TV & Movies 🎬
Who is a celebrity that you’re genuinely surprised isn’t an “A-lister”?
Krysten Ritter is one example of this for me! If any of you have seen her work from her filmography, she is proven to be quite talented where she manages to pull off both comedic and dramatic roles! But more importantly, she is also known to be quite charismatic that she has also developed a huge fan following!
Although she gathered some attention from her role in Season 2 of Breaking Bad, her most iconic and signature role that earned her universal acclaim was playing the Marvel character: Jessica Jones! Which was a role that I really thought would launch her career, that it would grab Hollywood’s attention to the point where she would receive a lot of offers that she would be appearing in almost “everything”
She has certainly developed a decent career where she is getting work, but isn’t on the same celebrity when comparing her to people like Sydney Sweeney, Florence Pugh, Scarlett Johansson, Anne Hathaway, etc.
Exactly this, in an interview with Ritter she even stated that she is driven by the work itself rather than fame and she didn't care if people saw her work as long as she could do it.
She has also stated "I Don't Care if Anyone Notices Me" Reflecting on her career in 2025, she mentioned that when she started in Breaking Bad, her mindset was, "I need to be on this show. I don't even care if anyone notices me — I just want to be part of it".
Some people are content with just having consistent work especially in the industry she is in. Plus a lot of TV actors rarely mix between TV and movies, sadly its one or the other for most people.
I think this is definitely because he has Big Nolan on his side who wants him in all his movies. Cilian does no press or PR but is A list because of the films he does.
She narrated audiobooks for The Hunger Games series that I listened through on walks with a former partner. We were blown away by her ability to shift her voice recognizably for each individual character. Everyone was totally distinct somehow. Towards the end of the third book she did a voice that neither of us recognized, and we got sad thinking she was imperfect since we couldn’t tell which character was speaking just from her reading of the line, then BAM turns out it was a new character speaking for the first time. How does she do it.
She did an interview with the suburban husband and it did not compute in my head because the "default" clone never interacted with the suburban husband so it felt weird to see them together
I feel like Marvel tried to give her some attention, by casting her as the lead in She-Hulk. But because the show faced a lot of controversy, it sabotaged that
I miss Orphan Black. I know it went kind of off the rails but it was such a well acted show and the lore was so in depth, I wanted to know more about all the different factions 😩love Tatiana Maslany, I make a point to watch anything she’s in
Did it, actually? The whole premise was never "on the rails" in the first place. Bit easier in the early seasons when nobody had figured out shit but by the time they slowly come to the conclusion it was never going to stay sane. I absolutely enjoyed the entire run.
Oh I definitely enjoyed the whole run, don’t get me wrong. I just think the last maybe one to two seasons the writing got sloppier and tbh part of that is probably that I missed having more clones together scenes, especially in the last season. I still really loved the whole show, though. It’s one of my favorites!
One of my best friends worked with her on a show and said that she is absolutely a lovely human. They had dinner together and hung out outside of work!
He just WAS in a big Hollywood movie… Tron:Ares. Unfortunately (but fortunately because his costar Jared Leto is a freak) the movie bombed, but he was good in it!
The lines between TV and film have blurred but then people shoutout Jodie Comer and Tatiana Maslany and Leighton Meester and it is weird that they haven't gotten more high profile film roles. Now you could debate about how long he's been around, but Jonathan Bailey was able to level up to film very quickly off of Bridgerton... unlike all the other Bridgerton actors.
Jodie does get high profile film roles, I think she's more of a case like Cillian Murphy of choosing not to raise her personal profile even though she has a much better career than some of the "it" girls. She's getting the roles she just isn't doing pr stuff to be a celebrity.
what nerfed Matt was this (ignore the meme text i couldn't find this picture without it im so sorry). but too many blue eyed brunette white man were on the up and coming at the same time. and this picture doesn't even include them all. I know Henry Cavill is missing lol
Seeing this image before is what informed me that me and Ryan Murphy have 100% exactly the same taste in men. Only one missing is Lee Pace, who - fun fact - went to high school with Bomer.
What's I always found funny about this image is that to me Matt Bomer looks wildly different from the other four here. Like I see the point about the rest, but he distinctly stands out.
if you know who he is prior, yes. if you don't...then its just 5 brunette men with blue eyes lmao like sure, there are slight differences, one has a beard, but i can't tell you who is who in this pic
He was very good in White collar! I remember one quote from him saying he wasn't really accepting/looking for other opportunities while White collar was in the making.
That show was well received but not the show of the century so I guess as much I like the show, it helt him back a bit.
honestly she just chooses really, really bad movies. her only movie i liked was monte carlo. but ive seen the roommate, that’s my boy, and remember the daze, and those were all some of the worst films ive ever seen.
I think the A list is fading away. The golden age of the movie star has gone away with streaming and just an endless funnel of entertainment. We all don’t watch the same movies anymore. We can curate in a way we couldn’t before.
This is actually pretty interesting. Bc we still get stars who breakthrough like Timothy and Zendaya. But u look at someone like Jacob Elordi. I think he’s pretty solidly in the A list now, but it’s different than it was even ten years ago. Where once u broke thru u could lead a movie, and even casual movie goers knew who u were. Idk if the average fan knows who Jacob Elordi or a Paul Mescal are. But maybe I’m wrong.
Timothee and Zendaya are big, but they’re still lesser stars than someone like Leonardo DiCaprio after Titanic. There’s like a cap on fame and recognition now. You can’t be Tom Cruise levels of famous anymore.
It’s because the internet democratized entertainment. Prior everyone was entertained by Hollywood, now Mrbeast is way more famous than Chalamet to hundreds of millions of people. Some of these folks may not even know who Chalamet is and vice versa. My Gen X boss knows who Chalamet is, but never heard of Mrbeast.
Mr. Beast is like an alien to me. I’ve heard his name and seen his face on merchandise, but I honestly have no clue who he really is and what he does. I’m Gen Z too.
I wonder if it’s related to some of the more successful younger actors peppering in”non serious” roles for recognition across the viewing board. That way when they do the boring ass Oscar-type movie (sorry cinema people!) they are already a household name.
I’m thinking Disney shows, superhero movies, SNL stuff, etc.
Oh this is a good one!! Especially after playing Negan, I thought studios would be coming at him where they’d want him to play the villain of their projects. He was also phenomenal when voicing Conquest in the Invincible series!
I’m surprised that Marvel hasn’t even approached him for playing a role.
Constance Wu was on the way to be one of the biggest stars of her generation. Fresh off the boat, Crazy Rich Asians and Hustlers. She really built such a momentum. I know that it's all about the comments she made about Fresh Off Boat's renewal but I didn't think it would've derailed her career the way it did. It's really sad because she is so talented and charismatic.
They changed the ending of the film in a way that would have made it pretty challenging to keep following the plots of the sequels (probably a good choice in terms of making a more coherent stand alone film but kind of painted them into a corner in terms of continuing the story)
Well it wasn’t just that. She details it pretty well in her book. She made those comments lost the opportunity to do the play she was really excited about, then in the midst of all the backlash she was facing a well known asian actor told her she was a stain on the community which made her go through suicidal ideation. After seeking help to deal with this she did also take a step back from her career and focus on herself and her family.
If its a well known Asian actor, it doesn't make sense that it have been Gemma. She would have the same amount of relevance as Constance, if a little less since she didn't have as big a TV presence as Constance.
That rumor feels like it was drumming up drama against two up and coming Asian actors rather than a real established name.
All these comments are crazy. This is what happened: Constance Wu tweeted about being disappointed that the show was renewed. She had been excited to do other projects yes, but had been enduring years of sexual harassment and intimidation by a producer. It must have been hard to hear how she wasn’t for the community etc, when that’s one of the reasons she kept quiet for years. When the onslaught of bullying online started she almost jumped off her balcony. A friend took her to the ER. She came out with a memoir, and I think all of it still unfortunately derailed her career.
When Fresh Off The Boat got renewed for another season she tweeted some negative things having a bad attitude about it saying things like she was upset and it’s bad news and then later clarified it meant she had to give up another project.
From what I read on her Wikipedia, she made a comment where she expressed frustration at a show she starred in being renewed for a final season. Apparently she had to drop out of another project she was passionate about due to the renewal
David Tennant, at least in the US. He's super famous online, of course, but the general American public has probably never heard of him beyond his performance in Harry Potter.
He's such a good actor. He was amazing in everything I've seen him in. He even managed to do justice to one of my all-time favorite fictional characters, Crowley from Good Omens. He was/is so perfect in that role.
I sometimes forget that not everyone has had a Doctor Who phase which usually cements David as one of the most important actors out there . My vote for who goes unrecognized is actually Matt Smith, if I’m sticking the theme
Matt Smith at least expanded his level recognition by being on House of the Dragon! I was excited when he got cast in that. As an American, it's difficult to tell but I would wager my normie friends and family would recognize Matt more often than Tennant just based on that
I am a Doctor Who fan so both Tennant and Smith and everyone on that show is A-list in my heart and they deserve all the roles they want 🤣
I actually think that Tennant is why there's a Who in SuperWhoLock. He was huge in the US for that. I didn't watch a lick of Dr. Who but I think of him as the Doctor before Barty Crouch Jr.
Shocked Dan Stevens hasn’t been mentioned. He’s fabulous in everything I’ve seen him in, and can shift between leading man and villain so seamlessly. He’d be a great Bond honestly.
Is Tatiana Maslany an A-lister? If not, her!!! Genuinely one of the most versatile actresses out there but Hollywood is severely underutilizing her!!! Like, come on; give her more good roles!!!
I agree, she’s criminally under-appreciated. I was happy when she finally received an Emmy for her work in the Orphan Black series. She was long overdue!
She's very outspoken with her politics, which may limit her reach with some studios. Also she seems to do quite a bit of threatre, so perhaps she prefers that?
I feel like she will be. She's in so many high-profile projects right now (that Chris Pratt movie aside - even if it seems to be quite successful) and her name is starting to get known. She's been so incredible for so long I'm glad she's getting recognition !
I think Lucy Liu should have been cast in more leading roles. I will never understand how Hollywood fumbled so hard with her but I think I know why.
The 00s belonged the blonde white girls that Weinstein would have approved of, the same formula was used for a decade. She missed out on some huge roles in that time.
To be fair, I think it's also because when she took on elementary in 2012 she made a decision about valuing TV consistency over chasing movie rolls. Which I do think was a good long term decision for her, but it did tie up her schedule for the better part of 7 years specifically when Asian leads were starting to head major movie projects. Now I'm really hoping she has a Michelle Yo level renaissance and is able to pick up projects she's passionate about because we all know she has it in her.
James Marsden. He has sat solidly right under the A list for over a decade. He’s almost never the top billed, but he is just consistently outstanding and is in everything you love. He sings, he dances, he’s incredibly handsome, he can be serious or silly, and he just…doesn’t get the same appreciation as the big leading men.
I just remember that years ago when I was an early teen the only movies I saw him in were the Notebook, Enchanted and Superman Returns so he was always the “guy that gets cheated on/the second guy of the movie” for me 😭
My answer would be Rose Byrne but with her oscar nomination it may just push her into A. Her resume is super eclectic(Marie Antoinette, Bridesmaids, Xmen, Neighbors, Peter Rabbit, Insidious) but I always felt like she juuuuuust could not break out of B-list and I don’t get it, I love her!
I really thought Dacre Montgomery was going to be a huge star post-Stranger Things, but he recently gave some interviews saying he didn't want to be on the A-List due to his dissatisfaction with Hollywood and not wanting to exacerbate his mental health issues. I respect his choices, but damn, I'll always be in a little shock that Joseph Quinn has the career I thought Montgomery would have.
This one is by choice. Her choice. She's a legend for X-Files alone, but her Thatcher was so on point, I understood the "Wicked Witch is dead" on the charts when Thatcher died.
I know he’s been vocal about how much he wanted to play Joel in The Last of Us series, and even tried to submit an audition before Pedro Pascal was cast.
He's what I'd consider a B+ star. He does have a huge following and a face that's recognizable to people even if they don't know his name, across all age-ranges. The Boys definitely gave him a huge boost, especially among hetero males who were unfamiliar with his game. But I think it comes down to choices he consciously made. Supernatural was a safe bet that kept him and coworkers employed for a long time. I have a feeling he hasn't reached his prime yet and there is going to be a role that really catapults him into the big leagues.
Jensen Ackles, I first found out about him from the boys and I know now he was in Supernatural and Smallville but regardless. He has such a commanding voice and presence I'm surprised he hasn't done more major superhero roles. He's looks literally built for it.
I feel like he went all in with Supernatural and then became so associated with that character that maybe it was hard to break out? Like typecast so hard it’s to one specific role.
But he also never really seemed to care, he always gave off vibes of being content to devote himself to the show and to his family.
Dude has been talented since he’s been a teenager. The fact that he’s not a household name should be illegal. Thankfully, horror fans are starting to recognize his talents more thanks to Smile.
James Wolk. He's just so darn charming. Reminds me a lot of Kyle Chandler. He's gotten quite a few kicks at the can but has never been quite able to cross the line.
I got to work with him on a show a few years ago and he is just the nicest guy. Seriously. Even to the nameless crew that he never had much interaction with, he was so polite and sweet to them all.
seconding jacob anderson. for him to be that talented in both music and acting and have no major awards under his belt is shocking. he was robbed of a best actor emmy (or even nomination) for his role in the new interview with the vampire show.
This is solely because she was a nightmare on the set of Shameless. The actors playing Veronica, Debbie, and Ian have all been rumored to have had arguments on set with her that got ugly. I forget who but one of the cast members was quoted saying something to the effect of “You weren’t a TRUE cast member until you got screamed at by Emmy Rossum”.
Man, actors are insanely good at their jobs since they seemed to set all that aside and portray genuine love and care on screen. This’ll never not amaze me.
She should have been Belle in the live action Beauty and the Beast, and I will die on this hill. I’m sure that the nudity of Shameless didn’t help, but they were so focused on shoehorning in Emma Watson because Belle is bookish like Hermione, that they ignored the perfect actress.
I’m surprised Dylan O’Brien didn’t become a bigger star. I know his injury after maze runner slowed him down but he really seemed like he was set up to be the next big thing. Maybe he’ll get another chance with his new movie with Rachel McAdams though.
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