Actors Who Pivoted and Thrived (TV, Indies, Stage)
Sometimes a career takes off in a new direction and everything changes. These actors made smart moves into television, independent film, or the stage and built lasting success through new types of roles and creative partnerships. Each one shows how a shift in medium can open fresh opportunities and lead to major recognition.
You will find stars who moved from blockbusters to daring indies, television names who claimed the biggest awards, and stage standouts who carried that craft back to the screen. The details below highlight the projects, collaborators, and honors that marked each pivot and kept the momentum going.
Bryan Cranston
Cranston moved from sitcom work on ‘Malcolm in the Middle’ into dramatic territory with ‘Breaking Bad’ and continued that run with ‘Your Honor’. He also anchored acclaimed Broadway performances and earned Tony Awards for ‘All the Way’ and ‘Network’.
Beyond acting, he expanded into producing and directing episodes of ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Modern Family’. His stage projects transferred to television with ‘All the Way’ adapted for HBO, which broadened his reach across formats.
Matthew McConaughey
McConaughey stepped away from light romantic leads and chose character driven films like ‘Dallas Buyers Club’ and ‘Mud’. The shift carried into television with ‘True Detective’, where he also served as an executive producer.
His feature work with directors like Jean Marc Vallée and Jeff Nichols brought festival attention and major awards. The television pivot built long form storytelling credentials that aligned with later producing roles.
Zendaya
Zendaya transitioned from Disney Channel projects into prestige television with ‘Euphoria’, where she is also an executive producer. The series earned her multiple lead actress awards and expanded her creative control.
Her filmography added work with acclaimed directors and large scale franchises while she maintained music and fashion collaborations. The combination of a long running series and selective features created a balanced schedule and broad audience reach.
Robert Pattinson
Pattinson left franchise stardom from ‘Twilight’ and focused on independent films like ‘Good Time’, ‘The Lighthouse’, and ‘High Life’. Those choices established a reputation for working with author driven directors.
He later returned to a studio tentpole with ‘The Batman’ while keeping commitments to smaller films. This mix of projects sustained critical attention and maintained box office visibility.
Kristen Stewart
Stewart pivoted from ‘Twilight’ to international auteur cinema with ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’, ‘Personal Shopper’, and ‘Spencer’. She became the first American actor to win a César Award for ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’.
Her work with Olivier Assayas and Pablo LarraÃn underlined a consistent focus on challenging roles. She also directed shorts and music videos, adding behind the camera experience to her career.
Daniel Radcliffe
Radcliffe shifted from ‘Harry Potter’ to the stage with ‘Equus’, ‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’, and ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’. He later won a Tony Award for ‘Merrily We Roll Along’.
On screen he chose distinctive projects like ‘Swiss Army Man’ and the series ‘Miracle Workers’. The variety of formats kept him working year round and built a strong résumé beyond franchise work.
Hugh Jackman
Jackman balanced blockbuster action with stage musicals, winning a Tony Award for ‘The Boy from Oz’ and leading ‘The Music Man’ on Broadway. He maintained a steady concert schedule that showcased live performance skills.
In film he shifted between roles in ‘Les Misérables’ and character driven dramas. The movement between screen and stage supported a long run of sold out performances and award recognition.
Viola Davis
Davis led ‘How to Get Away with Murder’ while continuing a major film career that includes ‘Fences’ and ‘The Woman King’. She achieved EGOT status with competitive wins across television, film, theater, and audio.
Her production company developed stories centered on underrepresented voices, and she co produced projects across streaming and cable. The sustained presence in multiple media built a durable career platform.
Brian Tyree Henry
Henry broke out on television with ‘Atlanta’ and earned a Tony nomination for ‘Lobby Hero’. He later received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Causeway’.
His credits moved easily among television, film, and voice work including roles in ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and ‘Spider Man Into the Spider Verse’. This range kept him active with both studio and independent creators.
Andrew Garfield
Garfield returned to the stage with ‘Angels in America’ and won a Tony Award for the role. He also earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’, which highlighted his musical training.
His career includes collaborations with directors like Mike Nichols and Martin Scorsese along with television projects such as ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’. The steady mix of formats supports a flexible schedule and varied roles.
Ke Huy Quan
Quan reemerged from a long break with ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and won an Academy Award for supporting actor. He followed that success with television roles in ‘Loki’ and ‘American Born Chinese’.
The return included work as a producer and stunt coordinator, reflecting skills built behind the scenes. The new visibility led to franchise offers while leaving room for independent scripts.
Brendan Fraser
Fraser came back to awards attention with ‘The Whale’ after a quieter period on screen. He also built a loyal television audience as Robotman in ‘Doom Patrol’.
His choices included work with Darren Aronofsky and a slate of supporting roles that reintroduced him to filmgoers. The combination of a high profile lead and steady series work helped reset his career.
Michelle Williams
Williams moved from ‘Dawson’s Creek’ to challenging features like ‘Blue Valentine’, ‘Manchester by the Sea’, and ‘The Fabelmans’. She added Broadway roles in ‘Blackbird’ and ‘Cabaret’ and received a Tony nomination for ‘Blackbird’.
Her collaborations with directors such as Kelly Reichardt and Todd Haynes produced a consistent independent film presence. Frequent nominations across major awards bodies maintained her profile at festivals and in theaters.
Bob Odenkirk
Odenkirk shifted from sketch comedy on ‘Mr. Show’ and writing work into drama with ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘Better Call Saul’. He extended that range with the action feature ‘Nobody’.
He published a memoir and produced multiple series, showing a move into development. The dramatic pivot created long term roles while leaving space for future film leads.
Tatiana Maslany
Maslany led ‘Orphan Black’ and won an Emmy for playing multiple characters in one series. She later joined Broadway in ‘Network’ and returned to mainstream television with ‘She Hulk Attorney at Law’.
Her early work across Canadian film and theater prepared her for rapid shifts among genres. The technical demands of ‘Orphan Black’ supported later roles that required quick tonal changes.
Claire Danes
Danes reestablished herself with the lead role in ‘Homeland’ after earlier success in ‘My So Called Life’ and film. She also appeared on stage in ‘Pygmalion’ and ‘Dry Powder’.
Awards for ‘Homeland’ anchored a long run on premium cable and streaming. She continued into limited series work that emphasized character driven storytelling.
Mahershala Ali
Ali built early visibility on television through ‘House of Cards’ and led a later season of ‘True Detective’. His film career included Academy Award wins for ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Green Book’.
He released a spoken word album and pursued producing projects that align with literary adaptations. The steady presence in both television and film led to leading roles across genres.
Ben Whishaw
Whishaw maintained a strong stage career with roles including ‘Hamlet’ and continued to voice Paddington in ‘Paddington’. On television he won major awards for ‘A Very English Scandal’ and later led ‘This Is Going to Hurt’.
He balances studio franchises with intimate dramas and miniseries. The approach keeps him active in London theater while sustaining international screen work.
Anya Taylor-Joy
Taylor-Joy began with independent films like ‘The Witch’ and ‘Thoroughbreds’ and then headlined the global hit series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’. She followed with a mix of studio and auteur projects.
Her work with directors such as Robert Eggers and George Miller shows a blend of art house and large-scale productions. The early indie focus helped secure leading roles across formats.
Adam Driver
Driver launched on television with ‘Girls’ and returned to Broadway with ‘Burn This’, earning a Tony nomination. His film work includes multiple Academy Award nominations for ‘Marriage Story’ and ‘BlacKkKlansman’.
He trained at Juilliard and served in the United States Marine Corps, which informed his disciplined approach to rehearsal. Frequent collaborations with filmmakers like Noah Baumbach and Jim Jarmusch built a stable creative network.
Sarah Paulson
Paulson became a mainstay of anthology television with ‘American Horror Story’ and won an Emmy for ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson American Crime Story’. She won a Tony Award for ‘Appropriate’, confirming her stage credentials.
Her film credits include ‘Carol’ and ’12 Years a Slave’, along with producer roles on limited series. The wraparound of stage and screen allowed for alternating schedules and steady recognition.
Sterling K. Brown
Brown earned major awards for portraying Christopher Darden in ‘The People v. O. J. Simpson American Crime Story’ and became a central figure in ‘This Is Us’. He later received an Academy Award nomination for ‘American Fiction’.
He continued with voice roles and independent features alongside network television. The range of work supported year round visibility and broadened audience demographics.
Pedro Pascal
Pascal broke out with ‘Game of Thrones’ and then led ‘The Mandalorian’ and ‘The Last of Us’. He kept ties to New York theater and built a strong presence in genre storytelling.
Guest arcs on series across streaming and cable expanded his fan base and industry relationships. Appearances in features and video games added to a cross platform profile.
Rami Malek
Malek moved from character parts to the lead in ‘Mr. Robot’, winning the top television acting award. He then won an Academy Award for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’.
He joined a major franchise as the villain in ‘No Time to Die’ and continued with voice and motion capture projects. The switch from television thriller to music biopic established global recognition.
Jodie Comer
Comer led ‘Killing Eve’ and won top television awards for the role. She then opened ‘Prima Facie’ in London and on Broadway and won both the Olivier and the Tony for best actress.
Her film slate grew with major studio and independent titles, and she took on producer credits for future projects. The move from television to a solo stage play showcased range and command of live performance.
Share your favorite examples of smart career pivots in the comments and tell us who you would add to the list.
