10 Amazing Performances That Turned Teen Idols Into Legitimate Actors

7. Tom Cruise - Born On The Fourth Of July

Even blockbuster actors like Tom Cruise had to start somewhere, and in this case, he had to labor for several years before growing into his role as box office royalty. He was first seen as a high school student in a number of teen films. But to look young enough to play that age (especially in Risky Business), he had to go on a special diet to give himself a little bit of baby fat, so naturally those days were limited. In the mid-80s, he started on the path towards the future with his work in Top Gun. And while he had several films (Rain Man chief among them) that proved he was a competent actor, Born On The Fourth Of July was the first to really showcase his talent. In it, he plays a disabled veteran returning home after the Vietnam War. His experiences in combat have left him disillusioned, and he becomes part of the anti-war movement. It's a remarkable performance, one that earned him an Academy Award nomination and paved the way for a major dramatic acting career throughout the '90s and beyond.