Hayden Christensen
Hayden Christensen was one of the most promising young actors of the 2000s. He gained recognition for his roles in films like “Shattered Glass,” “Awake,” and the “Star Wars” trilogy. However, his performance in the “Star Wars” films received criticism, impacting his career. Instead of advancing in Hollywood through the popular franchise, Hayden had to bear the burden of its perceived failure. Over time, opinions on Christensen shifted, with many attributing his shortcomings as an actor to poor dialogue and direction from George Lucas.
After a rehabilitation in the eyes of the audience, Hayden began to be noticed again, starring in films like “Little Italy” and “The Last Man,” culminating in his return to “Star Wars.” He reprised his role in the “Obi-Wan Kenobi” series and later in “Ahsoka.”
Danny Lloyd
Danny Lloyd gained fame for his role in the film “The Shining.” Despite appearing in one of the scariest horror films, the filming experience did not scare him, as Stanley Kubrick took care to shield him from the horrors and even played down frightening scenes, making the six-year-old believe he was in a dramatic film. However, Danny did not pursue a career in acting.
In 1984, he ended his acting career, focused on education, and eventually became a biology professor. He only appeared in a documentary about the making of “The Shining” and made a cameo in “Doctor Sleep.”
Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan was a romantic comedy queen in the ’80s and ’90s, starring in films like “When Harry Met Sally,” “You’ve Got Mail,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” and “City of Angels.” However, her presence on the big screen diminished in the 2000s, and by the 2010s, she disappeared from the mainstream audience. The reasons for her disappearance are attributed to unsuccessful plastic surgeries, which altered her appearance, and Ryan’s decision to devote more time to her children, explaining her absence from the big screen since 2015.
Meg Ryan’s fans can expect to see her again in 2023 in the film “What Comes Next,” where she stars alongside David Duchovny.
John Cusack
John Cusack was never a globally renowned actor, seemingly prioritizing roles he wanted over pursuing fame. The late 2000s were golden for him, with roles in “1408” and “2012,” gaining popularity with the mass audience. However, his career took a downturn afterward.
Most of Cusack’s films became low-budget and lesser-known productions that failed to recoup their budgets. Cusack expressed disillusionment with Hollywood in 2014, criticizing the industry’s abundance of producers for each film.
Sam Worthington
Sam began his acting career in Australia, moving to Hollywood in 2005. Within four years, he gained immense popularity with films like “Avatar,” “Clash of the Titans,” and “Terminator Salvation.” However, Worthington unexpectedly disappeared from the spotlight, struggling with the stress of sudden fame and loss of anonymity.
He occasionally appeared in various films until reprising his role in “Avatar: The Way of Water.” Afterward, offers started pouring in again, and as of now, his filmography is scheduled until 2031.
Jennifer Love Hewitt
Jennifer made her debut on the small screen with series, but she gained popularity in the big screen with the cult slasher film “I Know What You Did Last Summer.” After the sequel, she appeared in several less significant films and then returned to television as an established actress. Her breakthrough on the small screen came with the series “Ghost Whisperer” and continued with “The Client List.”
However, Jennifer began to lose popularity, taking a three-year hiatus in 2015 due to pregnancy. She returned in 2018 with the series “9-1-1: Emergency Service.”
