Top 10 Actors You Didn't Know Started on Soaps
#10: Amanda Seyfried
Most people came to know Amanda Seyfried as the hilariously stupid Karen from “Mean Girls.” But those who watch soap operas may have recognized her as Lucy Montgomery from “As the World Turns.” Seyfried began her stint on the show in 1999 and remained a series regular for two years until she was fired. No, really; Amanda told BackStage in 2010 that she was “so bad they had to ship [her] off.” She finally got her big break when she auditioned for the role of Regina in a little movie called “Mean Girls.” While she obviously didn’t get THAT role, the producers decided to cast her as Karen instead. Her character and her quotes were instantly iconic, and Amanda became a star.
#9: Judith Light
Acclaimed TV actress Judith Light began her acting career on stage, as she starred in various Broadway productions throughout the 70s. However, her career quickly hit a brick wall and a destitute Light considered quitting. Luckily, fate came knocking with the soap opera “One Life to Live.” While Judith didn’t want to do a soap opera, she couldn’t turn down the $350-a-day salary that was on offer. Judith was eventually recast as Karen Wolek, and she stayed on the series for six years. And while she won two straight Daytime Emmys for her work on the show, it wasn’t until 1984 and “Who’s the Boss?” that Judith became a household name.
#8: Hayden Panettiere
Hayden Panettiere has been in showbusiness for most of her life. She was only eleven months old when she began appearing in commercials, and she landed the role of Sarah Roberts on “One Life to Live” when she was five. She played Sarah for three years until she moved to another soap opera called “Guiding Light,” where she won a Special Recognition Award from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (oh, her character had leukemia, by the way). Following a few more roles, Hayden finally received national attention for her work as Claire on “Heroes.” You all remember “save the cheerleader, save the world!” It must have been a rush going from soap operas to being the subject of TV’s greatest tagline.
#7: Demi Moore
Demi Moore dabbled in a few jobs before she found work as an actress. First, she dropped out of high school and began working as a pin-up girl. In the early 80s, she co-wrote three songs with her husband Freddy Moore, and in 1981 she appeared on the cover of a pornographic magazine called Oui. It was only after this that she began acting, and she quickly landed the role of Jackie Templeton on “General Hospital.” She stayed on the soap until 1983 and became a movie star only two years later thanks to her role in “St. Elmo’s Fire.” She was subsequently labeled a member of the iconic Brat Pack along with the likes of Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall.
#6: Marisa Tomei
Marisa Tomei became famous for her Academy Award-winning role as Mona Lisa Vito in “My Cousin Vinny.” Or maybe we should say infamous, because this is still considered one of the most controversial and debated Oscar wins in Academy history. But before all that craziness, she was young Marcy Thompson in “As the World Turns.” Marisa played Marcy for two years, from 1983 to 1985, before leaving to star in the NBC sitcom “A Different World,” although she was only on the show for one of its six seasons. It wasn’t until 1992 that she received her big break with “My Cousin Vinny,” and her life changed forever.
#5: Robin Wright
Robin Wright is one of the most acclaimed actresses working in television. And as you can probably imagine, her talents were obvious from the very beginning. In 1984 she starred as Kelly Capwell in the soap opera “Santa Barbara,” and she would play Kelly for an astounding 538 episodes over the next four years. Her performance garnered critical acclaim, and she was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards for her work on the show. She later transitioned to film with “The Princess Bride” and “Forrest Gump” before moving back to TV for “House of Cards.” We think it was a pretty good move for her career.
#4: Eva Longoria
We don’t think Eva originally wanted to be an actress, as she earned a degree in kinesiology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville in the late 90s. However, she later entered a talent show and was signed to an acting agent. This led to bit roles in “Beverly Hills 90210” and “General Hospital,” which in turn led Eva to the King of all soap operas, “The Young and the Restless.” It was here she played Isabella Braña for 148 episodes over two years. Eva was eventually written out of the show, but that was no matter. Only one year later she was on “Desperate Housewives” and making her way in the TV business.
#3: Sarah Michelle Gellar
Most of you remember Sarah Michelle Gellar from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” But believe it or not, she was actually quite a big name in the soap opera biz before garnering all that recognition. Following a few roles as a young girl, a 16-year-old Sarah starred as Kendall Hart in “All My Children.” While she only appeared in 28 episodes, she won the 1995 Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama Series. However, at the height of her “All My Children” fame, she quit and moved to Los Angeles to pursue other work. That “other work” quickly became “Buffy.”
#2: Jensen Ackles
Another actor known for fighting the supernatural is Jensen Ackles. He’s played Dean on “Supernatural” for well over ten years, which is much longer than his stint on “Days of Our Lives.” Jensen had to audition for the role of Eric Brady for so long that he briefly reconsidered a career in acting. However, he finally got the role in 1997, when he was 19 years old. Jensen stayed on “Days of Our Lives” for three years and was nominated for three Daytime Emmy Awards. He left the show in 2000 and landed over at Fox’s “Dark Angel,” signifying his entry into mainstream television. He hasn’t left us alone since. Just kidding, we love you, Jensen.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Kevin Bacon
Susan Sarandon
Ryan Phillippe
Laurence Fishburne
Meg Ryan
#1: Julianne Moore
Julianne Moore became a household name in the late 90s thanks to roles in “Boogie Nights” and “The Lost World: Jurassic Park.” However, she was acting long before she became a household name. After graduating with a BFA from Boston University, Moore earned a role in one episode of the soap opera “The Edge of Night.” The following year she was cast as half-sisters Frannie and Sabrina Hughes in “As the World Turns,” roles she would inhabit for three years. Unlike some actors, Moore fondly remembers her time on the soap, saying, “I gained confidence and learned to take responsibility.” “As the World Turns” gave us the Juliane Moore we know and love today.