Some of the biggest names in Hollywood have had to go through hundreds of auditions and numerous small supporting parts in movies before getting their big break and becoming a household name. This sometimes meant taking the lead role in a romantic comedy. Though the industry is much more focused on serious dramas and action blockbusters these days, the feel-good movie genre was once super popular and generated many of the stars — and stories — we all know and love.
While all of the actors on this list have gone on to much weightier roles, we can't forget their humble beginnings as leads in rom-coms, many of which have become enduring classics.
From Matthew McConaughey to Julia Roberts, here are 15 stars you may not have known found fame after starring in a romantic comedy.
Alicia Silverstone in 'Clueless'
In the early 1990s, Alicia Silverstone had a few small acting roles before catching director Amy Heckerling's eye in the music video for Aerosmith's "Cryin'" song. In 1995, Alicia stepped into the iconic role of ditzy but lovable Cher Horowitz in Clueless, a story about a wealthy Beverly Hills high schooler who helps make over the new girl in school, plays matchmaker to a grumpy and frumpy pair of teachers, and finds love — and herself — along the way. She later went on to star in several well-received films including Beauty Shop before taking on a role in Netflix's The Babysitter's Club.
Zooey Deschanel in 'Yes Man'
With supporting roles in big movies like Almost Famous and Elf under her belt, Zooey Deschanel was primed to become a star in her own right in the early 2000s. In 2008, she landed a leading role alongside Jim Carrey in the rom-com Yes Man, playing the eccentric love interest of Jim's overly positive character. Soon after, she starred in the hit indie movie 500 Days of Summer and the critically acclaimed TV series New Girl.
Matthew McConaughey in 'The Wedding Planner'
Matthew McConaughey's first film that really put him on the map was 1993's Dazed and Confused, in which he played the side character of a creepy stoner who preys on high school girls. But it wasn't until 2001, when he landed the role of Steve Edison in The Wedding Planner, that his star power was really noticed. The movie is about a wedding planner (shocker), played by Jennifer Lopez, who falls in love with the groom-to-be (portrayed by Matthew) of a couple whose wedding she is helping to plan. Matthew went on to star in a few more rom-coms until shifting to dramatic movies like The Lincoln Lawyer and Interstellar before earning Hollywood royalty status in 2015 with an Oscar win for Dallas Buyers Club.
Julia Stiles in '10 Things I Hate About You'
Julia Stiles got her first big movie role in 1999's 10 Things I Hate About You, alongside two other young and promising stars at the time, Heath Ledger and Gabrielle Union. Julia played the hard-headed but lovable Kat in this classic bet-trope movie that cemented her status as a talented young actress. From this success, she snagged leading roles in such movies as Save the Last Dance and the Bourne series (alongside A-lister Matt Damon).
Tom Hanks in 'Splash!'
Famous for both his dramatic and comedic acting chops, Tom Hanks was actually a pretty unknown actor when he started out in the '80s, taking parts in various small films and television shows. It wasn't until he did a guest role on the TV show Happy Days when he caught the attention of legendary director Ron Howard. In 1984, the surprise hit Splash! was released, starring Tom and another relatively unknown actress at the time, Daryl Hannah. The film was about a mermaid who escapes the ocean (and grows legs) and ends up falling in love with Tom's character, all while being chased by scientists seeking to use her for research. This solidified Tom's talent as a romantic and charismatic lead, and he went on to star in a long list of successful films, among them Sleepless in Seattle, Forrest Gump, and Captain Philips.
Meg Ryan in 'When Harry Met Sally'
Meg Ryan started out acting in soap operas before getting her first small role in a big Hollywood movie, Top Gun. Then in 1989, she starred in the iconic and insanely quotable film When Harry Met Sally alongside already established comedian Billy Crystal. This Rob Reiner-directed hit about two friends who become lovers jumpstarted Meg's career and paved the way for her to become one of the best romantic comedy leading ladies ever. She even ended up teaming up with fellow rom-com superstar Tom Hanks three times in the movies Joe Versus the Volcano, Sleepless in Seattle, and You've Got Mail.
Julia Roberts in 'Pretty Woman'
Before Julia Roberts was dubbed America's sweetheart, she took supporting acting roles in the late 1980s in movies including Mystic Pizza and Steel Magnolias. When Pretty Woman hit theaters in 1990, she became an overnight sensation as she played a charismatic sex worker who falls in love with a wealthy businessman played by Richard Gere. Julia became one of the most popular and highest-paid actresses of the 1990s and 2000s — with roles in major movies such as The Pelican Brief, My Best Friend's Wedding, and Notting Hill — and she even snagged an Academy Award for 2001's Erin Brockovich.
Channing Tatum in 'She's the Man'
Before Channing Tatum became a well-respected actor, he was a dancer in Miami working odd jobs. In 2000, he was cast in Ricky Martin's "She Bangs" music video and he later started getting steady modeling and acting gigs in commercials. In 2006, he starred alongside popular teen star Amanda Bynes in She's the Man, a romantic comedy about a high school girl whose soccer team gets cut, so she decides to pretend to be her brother at his high school and try out for their team. Along the way, she falls for her brother's roommate, played by Tatum. This proved Tatum's acting and athletic abilities, and he would later get cast in both serious and romantic films including Dear John, White House Down, and the ultra-popular Magic Mike.
Josh Duhamel in 'Win a Date With Tad Hamilton!'
After a few soap opera roles that even garnered him a Daytime Emmy nomination, Josh Duhamel finally got his big break after he was cast in the 2004 movie Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! alongside aughts superstars Kate Bosworth and Topher Grace. The story centered around a fictional famous actor whose publicist holds a nationwide contest to win a date with him to fix his playboy image. He ends up meeting and falling for the small-town contest winner (played by Kate), and chaos ensues. Josh's biggest roles since have been in the wildly successful Transformers movies, and his next high-profile project is the film Shotgun Wedding (with Jennifer Lopez), which is due to come out in 2022.
Anne Hathaway in 'The Princess Diaries'
Theater actress Anne Hathaway was only 18 when she landed the role of Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries, a story of a teenage girl who finds out she is the heir to the throne of the fictional country of Genovia. The film, which perfectly showcased her bubbly personality, was massively successful with both kids and adults, and it rocketed Anne to even bigger success. She went on to star in The Devil Wears Prada, The Dark Knight Rises, and she even won an Oscar for best supporting actress in the big-screen adaptation of Les Miserables as the character Fantine. These days, she reigns as an A-list actress and continues to be cast in high-profile movies and TV shows.
Sandra Bullock in 'While You Were Sleeping'
Sandra Bullock's charisma and likeability have always been evident on-screen. Her first big movie role was in 1994's Speed, where she played a bus driver alongside Keanu Reeves. But it was her performance in the 1996 film While You Were Sleeping that really turned her into a megastar. She portrayed a Chicago Transit Authority token collector who saves a stranger's life — but when he goes into a coma, she is mistakenly believed to be his fiancée by his family. The part firmly established her place in Hollywood, and she went on to star in such successful films as Practical Magic and Miss Congeniality, and win an Oscar for 2009's The Blind Side. Sandra remains one of the most well-known and popular actresses of the past 25 years.
Cameron Diaz in 'The Mask'
Cameron Diaz was just 21 when she stepped into the leading lady role in the 1994 film The Mask, starring Jim Carrey. She played his love interest, and after the movie's release, she landed steady parts in a number of big-budget films including There's Something About Mary, Charlie's Angels, The Holiday, and Shrek. She sadly announced that she was retiring from acting in 2014, and has since lived a quiet life out of the spotlight with her husband, Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden, and their daughter — but she remains a recognizable and much-loved star.
Kate Bosworth in 'Blue Crush'
After a small part in the 2000 movie Remember the Titans, Kate Bosworth moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting full-time. She scored her breakout role in the 2002 film Blue Crush, playing a talented surfer living in Hawaii who hopes to win a major surfing contest to fund a better life for herself. The blond beauty became a household name, and throughout the 2000s she starred in titles including Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! and Superman Returns. She has since continued acting but has also been the face of various brands including Calvin Klein and Topshop, proving she could be both a successful actress and a fashion icon.
Hugh Grant in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'
Everyone's favorite charming and sarcastic Englishman got his start in Hollywood at the age of 32 when he was handed the script for Four Weddings and a Funeral while on the brink of quitting acting. He costarred alongside Southern sweetheart Andie MacDowell in this film about missed opportunities and bad timing with love, and it was a huge success. Hugh went on to star in other romance-centered movies including Notting Hill, Bridget Jones's Diary, About a Boy, and Love Actually, cementing his status as one of Britain's most beloved and talented actors.
Jennifer Garner in '13 Going on 30'
In the late '90s, Jennifer Garner took on small roles in movies like Dude, Where's My Car? and Pearl Harbor. Then after a guest role in the J.J. Abrams-produced TV drama Felicity, she was cast as the lead in his spy series Alias. But it wasn't until 2004, when she starred in the critically acclaimed film 13 Going on 30 that she became one of America's favorite actresses. Following the film's success, Jennifer went on to star in a long list of successful titles including Juno, Valentine's Day, and Dallas Buyers Club. Her fame also got a big boost thanks to her high-profile marriage to Hollywood heavyweight Ben Affleck (they wed in 2005 and split 10 years later).
