65 actors you didn’t know got their start on soap operas, from Demi Moore to Guy Pearce

Dylan Kickham, James Mercadante, Matt SulemWed, August 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM UTC

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Susan Sarandon on ‘A World Apart’; Bryan Cranston on ‘Loving’; Amanda Seyfried on ‘All My Children’Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Virginia Sherwood/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

They may not get as much respect in the mainstream as they should, but soap operas are quietly responsible for some of our greatest A-list stars. Had these daytime dramas not provided early career opportunities, actors like Margot Robbie, Michael B. Jordan, and Julianne Moore might not be where they are today.

But as any soap fan — and many of the actors themselves — will tell you, such roles weren’t just stepping stones. In many cases, soaps not only gave budding actors a chance to hone their craft but also helped them develop some of the best characters of their careers. Ahead, we’re looking at 65 stars whose modern-day success can be traced back to early roles on soap operas.

Margot Robbie, Neighbours

Margot Robbie on ‘Neighbours’; Margot Robbie attends the 35th annual Producers Guild Awards in L.A. on Feb. 25, 2024Credit: Elyse Jankowski/WireImage

Before becoming one of the world’s highest-paid actresses, Margot Robbie spent more than 300 episodes as Donna Freedman on Neighbours from 2008 to 2011.

Not long after heading to the U.S., she skyrocketed to fame with standout performances in The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Suicide Squad (2016), and I, Tonya (2017), among others. In 2022, the Oscar-nominated actress briefly returned to Neighbours for a cameo — just a year before producing and starring in Barbie (2023), one of the highest-grossing films of all time. —James Mercadante

Michael B. Jordan, All My Children

Michael B. Jordan; Inset: Michael B. Jordan on ‘All My Children’Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage; Inset: Virginia Sherwood/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Long before he became the face of the Creed franchise and an Oscar winner for 2025’s Sinners, Michael B. Jordan had a regular role in the first season of The Wire in 2002.

The following year, Jordan was added to the cast of All My Children, where he stayed until 2006. He played troubled teen Reggie Montgomery, a role originated by Chadwick Boseman, who objected to the stereotypical character and was fired as a result. —Matt Sulem

Julianne Moore, As the World Turns

Julianne Moore; Inset: Julianne Moore on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: C Flanigan/Getty Images; Inset: CBS via Getty Images

Before she starred in films like The Kids Are All Right (2010) and Still Alice (2014) — the latter of which earned her dozens of accolades, including both an Oscar and a Golden Globe — Julianne Moore won a Daytime Emmy for portraying both Frannie and Sabrina Hughes on As the World Turns.

From 1985 to 1988, Moore played Frannie, and then did double the work by also playing Frannie’s identical half-sister and cousin Sabrina starting in 1986. Moore reprised her role as Frannie by coming back to appear on the show for a 2010 episode. —D.K.

Leonardo DiCaprio, Santa Barbara

Leonardo DiCaprio; Inset: Leonardo DiCaprio on ‘Santa Barbara’Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images; Inset: NBC

Many fans know of Leonardo DiCaprio‘s days as a child actor thanks to Roseanne and Growing Pains, but even before those early-‘90s roles, he made appearances in five episodes of the soap opera Santa Barbara in 1990. The future Oscar winner appeared as the younger version of the character Mason Capwell. —D.K.

Alec Baldwin, The Doctors

Alec Baldwin; Inset: Alec Baldwin on ‘The Doctors’Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic; Inset: NBCU Photo Bank

The frequent Saturday Night Live host/guest performer and 30 Rock star’s first television role was that of Billy Aldrich on The Doctors from 1980 to 1982. The storyline of Alec Baldwin‘s character marked a more dramatic turn for the show — Billy would die if an older female character (Nancy Stafford) continued using a serum to make herself appear younger. —D.K.

Demi Moore, General Hospital

Demi Moore; Inset: Demi Moore on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Joe Scarnici/Getty Images; Inset: Erik Hein/ABC via Getty Images

Long before Ghost (1990), A Few Good Men (1992), and The Substance (2024) — the latter of which earned her various accolades, including a Golden Globe, SAG award, and Critics Choice award — Demi Moore played investigative journalist Jackie Templeton on General Hospital from 1982 to 1983. —D.K.

Brad Pitt, Another World

Brad Pitt; Inset: Brat Pitt on ‘Another World’Credit: Jong-Hyun Kim/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images; Inset: NBC

Brad Pitt may be one of the biggest stars in the world, but before he made a name for himself in films like Fight Club (1999) and Inglourious Basterds (2009), Pitt got his first television speaking role on the soap opera Another World. An Oscar winner for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Pitt got his start in 1987 playing a young basketball player named Chris. —D.K.

Elizabeth Banks, All My Children

Elizabeth Banks; Inset: Elizabeth Banks on ‘All My Children’Credit: Donato Sardella/Getty Images; Inset: ABC

In his very first episode of All My Children, Josh Duhamel charms a waitress into paying for his meal — and that waitress is none other than Elizabeth Banks. When the episode aired in 1999, Banks was just getting started as an actress. Her character only appeared in one scene.

Lucky for us, we’d get many more opportunities to see Banks on shows like Scrubs and Modern Family, and on the big screen in The Hunger Games and Pitch Perfect franchises. —D.K.

Kathy Bates, The Doctors

Kathy Bates; Inset: Kathy Bates on ‘The Doctors’Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty Images; Inset: ABC

Before she earned 15 Emmy nominations (and two wins), nine Golden Globe nominations (and two wins), and four Oscar nods (and one win), Kathy Bates landed her first taste of Hollywood with a four-episode arc on The Doctors in 1978.

Bates played Phyllis Gillette, a role so small that two of her appearances were uncredited. Don’t worry, Bates did okay after that, going on to star in classic films like Misery (1990) and Titanic (1997). —M. Sulem

Bryan Cranston, Loving

Bryan Cranston on ‘Loving’; Bryan Cranston attends PaleyFest L.A. in 2023Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty; Monica Schipper/FilmMagic

You may know Bryan Cranston as Walter White on Breaking Bad or Hal on Malcolm in the Middle, but before becoming an Emmy winner, he had his first acting job as Doug Donovan on Loving from the show’s 1983 premiere to 1985 (the series was cancelled in 1995).

Since then, Cranston has been everywhere — starring in films like Argo (2012) and Trumbo (2015); leading TV series such as Your Honor; winning another Emmy for his guest spot on The Studio, and taking the stage in All the Way and Network (both of which earned him Tony awards). —J.M.

Justin Hartley, Passions

Justin Hartley; Inset: Justin Hartley on ‘Passions’Credit: Maarten de Boer/NBC/NBC via Getty Images; Inset: NBC

He would eventually hit it big in prime time as one of This Is Us‘ Big Three, but Justin Hartley picked up his first onscreen acting credit with a main role on Passions, playing Nicholas Foxworth “Fox” Crane from 2002 to 2006. —Mary Sollosi

Guy Pearce, Neighbours

Guy Pearce on ‘Neighbors’; Guy Pearce arrives at the 97th annual Academy Awards nominees dinner in L.A. on Feb. 25, 2025Credit: Tim Roney/Getty; VALERIE MACON/AFP

Before Guy Pearce made his mark on the big screen with performances in The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1994), L.A. Confidential (1997), and Memento (2000), he got his start as teen heartthrob Mike Young on the Australian soap Neighbours from 1985 to 1989. Decades later, Pearce returned for a recurring stint that wrapped in 2024, earning him a Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Drama Series (the first time an Australian program received recognition from the U.S. awards body).

Beyond the soap world, Pearce has built an impressive career across film and TV — receiving accolades along the way, including an Emmy for 2011’s Mildred Pierce and an Oscar nomination for 2024’s The Brutalist. —James Mercadante

Amber Tamblyn, General Hospital

Amber Tamblyn; Inset: Amber Tamblyn on ‘General Hospital’Credit: David Livingston/Getty Images; Inset: Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

The Emmy-nominated Joan of Arcadia star and two-time sister of the Traveling Pants, Amber Tamblyn, kicked off her career on General Hospital — where she originated the role of Emily Quartermaine, which she held from 1995 to 2001. —M. Sollosi

Shemar Moore, The Young and the Restless

Shemar Moore; Inset: Shemar Moore on ‘The Young and the Restless’Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Inset: Monty Brinton/CBS via Getty Images

Criminal Minds and S.W.A.T. star Shemar Moore kicked off his TV career starring as Malcolm Winters on The Young and the Restless from 1994 to 2005 (with a hiatus from 2002 to 2004). He earned three Daytime Emmy nominations for the role, winning Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series in 2000.

He returned to the soap multiple times since: once in 2014 for a guest appearance; again in 2019 to honor cast member Kristoff St. John (who died that same year); and in 2023 to attend a fictional gala in honor of St. John’s character, Neil. —M. Sollosi

Laurence Fishburne, One Life to Live

Laurence Fishburne; Inset: Lauren Fishburne on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Robin L Marshall/FilmMagic; Inset: ABC Photo Archives/ABC via Getty Images

Before going on to appear in such iconic films as Apocalypse Now (1979), Boyz N the Hood (1991), and the original Matrix trilogy, a preteen Laurence Fishburne played Josh West Hall on One Life to Live from 1973 to 1976. —M. Sollosi

Josh Duhamel, All My Children

Josh Duhamel; Inset: Rebecca Budig and Josh Duhamel on ‘All My Children’Credit: Noel Vasquez/Getty Images; Inset: Virginia Sherwood/ABC via Getty Images

From 1999 to 2002, Josh Duhamel ruled the soap world as one-half of the All My Children super-couple, Leo and Greenlee (Rebecca Budig). Duhamel earned a Daytime Emmy for the role, but left the show to pursue other opportunities — leaving his character of Leo to die in a shocking twist. In 2011, Duhamel briefly reprised his role as Leo, visiting Greenlee in a dream.

Later on, Duhamel would star in the Transformers franchise and Love, Simon (2018), among other films, as well as on the TV series Blade Runner: Black Lotus and in season 2 of The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers. —D.K.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, All My Children

Sarah Michelle Gellar; Inset: Sarah Michelle Gellar on ‘All My Children’Credit: Charles Sykes/Bravo/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images

Sarah Michelle Gellar may have become a household name from her titular role on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but soap opera fans knew that she had a talent for acting even before she started dusting vampires.

From 1993 to 1995, the actress played troubled teen Kendall Hart on All My Children. The performance was well received — and even won Gellar a Daytime Emmy award — but she still decided to leave the show in 1995 to focus on different projects. In 2011, Gellar returned to All My Children for one episode. —D.K.

John Stamos, General Hospital

John Stamos; Inset: John Stamos on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage; Inset: ABC

Well before Uncle Jesse moved into Full House, John Stamos played the streetwise Blackie Parrish on General Hospital. Even back in his early-‘80s stint on the soap, Stamos was interested in music: His character formed the band Blackie and the Riff Raff, although they were definitely no Jesse and the Rippers.

In 1992, Stamos returned to General Hospital for one episode — this time playing himself. —D.K.

Morgan Freeman, Ryan’s Hope

Morgan Freeman; Inset: Morgan Freeman on ‘Ryan’s Hope’Credit: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images; Inset: ABC

Morgan Freeman didn’t start his acting career until he was well into his 20s. Before becoming the screen legend we all know today — from films like The Shawshank Redemption (1994) and Bruce Almighty (2003) — he used his iconic voice in roles on soap operas like Ryan’s Hope and Another World through the early-‘80s. —D.K.

Mark Hamill, General Hospital

Mark Hamill; Mark Hamill on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Photo Archives

It’s hard to picture Mark Hamill as any character other than Luke Skywalker, but a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, he actually appeared on General Hospital. In his first regular role, Hamill played Kent Murray from 1972 to 1973 — and, later, referred to the experience as “some of the happiest months of my career.” —M. Sulem

Jensen Ackles, Days of Our Lives

Jensen Ackles; Inset: Jensen Ackles on ‘Days of Our Lives’Credit: Phillip Chin/WireImage; Inset: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Jensen Ackles had been a model since the age of 4, and broke into acting at around 18 as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives. He landed the role in 1997 and held it until 2000.

Ackles’ soap opera past was referenced in an episode of his show Supernatural, where his character enters a parallel universe and discovers himself to be former daytime soap star Jensen Ackles. —D.K.

Angela Bassett, Ryan’s Hope

Angela Bassett on ‘Search for Tomorrow’; Angela Bassett attends 2024 Disney Upfront in NYCCredit: NBC; John Nacion/FilmMagic

Among Angela Bassett‘s 100-plus screen credits is her TV debut as Nurse Salina McCulla on Search for Tomorrow, a role she played for 10 episodes in 1985. She later made one-episode appearances on other soaps like Guiding Light and Ryan’s Hope in 1987, just a few years before landing her breakthrough in films like Boyz N the Hood, Malcolm X (1992), and What’s Love Got to Do WithIt (1993) — the latter of which earned Bassett her first Academy Award nod.

Now, the honorary Oscar winner is celebrated for her roles as Queen Ramonda in Marvel’s Black Panther franchise and Sgt. Athena Grant-Nash on Fox’s 9-1-1, a character she’s portrayed since 2018. —J.M.

Hayden Panettiere, One Life to Live

Hayden Panettiere; Inset: Hayden Panettiere and John Loprieno on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images

Fans may remember Hayden Panettiere‘s early acting days from her role in the 2000 film Remember the Titans, but she was acting on soap operas years before that. The young star played Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997, and then went on to play Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1997 to 2000. —D.K.

Kevin Bacon, Guiding Light

Kevin Bacon; Inset: Kevin Bacon and Kristen Vigard on ‘Guiding Light’Credit: Mike Pont/WireImage; Inset: CBS via Getty Images

Kevin Bacon moved to New York City at 17 to try to make it big. National Lampoon’s Animal House was eyed as his break in 1978, but it didn’t quite launch him to fame, so he went back to waiting tables and taking small roles.

From 1980 to 1981, he played Tim Werner, a teenager with an alcohol problem, on Guiding Light. Of course, just a few years later, he would liberate an entire town with his smooth dance moves in Footloose (1984).—D.K.

Taye Diggs, Guiding Light

Taye Diggs; Inset: Kevin Mambo and Taye Diggs on ‘Guiding Light’Credit: D Dipasupil/FilmMagic; Inset: NBC

Taye Diggs had already shown off his acting (and singing) chops on the stage with performances in Carousel and Rent,before making his television debut on Guiding Light in 1997. Diggs played Adrian “Sugar” Hill, one of the men Dahlia Crede dated. —D.K.

Ryan Phillippe, One Life to Live

Ryan Phillippe; Inset: Ryan Phillippe on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Rachel Murray/Getty Images; Inset: Donna Svennevik/ABC via Getty Images

Ryan Phillippe‘s first television role was a pretty groundbreaking one. As Billy Douglas on One Life to Live, he portrayed the first out gay teenager on daytime TV from 1992 to 1993. Phillippe was 18 at the time, and would go on to fill his résumé with films like Cruel Intentions (1999) and The Lincoln Lawyer (2011). —D.K.

Nathan Fillion, One Life to Live

Nathan Fillion; Inset: Robin Strasser and Nathon Fillion on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Jason Merritt/Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/ABC via Getty Images

Before he played the titular character on Castle, Nathan Fillion booked one of his first roles with a gig on One Life to Live from 1994 to 1997, as teenager Joey Buchanan.

A large part of Fillion’s time as Joey was involved in a romance with his mother’s (Erika Slezak) nemesis, Dorian Lord (Robin Strasser). Fillion briefly returned to the show as Joey in 2007 for the funeral of his character’s adopted grandfather (Philip Carey). —D.K.

David Hasselhoff, The Young and the Restless

David Hasselhoff; Inset: David Hasselhoff and Trish Stewart on ‘The Young and the Restless’Credit: Tim Whitby/WireImage; Inset: CBS via Getty Images

David Hasselhoff is famous for his roles on Knight Rider and Baywatch, but to soap opera fans, he is known as Dr. William “Snapper” Foster from The Young and the Restless. Hasselhoff played Snapper from 1975 to 1982. He even reprised his role in several episodes in 2010. —D.K.

Leven Rambin, All My Children

Leven Rambin; Inset: Leven Rambin on ‘All My Children’Credit: Dominik Bindl/WireImage; Inset: ABC

Leven Rambin first started on All My Children in 2004 when she was just 13 years old. Rambin ended up compiling 161 episodes as Lily Montgomery (and occasionally as her own older half-sister, Ava Benton), and accepted roles on Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles and Grey’s Anatomy while still appearing on the soap.

Rambin was in the second season of HBO’s True Detective in 2015. She also landed parts on Hulu’s The Path, NBC’s Gone in 2017, and CBS’ Fire Country in 2024. —M. Sulem

Lauryn Hill, As the World Turns

Lauryn Hill; Inset: Lauryn Hill on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: Shahar Azran/WireImage; Inset: CBS

Lauryn Hill is most famous for her music, but before she joined the Fugees and embarked on her critically acclaimed solo career, she gave acting a try. In the early-‘90s, Hill appeared as Kira Johnson on As the World Turns. —D.K.

Jordana Brewster, As the World Turns

Jordana Brewster; Inset: Jordana Brewster on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images; Inset: CBS

Just a few months after making her TV debut in a 1995 episode of All My Children, Jordana Brewster landed a role as Nikki Munson on As the World Turns.

Brewster played the police chief’s daughter for more than 100 episodes between 1995 and 2001, before trying her hand at film, including a recurring role in the Fast & Furious franchise. Brewster found success once again on the small screen on Dallas and Lethal Weapon. —M. Sulem

Meg Ryan, As the World Turns

Meg Ryan; Inset: Meg Ryan on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images; Inset: CBS via Getty Images

Seven years prior to When Harry Met Sally (1989), Meg Ryan started her acting career with a gig on As the World Turns. Although Ryan initially accepted the job just to earn money while she studied journalism as an undergraduate, the gig turned into a 31-episode run from 1982 to 1984 that saw her Betsy Stewart character wed Steve Andropoulos (Frank Runyeon) in an episode that attracted 20 million viewers. —M. Sulem

Paul Wesley, Another World and Guiding Light

Paul Wesley; Inset: Paul Westley on ‘Guiding Light’Credit: Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images; Inset: CBS

You might know Paul Wesley as Eddie Longo on the CBS anthology thriller Tell Me a Story, or from his breakthrough role on the CW teen drama The Vampire Diaries, but he actually cut his teeth with a one-off appearance on Another World in 1999.

Wesley — who was 19 and still using his birth surname of Wasilewski — quickly parlayed this into a six-episode part on Guiding Light, in which he played an always-on-the-run orphan named Max Nickerson. —M. Sulem

Tom Selleck, The Young and the Restless

Tom Selleck; Inset: Tom Selleck on ‘The Young and the Restless’Credit: Ben Gabbe/WireImage; Inset: Archive Photos/Getty Images

Soap fans know that Eric Braeden — who has been playing Victor Newman on The Young and the Restless for more than 40 years — looks a bit like actor Tom Selleck, but few remember that Selleck actually had a role on the same soap from 1974 to 1975. On Y&R, Selleck played Jed Andrews, a book editor with a short character arc and no mustache. He briefly reprised the role in 2005.

Of course, Selleck (and his stash) would go on to entertain us on shows like Magnum, P.I., and Blue Bloods.—M. Sulem

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Susan Sarandon, A World Apart

Susan Sarandon; Inset: Susan Sarandon on ‘A World Apart’Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Before winning an Academy Award for 1995’s Dead Man Walking (and earning four other Oscar nods for films including 1991’s Thelma & Louise),Susan Sarandon‘s early-career role on A World Apart wasn’t just a bit part; she was one of the show’s stars!

A World Apart ran for 325 episodes on ABC from 1970 to 1971 — brief, by soap standards — but Sarandon appeared in every one as the character Patrice Kahlman. —M. Sulem

Kevin Kline, Search for Tomorrow

Kevin Kline attends the Chicago International Film Festival in 2014Credit: Timothy Hiatt/WireImage

In 1991, Kevin Kline starred in — and earned a Golden Globe nomination for — the all-star comedy Soapdish, which centered on a fictional soap opera. Kline had some useful experience that prepared him for the role, as the actor’s very first credit was playing Woody Reed on the CBS daytime drama, SearchforTomorrow, in 1976. —M. Sulem

Chris Hemsworth, Home and Away

Chris Hemsworth on ‘Home and Away’; Chris Hemsworth attends the London premiere of ‘Transformers One’ on Sept. 19, 2024Credit: Seven Network; Lia Toby/Getty

It’s nearly impossible to imagine Chris Hemsworth without his trusty magic hammer, having wielded it as Thor across multiple Marvel projects since 2011. But before his days as the God of Thunder, he had his first regular gig on the long-running Australian soap Home and Away — playing high school dropout Kim Hyde from 2004 to 2007.

Beyond the MCU, Hemsworth has built an impressive filmography, starring in popular movies like The Cabin in the Woods (2012), Rush (2013), Extraction (2020) and its 2023 sequel, and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga (2024), among other big-screen hits. —J.M.

Robin Wright, Santa Barbara

Robin Wright; Inset: Robin Wright and Stephen Meadows on ‘Santa Barbara’Credit: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images; Inset: Everett Collection

Robin Wright is now famous for playing the icy Claire Underwood on House of Cards and for her roles in The Princess Bride (1987) and Forrest Gump (1994), but one of her first acting jobs was playing Kelly Capwell, a protagonist on the soap opera Santa Barbara.

In the late-‘80s, Wright portrayed Kelly as she struggled to choose between two men, and found out one was a serial killer. She was nominated for three Daytime Emmys for the role. —D.K.

Kelly Ripa, All My Children

Kelly Ripa; Inset: Kelly Ripa on ‘All My Children’Credit: Vivien Killilea/Getty Images; Inset: Ann Limongello/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

When Kelly Ripa replaced Kathie Lee Gifford in 2001 as the new cohost of what would become Live With Regis and Kelly (and, presently, Live With Kelly and Mark), she was still acting on All My Children in a role she originated all the way back in 1990.

Ripa played hard-partying teen Hayley Vaughan until her 2002 departure, and briefly returned to Pine Valley as Hayley for a pair of episodes in 2010. —M. Sulem

Mark Consuelos, All My Children

Mark Consuelos; Inset: Mark Consuelos on ‘All My Children’Credit: Maury Phillips/Getty Images; Inset: Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Mark Consuelos was a regular on Riverdale for four seasons as Veronica’s dad, Hiram Lodge, but he’s best known for his very first role: playing Mateo Santos Sr. on All My Children.

Consuelos was only 24 years old when he started on the soap in 1995, and the role not only launched his career, but also introduced him to his future wife (who also played his eventual wife on the show), Kelly Ripa. —M. Sulem

James Earl Jones, Guiding Light and As the World Turns

James Earl Jones; Inset: James Earl Jones on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: John Atashian/Getty Images; Inset: CBS

Way before James Earl Jones took on the iconic voice roles of Darth Vader and Mufasa, he appeared on two soaps in the 1960s: Guiding Light and As the World Turns.

Coincidentally, Jones portrayed a doctor on both of the shows: Dr. Jim Frazier on the former and Dr. Jerry Turner on the latter. The actor died at age 93 in September 2024. —M. Sulem

Kathleen Turner, The Doctors

Kathleen Turner; Inset: Kathleen Turner on ‘The Doctors’Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Inset: NBC

Several people on this list have credits from The Doctors, but none like Kathleen Turner, who recorded an impressive 243 episodes between 1978 and 1979 as Nola Dancy Aldrich.

Turner went on to earn two Tony nominations (for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), one Oscar nod (for 1986’s Peggy Sue Got Married), and two Golden Globe wins (for 1984’s Romancing the Stone and 1985’s Prizzi’s Honor), and is still active on both stage and screen. —M. Sulem

Ricky Martin, General Hospital

Ricky Martin; Inset: Ricky Martin and Lily Melgar on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Craig Sjodin/ABC via Getty Images

Ricky Martin wasn’t always just known for his singing. Back in the mid-‘90s, Martin was living la vida drama on General Hospital. He played Miguel Morez, a singer with a troubled past. —D.K.

Brittany Snow, Guiding Light

Brittany Snow; Inset: Brittany Snow on ‘Guiding Light’Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Inset: NBC

Before scoring roles in teen movies like Hairspray (2007)and starring in the beloved Pitch Perfect trilogy — and long before her current role on The Hunting Wives — Brittany Snow picked up one of her first credits as Susan “Daisy” Lemay on Guiding Light from 1998 to 2000. —M. Sollosi

Lindsay Lohan, Another World

Lindsay Lohan; Inset: Tom Eplin and Lindsay Lohan on ‘Another World’Credit: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images; Inset: NBC

Before fans fell in love with LiLo in The Parent Trap (1998), she was playing Alli Fowler on Another World from 1996 to 1997. Lindsay Lohan had already been a fashion model with Ford Models since the age of 3, and, at the time of her television debut, was considered a young show business veteran. —D.K.

Ray Liotta, Another World

Ray Liotta; Inset: Ray Liotta on ‘Another World’Credit: Vincent Sandoval/Getty Images; Inset: Everett Collection

Aside from a pair of TV movies, Ray Liotta‘s first Hollywood credit was a 37-episode arc as Joey Perrini on Another World from 1978 to 1981.

Liotta later became a household name as the star of films like Something Wild (1986), Goodfellas (1990), and Identity (2003), and returned to TV as Lt. Matt Wozniak on NBC’s Shades of Blue from 2016 to 2018. He also starred in The Many Saints of Newark (2021) and earned an Emmy nomination for Apple TV’s Black Bird (2022). Liotta died in May 2022 at the age of 67. —M. Sulem

Judith Light, One Life to Live

Judith Light; Inset: Judith Light on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Gregg DeGuire/FilmMagic; Inset: Steve Fenn/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Technically, Judith Light‘s career started on stage — including a 1975 Broadway debut in a revival of A Doll’s House — but her first notable onscreen credit was playing Karen Wolek on One Life to Live from 1977 to 1983.

After nabbing Daytime Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress in back-to-back years for the soap, Light became a household name as Angela on the sitcom Who’s the Boss? and later earned acclaim as Shelly on Amazon Prime Video’s Transparent. Light has continued to work on Broadway and won Tony Awards in 2012 and 2013, as well as the theater community’s philanthropy-based Isabella Stevenson Award in 2019. —M. Sulem

Anne Heche, Another World

Anne Heche; Inset: Anne Heche on ‘Another World’Credit: Cindy Ord/Getty Images; Inset: Alan F. Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Anne Heche amassed an impressive 71 episodes as Vicky Hudson (and, occasionally, her twin sister, Marley Love) on Another World from 1988 to 1992 prior to launching a successful film career.

Heche acted in indie films and continued working on TV shows, including the NBC drama Chicago P.D. She also starred in the Lifetime movie Girl in Room 13. Heche died following a tragic car accident in August 2022 at the age of 53. —M. Sulem

Melissa Leo, All My Children

Melissa Leo; Inset: Melissa Leo on ‘All My Children’Credit: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic; Inset: Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images Photo Archive

Even though it was just her first role, most soap fans will remember Melissa Leo‘s stint on All My Children. After all, the respected actress spent four years as Linda Warner from 1984 to 1988, and even earned a Daytime Emmy for the part. Of course, she also found further fame as Sgt. Kay Howard on Homicide: Life on the Street from 1993 to 1997 and her highly praised roles in the films 21 Grams (2003), Frozen River (2008), and The Fighter (2010) — with the latter earning Leo a Best Supporting Actress award at both the Golden Globes and Oscars.

Leo has gone on to appear in a number of films like Prisoners (2013), The Big Short (2015), and The Most Hated Woman in America (2017). Plus, she’s had major roles on TV shows like I’m Dying Up Here and IKnow This Much Is True. —M. Sulem

Christian Slater, Ryan’s Hope

Christian Slater; Inset: Christian Slater on ‘Ryan’s Hope’Credit: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images; Inset: ABC

Aside from various single-episode appearances on TV shows (including the soaps Search for Tomorrow and All My Children), Christian Slater‘s first significant acting role was playing D.J. LaSalle in 20 episodes of the ABC soap opera Ryan’s Hope in 1985, when he was just 16 years old.

Slater went on to star in films like Heathers (1989) and Interview With the Vampire (1994),and on TV shows such as USA Network’s Mr. Robot — a role that earned him a Golden Globe in 2016 — Peacock’s Dr. Death, and Paramount+’s Dexter: Original Sin. —M. Sulem

Lori Loughlin, The Edge of Night

Lori Loughlin; Inset: Lori Loughlin on ‘The Edge of Night’Credit: Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage; Inset: Dianna Whitley/Getty Images

Despite her role in a highly publicized college admissions scandal, Lori Loughlin is still best known as Rebecca Donaldson-Katsopolis of Full House and Fuller House fame.

However, Loughlin’s breakthrough role — and still her largest to date in terms of episodes — was playing Jody Travis on The Edge of Night for 543 episodes from 1980 to 1984. —M. Sulem

Kristin Davis, General Hospital

Kristin Davis; Inset: Kristin Davis on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images; Inset: ‎ABC

Although she grew up in Colorado and South Carolina, Kristin Davis is best known for playing characters who live in New York. Davis’ first major role was as Nurse Betsy Chilson in 19 episodes of General Hospital in 1991.

But the actress made a name for herself as Charlotte on HBO’s Sex and the City for six seasons, two movies, and the revival series, And Just Like That.—M. Sulem

Marcia Cross, The Edge of Night

Marcia Cross; Inset: Marcia Cross on ‘The Edge of Night’Credit: Tibrina Hobson/WireImage; Inset: Donna Svennevik/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Marcia Cross is best known for the primetime soap operas MelrosePlace and Desperate Housewives, so it’s no surprise she got her start on daytime soaps.

Cross had a short stint as Liz Corell on The Edge of Night in 1984; a one-off on Another World in 1986; and occasional appearances as Kate Sanders on One Life to Live from 1986 to 1988. Later, she’d have a notable part on Quantico. —M. Sulem

Lacey Chabert, All My Children

Lacey Chabert; Inset: Lacey Chabert on ‘All My Children’Credit: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic; Inset: Ann Limongello /Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Seven actresses played Bianca Montgomery at various points on All My Children, including Lacey Chabert, who held the role for 10 episodes from 1992 to 1993, when she was just 10 years old.

Chabert got her breakthrough only a year later as a star of Party of Five and made her mark in film as Gretchen Wieners of Mean Girls (2004) fame. She has since become a year-round lead in Hallmark movies. —M. Sulem

Amanda Seyfried, As the World Turns and All My Children

Amanda Seyfried on ‘All My Children’; Amanda Seyfried attends the 2024 MoMA Film Benefit in NYC on Oct. 23, 2024Credit: ABC/VIRGINIA SHERWOOD; Taylor Hill/WireImage

Another future “Plastic,” Amanda Seyfried kicked off her career on soap operas — having a two-episode arc as Lucinda Montgomery on As the World Turns in 2000, followed by a five-episode stint as Joni Stafford on All My Children from 2002 to 2003.

She made her film debut in Mean Girls, which launched a career including movies like Mamma Mia! (2008) and the 2018 sequel, Jennifer’s Body (2009), Les Misérables (2012), and Mank (2020), for which she earned an Oscar nomination. Seyfried has also frequented the small screen with notable parts on Veronica Mars, Big Love, and The Dropout (for which she won both a Golden Globe and an Emmy for her portrayal of Elizabeth Holmes). —J.M.

Melissa Fumero, One Life to Live

Melissa Fumero; Inset: Melissa Fumero on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images; Inset: Steve Fenn/Walt Disney Television via Getty Images

Playing Sgt. Amy Santiago on Brooklyn Nine-Nine has been Melissa Fumero‘s most famous role, but it hasn’t been her largest. Her eight seasons as Santiago didn’t surpass the 207 episodes Fumero compiled as Adriana Cramer on One Life to Live from 1998 to 2011. She also appeared as Adriana in a pair of episodes of All My Children in 2005.

Not only did the actress get her first major TV role on One Life to Live — back when she was known as Melissa Gallo — but the show introduced her to actor and model David Fumero, whom she married in 2007. —M. Sulem

Kyra Sedgwick, Another World

Kyra Sedgwick; Inset: Kyra Sedgwick on ‘Another World’Credit: Desiree Navarro/WireImage; Inset: Everett Collection.

Before her breakout role in the 1989 war biopic Born on the Fourth of July and her Golden Globe and Emmy-winning role as Deputy Chief Johnson on TNT’s The Closer from 2005 to 2012, Kyra Sedgwick‘s very first credit was playing Julia Shearer in 16 episodes of Another World from 1982 to 1983.

Tommy Lee Jones, One Life to Live

Tommy Lee Jones; Inset: Tommy Lee Jones on ‘One Life to Live’Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images; Inset: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Before his Oscar-winning turn in The Fugitive (1993) and starring roles in such films as Men in Black (1997), No Country for Old Men (2007),and Lincoln (2012), Tommy Lee Jones starred on One Life to Live from 1971 to 1975. He played Dr. Mark Toland, an ultimately troubled character who was shot and killed during a case of mistaken identity while en route to blackmailing Victor Lord. —M. Sulem

Naomi Watts, Home and Away

Naomi Watts; Inset: Naomi Watts on ‘Home and Away’Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage; Inset: ‎Seven Network

Although born in England, Naomi Watts spent much of her youth in Australia, where she got her start as an actress. Known best for films like Mulholland Drive (2001), and her Oscar-nominated performances in 21 Grams (2003) and The Impossible (2012), Watts actually began her career on TV.

In 1991, she did a 19-episode stint as Julie Gibson on the Australian soap opera Home and Away. —M. Sulem

Isla Fisher, Home and Away

Isla Fisher on ‘Home and Away’; Isla Fisher attends the London premiere of ‘Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy’ on Jan. 29, 2025Credit: Seven Network; Mike Marsland/WireImage

Apart from a few commercials and children’s TV shows, Isla Fisher got her start on Home and Away, where she played Shannon Reed in more than 300 episodes from 1994 to 1997.

The Australian actress later made it big in Hollywood, starring in a string of films such as Wedding Crashers (2005), Now You See Me (2013), Nocturnal Animals (2016), and more. —J.M.

Ellen Burstyn, The Doctors

Ellen Burstyn attends New York Women in Film and Television’s 39th annual Muse Awards in 2018Credit: Mike Coppola/Getty Images

Ellen Burstyn had a lot of one-off TV appearances early in her career, but her first substantial role was as Dr. Kate Bartok on The Doctors in 1965.

Burstyn won an Oscar nearly a decade later for her moving portrayal of the titular character in Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974). She has consistently been on screen since then, in films like Requiem for a Dream (2000) and on TV shows such as House of Cards and Law & Order: Organized Crime. —M. Sulem

Ted Danson, Somerset and The Doctors

Ted Danson attends the FYC event for ‘The Good Place’ in 2019Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

A pair of daytime dramas kicked off Ted Danson‘s career. From 1975 to 1976, Danson briefly played Tom Conway on Somerset and had a longer stint on The Doctors. On the latter soap, Danson initially played Dr. Chuck Weldon for seven episodes in 1975, but returned to the show as a completely different character, Mitch Pierson, in an even longer arc two years later.

Over the course of his lengthy career, audiences would come to know and love Danson in roles such as Sam Malone on Cheers and Michael on The Good Place. —M. Sulem

Eva Longoria, General Hospital

Eva Longoria; Inset: Eva Longoria and Doug Davidson on ‘General Hospital’Credit: Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; Inset: Cliff Lipson/CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Eva Longoria had a flair for the dramatic on her hit show Desperate Housewives, but it all started for her on daytime soaps. The actress landed a guest spot on General Hospital back in 2000 and went on to book a regular role on The Young and the Restless as Isabella Braña from 2001 to 2003. —D.K.

Christopher Reeve, Love of Life

Christopher Reeve; Inset: Christopher Reeve on ‘Love Life’Credit: Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images; Inset: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Christopher Reeve only had a handful of acting credits before he was cast as the star of Superman (1978), and one of those was a role on the long-running CBS soap Love of Life from 1974 to 1976. Reeve was one of the actors who played Ben Harper, and was just 23 years old when cast. —M. Sulem

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Marisa Tomei, As the World Turns

Marisa Tomei; Inset: Marisa Tomei on ‘As the World Turns’Credit: Donato Sardella/Getty Images; CBS via Getty Images

Oscar winner Marisa Tomei‘s first role on a TV series was Marcy Thompson in 18 episodes of As the World Turns in the mid-‘80s. Tomei would go on to star on the big screen in films like My Cousin Vinny (1992) — for which she won an Oscar — In the Bedroom (2001), and The Wrestler (2008). She also played Peter Parker’s Aunt May in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. —D.K.

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