UpdateBot at 17:40, 25 February 2022

2022-02-25T17:40:12Z

New page

{{short description|Actor or actress in a performance which contributes significantly to their career}}
A '''breakthrough role''', also known as a '''breakout role''',<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael|title=Breakout role revisited|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/spot/article.aspx?articleID=20080801_282_D8_spancl9646|access-date=18 December 2011}}</ref> is a term in the [[film industry]] to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. The similar term "big break" indicates the occurrence for the performer and not the role itself. Such a moment in an actor's career may often occur some time after they begin acting, as their roles become more substantial. A breakthrough role is often a significant increase in importance in the actor's part in the film, such as moving up from a minor character to one of the main cast or a "high impact" role in a film which has mainstream success and results in the actor's widespread recognition and popularity.<ref>{{cite book|last=Squire|first=Jason E.|title=The Movie Business Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWf4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|date=1 May 2006|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (UK)|isbn=978-0-335-22002-1|page=226}}</ref> A breakthrough performance has also been defined as one which "attracts the attention of film critics, or receives rave reviews and is subsequently nominated for many major film awards".<ref>{{cite book|last=Porter|first=Lynnette|title=Benedict Cumberbatch, In Transition: An Unauthorised Performance Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyO7BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT170|date=3 June 2013|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78092-437-3|page=170}}</ref>

Most notable performers throughout the film and television industry can pinpoint the role which marked the beginning of their commercial success. For example, the [[Dollars Trilogy|''Dollars'' trilogy]] was the breakthrough role of [[Clint Eastwood]], while [[Sean Connery]]'s came with the [[James Bond]] film ''[[Dr. No (film)|Dr. No]]'', despite both actors having appeared in several films prior to this. Lord Rohan in ''[[The Man in Grey]]'' has been cited as [[James Mason]]'s breakthrough performance.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Mayer|first1=Geoff|last2=McDonnell|first2=Brian|title=Encyclopedia of Film Noir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsBHnZoyO4kC&pg=PA280|date=1 January 2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-33306-4|pages=280–}}</ref> The television film adaptation of ''[[Gideon's Trumpet]]'' has been referenced as [[Lane Smith]]'s breakthrough role, despite lacking a theatrical release.<ref>{{cite book|last=Scivally|first=Bruce|title=Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCKfBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA124|date=3 October 2007|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-3166-3|page=124}}</ref> Similarly, the [[BBC]] series ''[[Pennies from Heaven (TV series)|Pennies from Heaven]]'' has been highlighted as the breakthrough of [[Bob Hoskins]].<ref>{{cite book| last1= Welsh| first1= James Michael|last2=Whaley|first2=Donald M.|title=The Oliver Stone Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a-yFqzSB1oUC&pg=PA104|year=2013|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8108-8352-9|page=104}}</ref> [[Brandon Lee]]'s starring role in ''[[The Crow (1994 film)|The Crow]]'' has been cited as his breakout, though it was also his final film as he died when a prop gun malfunctioned on the set of the film.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lott|first=M. Ray|title=The American Martial Arts Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3r0yDJcHYtYC&pg=PA123|date=1 January 2004| publisher= McFarland| isbn=978-0-7864-1836-7|page=123}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Cettl|first=Robert|title=American Film Tales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBWQBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|date=12 October 2014|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-312-56680-4|page=51}}</ref>

==Awards==
''[[Movieline|Hollywood Life]]'', the [[Teen Choice Awards]], and several others give awards for best "Movie Breakout" for both an actress and actor.{{Citation needed|date=October 2016}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.maxim.com/entertainment/article/6-actors-defined-their-breakout-roles 6 Actors Defined By Their Breakout Roles] at ''[[Maxim (magazine)|Maxim]]''.
*[http://www.teenvogue.com/entertainment/movies/2014-12/stars-surprising-breakout-movie-roles Stars' surprising breakout movie roles] at ''[[Teen Vogue]]''

[[Category:Film and video terminology]]

{{film-term-stub}}

Breakthrough role - Revision history

UpdateBot at 17:40, 25 February 2022