9 Surprising Movie Actors Who did Stints on Broadway

Movies stars come from all different acting backgrounds. Many get their start under the bright lights of a stage, and those who don't often dabble in theater after they've established their acting careers. Making it onto Broadway is one of the biggest accomplishments in an actor's career, but getting good reviews is a whole other challenge. Here are nine surprising actors who did stints on Broadway.

1. Brendan Fraser

   Brendan Fraser may be best known for playing Rick O'Connell in the Mummy film series, but the funnyman broke away from movies in 2010 to try his hand at theater. Fraser made his Broadway debut in the comedy Elling, playing Kjell Bjarne, a Norwegian man who has spent many years in a mental institution and befriends his roommate Elling, played by Denis O'Hare. Elling is a comedic and affectionate story of the two men's adaptation to everyday life. Despite the box office success of Elling, the play received mixed reviews and shut down after just one week.

2. Denzel Washington

   Over the past few years, Denzel Washington has scaled back on making movies, allowing him to do other projects like his 2010 Broadway appearance in the play Fences. Washington plays the lead role of James Earl Jones, for which he earned a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play. This wasn't Washington's first go-round at onstage performance. During the '90s, Denzel starred in the title role of Shakespeare's Richard III, and returned to Broadway in 2005 to play Marcus Brutus in Julius Caesar.

3. Scarlett Johansson

   Scarlett Johansson ditched the big screen for a period in 2010 to make her Broadway debut in a revival of the bleak drama A View from the Bridge. Johansson plays Catherine, a naive 17-year-old who is trying to understand her effect on men, particularly her admiring uncle, played by Liev Schreiber. Johannson gave a compelling performance that earned her a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.

4. Jude Law

   Jude Law showed audiences his acting range and thespian capabilities with his surprising stint on Broadway in 2009. Law took on one of the most iconic stage roles in theater, playing the title character in Shakespeare's Hamlet. Law received rave reviews for his portrayal of Hamlet and the play traveled from London's West End to New York's Broadway.

5. Christina Ricci

   In 2010, Christina Ricci took a break from the big screen to make her Broadway debut as Mandy in Time Stands Still, alongside cast members Laura Linney, Brian d'Arcy James, and Eric Bogosian. Ricci received rave reviews for her compelling performance and natural ease on stage.

6. Daniel Radcliffe

   When Daniel Radcliffe got a break from playing a boy wizard in the Harry Potter series, he decided to shock audiences for a spell on Broadway. Radcliffe starred in Thea Sharrock's revival of Peter Shaffer's psychodrama Equus. Radcliffe, then 19 years old, took the odd role of Alan Strang, a young stableboy who commits disturbing crimes against horses. In addition to the bizarre character choice, Radcliffe agreed to scenes of full frontal nudity. It was a bold move that earned him a great deal of respect in the theater world.

7. Katie Holmes

   Katie Holmes made a surprising shift to theater in 2008, starring in Arthur Miller's All My Sons, opposite John Lithgow, Diane Wiest, and Patrick Wilson. Holmes' big Broadway debut got many respectable reviews for her poignant delivery and striking appearance on stage.

8. Bill Pullman

   In 2009, Bill Pullman took a break from his typical roles as the ineffectual nice guy and returned to his theater roots. Pullman starred in the Broadway revival of Oleanna, opposite Julia Stiles. Oleanna is a Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a college professor and his female student, who become embroiled in a fight for justice after the student accuses him of sexual exploitation. The play and Pullman's performance received mixed reviews from critics.

9. Julia Roberts

   Julia Roberts took a break from the green screen to make her Broadway debut in 2006 in the highly-anticipated play, Three Days of Rain, opposite Bradley Cooper and Paul Rudd. It was one of the most hyped celebrity appearances in Broadway history, but the reviews failed to live up to its initial excitement.

Taken From Online Degree