15 A-List Hollywood Actors Who Started Out On British TV Shows

By Angie 5 years ago

1. Andrew Lincoln


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Lincoln is a very famous face because of his lead role in 'The Walking Dead'. But he started out in 1994 by appearing in Drop the Dead Donkey, a comedy about a British newsroom and anyone who's seen Love Actually will remember him as the "unlucky in love" guy who's in love with his best friends girl (Kiera Knightley)

2. Catherine Zeta-Jones




It's hard to think that the stunning actress didn't just rocket to fame at birth but she had a role in The Darling Buds of May from between 1991 and 1993, she's starred in a number of big Hollywood movies over the years but we haven't seen her in anything since 2013.

3. Andrew Garfield


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Otherwise recognised as Spiderman's famous Peter Parker. Garfield appeared on five episodes of Sugar Rush in 2005 before getting the Spiderman part, he's now a very popular Hollywood actor and I'm sure we'll be seeing him in a lot of other movies.

4. Sean Bean


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The Sheffield born fun-man Sean Bean has appeared on many famous films from Sharpe to Lord of the Rings. But in 1992, he actually appeared on Inspector Morse, that was long before he landed the role of Ned Stark in Game of Thrones and even though he was killed off at the end of season 1, his character still remains one of the most popular.

5. Damien Lewis


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The talented actor who might be recognised for his role in Homeland, but in 1996, he appeared alongside David Jason on A Touch of Frost.

6. Orlando Bloom


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This drop-dead gorgeous actor started his career during the soaps and appeared in hospital themed Casualty in 1996. He's gone onto star in the Lord of the Rings triology and The Hobbit too.

7. Keira Knightly


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Keira's talents are endless. She is most famous for her roles as a rebel in Bend it Like Beckham and Pirates of the Carribean. She also appeared in police series The Bill in 1995.

8. Felicity Jones


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Before her role in the Theory of Everything, she appeared in 10 episodes of CBBC'S magical series, The Worst Witch. Felicity is now a popular Hollywood actress.

9. Jerome Flynn


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The actor has risen to serious fame after his appearance in Game of Thrones and Serr Bronn. Before this, he played a Corporal in Soldier Soldier, an award-winning British television series.

10. Lena Headey


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Another famous Game of Thrones actor, Lena, at the age of 17 was first scouted for smaller roles in television series. In 1993, she was chosen for a role in How we used to Live, now she's better known as Cersei Lannister, the evil but amazing Queen on the Iron Throne.

11. James McAvoy




Before heading up the X-Men, James McAvoy starred in the original series’ of British drama, Shameless. This is where he met future wife, Anne-Marie Duff.

12. Michael Fassbender


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The Irish appeared in just one episode of Holby City in 2002 and is now one of the most recognisable actors in Hollywood, he's recently starred in thriller The Snowman which came out this year.

13. Benedict Cumberbatch


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A successful actor best known for his role in the BBC detective series Sherlock. In 2000 before his career really took off, he appeared in the British drama series Heartbeat, remember him?

14. Kate Winslet


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Kate appeared in BBC hospital drama Casualty in 1996 before she landed the lead female role in Titanic. She has since starred in a number of Hollywood movies & won an Oscar for her performance in The Reader in 2009.

15. Steven Moyer


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Steven Moyer is best loved for his role in supernatural series True Blood. Before this, he had a leading role in the less famous drama series NY-LON.

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