Film 'stars' you thought were going to be massive, and really weren't

pearlsandplumspearlsandplums Posts: 29,398
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When Starship troopers came out, i thought that Casper Van Dien (you may need to look him up) was going to be the next big thing.
Turns out I was very wrong :)
Is there anyone, who you saw in a film and thought that they were going to be a massive star, who really amounted to nothing?
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  • RebelScumRebelScum Posts: 16,008
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    I always thought Billy Campbell could have become a much bigger star if he'd wanted to. Although, I wouldn't class him as amounting to nothing. He's always been as busy as he wanted to be, with other priorities and areas of interest which he's pursued instead.
  • Hit Em Up StyleHit Em Up Style Posts: 12,141
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    Andrea Riseborough - although I suppose there is still time but she is the best British actress of her generation. So I'm very surprised things haven't taken off for her on a big scale yet.
  • LMLM Posts: 63,336
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    Eva Green
    After Casino Royale and winning BAFTA rising star award, i expected her to be everywhere. But looking at her filmography, apart from the 300 films, she hasn't done a lot of films and the ones she has done have been naff and forgettable and never made her career go any further. I am hoping the tv show Penny Dreadful and her upcoming supporting role in the Sin City film may change things.

    I agree with Andrea as well. She is an excellent actress who deserves international recognition. Her performance in W/E left me speechless.
  • PJ68PJ68 Posts: 3,116
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    most things in WE left me speechless
  • sinbad8982sinbad8982 Posts: 1,627
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    Eric Bana and Atonio Banderas, ok they are well known but I thought they would be bigger given some of their early roles in stuff like Desperado and Chopper.
  • Hit Em Up StyleHit Em Up Style Posts: 12,141
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    PJ68 wrote: »
    most things in WE left me speechless

    It was Andrea's portrayal of Margret Thatcher that I loved. She was robbed of the BAFTA and was so much more convincing than Meryl Streep was.

    I think Andrea's problem is that apart from The Long Walk To Finchley, Brighton Rock and Shadow Dancer she hasn't managed to get that breakthrough role. She is choosing some dodgy films.
  • Virgil TracyVirgil Tracy Posts: 26,805
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    I always thought Tom Berenger would've been a bigger star , he was doing well up until the mid-80s , but since then not done so well .
  • NihongaNihonga Posts: 10,618
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    Chris O'Donnell. Batman and Robin put paid to that.
  • BarbraBarbra Posts: 15,581
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    Matt Bomer. Wentworth Miller.
  • Chasing ShadowsChasing Shadows Posts: 3,096
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    sinbad8982 wrote: »
    Eric Bana and Atonio Banderas, ok they are well known but I thought they would be bigger given some of their early roles in stuff like Desperado and Chopper.

    Zorro, Shrek, Asssassins, Evita, Interview with a Vampire, Philadelphia - that's some pretty big movies for you to consider he hasn't done very well for himself...
  • mialiciousmialicious Posts: 4,686
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    ray liotta
    michael biehn
    cuba gooding jnr
    thora birch
    jon heder
    mark hamill
  • LMLM Posts: 63,336
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    Barbra wrote: »
    Matt Bomer. Wentworth Miller.

    I think Matt Bomer will soon, once he is done with his television show which is filming it's final season. Plus he is already gaining major critical acclaim for his performance in a TV movie called The Normal Heart.
  • BarbraBarbra Posts: 15,581
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    I certainly hope so :-)
  • NihongaNihonga Posts: 10,618
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    mialicious wrote: »
    ray liotta
    michael biehn
    cuba gooding jnr
    thora birch
    jon heder
    mark hamill

    The Guardian did a piece on her a few months back. She seemed to have rubbed Hollywood the wrong way. I always wondered what happened to her.
  • MagicCoppeliaMagicCoppelia Posts: 20,880
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    Nihonga wrote: »
    The Guardian did a piece on her a few months back. She seemed to have rubbed Hollywood the wrong way. I always wondered what happened to her.

    I think it had something to do with her dad being a nightmare IIRC.
  • k0213818k0213818 Posts: 5,916
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    Tom Selleck is the first name that came to mind, and to a lesser extent Ted Danson, both big TV stars but never fully broke Hollywood
  • Tony TigerTony Tiger Posts: 2,254
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    Garret Dillahunt is someone who has put in some magnificent performances on film and TV and I always thought had the looks and presence to be huge. But for whatever reason it just hasn't happened.
  • MagicCoppeliaMagicCoppelia Posts: 20,880
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    I suppose people would have expected Henry Thomas from E.T to go on to be a lot more successful.
  • TigerpawsTigerpaws Posts: 11,165
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    sinbad8982 wrote: »
    Eric Bana and Atonio Banderas, ok they are well known but I thought they would be bigger given some of their early roles in stuff like Desperado and Chopper.
    From what I know of Eric Bana its through his choice more than anything. I remember seeing an interview somewhere with Eric where he basically said he chooses to only make one film per year so he is not away from him family for too long. He still lives in Melbourne and does not want to move his family to LA.
    Got a respect a healthy attitude like that.
  • BarbraBarbra Posts: 15,581
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    Tigerpaws wrote: »
    From what I know of Eric Bana its through his choice more than anything. I remember seeing an interview somewhere with Eric where he basically said he chooses to only make one film per year so he is not away from him family for too long. He still lives in Melbourne and does not want to move his family to LA.
    Got a respect a healthy attitude like that.

    No matter whether he is "massive", he is one of my favourite actors :-)
  • NihongaNihonga Posts: 10,618
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    I think it had something to do with her dad being a nightmare IIRC.

    yeah, apparently he threathened other actors his daughter was performing with on a Broadway show. Here's the interview she gave to the Guardian if anyone is interested. Apart from her dad, Thora is her own worst enemy it seems.
  • Luner13Luner13 Posts: 2,968
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    Nihonga wrote: »
    Chris O'Donnell. Batman and Robin put paid to that.

    Alicia Silverstone suddenly springs to mind.
  • treefr0gtreefr0g Posts: 23,596
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    When I saw 'The Pope of Greenwich Village' I thought Mickey Rourke would be a huge star and a huge heartthrob.
    He did make a few reasonable films before going off the rails and has made a name for himself in recent years (playing unsavoury characters) but when you watch his early films, it's hard to believe it's the same person.


    I also agree with a previous poster about Cuba Gooding Jr. I think his downfall was that he played Rod Tidwell so damn good that there was nowhere to go.
  • Fairyprincess0Fairyprincess0 Posts: 30,039
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    Luner13 wrote: »
    Alicia Silverstone suddenly springs to mind.

    Uma Thurman has done ok, considering she was in batman and robin AND the avengers.

    Lea thompson should have been a bigger name.

    ....also macauly culkin. Should he be playing superheros and shit like that now?
  • SpacedoneSpacedone Posts: 2,546
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    Good call on Michael Biehn. Had major roles in two of the biggest films of the 80s (Terminator, Aliens) and another big role as the baddie in The Abyss but outside of James Cameron films (and with the exception of the odd minor supporting role in a couple of blockbusters) he seemed to disappear into b-moviedom.
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