At the beginning of the century, the careers of some of these actors and actresses started skyrocketing, while others were already at the peak of their popularity. The whole world followed their adventures on-screen, and some of us even had posters of them plastered all over our bedrooms.
We’ll always remember our favorite movies and characters as young, hot, and full of vigor; however, no matter how much they try, nothing can stop time. Some managed to keep their charm thanks to god-like genes, while others relied on plastic surgeons or just the good-old aging process. No matter what, it’s always interesting to remember what iconic actors and actresses looked like back then and what they are like now.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio
During the filming of “The Beach,” Leo DiCaprio was at the peak of his popularity after the success of the “Titanic.” Fans of the young actor eagerly awaited his new movie, and they were rather disappointed. “The Beach” was not well received by critics or the public, but Leo pulled through and is still very active in Hollywood.
2. Cameron Diaz
In the early 2000s, Cameron Diaz starred in several high-grossing projects almost every year. She became a big star after the release of “The Mask,” and after that, every movie with her brought millions of dollars to the box office. But in 2014, Cameron retired from acting. Some believe that the last straw for her was the comedy “Home Video,” but Cameron said she was tired of the grind and the pesky paparazzi.
3. Brad Pitt
“Fight Club” opened the door to showbiz for Brad Pitt wide-open. Before “Fight Club,” he was treated as more of a romantic type, but after showing the world he could do more, there was no turning back.
4. Sandra Bullock
The 2000 movie “Miss Congeniality” tells a story about an FBI agent going undercover to stop the terrorists threatening to blow up the beauty pageant. It’s nothing mind-blowing, but it was enough to re-establish Sandra as the quirky badass. And looking at her recent photos, she would still win that competition!
5. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise’s role in “Vanilla Sky” turned his career upside down. He starts off as a kind of heartthrob who has everything, including his own publishing house. However, the good thing doesn’t last, and he gets into a terrible car accident. Now Tom’s character has to decide what to do with his life because it will never be the same again. Stories like that proved that Cruise could not only do great action but was also phenomenal at displaying drama.
6. Halle Berry
The 2001 movie “Monster’s Ball,” about a family of executioners, was one of Halle Berry’s earliest hits. Not only did it tug on the heartstrings, but it also showed that preparing people for their last day is really creepy. Either way, Halle did an amazing job back, but more recently, her roles have been questionable.
7. Russell Crowe
The legendary hit movie “Gladiator” brought Russel Crowe all the fame in the world, even though the actor had already gotten his first Oscar nomination a year before. In 2001, Crowe finally won the most prestigious award in the film industry for the role of Maximus.
8. Sarah Jessica Parker
“Sex and the City” started airing in 1998, but it peaked in the 2000s. Girls everywhere dreamed of being at least a bit like Carrie, played by actress Sarah Jessica Parker. That crazy fashionista looked both silly and attractive at the same time.
9. George Clooney
The handsome Clooney, despite his age, still continues to sweep the ladies off their feet. The 2001 movie “Ocean’s Eleven” was an incredible success worldwide and earned more than 444 million dollars at the box office. We can safely assume it’s all thanks to the stellar cast and Clooney in particular.
10. Angelina Jolie
In 2009, Angelina Jolie was named the highest-paid actress in Hollywood. It took her about ten years to get to this point. In the 1990s, she rocked the dreams of young nerds appearing as Lara Croft, and in 2005 — the action hit “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” which, admittedly, didn’t bring her much recognition, but she did appear on the cover of Vogue three times in the 00s. And look at her now! Still beautiful, still rich, still an amazing actress.
