Brad Pitt in Another World

Years before his standout appearance in Thelma & Louise made him one of the hottest new leading men of the 1990s, Brad Pitt landed his first credited screen role on soap opera Another World. Aged 22, Pitt appeared in two episodes as Chris, a high school basketball player, and followed this with bit parts on Dallas, Growing Pains, Head of the Class and Freddy’s Nightmares.

Julianne Moore in The Edge of Night

With five Academy Award nominations and one win to her name thus far, Julianne Moore is one of the most acclaimed film actresses of her generation. She made her start in soaps, first with seven episodes of The Edge of Night, then as a series regular on As the World Turns – a role which won Moore her first major award, a Daytime Emmy, in 1988.

Michael B. Jordan in All My Children

Before he wowed audiences everywhere as Adonis Creed and Killmonger of Black Panther, Michael B. Jordan also landed one of his earliest roles in a soap opera, playing Reggie Porter Montgomery on All My Children between 2003 and 2006. Of course, it’s worth noting Jordan had previously enjoyed a recurring role on a considerably cooler show, appearing in 12 episodes of The Wire in 2002.

Margot Robbie on Neighbours

As the star and producer of 2023 mega-hit Barbie, Margot Robbie is one of Hollywood’s most celebrated women today. However, her beginnings were not in Barbieland, but soap-land. From 2008 to 2011, Robbie played Donna Freedman on Neighbours. She was also one of the many big-name Aussie stars to briefly reprise their role when the popular soap ended in 2022 (though it’s since been revived).

Laurence Fishburne on One Life to Live

Laurence Fishburne has been acting for most of his life, and famously made an early film appearance as a teenager in Apocalypse Now. However, before he appeared in Francis Ford Coppola’s Vietnam epic, Fishburne had a recurring role on One Life to Live. Then credited as Larry Fishburne, he played Josh Hall from 1973 (when he was just 12) until 1976.

Demi Moore on General Hospital

After appearing in 1985’s iconic Brat Pack drama St. Elmo’s Fire, Demi Moore rose through the ranks to become one of Hollywood’s biggest leading ladies in the 1990s. Before all that, she was a series regular on General Hospital, playing investigative reporter Jackie Templeton in 85 episodes between 1982 and 1984.

Ryan Reynolds in Fifteen (aka Hillside)

By the early 2000s, Ryan Reynolds was building up to becoming the droll Hollywood superstar we know and love today. 1991 saw him land his first role on Canadian youth-oriented soap Hillside (retitled Fifteen). Reynolds appeared in 18 episodes as Billy Simpson, earning $150 per episode, but says he disliked the experience so much that he almost quit acting altogether.

Nathalie Emmanuel on Hollyoaks

After her breakthrough role on Game of Thrones, Nathalie Emmanuel found big screen stardom as part of the Fast & Furious family. The British actress got her first screen role in UK soap Hollyoaks, playing Sasha Valentine from 2006 until 2010. Emmanuel has called the experience her “drama school,” and has spoken out against the stigma surrounding soap actors.

Chris Hemsworth on Home and Away

Margot Robbie isn’t the only gorgeous blonde movie star to get their breakthrough role in an Australian soap opera. Before he wielded Thor’s mighty hammer, Chris Hemsworth did a three year stint in Home and Away playing Kim Hyde. The role made him a major heartthrob on his home soil, laying the groundwork for his future Hollywood success.

Marisa Tomei on As the World Turns

Little did anyone know that, when Julianne Moore was a series regular on As the World Turns, she wasn’t the only future Academy Award winner in the ensemble. Joining the series in 1983 aged 18, Marisa Tomei appeared as Marcy Thompson. Just seven years later after leaving the soap in 1985,Tomei co-starred in My Cousin Vinny, which won her the Best Supporting Actress Oscar.