Actresses Who Launched Their Careers With One Role

Some careers seem to ignite all at once when the right role lands in the right hands. One performance can move an actor from local recognition to global visibility and open doors to projects across genres and mediums. The names on this list each have a clear starting point where a single part set everything else in motion.

You will see leads, supporting turns, and even small but memorable appearances that changed trajectories. Each entry highlights the role that did the heavy lifting and the work that followed. It is a reminder that one strong introduction can spark a long run of opportunities.

Jennifer Lawrence

Her breakthrough arrived with the lead role of Ree in the independent drama ‘Winter’s Bone’. The film traveled through major festivals and brought her first nomination from the Academy for best actress, which put her on studio and prestige shortlists around the world.

That single performance led directly to franchise work in ‘The Hunger Games’ and later to awards attention for ‘Silver Linings Playbook’. Further roles in ‘American Hustle’ and ‘Joy’ continued the momentum that began with ‘Winter’s Bone’.

Emma Watson

She launched her career playing Hermione Granger in ‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’. The part introduced her to a global audience and continued across the full series, which built years of on set experience and name recognition.

That foundation supported later leads in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ and ‘Little Women’. She also pursued ensemble work in ‘The Bling Ring’ and ‘The Perks of Being a Wallflower’, expanding beyond the franchise that started it all.

Emma Stone

Her career turned a corner with the lead role in ‘Easy A’. The film centered on her character across a full high school comedy and put her voice front and center for the first time.

From there she moved into ‘The Help’ and then to the musical ‘La La Land’, which brought her an Academy Award. She continued with ‘Birdman’, ‘The Favourite’, and ‘Poor Things’, building on the visibility that began with ‘Easy A’.

Margot Robbie

She became widely known after playing Naomi Lapaglia in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. The performance placed her alongside an established director and a top line cast, and it introduced her to an international audience.

After that turn she led ‘I, Tonya’ and joined the comic book world with ‘Suicide Squad’. She later headlined ‘Barbie’ and produced projects through LuckyChap, all following the exposure that came from ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’.

Brie Larson

Her first major boost arrived with the lead role of Grace in ‘Short Term 12’. The release gained strong word of mouth in the indie space and showcased her ability to carry a film with grounded intensity.

That attention positioned her for ‘Room’, which earned her the Academy Award for best actress. She then moved into large scale projects with ‘Captain Marvel’ and continued independent work with ‘The Glass Castle’, extending the range revealed in ‘Short Term 12’.

Lupita Nyong’o

She launched her screen career as Patsey in ’12 Years a Slave’. The performance drew widespread recognition and brought her the Academy Award for best supporting actress in her first feature role.

That single part led to key roles in ‘Black Panther’ and the thriller ‘Us’. She also returned to franchise work in ‘Star Wars’ and added voice and stage projects, all stemming from the introduction created by ’12 Years a Slave’.

Millie Bobby Brown

Her entry into global visibility came as Eleven in ‘Stranger Things’. The role combined minimal dialogue with physical performance and anchored the ensemble across multiple seasons on a major streaming platform.

The visibility opened film leads in ‘Enola Holmes’ and roles in ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ and ‘Godzilla vs Kong’. She also expanded into producing while continuing ‘Stranger Things’, all built on the launch that role provided.

Anya Taylor-Joy

She was introduced to many viewers as Thomasin in ‘The Witch’. The role demanded a full film lead with period language and close up performance, and it quickly placed her on casting lists for both film and television.

Follow up work included ‘Split’ and the limited series ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, which brought major awards and a surge in viewership. She later appeared in ‘The Northman’ and ‘Furiosa’, continuing the path that started with ‘The Witch’.

Saoirse Ronan

Her breakthrough arrived as Briony Tallis in ‘Atonement’. The part earned her an early Academy Award nomination and marked her as a performer who could handle literary adaptations and complex scripts.

From that starting point she led ‘Brooklyn’ and ‘Lady Bird’ and returned to ensemble work in ‘Little Women’. She moved between period pieces and contemporary stories, all following the introduction that ‘Atonement’ provided.

Florence Pugh

She gained early attention with the lead role in ‘Lady Macbeth’. The film required a controlled performance across an intimate setting and placed her in conversations for both independent and studio projects.

Next came ‘Midsommar’ and a supporting turn in ‘Little Women’, followed by franchise work in ‘Black Widow’. She continued with ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Dune’, extending a run that began with ‘Lady Macbeth’.

Keira Knightley

Her career accelerated with ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. The sports comedy drama gave her a high energy supporting lead and connected with audiences across several markets.

That momentum took her to ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’, which brought an Academy Award nomination. Further roles in ‘Atonement’ and ‘The Imitation Game’ built on the springboard from ‘Bend It Like Beckham’.

Natalie Portman

She made a striking debut as Mathilda in ‘Léon: The Professional’. The role paired her with a seasoned lead and asked for a blend of vulnerability and resolve that drew immediate industry attention.

That introduction led to ‘Black Swan’, which earned her the Academy Award for best actress. She also took on ‘Jackie’ and joined franchise work with ‘Star Wars’ and ‘Thor’, all after the early start provided by ‘Léon: The Professional’.

Scarlett Johansson

Her move into the spotlight came with ‘Lost in Translation’. The film centered on a quiet lead turn that showcased timing and presence across a low key Tokyo setting.

The performance led to ‘Match Point’ and then to large scale ensembles in ‘The Avengers’. She later headlined ‘Lucy’ and earned acclaim with ‘Marriage Story’ and ‘Jojo Rabbit’, a run that began with ‘Lost in Translation’.

Anne Hathaway

She launched as Mia Thermopolis in ‘The Princess Diaries’. The part combined comedy and transformation and gave her a clear introduction to family audiences worldwide.

That visibility led to ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ and a supporting role in ‘Les Misérables’, which brought the Academy Award. She also joined ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and continued with a mix of drama and comedy that followed from ‘The Princess Diaries’.

Jennifer Aniston

Her breakout role was Rachel Green in ‘Friends’. The sitcom ran across many seasons and syndication markets, which created a durable public profile and a strong base for film offers.

After the series she moved into features like ‘Marley and Me’ and ‘Horrible Bosses’. She later returned to television with ‘The Morning Show’, earning major awards recognition while maintaining the audience built through ‘Friends’.

Emilia Clarke

She became known worldwide as Daenerys Targaryen in ‘Game of Thrones’. The long running part included large scale production demands and placed her at the center of a cultural event.

She then moved into ‘Me Before You’ and ‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ and later returned to television with ‘Secret Invasion’. The visibility and experience from ‘Game of Thrones’ set the stage for each of these projects.

Jenna Ortega

Her step into lead status arrived with the title role in ‘Wednesday’. The series launched to strong viewing on a global platform and put her performance at the center of a revival for a classic character.

From there she joined the ‘Scream’ franchise and the horror feature ‘X’. She also continued with voice and live action projects while developing new work off the reach that began with ‘Wednesday’.

Rachel Zegler

She started her screen career as Maria in ‘West Side Story’. The casting came after an open search and introduced her voice and presence through a major studio musical.

The debut led to roles in ‘Shazam Fury of the Gods’ and ‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’. She has continued to add music driven and genre titles, all following the launch created by ‘West Side Story’.

Alicia Vikander

Her breakthrough arrived with ‘A Royal Affair’. The historical drama showcased her in a central role and brought significant attention across European and international markets.

That performance led to ‘Ex Machina’ and then to ‘The Danish Girl’, which earned her the Academy Award for best supporting actress. She later headlined ‘Tomb Raider’ and continued to move between independent and studio projects that followed from ‘A Royal Affair’.

Amy Adams

She moved into wider view with ‘Junebug’. The role gave her a bright supporting turn that stood out and signaled a strong command of character work.

That notice led to ‘Enchanted’ and then to a series of award nominated roles in ‘American Hustle’ and ‘Arrival’. She continued with ‘Nocturnal Animals’ and the limited series ‘Sharp Objects’, all building from the first splash made by ‘Junebug’.

Jessica Chastain

Her launch came with a key supporting role in ‘The Help’. The ensemble piece placed her alongside a large cast and introduced her to mainstream audiences.

Following that she led ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ and joined ‘Interstellar’ and ‘Molly’s Game’. She later won the Academy Award for ‘The Eyes of Tammy Faye’, continuing a line that began with ‘The Help’.

Sandra Bullock

She became a household name after playing Annie Porter in ‘Speed’. The high pressure action setup relied on her timing with a co lead and turned the film into a calling card.

The success opened leads in ‘While You Were Sleeping’ and ‘Miss Congeniality’ and later brought a best actress win for ‘The Blind Side’. She continued with ‘Gravity’ and ‘Bird Box’, all riding the wave that began with ‘Speed’.

Kristen Stewart

Her profile expanded worldwide with the role of Bella Swan in ‘Twilight’. The film adaptation drew a large built in audience and anchored a long running series with her at the center.

After that she pivoted to independent and international work with ‘Adventureland’, ‘Clouds of Sils Maria’, and ‘Personal Shopper’. She later earned widespread recognition for ‘Spencer’, a path that began with ‘Twilight’.

Shailene Woodley

She made her first major film impression as Alexandra King in ‘The Descendants’. The role placed her opposite a veteran lead and quickly drew attention to her dramatic range.

That entry led to ‘The Fault in Our Stars’ and the ‘Divergent’ series. She also moved into television with ‘Big Little Lies’, keeping a steady flow of projects that followed from ‘The Descendants’.

Viola Davis

Her industry turning point arrived with a brief but powerful appearance in ‘Doubt’. The scene earned her an Academy Award nomination and brought immediate interest from filmmakers and showrunners.

That moment set up key roles in ‘The Help’ and the long running series ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. She later won an Academy Award for ‘Fences’, continuing a path that began with the attention from ‘Doubt’.

Share the one role you think launched your favorite actress in the comments and tell us why it stands out.