10 Actors Who Brilliantly Reinvented Themselves

10. Emma Stone

Much like Jonah Hill (who almost made this very list), Emma Stone got her start in Hollywood by starring in 00s comedies such as Superbad (2007), Zombieland (2009), Easy A (2010) and Friends with Benefits (2011). Though a competent comedy actress who is often the stand-out in her earlier films, it was clear going forward that she was destined for something bigger.

Her roles in The Amazing Spider-Man films (2012, 2014) and Crazy Stupid Love (2011) saw her begin to branch out her CV into more serious territory, but it wasn't until Birdman (2014) that she spread her wings (sorry) and became the actress fans now know.

Birdman was followed by a string of dramatic roles, including Battle of the Sexes (2017) and The Favourite (2018), but to date her greatest performance is that of Mia Dolan in the romantic musical La La Land (2016). This role won her an Academy Award, and confidently cemented herself as one of this generations best actors, able to move between genre without fault and offer up just as many tears as she can laughter.