I was watching early interviews of young Hollywood stars like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Julia Roberts, Sandra Bullock, and Johnny Depp, and it was fascinating to see how different their energies felt before they became huge stars.
Most of them looked a bit media-untrained, like they were still getting used to giving interviews.
- Julia Roberts felt naturally warm and charming, like the camera already loved her.
- Brad Pitt came across more quiet and shy, with that cool and mysterious vibe.
- Will Smith already had a lot of humor in a playful and entertaining way.
- Sandra Bullock also felt shy like Pitt. etc
But Tom Cruise felt completely different from all of them.
He looked like a 'man on a mission'. Even in those early interviews, it almost felt like he was dominating the interviewer with his focus, eye contact, and confidence. He had this intensity that made it seem obvious he was going to become one of the biggest stars.
Did you ever get that feeling from any young Hollywood actor/actress- that they were clearly destined to become one of the biggest stars?
Who gave you that vibe the most?
Posted by stan_films
26 Comments
I love how unflattering that photo of young Johnny Depp is lol
Sandra Bullock for sure, endlessly charming and funny from day one. I’d put Jennifer Lawrence on the list too.
Paul Rudd
Calling him an “actor” is generous, but I remember watching a young Harry Styles audition for X Factor (like, after 1D had formed but before they broke up and he broke out) and I remember thinking, like… His voice was still pretty unpolished at the time, but he already had that “it” factor and charisma just watching him chat with the judges. I could completely see why they brought him back and put him into a group.
He clearly wasn’t ready to be a solo artist yet at the time, but the guy was born to be a star.
Madonna. Watch any interview when she was just beginning. The confidence and pure IT factor is off the charts
Robin Williams
Leo and River Phoenix. It was obvious from childhood interviews and films that they were future stars
I like ethan hawke’s old interviews, he had a vibe to him
https://preview.redd.it/54kpr6u9mkxg1.png?width=1080&format=png&auto=webp&s=863d8a728ffb9d59423add246684d4d612964e17
Tom Hanks has that dorky charm going all the way back to Bosom Buddies anything he ever did you were kinda rooting for him. Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise were always gonna be hearthrobs. Julia Roberts is girl next door charming and pretty. That any of them can actually act was a bonus
rewatched Tom Hanks in Big the other day and you can see why people went wild over him.
tom cruise
Julia’s hair😍
I remember watching an as-then-unknown Ryan Gosling in Murder By Numbers and I was blown away by his charisma.
Drew Barrymore on tonight show with Johnny Carson. She was around 7 and was completely charming.
I remember when Entertainment Tonight interviewed Cameron Diaz before “The Mask” came out and she was like “I’m gonna be a star!” and she was right
Not just an actor but a media presence in general. Ru had that It factor from the beginning and it’s no surprise that she turned drag into a global spectacle
Natalie Portman as a kid in interviews promoting The Professional was adorable and charming and smart with a big laugh, and had big star energy back then.
Amanda Bynes
Emma Stone. She was always charming, charismatic and down-to-earth in the way that we want all Hollywood starlets to be.
Ryan Gosling had main character energy
https://preview.redd.it/n014eabgukxg1.png?width=1166&format=png&auto=webp&s=bdbec70980b937a3f4d6b0fb8f8e70d4f3e44a5e
https://preview.redd.it/dmyotnlfukxg1.jpeg?width=706&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b2fc3c37aeef6d7ec55597ef3e6244ccb2b954d7
Angelina Jolie in Gia.
Mmmmmm Sandra!
Jodie Foster, Denzel Washington, Kirsten Dunst, Angelina Jolie, Leonardo Dicaprio
Audrey Hepburn did a screen test in 1951 for Roman Holiday that includes an interview bit.: https://youtu.be/K-pxY90Y9z4
When she smiles at 2:52 you know how and why she got the lead role despite having never been in a film before.
Sorry that is not young Johnny Depp. That’s ‘i’ve already done a bunch of movies’ face. His early years he was much softer, cheekbones and chin less well defined.