14 TV And Movie Roles That Put Actors Back Into The Spotlight

Matthew McConaughey, Patrick Dempsey, Alexis Bledel, Robin Wright, Keanu Reeves, Sean Astin, and Jason Bateman all had one thing in common: at some point, the spotlight started to feel a little too far away.

Then a role hit at exactly the right time, and suddenly the public was paying attention again. Not because they disappeared, but because the world loves a comeback story. Matthew went from rom-com fame to fading out, until True Detective turned him into Rustin Cohle. Patrick got a fresh surge of love after Disenchanted, Alexis came roaring back through The Handmaid's Tale, and Robin Wright’s House of Cards run even earned her an Emmy.

And once John Wick, Stranger Things, and Juno entered the chat, the “where did they go?” era was officially over.

1. Matthew McConaughey in True Detective

Matthew McConaughey has starred in several big films over the last few years, but that wasn't always the case. After starring in a series of romantic comedies in the late 90s and early 2000s, Matthew's popularity diminished somewhat.

However, that all changed when Matthew scored the role of Rustin Cohle in True Detective. His performance as the detective brought him back into the public eye where he belongs.

Image supplied by Capital Pictures / EAST NEWS,

2. Patrick Dempsey in Disenchanted

Patrick Dempsey will always be remembered as Dr. McDreamy from Grey's Anatomy and films such as Maid of Honor and Enchanted. But it was his role as Robert in Disenchanted in 2020 that put him back on the map once again and thrilled his dedicated fans.

? Grey’s Anatomy / Shondaland and co-producers,

3. Alexis Bledel in The Handmaid's Tale

Alexis Bledel is most famous for playing Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls. You may also remember her from films such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

But more recently, the popular series The Handmaid's Tale has brought Alexis back into the spotlight. The actress has captivated viewers with her portrayal of Ofglen.

CW Network / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News,

4. Robin Wright in House of Cards

Robin Wright was best known for her roles as Princess Buttercup in The Princess Bride and Jenny in Forrest Gump in the 90s. However, her popularity seemed to diminish after that.

But when she landed a role on House of Cards in 2013, she was cast back into the spotlight. Robin even won an Emmy for her performance.

? The Princess Bride / Act III Communications and co-producers,

5. Keanu Reeves in John Wick

Keanu has always been a big star, but for a while during the 2000s, he wasn't seen on screen as often. However, when he landed the title role in John Wick, Keanu made his big break back into fame.

Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News,

6. Sean Astin in Stranger Things

Sean Astin had a few popular roles in his childhood, including playing Samwise in Lord of the Rings. But his real success came when he landed the role of Bob Newby opposite Winona Ryder in Stranger Things.

New Line Cinema / WingNut Films / Collection Christophel / East News,

7. Jason Bateman in Juno

Jason Bateman was the king of the 80s and early 90s. He was the original Teen Wolf and had a leading role in the popular TV series Valerie.

However, during the 90s, Jason's roles were few and far between. He was put back on the big screen in the 2000s with his role as Mark Loring in Juno.

? Teen Wolf Too / Atlantic Entertainment Group,

8. Sarah Michelle Gellar in Do Revenge

Sarah Michelle Gellar was a teen queen in the 90s and early 2000s. She was best known for playing the lead role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

After a few hit films during the 2000s, we didn't see much of SMG for a while. However, her recent role in the film Do Revenge put her right back where she belongs: in the spotlight.

20thCentFox / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News,

For a different kind of disaster, this pet-sitting “should I conceal my dog’s allergy” mess is pure chaos.

9. Winona Ryder in Stranger Things

Winona Ryder was another 80s and 90s queen, but she fell out of the spotlight during the 2000s.

That is until Stranger Things came along! Her role as Joyce Byers put her back on the Hollywood map where she belongs.

? Beetlejuice / The Geffen Company,

10. Mayim Bialik in The Big Bang Theory

If you grew up in the 80s or 90s, you would have been familiar with Mayim Bialik. She pretty much grew up in front of our eyes on her hit show Blossom.

Mayim also did some voiceover work over the years, but her most successful role was playing Amy on The Big Bang Theory. This role made Mayim a household name once again.

Touchstone Television / Courtesy Everett Collection

11. Lucy Liu in Elementary

We all loved Lucy Liu in Charlie's Angels and Ally McBeal, but we didn't see much of her after that. However, she was cast back into fame when she landed the leading role in Elementary.

? Charlie’s Angels / Columbia Pictures and co-producers,

12. Joaquin Phoenix in Her

Joaquin Phoenix ruled the 90s alongside his brother River, and he continued to impress audiences in the 2000s with his performances in films like Walk the Line and Gladiator.

After that, Joaquin somewhat disappeared. However, in 2013, he starred alongside his wife Rooney Mara in the hit film Her, which kickstarted his epic career once more.

East News,

13. Rob Lowe in Parks and Recreation

Rob Lowe was a teen heartthrob in the 80s, and he remained a Hollywood favorite well into the 2000s with roles in The West Wing and The Outsiders. However, he lost some of his popularity for a while until securing the role of Chris Traeger in Parks and Recreation.

WARNER BROTHERS / Album / EAST NEWS,

14. Mandy Moore in This Is Us

Mandy Moore was best known as a pop star in the 90s before becoming a popular actress in the early 2000s with her roles in The Princess Diaries and A Walk to Remember. However, later in the 2000s, Mandy was ready to give up on Hollywood until she secured the leading role in This Is Us.

Warner Bros / Courtesy Everett Collection / East News,

That’s the exact energy True Detective brought back for Matthew McConaughey, and it set the template for everyone else on this list.

Meanwhile, Patrick Dempsey’s Disenchanted return reminded fans that Grey’s Anatomy nostalgia can only carry you so far.

Then Alexis Bledel as Ofglen in The Handmaid’s Tale made it clear that streaming-era roles can relaunch a career overnight.

By the time Robin Wright hit House of Cards and Keanu Reeves took over John Wick, it was basically a full-on spotlight takeover for this cast.

So, there you have it! 14 TV and movie roles that put actors back into the spotlight. Are you surprised by any of the actors on the list?

Some have made such good comebacks that we barely even noticed they were gone! We would love to hear your opinions on this.

You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section.

One new TV or movie role, and suddenly they were impossible to ignore again.

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