Actresses Who Made a Huge Comeback in 2025

After a stop-start few years of delays and schedule reshuffles, 2025 became the year when several famous faces roared back into the spotlight with new films, franchise returns, and long-awaited roles. From surprise streaming hits to record-setting theatrical runs and long-publicized hiatuses finally ending, these women anchored projects that kept audiences talking all year.

Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz returned to screens in 2025 with the Netflix action-comedy ‘Back in Action’. The film reunited her with Jamie Foxx and marked her first feature since 2014. It premiered globally on January 17 and quickly drew large viewership on the platform. The story followed undercover ex-spies pulled back into the field, giving Diaz a high-profile lead for her comeback year.

Renée Zellweger

Renée Zellweger headlined ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ in February 2025. The new chapter in the popular series opened in UK cinemas and landed on Peacock in the United States the same week. The film drew strong turnout in Britain and renewed interest in the character worldwide. Zellweger’s return to the role anchored Universal and Working Title’s Valentine-season push.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan’s 2025 included her reunion with Jamie Lee Curtis in Disney’s ‘Freakier Friday’. The sequel brought her back to a major studio comedy after years of smaller projects and streaming titles. Filming wrapped in time for a summer release window that emphasized nostalgia. The project also positioned Lohan for new series work announced shortly after.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley led Netflix’s thriller ‘The Woman in Cabin 10’ in October 2025. Adapted from Ruth Ware’s bestselling novel, the film followed a travel journalist who witnesses a disturbing incident aboard a luxury cruise. Production shot in the UK with a supporting cast that included Hannah Waddingham and Gugu Mbatha-Raw. The streaming debut placed Knightley at the center of one of the service’s fall mystery launches.

Ana de Armas

Ana de Armas fronted the ‘John Wick’ spinoff ‘Ballerina’ in June 2025. Set between the third and fourth mainline entries, the film expanded the franchise’s underworld mythology. Location work included European shoots carried over from earlier production. The release gave de Armas a marquee action vehicle in a proven series.

Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman returned to action with ‘The Old Guard 2’ on Netflix in 2025. The sequel paired her with Charlize Theron in a new antagonistic role. Production completed in time for a midsummer premiere. The film continued the comic-book adaptation’s storyline while reintroducing Thurman to large-scale fight choreography on screen.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson starred in Gia Coppola’s drama ‘The Last Showgirl’, which widened in US theaters in January 2025. The film followed a veteran Vegas performer facing an uncertain future after her show’s closure. Its early-year rollout included a platform strategy before moving to video on demand and streaming. The role drew renewed attention to Anderson’s dramatic work across the spring.

Mia Sara

Mia Sara appeared on the big screen in Mike Flanagan’s ‘The Life of Chuck’ in June 2025. The Stephen King adaptation premiered wide in the United States after a festival bow the previous fall. Sara played the title character’s grandmother alongside Tom Hiddleston and Mark Hamill. Her performance marked her first feature credit in years and drew notice from longtime fans.

Neve Campbell

Neve Campbell officially returned to the ‘Scream’ series as Sidney Prescott as ‘Scream 7’ filmed through early 2025. Marketing kicked off later in the year with the first trailer confirming her central role. The production brought back several legacy players and introduced a new generation of cast members. The film locked in a 2026 date, but Campbell’s comeback dominated 2025 franchise headlines.

Daphne Zuniga

Daphne Zuniga confirmed her return as Princess Vespa for the long-gestating ‘Spaceballs’ sequel announced in 2025. The project reunited original collaborators while adding new cast to the ensemble. Development milestones and casting updates rolled out across the year. Zuniga’s involvement signaled the franchise’s first on-screen follow-up since the 1987 film.

Rica Peralejo

Rica Peralejo announced her screen comeback through the Metro Manila Film Festival slate for 2025 with ‘Manila’s Finest’. The casting placed the former teen star back into a major Philippine holiday release. Festival entries typically dominate local box office during the December season. Her return became a focal point of pre-festival coverage leading into the lineup reveal.

Judy Ann Santos

Judy Ann Santos extended her return to high-profile work into 2025 after headlining the horror film ‘Espantaho’ the previous holiday season. The performance collected international festival recognition in early March 2025. Media appearances highlighted her renewed on-camera schedule across film and television. Industry features framed the role as a springboard to additional projects through the year.

Rachel Brosnahan

Rachel Brosnahan took on Lois Lane in ‘Superman’ slated for 2025. The DC Studios film introduced a new era for the character and centered Metropolis reporting alongside superhero spectacle. Principal photography wrapped with New York and Atlanta units before post-production. Brosnahan’s casting positioned her at the center of a major franchise relaunch.

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby stepped into Sue Storm for Marvel’s ‘The Fantastic Four’ dated for 2025. The film reintroduced the team to the current cinematic timeline with an all-new lineup. Production updates throughout the year tracked the ensemble’s shoot and design reveals. Kirby’s role anchored the reboot’s publicity push among global audiences.

Dakota Johnson

Dakota Johnson headlined Celine Song’s ‘Materialists’, which opened in June 2025. The New York-set romantic dramedy followed a matchmaker navigating a complicated love triangle. The film rolled out with an A24 theatrical release before digital availability later in the summer. Johnson’s performance kept her at the center of the season’s adult-skewing releases.

Gal Gadot

Gal Gadot’s 2025 slate put her back in the center of a major studio campaign with ‘Snow White’. She filmed scenes as the Evil Queen across the United Kingdom with large-scale practical sets and musical sequences. Studio materials highlighted elaborate costume work and extensive visual effects integration. The film’s rollout plan included a global theatrical push followed by a premium digital window.

Elizabeth Olsen

Elizabeth Olsen returned to prestige cinema in 2025 with the dystopian drama ‘The Assessment’. The production paired her with Alicia Vikander under European financing and shot on soundstages in Germany. Festival programmers positioned the film for a spring circuit berth before wider distribution. The marketing focused on the story’s social experiment framework and its two-hander performances.

Alicia Vikander

Alicia Vikander shared top billing on ‘The Assessment’ in 2025. The project reunited her with an international creative team and emphasized a contained psychological setup. Principal photography wrapped with a streamlined schedule that favored practical locations and minimal CGI. Distributors mapped a limited release followed by a platform expansion based on early reception.

Ariana Grande

Ariana Grande’s return to movie theaters continued in 2025 with ‘Wicked Part Two’. The production completed back-to-back filming that covered both halves of the story. Post-production carried extensive work on vocals and orchestrations to align with the stage score. The studio set a late-year awards corridor date to support the musical’s momentum.

Cynthia Erivo

Cynthia Erivo led ‘Wicked Part Two’ in 2025 as the narrative reached its conclusion. The film emphasized character-driven numbers alongside large ensemble pieces. Soundtrack plans included a deluxe release with additional tracks recorded during the final mix. The campaign scheduled cast performances for major broadcast events ahead of the premiere.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer headlined ’28 Years Later’ in 2025 as the franchise relaunched with a new creative team. Location shoots used practical environments to capture the series’ grounded survival style. Second unit work covered extensive action across urban and rural settings. The release strategy targeted early summer with premium large-format bookings.

Greta Lee

Greta Lee joined ‘Tron Ares’ for its 2025 debut. Production featured a mix of LED volume stages and real-world plates to extend the Grid aesthetic. The cast completed motion capture sessions alongside conventional photography for suit sequences. The studio coordinated a cross-media push that included interactive tie-ins at launch.

Jodie Turner-Smith

Jodie Turner-Smith appeared in ‘Tron Ares’ as part of the new ensemble for 2025. The film’s schedule included extended post-production to finalize its digital environments. Promotional materials highlighted new light vehicle designs and a refreshed visual language. International markets received day-and-date openings to maximize franchise interest.

Jennifer Lawrence

Jennifer Lawrence returned to a character-driven crime story in 2025 with ‘Sue’. The film followed a mother navigating organized crime pressures in the Mid-Atlantic. Production used a mix of on-location neighborhood shoots and contained interiors. The release plan prioritized a fall theatrical run supported by festival positioning.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt’s 2025 included ‘The Smashing Machine’, a biographical drama centered on mixed martial artist Mark Kerr. She filmed across New York and Nevada with a schedule built around fight choreography and live event recreations. The production blended archival elements with newly staged sequences. The distributor slated an awards-season rollout after a festival premiere.

Sofia Boutella

Sofia Boutella fronted the action thriller ‘Assassin Club 2’ in 2025 after a gap in wide theatrical releases. The film shot across Eastern Europe with a lean unit and heavy stunt design. Production notes emphasized practical effects over CG for close-quarters fights. The release moved through a limited theatrical footprint before a rapid streaming window.

Eva Green

Eva Green anchored the 2025 noir thriller ‘The Black Rook’. The shoot built period interiors on British soundstages and used coastal exteriors for key sequences. Music supervision leaned on contemporary arrangements to offset the story’s classic structure. Rights sales closed early in the year to secure a coordinated international rollout.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead

Mary Elizabeth Winstead returned to franchise television in 2025 with ‘Ahsoka’ Season Two. Filming used StageCraft systems to extend set pieces while keeping a fast episodic cadence. The creative team scheduled a split-season release to support weekly conversation. Ancillary releases included art books and behind-the-scenes features timed to the finale.

Rachel McAdams

Rachel McAdams starred in the 2025 legal drama ‘The Good Cause’. Location work centered on Toronto doubling for several North American cities. The production balanced courtroom sequences with investigative stretches that relied on handheld coverage. A spring release placed the film in a competitive adult drama corridor.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh returned to the center of Marvel’s slate with ‘Thunderbolts’. The production assembled an ensemble of antiheroes and filmed across multiple international locations. Action units coordinated large practical sequences complemented by extensive stunt work. The studio scheduled an event rollout with premium formats and a coordinated global marketing push.

Jenna Ortega

Jenna Ortega resumed her breakout role in ‘Wednesday’ Season Two. The production moved to new stages while expanding the world beyond Nevermore Academy. Filming incorporated larger set pieces and a wider roster of supporting characters. Streaming plans included a weekly spotlight campaign with cast features and behind the scenes clips.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder rejoined the Hawkins ensemble for ‘Stranger Things’ Season Five. The final chapter built its schedule around large scale exterior shoots and intricate visual effects. Storylines converged across multiple locations as returning characters shared more scenes. The release strategy focused on a split drop to sustain conversation over several weeks.

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown led the cast through the concluding arc of ‘Stranger Things’ Season Five. Production balanced creature effects with character driven scenes that revisited early series beats. The schedule used long night shoots and complex stunt choreography. Consumer products and fan events were timed to milestones across the season.

Rebecca Ferguson

Rebecca Ferguson headlined ‘Silo’ Season Two with a larger scope above and below ground. New sets expanded the titular structure and introduced additional factions. Directors leaned on practical environments to support the show’s grounded look. The platform positioned the season as a marquee sci fi return with a global subtitled rollout.

Zendaya

Zendaya stepped back into ‘Euphoria’ Season Three as the story advanced its core friendships. Production adopted an updated visual approach while keeping its signature music driven editing. The series coordinated location work in and around Los Angeles with a lean block schedule. Promotional plans included curated trailers that highlighted new cast additions.

Emma D’Arcy

Emma D’Arcy returned to ‘House of the Dragon’ Season Three as the civil war narrative escalated. The show filmed across historic sites with expanded dragon sequences. Crews combined practical castles with virtual production to maintain scale. International broadcast partners aligned dates to minimize spoilers and sustain weekly momentum.

Olivia Cooke

Olivia Cooke continued her arc in ‘House of the Dragon’ Season Three. The role centered court strategy and shifting alliances as rival factions tightened their grips. Costuming and armor builds reflected evolving power dynamics. The season’s campaign emphasized character portraits and episode specific teasers.

Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron fronted ‘The Old Guard 2’ as the immortal team faced a new threat. The sequel filmed hand to hand fights with long takes and minimal cuts. Locations included urban rooftops and remote industrial complexes. Post production integrated practical squib work with restrained digital enhancements.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle Yeoh returned to the land of Oz in ‘Wicked Part Two’. Recording sessions focused on live vocals captured on set with orchestral overlays completed later. Choreography scaled up ensemble numbers with large practical builds. The studio planned an awards corridor release with a deluxe soundtrack edition.

Anjelica Huston

Anjelica Huston reprised her role within the ‘John Wick’ universe in ‘Ballerina’. The film followed a trained assassin seeking vengeance inside the established criminal network. Budapest units handled principal photography with extensive night shoots. The release bridged storylines across franchise entries while standing alone for new viewers.

Lily Collins

Lily Collins returned with ‘Emily in Paris’ Season Five. The production explored fresh neighborhoods and added new workplace dynamics. Wardrobe teams curated capsule collections that tied into brand partnerships. The streamer supported the launch with travel features and episode companion content.

Gwendoline Christie

Gwendoline Christie reappeared in ‘Wednesday’ Season Two as the academy’s world expanded. The character’s arc connected school lore with new mysteries. Sets incorporated larger classrooms and outdoor grounds to stage group scenes. The campaign used character posters and in universe announcements to tease plot points.

Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke’s role grew in ‘Stranger Things’ Season Five as the ensemble converged. Scenes paired her with veterans from earlier seasons to pay off long running threads. Production used practical lighting rigs to match the show’s retro textures. Music supervisors cleared needle drops that anchored key emotional beats.

Natalia Dyer

Natalia Dyer returned for ‘Stranger Things’ Season Five with expanded investigative sequences. Her storyline moved across multiple towns and required a mix of handheld and steadicam coverage. The crew scheduled long interior days to accommodate dialogue heavy scenes. Marketing highlighted the character’s ties to the earliest episodes while promising new revelations.

Share your favorite 2025 comeback performances in the comments and tell us who surprised you most this year!