10 Movie Actors Who Did Their Best Work On TV

There was a time when screen actors were divided into two groups: movie stars and TV stars. Not even a decade or so ago, most performers were limited to just one of those two mediums, with very little distance travelled between them.

However, the modern entertainment landscape is awash with movie stars venturing to the small screen.

The golden age of TV arguably began with shows like The Wire, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad and was accentuated by the rise of streaming. It's safe to say this movement changed the way viewers ingest entertainment. In many ways, TV has become just as cinematic as the big screen, with complex characters, compelling series' and stunning visuals.

Thanks to this, plenty of big actors are chomping at the bit to get themselves some tasty roles on TV. It makes sense as the longer runtimes and more intimate settings mean those stars can explore assets of themselves that go against what audiences have seen before.

The following performances prove that even if you make a name for yourself on the big screen, it's the small screen that allows you to do your best work.

Robin Wright has really hit the whole spectrum when it comes to her movie characters. On one side are captivating and loveable roles like Princess Buttercup in The Princess Bride, and on the other are complex but hated characters like Jenny from Forrest Gump. It's no stretch of the imagination to call her a phenomenal movie star.

However, while Wright has always given a lot in her films, even her most complex roles have felt underdeveloped or second-fiddle to the leads. Thankfully, House of Cards' Claire Underwood gave her plenty more meat to chew on.

This political firestorm of a show turned her reputation for playing love interests right on its head. Here, Wright was a strong and determined character who accepted no hand-outs and worked hard to achieve her goals. She was cold and calculating but seasoned with enough empathy to feel real.

Overall, this was the performance she was in desperate need of, as it propelled her career into its next stage. Claire Underwood made her a screen icon and was a fantastic example of the kind of roles she should have been playing from the beginning.