10 Actors Who Brilliantly Reinvented Themselves

Though it may be hard to remember now, but there was once a time when Bryan Cranston was just the dad from Malcolm in the Middle. Part of the show from 2000 to 2006, Cranston received rave review for his performance.

But despite the show's success, Cranston struggled to make a mark in the movies. He had a brief role in Saving Private Ryan (1998) and Little Miss Sunshine (2006), but between the 90s and the early 2010s he really was a TV actor, and looked destined to stay that way for the remainder of career once Malcolm in the Middle came to an end.

But then, it happened. In 2008, Breaking Bad came hurtling onto peoples' TV screens, with Cranston portraying chemistry-teacher-turned-meth-dealer Walter White. Breaking Bad was of course a rousing success, and is today seen as one of the greatest shows of all time. Starring in it for five seasons, Cranston gave one of TV's best-ever performances, and won himself four Emmys in the process.

During the show's run, Cranston was able to make his way more successfully into the movies, with roles in Argo (2012) and Godzilla (2013) being particular stand-outs. After the show's end, the actor went on to star in the biopic Trumbo (2015), for which he was nominated for an Oscar. Since then, his movie roles have come quick and fast, and it's safe to say he's not leaving our screens any time soon.