Building on the previous post regarding whether success in cinema is achievable, it is important to clarify the circumstances that make a Hollywood career not just possible in principle, but also allow for a certain level of success.
To better understand the situation, we can categorize actors into groups based on their social background or the circumstances that influenced their future success.
Child Stars
How does one become an actor in Hollywood? It is no secret that children have the greatest advantage when starting an acting career in America. If we look at all famous Hollywood stars, at least 30% began their careers as children or teenagers. This figure, as you can imagine, is quite substantial.
This category includes not only those chosen through auditions among thousands of other children (such as Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, Kristen Stewart, Ryan Gosling, Emma Watson, Daniel Radcliffe, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brooke Shields, and Lindsay Lohan), but also child models whose chances of entering the industry are significantly higher than those trying the “front door” approach. One of the most famous actresses in this group is Milla Jovovich.
Success Through Connections (The “Nepotism” Factor)
Another category of celebrities worth noting is those who achieved fame through family ties. This group also accounts for roughly 30% of the industry.
How can this be explained? Firstly, everyone wants to be in the movies—including the daughters, sons, and nieces of famous directors, actors, and producers. A separate subtopic includes those who gain roles through personal relationships or by going to great lengths to secure a part.
Most would agree that Nicolas Cage is incredibly talented. However, it is hard to say how his career would have unfolded if his uncle weren’t the legendary Oscar-winning director Francis Ford Coppola.
Charlie Sheen is also talented—few would argue that. Yet, he entered the industry largely thanks to his father, the once-famous actor Martin Sheen.
Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Jennifer Aniston, Keanu Reeves, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, and many other famous actors used family connections in one way or another to land roles. This, of course, does not diminish their talent, but the fact remains…
And then there is the infamous producer Harvey Weinstein. Among his dozens of victims are those who still remain silent about what happened. One can only guess why.
The British Influence
One might think Los Angeles has no shortage of actors. However, this doesn’t stop actors from the UK, Australia, and Canada from regularly arriving in America and landing prominent roles.
Partly, this is because these countries are English-speaking. Directors looking for talent often turn to British agency databases. Furthermore, many films are set in different eras of English history, requiring actors with British accents for authenticity. A recent example: Nell Fisher and Jamie Campbell Bower are young British actors invited to join Seasons 4-5 of Stranger Things.
But it’s not just about language. Today, film production is no longer centered solely in Los Angeles. Excellent studio complexes exist in Vancouver, Wilmington, the Gold Coast (Australia), Budapest, and many other cities worldwide. For instance, the latest Star Wars films were shot at Pinewood Studios in Buckinghamshire, England. Major studios don’t limit themselves to American actors, especially since casting often depends on a director’s personal preference for supporting and episodic roles.
This is exactly how the children in Harry Potter and several other modern stars got their start. For projects filmed in Britain, casting—especially for non-lead roles—is often held in London rather than Los Angeles.
Another interesting fact: many British actors move to Hollywood for a new stage in their careers. Jason Statham, Tom Hardy, Tim Roth, Hugh Laurie, Gary Oldman, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jude Law, Martin Freeman, Robert Pattinson, Kate Winslet, Keira Knightley, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Emilia Clarke all share one thing: they didn’t go to Hollywood to become stars. They were already established actors in the UK and came to America for specific roles in major projects.
Australia and Canada
The situation with Australia and Canada is even more strategic. Since their domestic film markets are limited, local state-supported film funds often co-produce Hollywood projects. This partial financing comes with specific strings attached.
For example, a small studio or independent producer might seek funding for a new film. A Canadian or Australian film fund offers an investment of $500,000 or $1 million—but on the condition that the story and locations are set in Toronto or Sydney, or that a lead (or prominent) role is given to a Canadian or Australian actress.
This strategy is designed to stimulate tourism and develop the local industry. Given that Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Ryan Reynolds, Cate Blanchett, Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, and Liam Hemsworth all came from Australia or Canada, the strategy is clearly a success.
Self-Made Successes
The final significant group consists of those who reached the top of Hollywood on their own. Or, more accurately, through a stroke of luck, considering that casting usually depends on the director and (less frequently) the producer.
The vast majority of “self-made” stars are male. This can be attributed to the much more intense competition among aspiring actresses. Famous actors who broke into Hollywood as adults include Ashton Kutcher, Brad Pitt, Bruce Willis, Vince Vaughn, Anne Hathaway, Johnny Depp, Kevin Spacey, Matthew McConaughey, Dianna Agron, and Amber Heard.
In these cases, success often depends less on hard work and more on chance. One can have a striking appearance and spend years knocking on studio doors without luck. Or, one can essentially “win the lottery.”
Take Johnny Depp’s first role, for example. Wes Craven, the director of A Nightmare on Elm Street, simply asked his daughter who she would choose for the role of Glen. She pointed at Johnny Depp. That was it.