The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: Big Name Film Stars (Part 2)

Previous editions of this article series have focused on the TV stars who have worked their way up to star status on the small screen. But, once again like back in November, I am focusing on big name film stars who got their break on the small screen. Let’s take a look at the first time ever I saw the face of some of the current bigger stars on the big screen.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HIS FACE: The first TV role Zac ever had was playing the younger version of Simon Tam on the short-lived, but much-beloved TV series Firefly. He followed that up with guest roles on ER, The Guardian and CSI: Miami before landing a recurring role in the short-lived CW series Summerland and a guest role on NCIS, but…

OF COURSE, it was Disney’s High School Musical franchise that launched his career, which led him to roles in the box office films Hair Spray, Me and Orson Welles, 17 Again, Charlie St. Cloud and New Year’s Eve. He then provided his voice to the animated feature The Lorax and starred in the box office films The Lucky One, The Paperboy and Parkland.

Emma Stone

Emma Stone

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HER FACE: I first saw Emma on TV when she appeared in the short-lived Nathan Fillion-led drama Drive and she also appeared in a guest role in episodes of Medium and Malcolm in the Middle, but…

OF COURSE, it was her roles in the box office films Superbad, The Rocker, The House Bunny and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past that got her noticed, allowing her to shine in her big box office breaks Zombieland and Easy A. This led to her appearing in Friends with Benefits, Crazy Stupid Love and The Help. More recently she has appeared in The Amazing Spider-Man and Gangster Squad as well as lending her voice to the animated film Croods.

Justin Long

Justin Long

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HIS FACE: Much like Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time), Justin got his first big break on the fan favorite series Ed, and then he appeared in the horror flick Jeepers Creepers and its sequel as well as the Britney Spears-led flick Crossroads, but…

OF COURSE, it was his role in the Ben Stiller-Vince Vaughn comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story that got him attention, which eventually led him to starring alongside Bruce Willis in Live Free or Die Hard. Since then he has appeared in films like He’s Just Not That Into You, Drag Me To Hell, Youth in Revolt, Going the Distance, 10 Years and the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise.

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HER FACE: While she had a small role in the box office film Pride & Prejudice alongside Kiera Knightley and Matthew MacFayden, it was her memorable role of Sally Sparrow in one of the best (albeit more recent) episodes of Doctor Who ever – that being the episode known as “Blink” – that left an indelible mark with me, but…

OF COURSE, it was her role in the acclaimed film An Education that put Carey on the map. She followed that up with roles in Public Enemies, Brothers, Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps, Never Let Me Go, Drive and Shame. More recently she has appeared in The Great Gatsby with Leonardo DiCaprio and the latest film Inside Llewyn Davis.

Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HIS FACE: In 2001, Michael had a role in the acclaimed mini-series Band of Brothers, but it was the BBC supernatural series Hex where he first caught my attention and then he was part of the ab-tastic cast of the box office film 300, but…

OF COURSE, it was his role in Inglourious Basterds that got people taking note of his talent and then his lead roles in X-Men: First Class and Shame that cemented his career. He has also appeared in the box office movies Jonah Hex, Jane Eyre, Haywire, The Counselor, Prometheus and, the current film 12 Years a Slave.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HER FACE: The former beauty queen first appeared on TV in the short-lived TV series Living Dolls before landing on Knots Landing for a short time. And while she had film roles in Jungle Fever, The Last Boy Scout and Boomerang, it was her lead role in the Alex Haley based mini-series Queen that really caught my attention, but…

OF COURSE, it was her award winning performance in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge that really got her noticed; however she did also star in films like The Flintstones, Losing Isaiah, Executive Decision and Why Do Fools Fall in Love before that. She then landed a big role in the X-Men franchise before starring in the film Monster’s Ball that won her an Oscar. Since then she has appeared in films like Die Another Day, the insipid Catwoman, Things We Lost in the Fire, Frankie & Alice and New Year’s Eve. More recently she has appeared in Cloud Atlas and The Call.

Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HIS FACE: While I was just a bit too old to be a fan or, for that matter a viewer, Ryan got his start as part of The New Mickey Mouse Club alongside Justin Timberlake, Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears and Nikki DeLoach (of Awkward fame), but…

OF COURSE, it was his role in the film The Notebook that put him on the map; however he did appear in Remember the Titans and Murder By Numbers before that. Since that time he has appeared in the box office films Lars and the Real Girl, Blue Valentine, Drive, Crazy Stupid Love, The Ides of March and The Place Beyond the Pines. He most recently appeared in Gangster Squad and Only God Forgives.

Jennifer Lopez

Jennifer Lopez

THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW HER FACE: Her first big break came as a Fly Girl dancer on In Living Color, but it was her roles in the short-lived TV shows Hotel Malibu and Second Chances where I saw her first, but…

OF COURSE, it was her role in the biopic Selena that got everyone’s attention (not to mention that so not there dress she wore). She appeared in a number of so-so movies after that including Anaconda, The Cell and Out of Sight before landing her first big romantic comedy in the form of The Wedding Planner. She followed those films with Enough, Maid in Manhattan, Monster-in-Law, The Back Up Plan, What to Expect When You’re Expecting and Parker.

Are there any big name stars that you first caught on the small screen? If so, please share.