''Film/MeanGirls'' and ''Film/TheNotebook'', and she was immediately hailed as Hollywood's new it girl. With the successes of ''Film/WeddingCrashers'' and ''Film/RedEye'', the hype appeared to be justified. But her career halted in its tracks when she took a break from 2006 to 2007, later admitting she had never wanted to be a big movie star. She did eventually make a comeback, with high points including ''Film/TheTimeTravelersWife'', ''Film/MidnightInParis'', and the ''[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 Sherlock Holmes]]'' franchise, but her films have been generally hit or miss outside of that. Her career appears to be thriving, but she could have been an A-lister if given the chance. That chance came with her [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated performance in ''Film/{{Spotlight}}'', which won the award for Best Picture of 2015. She has since kept that lucky streak going by appearing in the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse films ''Film/DoctorStrange2016'' and its sequel ''Film/DoctorStrangeInTheMultiverseOfMadness''.

* Much like his ''Film/RedEye'' co-star Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/CillianMurphy is a case who deliberately didn't want to live up too much to the hype. His role as Jim in ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' was the first major exposure he got to American audiences before hitting the big-time in 2005 with ''Film/BatmanBegins'', ''Film/RedEye'', and ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto'' (the last of which got him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe nomination), and several media outlets touted him as the "next big star". However, he's gone out of his way to deliberately stay out of the spotlight, motivated by his immense discomfort with the Hollywood system of celebrity culture and annoyance with being {{typecast}} as a "villain actor" because of his performances in ''Batman'' and ''Red Eye''. While he's still steadily working and earning rave reviews for his performances, especially in ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', he could have been as A-list as anybody if he so wanted. Luckily, his work in ''Batman'' impressed director Creator/ChristopherNolan enough to make the actor a mainstay in his ProductionPosse. Murphy has [[Film/TheDarkKnight appeared]] [[Film/{{Inception}} in]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises most]] [[Film/{{Dunkirk}} of]] Nolan's work since ''Batman Begins'' in a supporting capacity, before finally playing the lead as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the upcoming biopic ''Oppenheimer''.

** Creator/CourteneyCox was cast as the female lead in ''Film/AceVenturaPetDetective'' opposite Creator/JimCarrey in 1994, the same year ''Friends'' premiered. It was a hit with audiences despite receiving mixed reviews, establishing them both as movie stars (although Carrey would benefit from it more) while taking a massive haul at the box office. Cox was cast in the slasher film ''Film/Scream1996'' as Gale Weathers while in between seasons of ''Friends'', which defied both critical expectations and genre fatigue to become a hit on all fronts. It became the highest-grossing slasher of all time until ''Film/Halloween2018'', and revived the horror genre when it was starting to be dismissed as a dying field. Its positive critical and audience reception bred a [[Film/{{Scream}} franchise]] with many sequels, with Cox reprising her role in all of them so far. After ''Friends'' finished its run, Cox continued her television career with the flop ''Dirt'' (which was cancelled after two seasons) followed by the much more successful ''Series/CougarTown'' (which overcame a mid-season 2 hiatus, a season 3 premiere delay, and a network transfer from ABC to TBS before season 4 to air for six seasons). Although Cox's film career would be [[StarDerailingRole derailed]] by her lead role in the failure known as ''[[Film/ZoomAcademyForSuperheroes Zoom]]'' and her supporting role in the Creator/AdamSandler vehicle ''Film/BedtimeStories2008'', her RoleReprisal in the ''Scream'' sequels nevertheless ensure she remains a prominent star.

** The cast of ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' got a big push when that film became a cultural phenomenon of the 2000's. Creator/ZacEfron has so far achieved the most success out of his cast mates, although he's only had [[Film/SeventeenAgain three]] [[Film/{{Neighbors2014}} major]] [[Film/TheGreatestShowman hits]]. Only time will tell if he can successfully make the transition. Music/VanessaHudgens tried distancing herself from her Disney roots with darker, more adult roles in ''Film/SuckerPunch'' and ''Film/SpringBreakers''. Her films did fine, but she has enjoyed more success as a singer and on Broadway. Creator/AshleyTisdale had already established herself in Disney with ''Series/TheSuiteLifeOfZackAndCody'', and swiftly switched to voice-over work in ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb''. Unfortunately, her first film role after ''High School Musical'' was in the ill-received family film ''Film/AliensInTheAttic'', which seems to have killed her screen prospects. Creator/CorbinBleu moved to TV and did occasional work, the most notable being a stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars''. Like Hudgens, he has since found more success as a singer and on Broadway. Creator/LucasGrabeel joined the main cast of the ABC Family drama ''Series/SwitchedAtBirth'', and remained on the series for the entirety of its run. His film career seemed to have been off to a good start with a supporting role in Creator/GusVanSant's ''Film/{{Milk}}'', but he has not appeared in a film of that caliber since. Like Bleu, Creator/MoniqueColeman also appeared on ''Dancing with the Stars''. She then made supporting appearances in many TV series and films, but her career never really took off. She has since become well-known for her philanthropic work.

** Creator/JenniferAniston has fared the best so far – although she never headlined a $100 million hit until 2011's ''Film/HorribleBosses'' (which arguably was helped out [[Creator/JasonBateman by]] [[Creator/JasonSudeikis the]] [[Creator/KevinSpacey other]] [[Creator/ColinFarrell heavyweights]] in the film – she's never had a starring role do that well until ''Film/WereTheMillers'' in 2013, and is mostly known for romantic comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood. By the time she entered her forties, she began to enjoy more variation in the roles she was able to play (having been shut out of anything but romantic comedies due to typecasting making it impossible for people to see her other than [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy Jennifer Aniston]]). She earned critical acclaim for ''{{Film/Cake 2014}}'' as a grieving mother suffering from chronic pain, and [[PlayingAgainstType played against type]] in ''Film/OfficeChristmasParty'' and ''Film/{{Dumplin}}''. She also enjoyed moderate success on television with ''Series/TheMorningShow'', receiving Golden Globe and Emmy nominations despite the show's tepid reception.

* Creator/ChrisRock got his start as a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' cast member, then his career ''exploded'' in the mid 90's with the Creator/{{HBO}} stand-up special ''Bring the Pain'', which made him a network favorite for the rest of the decade. He soon got film roles in a number of comedies including ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsNinja'' and ''Down to Earth''. Unfortunately, most of his films were mediocre at best, and didn't draw many audiences to the theaters. He took a break from starring in live-action films in the mid 2000's and went to voice work, notably voicing Marty in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' series, and eventually ventured into television production with the highly successful sitcom ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'', which ran for four seasons. He's also hosted two Oscar ceremonies to wit, so he's still kicking for the time being.

** Creator/LisaKudrow starred in the 1997 comedy ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion'' opposite Creator/MiraSorvino, which did fine when it debuted but later found a wider audience as a CultClassic on home video. She also got critical praise for her role in the AcclaimedFlop ''The Opposite of Sex'', and appeared as the wife of Creator/BillyCrystal in ''Film/AnalyzeThis'' and its sequel ''Film/AnalyzeThat''. Kudrow's most notable role after ''Friends'' ended was as has-been sitcom actress Valerie Cherish in the Creator/{{HBO}} comedy ''Series/TheComeback'', which received indifferent reception when it premiered and was cancelled in 2005 but later was VindicatedByHistory as one of the decade's finest shows. ''The Comeback'' was still recognized with three Emmy nominations for its first season despite its initial reception (including a Best Actress nomination for Kudrow), but the show's growing esteem led to a second season being green-lit in 2014 – '''nine''' years since its first season premiered. Reviews were far more positive this time around, with Kudrow nabbing another Emmy nomination.

** Creator/JenniferAniston has fared the best so far – although she never headlined a $100 million hit until 2011's ''Film/HorribleBosses'' (which arguably was helped out [[Creator/JasonBateman by]] [[Creator/JasonSudeikis the]] [[Creator/KevinSpacey other]] [[Creator/ColinFarrell heavyweights]] in the film – she's never had a starring role do that well until ''Film/WereTheMillers'' in 2013, and is mostly known for romantic comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood. By the time she entered her forties, she began to enjoy more variation in the roles she was able to play (having been shut out of anything but romantic comedies due to typecasting making it impossible for people to see her other than [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy Jennifer Aniston]]). She earned critical acclaim for ''{{Film/Cake 2014}}'' as a grieving mother suffering from chronic pain, and [[PlayingAgainstType played against type]] in ''Film/OfficeChristmasParty'', ''Film/{{Dumplin}}'' and ''The Yellow Birds'' - all of which were commercially successful. She also enjoyed moderate success on television with ''Series/TheMorningShow'', receiving Golden Globe and Emmy nominations despite the show's tepid reception.

** Creator/LisaKudrow starred in the 1997 comedy ''Film/RomyAndMichelesHighSchoolReunion'' opposite Creator/MiraSorvino, which did fine when it debuted but later found a wider audience as a CultClassic on home video. She also got critical praise for her role in the AcclaimedFlop ''The Opposite of Sex'', and appeared as the wife of Creator/BillyCrystal in ''Film/AnalyzeThis'' and its sequel ''Film/AnalyzeThat''. Kudrow's most notable role after ''Friends'' ended was as has-been sitcom actress Valerie Cherish in the Creator/{{HBO}} comedy ''Series/TheComeback'', which received indifferent reception when it premiered and was cancelled in 2005 but later was VindicatedByHistory as one of the decade's finest shows. ''The Comeback'' was still recognized with three Emmy nominations for its first season despite its initial reception (including a Best Actress nomination for Kudrow), but the show's growing esteem led to a second season being green-lit in 2014 – over '''nine''' years since its first season. Reviews were far more positive this time around, with Kudrow nabbing another Emmy nomination.

* Creator/ChrisRock got his start as a ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' cast member, then his career ''exploded'' in the mid 90's with the Creator/{{HBO}} stand-up special ''Bring the Pain'', which made him a network favorite for the rest of the decade. He soon got film roles in a number of comedies including ''Film/{{Dogma}}'', ''Film/BeverlyHillsNinja'' and ''Film/DownToEarth''. Unfortunately, most of his films were mediocre at best, and didn't draw many audiences to the theaters. He took a break from starring in live-action films in the mid 2000's and went to voice work, notably voicing Marty in the ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' series, and eventually ventured into television production with the highly successful sitcom ''Series/EverybodyHatesChris'', which ran for four seasons. He's also hosted two Oscar ceremonies to wit, so he's still kicking for the time being.

* Creator/DianeKruger debuted with a memorable bang in ''{{Film/Troy}}'' as Helen and got lots of work in America as a result, most notably in the ''Film/NationalTreasure'' films. She also won lots of critical acclaim for ''Film/IngloriousBasterds''. But she rarely found herself getting work outside of roles that catered to her beauty, and her momentum seemed to evaporate in TheNewTens. She's still modelling and working away though, so she's not gone yet.

** Creator/CourteneyCox was cast as the female lead in ''Film/AceVenturaPetDetective'' opposite Creator/JimCarrey in 1994, the same year ''Friends'' premiered. It was a hit with audiences despite receiving mixed reviews, establishing them both as movie stars (although Carrey would benefit from it more) while taking a massive haul at the box office. Cox was cast in the slasher film ''Film/Scream1996'' as Gale Weathers while in between seasons of ''Friends'', which defied both critical expectations and genre fatigue to become a hit on all fronts. It became the highest-grossing slasher of all time until ''Film/Halloween2018'', and revived the horror genre when it was starting to be dismissed as a dying field. Its positive critical and audience reception bred a [[Film/{{Scream}} franchise]] with many sequels, with Cox reprising her role in all of them so far. After ''Friends'' finished its run, Cox continued her television career with the flop ''Dirt'' (which was cancelled after two seasons) followed by the much more successful ''Series/CougarTown'' (which overcame a mid-season 2 hiatus, a season 3 premiere delay, and a network transfer from ABC to TBS before season 4 to air for six seasons). Although Cox's film career would be [[StarDerailingRole derailed]] by her lead role in the failure known as ''[[Film/ZoomAcademyForSuperheroes Zoom]]'' and her supporting role in the Creator/AdamSandler vehicle ''Film/BedtimeStories'', her RoleReprisal in the ''Scream'' sequels nevertheless ensure she remains a prominent star.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Film/TheBabysitter2017'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. The scam accusations and controversy that came with her [=OnlyFans=] presence haven't helped matters. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are widely considered one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.
* Creator/RyanGosling became a star with ''Film/TheNotebook'' and a critical darling with ''Half Nelson'', and Hollywood seems intent on selling the idea that he is sexier than sex. It's debatable whether there's widespread audience agreement. His movies have done fairly well financially, but a lot of that could be the result of high-profile co-stars like Creator/GeorgeClooney and Creator/SteveCarell. Critics still love him, but he has yet to headline a real blockbuster, and given that he tends to choose small-scale dramas over special-effects spectacles, he might never become another Creator/TomCruise or Creator/WillSmith. (It's possible or even probable that he ''prefers'' it that way, though.) It should be also noted that he's somewhat becoming typecast after ''Film/Drive2011'', with all his following roles being bend on giving him similar roles of tough guys in very violent (read: R-rated) actionesque flicks. However, he earned a lot of praise for being a funny guy in ''Film/TheNiceGuys'' and his musical performance in ''Film/LaLaLand'' won him a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

* Much was expected of Creator/RachelMcAdams after her roles in ''Film/MeanGirls'' and ''Film/TheNotebook'', and she was immediately hailed as Hollywood's new it girl. With the successes of ''Film/WeddingCrashers'' and ''Film/RedEye'', the hype appeared to be justified. But then she took a break from 2006 to 2007, halting her career in its tracks, and admitted that she had never wanted to be a big movie star. She did eventually make a return, with high points including ''Film/TheTimeTravelersWife'', ''Film/MidnightInParis'', and the ''[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 Sherlock Holmes]]'' franchise, but her films have been hit or miss outside of that. Her career appears to be thriving, but she could have been as A-list as anybody given the chance. That chance returned with her [[UsefulNotes/AcademyAward Oscar]]-nominated performance in the acclaimed drama ''Film/{{Spotlight}}'', which won the award for Best Picture of 2015. She has since kept that good streak going by appearing in ''[[Film/DoctorStrange2016 Doctor Strange]]'' and ''Film/GameNight''.

** Creator/PierceBrosnan had a good start for his acting career when he starred in ''Series/RemingtonSteele'', followed by a supporting role in ''Film/MrsDoubtfire'' opposite Creator/RobinWilliams and Creator/SallyField. His tenure as Bond resurrected the franchise in TheNineties, but he considered his Bond movies post-''Film/GoldenEye'' as an OldShame. During and after his time as Bond, he appeared in a lot of successful movies like ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair1999'', ''Film/TheTailorOfPanama'', ''Film/AfterTheSunset'', ''Film/MammaMia'' and ''Film/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. However, in TheNewTens, he hasn't had as much success as he used to. He was luckily cast as ComicBook/DoctorFate in ''Film/BlackAdam2022'', showing that there's still some hope for his career.

* Much like his ''Film/RedEye'' co-star Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/CillianMurphy is a case who deliberately didn't want to live up too much to the hype. His role as Jim in ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' was the first major exposure he got to American audiences before hitting the big-time in 2005 with ''Film/BatmanBegins'', ''Film/RedEye'', and ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto'' (the last of which got him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe nomination), and several media outlets touted him as the "next big star". However, he's gone out of his way to deliberately stay out of the spotlight, motivated by his immense discomfort with the Hollywood system of celebrity culture and annoyance with being {{typecast}} as a "villain actor" because of his performances in ''Batman'' and ''Red Eye''. While he's still steadily working and earning rave reviews for his performances, especially in ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', he could have been as A-list as anybody if he so wanted. Luckily, his work in ''Batman'' impressed director Creator/ChristopherNolan enough to make the actor a mainstay in his ProductionPosse. Murphy has [[Film/TheDarkKnight appeared]] [[Film/{{Inception}} in]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises most]] [[Film/{{Dunkirk}} of]] Nolan's work since ''Batman Begins'' in a supporting capacity, before finally playing the lead as theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biopic ''Oppenheimer''.
* Creator/AnnabelleWallis was receiving lots of notable roles in TheNewTens, mostly on television (''Series/PeakyBlinders'') or in the horror genre (''{{Film/Annabelle}}''). In 2017 she starred in two high profile {{Box Office Bomb}}s - ''Film/KingArthurLegendOfTheSword'' (though she just had a supporting role and was one of the few things to be well-received about it) and ''Film/TheMummy2017''. The latter was meant to kick off Universal's Dark Universe based off of the movie monsters, but its failure killed her chances at joining a franchise. Her next big role was the lead in Creator/JamesWan's 2021 horror film ''Film/{{Malignant}}'', which was eclipsed in its opening weekend by ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' and ''Film/FreeGuy'' – although its simultaneous release on Creator/HBOMax definitely didn't help.

** Creator/ZacEfron has so far achieved the most success out of any of his ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' castmates. Despite that, he's only had [[Film/SeventeenAgain three]] [[Film/{{Neighbors2014}} bonafide]] [[Film/TheGreatestShowman hits]]. So time will tell whether he can successfully make the transition.
** Music/VanessaHudgens attempted to distance herself from her Disney roots with darker roles in ''Film/SuckerPunch'' and ''Film/SpringBreakers''. Her films did well enough, but she has enjoyed more success as a singer and on Broadway.
** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter2017'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. The scam accusations and controversy that came with her [=OnlyFans=] presence haven't helped matters. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are widely considered one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. The scam accusations and controversy that came with her [=OnlyFans=] presence haven't helped matters. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are widely considered one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.

** Creator/CourteneyCox and Creator/MatthewPerry have gone back to TV. The former had a flop with ''Dirt'', and while ''Series/CougarTown'' was initially a hit, declining ratings led to it being put on hiatus in the middle of S2, held for mid-season in S3, and pushed from ABC to TBS for S4. The latter was 0 for 3 with ''Series/Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip'', ''Series/MrSunshine2011'' and ''Series/GoOn'', though critics like his recurring appearances on ''Series/TheGoodWife'' and he finally landed a series that didn't get cancelled after one season with ''Series/{{The Odd Couple|2015}}''.
** Creator/MattLeBlanc headlined a series of hellacious bombs: he did ''Ed'', a movie with a baseball-playing chimp, followed by ''Film/LostInSpace''... and then there was ''Series/{{Joey}}''. He made a slight comeback in 2011 when he starred in the critically successful Creator/{{Showtime}} comedy series ''Series/{{Episodes}}'' ([[AdamWesting playing himself, no less]]), which gave him his first Emmy nominations since ''Friends''. After ''Episodes'' finished its run, he was immediately announced as one of the new hosts of ''Series/TopGear'' and simultaneously had a network TV hit with the three-camera ''Man with a Plan''.
** Creator/DavidSchwimmer saw his star power dissipate when his first project after ''Friends'' ended, the independent dramedy ''Duane Hopwood'', received mixed reviews and a very limited theatrical release. He didn't star in any high-profile roles afterwards (aside from voice-over work in ''WesternAnimation/{{Madagascar}}'' and its sequels) and instead started directing, where he seems happy. However, he has recently been trying to do more dramatic television roles like playing Robert Kardashian in ''Series/AmericanCrimeStory: The People vs. O.J. Simpson''.
** Creator/LisaKudrow went for indie cred, partially to avoid being typecast.

* The entire cast of ''Series/{{Friends}}'' were given countless movie roles the second that show became a sensation, with mixed results depending on the star.

** Creator/DavidSchwimmer started directing, where he seems happy. Although, as of late, he has been trying to do more dramatic television roles, such as playing Robert Kardashian in ''Series/AmericanCrimeStory: The People vs. O.J. Simpson''.

* The entire cast of ''Series/{{Friends}}'' were given countless movie roles the second that show became a sensation. The results have been mixed.

** Creator/MattLeBlanc made a series of hellacious bombs: he did ''Ed'', a movie with a baseball-playing chimp, and ''Film/LostInSpace''... and then there was ''Series/{{Joey}}''. He's currently starring in the low-rated but critically successful Creator/{{Showtime}} comedy series ''Series/{{Episodes}}'' (playing himself, no less). After ''Episodes'' finished production, he was immediately announced as one of the new hosts of ''Series/TopGear'' and simultaneously had a network TV hit with the three-camera ''Man with a Plan''.

** Creator/JenniferAniston has fared the best so far -- while she didn't headline a $100 million hit until 2011's ''Film/HorribleBosses'' (which arguably was helped out by the other heavyweights like Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey in the film -- she's never had a starring role do that well until ''Film/WereTheMillers'' in 2013, and is mostly known for Romantic Comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood. By the time she entered her forties, she began to enjoy more variation in the roles she was able to play (having been shut out of anything but romantic comedies due to typecasting making it impossible for people to see her other than [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy Jennifer Aniston]]); she earned critical acclaim for ''{{Film/Cake 2014}}'' as a grieving mother suffering from chronic pain, and went against type in ''Film/OfficeChristmasParty'', ''Film/{{Dumplin}}'' and ''The Yellow Birds'' - all of which were commercially successful. She also enjoyed moderate success on television with ''Series/TheMorningShow'', receiving Golden Globe and Emmy nominations in spite of the show's lukewarm reception.

* Much like his ''Film/RedEye'' co-star Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/CillianMurphy is a case who deliberately didn't want to live up too much to the hype. His role as Jim in ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' was the first major exposure he got to American audiences before hitting the big-time in 2005 with ''Film/BatmanBegins'', ''Film/RedEye'', and ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto'' (the last of which got him a UsefulNotes/GoldenGlobe nomination), and several media outlets touted him as the "next big star". However, he's gone out of his way to deliberately stay out of the spotlight, motivated by his immense discomfort with the Hollywood system of celebrity culture and annoyance with being {{typecast}} as a "villain actor" because of his performances in ''Batman'' and ''Red Eye''. While he's still steadily working and earning rave reviews for his performances, especially in ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', he could have been as A-list as anybody if he so wanted. Luckily, his work in ''Batman'' impressed director Creator/ChristopherNolan enough to make the actor a mainstay in his ProductionPosse. Murphy has [[Film/TheDarkKnight appeared]] [[Film/{{Inception}} in]] [[Film/TheDarkKnightRises most]] [[Film/{{Dunkirk}} of]] Nolan's film since ''Batman Begins'' in a supporting capacity, before finally attaining a lead role as physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in the biopic ''Oppenheimer''.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. The scam accusations that came with her [=OnlyFans=] presence haven't helped matters. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.

** Creator/TimothyDalton had a good theater career prior to his Bond tenure. However, his portrayal as Bond is still regarded as a BrokenBase due the DarkerAndEdgier approach of the movies. After Bond, he continued his theater career, while still getting some movie and TV roles on the side. Starting in late 2009 and continuing into TheNewTens, he experienced a resurgence with his tenure on ''Series/DoctorWho'', his voice work in ''WesternAnimation/ToyStory3'', and his leading roles in ''Series/PennyDreadful'' and ''Series/DoomPatrol''.
** Creator/PierceBrosnan had a good start in his acting career where he starred in ''Series/RemingtonSteele''. It was his tenure as Bond that resurrected the franchise in TheNineties but he considered his Bond movies post-''Film/GoldenEye'' as an OldShame. During and after his time as Bond, he got into a lot of successful movies such as ''Film/TheThomasCrownAffair1999'', ''Film/TheTailorOfPanama'', ''Film/AfterTheSunset'', ''Film/MammaMia'' and ''Film/PercyJacksonAndTheOlympians''. However in TheNewTens, he hasn't had much success like he used to. He was luckily cast as ComicBook/DoctorFate in ''Film/BlackAdam2022'', which shows that there's some hope for his career.

* Much like his ''Film/RedEye'' co-star Creator/RachelMcAdams, Creator/CillianMurphy is a case who deliberately didn't want to live up too much to the hype. His role as Jim in ''Film/TwentyEightDaysLater'' was the first major exposure he got to American audiences, and then he hit the big-time in 2005 with ''Film/BatmanBegins'', ''Film/RedEye'', and ''Film/BreakfastOnPluto'' (the last of which earned him a Golden Globe nomination), and several entertainment outlets touted him as the "next big star". However, between his discomfort with the Hollywood system and celebrity culture and annoyance with being TypeCast as a "villain actor" because of his performances in ''Batman'' and ''Red Eye'', he's deliberately gone out of his way to stay out of the spotlight. He's still steadily working and earning rave reviews for his performances, especially in ''Series/PeakyBlinders'', but he could have been as A-list as anybody if he wanted.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020. In addition to reprising her MCU role in 2021's ''No Way Home'', she appeared in the Creator/DenisVilleneuve adaptation of ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune]]'' that same year. Production was split into two films; although Zendaya's part in the first film was small but vital, she is expected to have an expanded role in the follow-up.

** Creator/JenniferAniston has fared the best so far -- while she didn't headline a $100 million hit until 2011's ''Film/HorribleBosses'' (which arguably was helped out by the other heavyweights like Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey in the film -- she's never had a starring role do that well until ''Film/WereTheMillers'' in 2013, and is mostly known for Romantic Comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood. By the time she entered her forties, she began to enjoy more variation in the roles she was able to play (having been shut out of anything but romantic comedies due to typecasting making it impossible for people to see her other than [[IAmNotLeonardNimoy Jennifer Aniston]]); she earned critical acclaim for ''{{Film/Cake 2014}}'' as a grieving mother suffering from chronic pain, and went against type in ''Film/OfficeChristmasParty'', ''Film/{{Dumplin}}'' and ''Film/TheYellowBirds'' - all of which were commercially successful. She also enjoyed moderate success on television with ''Series/TheMorningShow'', receiving Golden Globe and Emmy nominations in spite of the show's lukewarm reception.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue Bennett in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series in 2020.

* Creator/DianeKruger debuted with a memorable bang in ''{{Film/Troy}}'' as Helen and got lots of work in America as a result, most notably in the ''Film/NationalTreasure'' films. She also won lots of critical acclaim for ''Film/IngloriousBasterds''. But she rarely found herself getting work outside of roles that catered to her beauty, and her momentum seemed to dry up in TheNewTens. She's still modelling and working away though, so she's not completely gone.

* Creator/KristenBell was pushed heavily by Hollywood following ''Series/VeronicaMars'', but it was her ''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'' co-stars Creator/MilaKunis (see below) and Creator/RussellBrand who became bigger stars out of the deal. So far, she's decently well-known, but is nowhere near what Hollywood was hoping. While she had a lead role in Disney's box office juggernaut ''WesternAnimation/{{Frozen|2013}}'', voice-over success tends to not translate back into live-action (ask ''WesternAnimation/{{Tangled}}'s'' Music/MandyMoore) and the majority of the hype that did come out of ''Frozen'' seems to have gone to Creator/IdinaMenzel (or even Josh Gad). She's only been in a few live-action films that grossed more than $40 million (''Film/ForgettingSarahMarshall'', ''Film/CouplesRetreat'', ''Film/Scream4'', ''Film/TheBoss'', ''Film/BadMoms'' and the latter's sequel) and she was part of an ensemble in all of them. With the ''Film/VeronicaMars'' film having a concurrent launch on video-on-demand, her cold live-action streak on the big screen will live on; as far as she's concerned, television is indeed ''Series/TheGoodPlace''.

** Creator/JenniferAniston has fared the best so far -- while she didn't headline a $100 million hit until 2011's ''Film/HorribleBosses'' (which arguably was helped out by the other heavyweights like Jason Bateman and Kevin Spacey in the film -- she's never had a starring role do that well until ''Film/WereTheMillers'' in 2013, and is mostly known for Romantic Comedies), she was fortunate enough not to have a major flop during the time in between, and at the very least she's ''treated'' like a major star by most of Hollywood.

* Creator/AlyssaMilano got fame as a child star in the 80s with ''Series/WhosTheBoss'' and got a huge Japanese following - enough to sign her to a five album recording contract over there. As she entered her twenties, she suffered the age-old ContractualPurity that dogs many child stars. She finally succeeded in breaking out of her nice girl image with erotic films that became cult classics. Magazine covers and cosmetic endorsements followed, as did a MsFanservice push in ''Series/MelrosePlace'' and ''{{Series/Charmed|1998}}''. The latter lasted a shocking eight seasons and it was predicted she would become a breakout star from it. Film offers came but she never had a notable hit. In TheNewTens, she settled comfortably as the host of ''Project Runway: All Stars''. It's not the career it could have been, but she doesn't seem stuck for work. Later in the decade, however, she became well-known for her progressive political activism during the UsefulNotes/DonaldTrump presidency. In the wake of the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein, she championed feminist causes by kickstarting the #[=MeToo=] movement and supporting the ''Time's Up'' movement.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''. ''The Greatest Showman'', despite receiving mixed reviews, became one of the top five highest-grossing movie musicals of all time. ''Spider-Man: Homecoming'', meanwhile, marked her introduction into the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse. She played a high-school friend and eventual love interest to the title hero, a role she would later reprise in that film's critically hailed, $1B-dollar grossing sequels, ''Film/SpiderManFarFromHome'' and ''Film/SpiderManNoWayHome''. In 2019, she landed the lead role of Rue in the HBO teen drama ''Series/{{Euphoria}}''. Zendaya received much acclaim for her performance in that show, for which she would eventually win an Emmy for Best Actress in a Drama Series.

* Creator/AnnabelleWallis was receiving lots of notable roles in TheNewTens, mostly on television (''Series/PeakyBlinders'') or in the horror genre (''{{Film/Annabelle}}''). In 2017 she starred in two high profile {{Box Office Bomb}}s - ''Film/KingArthurLegendOfTheSword'' (though she just had a supporting role and was one of the few things to be well-received about it) and ''Film/TheMummy2017''. The latter was meant to kick off Universal's Dark Universe franchise based off the movie monsters, but its failure killed her chances at joining a franchise. Her next big role was the lead in Creator/JamesWan's horror film ''Film/{{Malignant}}'', which was eclipsed in its opening weekend by ''Film/ShangChiAndTheLegendOfTheTenRings'' and ''Film/FreeGuy'' – although its simultaneous release on Creator/HBOMax definitely didn't help.

** Creator/CourteneyCox and Creator/MatthewPerry have gone back to TV. The former had a flop with ''Dirt'', and while ''Series/CougarTown'' was initially a hit, declining ratings led to it being put on hiatus in the middle of S2, held for mid-season in S3, and pushed from ABC to TBS for S4. The latter was 0 for 3 with ''Series/Studio60OnTheSunsetStrip'', ''Series/MrSunshine'' and ''Series/GoOn'', though critics like his recurring appearances on ''Series/TheGoodWife'' and he finally landed a series that didn't get cancelled after one season with ''Series/{{The Odd Couple|2015}}''.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned to another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''. The latter decision wasn't optimistically received, with many predicting she would be tied to the Disney machine until being cast aside upon reaching adulthood. In 2017, however, she had a true breakout when she co-starred in two of that year's biggest films, ''Film/SpiderManHomecoming'' and ''Film/TheGreatestShowman''.

** Creator/ZacEfron has so far achieved the most success out of any of his ''Film/HighSchoolMusical'' castmates. Despite that, [[Film/SeventeenAgain he's only had two]] [[Film/{{Neighbors2014}} bonafide hits.]] So time will tell whether he can successfully make the transition.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne was initially thought to benefit from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the Creator/{{HBO}} drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com. Unfortunately, most of her roles afterwards (''Film/AlexanderAndTheTerribleHorribleNoGoodVeryBadDay'', ''Film/TheDUFF'', ''Series/{{Scream}}'', ''Film/TheBabysitter'' and its sequel ''[[Film/TheBabysitterKillerQueen Killer Queen]]'') appears to have {{typecast}} her into AlphaBitch roles. Zendaya, meanwhile, had a well-received stint on ''Series/DancingWithTheStars'' (she and her partner Val Chmerkovskiy are viewed as one of the best pairs in the series' history) and transitioned towards another Disney kid com, ''Series/KCUndercover''.

** Creator/BellaThorne and Creator/{{Zendaya}} received a massive push after they headlined ''Series/ShakeItUp''. Thorne initially benefited from it more, having already had some credibility as a mature actress by starring on the HBO drama series ''Series/BigLove'' before the Disney kid com.

* Creator/{{Disney}} has started creating an alarming number of {{Kid Com}}s in recent years, starting with the success of ''Series/LizzieMcGuire'' and Music/HilaryDuff. With Duff, they managed to create a crossover starlet (with movies, TV shows, albums, and clothing lines coming out) of high repute. They immediately created a formula with this, spawning ''Series/HannahMontana'' and others, with all their myriad starlets being built up the exact same way. Most of them (although [[Music/MileyCyrus there]] [[Music/SelenaGomez are]] [[Music/DemiLovato exceptions]]) have only received minor hype after their Disney shows' runs were finished, and have mostly failed to find real stardom outside of their original shows.