10 Amazing Performances That Turned Teen Idols Into Legitimate Actors

2. Johnny Depp - Ed Wood

As hard as it may be to believe, there was once a point in Johnny Depp's career when he was just another dreamy, baby-faced teen heartthrob. His film career began back in the early 1980s, when he had a supporting role in A Nightmare On Elm Street (he was the one who was sucked into his bed and a torrent of blood splashed up onto the ceiling). He then went on to star in the hugely successful television show 21 Jump Street, but really wasn't satisfied. Depp was worried that he was going to be typecast, and actively worked to end his run on the show prematurely. His film roles after that were well-regarded, but they weren't really anything that would challenge his reputation as fodder for the inside of high school girls' lockers. Until he did Ed Wood, and everyone collectively realised exactly what he was capable of. His manic, eccentric performance as Hollywood's worst director is a joy to watch, and a sign of the ability that you could come to expect from the now-famous actor.