14 Actors and Actresses Who Were Popular, Disappeared for Years, and Are Now Shining Again

It is not very rare that even actors and actresses at the height of their careers begin to appear on the big screen less and less, preferring smaller roles or participating mainly in series. This happens for several reasons. Some end up dedicating themselves more to the family, others are “stuck” in a role or, even worse, in bad habits. And others get tired of the hectic schedule and endless shooting.

We, from awesome.club, we are genuinely happy when we see our favorite artists get their hands dirty and, with renewed vigor, get back to taking care of their film careers. In today’s selection, we pay homage to our heroes and we hope they won’t be long in showing up.

The handsome Josh Hartnett became famous after playing the military pilot in the movie Pearl Harbor. After the film’s exceptional success, the young American actor was highly sought after by several directors and starred in films such as Passion Under the Skin, Sin City and Checkmate.

Although very popular in the 2000s, after 2010 Hartnett lost popularity and only participated in low-budget films and TV shows, or played supporting roles.

In 2021, the actor reminded us of him by playing the armored car vigilante in Guy Ritchie’s sensational action film, Departed.

In 2004, Swank received an offer from Clint Eastwood to play the female lead in the sports drama Million Dollar Baby, which subsequently won the Academy Award for Best Picture of the Year. Swank won a statuette for Best Actress.

In the following years, Swank continued to participate in filming, but was not as active. Several times she took time off, mostly because of her father’s serious illness. But even so, the world saw her works in PS Eu Te Amo, A Condenação, I Am Mother, among others.

To the delight of her fans, from 2020 onwards, the actress began to appear on the big screen more often, as in the films The Hunt, Fatale and the series Away.

Drew Barrymore was familiar with the set from a very early age. Many still remember her in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 movie ET The Extra-Terrestrial. However, her best-known role and one that brought her the most popularity was the sassy redhead Dylan Sanders from Charlie’s Angels.

Since then, Barrymore has starred in some popular comedies such as Duplex, First Time, He’s Just Not That Into You, and Mixed Up.

Barrymore’s film career later came to a standstill. During this period, the actress devoted herself mainly to series. And only in 2020 was when she starred in the feature film The Stand In, in which she played the protagonist.

Russell Crowe, the star of stars, has an impressive professional record. Fans of the actor were looking forward to new premieres with his participation, and in 2020 Crowe finally appeared. Unexpectedly, he played a psychopathic maniac in the thriller Uncontrollable Fury.

In 2022, fans will be able to contemplate their idol again. Crowe is working on the role of Zeus in the movie Thor: Love and Thunder.

For playing the lead in Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction: A Time of Violence, John Travolta became one of the most popular actors at the time.

Thanks to that resounding popularity, he starred in many famous films and won dozens of awards. However, the actor appeared less and less in box office films. Few roles played by him in those days caused a standing ovation.

The actor was remembered again in 2020, when he starred in the TV series Die Hart, in which he played one of the protagonists. It is worth noting that at 67 years old Travolta looks more than great!

Jennifer, a petite woman with big brown eyes, is first and foremost remembered for her appearances in I Know What You Did Last Summer, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, Sweet Cheating and Legally Chic.

Probably Love Hewitt’s last best-known work was as the protagonist in the series Ghost Whisperer, broadcast from 2005 to 2010. Afterwards, she continued to participate in the series, but was no longer as popular.

Since 2018 Love Hewitt plays emergency service operator Maddie Kendall, one of the main characters in the series 9-1-1.

It is doubtful that there is anyone who does not know Jim Carrey. In the 90s and early 2000s, the actor never left the screen and was everyone’s favorite comic.

However, the last most famous film that Carrey starred in since 2010 was the comedy Daddy’s Penguins. All other feature films with the participation of the actor failed at the box office.

The actor was lucky again in 2020. One of the most anticipated films, Sonic: The Movie, was released with the protagonist played by Carrey. His character is a mad scientist who is obsessed with capturing the hedgehog.

It’s unfortunate, but this 42-year-old actor was “hostage” to a single role. The vampire Damon, the character he played in the popular series The Vampire Diaries, became fatal for Somerhalder, figuratively speaking.

After filming the series Somerhalder participated in some low-budget films, but only in 2019 he played the protagonist in the series Apocalypse V.

The actor’s most famous work is the role of the prankster Jim Halpert in the series The Office, broadcast from 2005 to 2013 and which won several awards and honors.

Subsequently, Krasinski’s works were not very successful, and directors did not come to him as often as he would have liked. Even so, on the professional’s list there are O Amor Não Tira Vacation, Distance We Go, My Best Friend’s Fiancé, O Grande Milagre and Terra Prometida.

In 2018, the thriller A Quiet Place was released, with the participation of Krasinski and Emily Blunt. It is remarkable that this time Krasinski was not only an actor, but also a screenwriter and director of the film.

The bright-looking actor is remembered by audiences for his roles in such box-office films as The Roadside, The Notebook, X-Men, Superman Returns and The Best of Me.

In 2016 Marsden participated in the science fiction series Westworld. Already in 2020 he played one of the main characters in the long-awaited animated feature film Sonic: The Movie. The second part of Sonic: The Movie is scheduled for 2022.

Even though he has been awarded at the Oscar, Golden Globe, BAFTA and many others, Penn is known for his rebellious spirit and impulsive character. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t gotten many significant roles over the past 10 years.

Even so, in 2019 Penn’s fans were able to contemplate the idol’s work in the drama The Genius and the Madman, in which he played a patient admitted to the psychiatric ward. Penn did very well in this work, being highly evaluated by both critics and the public.

In addition, Penn’s professional work contributed to the creation of Uma Lição de Amor, Sobre Meninos e Lobos and Milk: A Voz da Igualdade, among others.

The young actor is best known for playing the future Lord Voldemort, an 11-year-old boy named Tom Riddle in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

After Harry Potter, he got only a few minor roles in little-known films. Only in 2019 did they talk about the rising star again, when the melodrama After was released, in which Fiennes played the protagonist and even won the award for Best Drama Actor. It was there that he became popular and managed to win the hearts of fans.

The continuation of the story was shot in 2020 and 2021. Another part of the film is scheduled for 2022.

One of America’s best-known comedians, Marlon Wayans is remembered by audiences for his roles in Neighborhood Noise, Scary World and A Haunted House.

However, the actor’s repertoire is not limited to comedy films. Perhaps it might be a discovery to learn that he participated in Requiem for a Dream in 2000. In 2021, after a two-decade break, Wayans played one of the leads in the biographical drama Respect.

The return of which actors and actresses excited you the most?