Top 10 Exact Moments Celebs Became Beloved
#10: “I Am Iron Man”
Robert Downey Jr.
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After surviving his own personal problems and jail time, Robert Downey Jr. emerged a new man in the 2000s. His screen work gradually increased until he hit the role of a lifetime. Bringing his own sarcastic wit to the project, the actor shined as Tony Stark in the massive blockbuster “Iron Man.” The star’s final line in the movie capped off an incredible comeback for Downey Jr. From that point on, he was forever known as Stark, with all of his self-assured energy and coolness. He then spent roughly a decade in the part, building on his success from 2008, and eventually revisited the line in extremely dramatic fashion. Untold millions of Marvel fans have embraced him as an iconic figure.
#9: Oscars Speech
Olivia Colman
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Fans who love British television already knew this actress’ work before her turn in “The Favourite.” Nominated for Best Actress, Olivia Colman delivered a fantastic performance as Queen Anne. Her win surprised some people, but delighted everyone following her speech. She was unapologetically herself throughout the humorous appearance. Both acknowledging her family and fellow nominees, she offered up lots of love during this monologue. There are also many moments for quick jokes and asides that make this wonderfully chaotic. As a result, more people know her, and she’s developed a larger fanbase for her critically-acclaimed career.
#8: Ellen Interview
Dakota Johnson
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Nobody could’ve expected that a typical interview between these two would have created so much buzz. Actress Dakota Johnson joined Ellen DeGeneres on the latter’s show, but things derailed after the topic of birthday parties came up. Johnson revealed that DeGeneres was invited to her party despite a denial from the TV personality. The “50 Shades” star doesn’t play around as she lays it all out for the audience. Many people came to love the performer for her brutal honesty, not allowing her counterpart to get away with sweeping the revelation under the rug. No matter how you look at it, Johnson earned some internet credibility for her actions.
#7: Defending Britney Spears
Craig Ferguson
During a difficult time in the life of Britney Spears, the paparazzi and some in the media took advantage of the singer’s personal troubles. Late-night host Craig Ferguson decided to tackle the subject with a much different spin. Using his own journey to sobriety as a foundation, the presenter chooses to offer up a personalized look at Spears’ problem. He even sneaks in some jokes while talking about a serious topic. With the courage to deliver a poignant monologue, Ferguson received positive feedback for this compassionate speech. His “Late Late Show” wasn’t the most watched show on television, but it did garner a cult following due to his honesty and unique humor.
#6: “Sad Keanu” Meme
Keanu Reeves
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Starring in many different action movies and comedies, Keanu Reeves has been a mainstay in Hollywood for decades. His image became so famous that it even entered into internet folklore with a viral photograph. Seeing Reeves sitting alone, fans turned a picture into the “Sad Keanu” meme in 2010. It took on a whole other meaning as more stories came out about the actor’s acts of kindness and overall generosity. His lovable and poignant picture might not literally show him as being unhappy, but it has helped endear him to new generations of audiences. His legend has only grown over the years, as co-stars and many fans continue to support the notion that he’s more saintly than ordinary celebrities.
#5: 1994
Jim Carrey
Many performers would be jealous of the success of just one Jim Carrey release, but a trio of his finest comedies came out all in one year. By the time 1994 was over, the comedian was arguably the premier comedy star in Hollywood. “Ace Ventura” and “The Mask” revealed his wild side, full of wild physicality and scene-stealing vocal deliveries. “Dumb and Dumber” showcased his ability to share the screen with other talents like Jeff Daniels, along with creating some memorable comic set pieces. Few people have had such a life-changing year, sharing so much of their innate talents in a treasure trove of classics. Still regarded as one of his peak cultural moments, this year completely changed Carrey’s life for the better.
#4: Winning His Second Oscar
Tom Hanks
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From his time on TV to his hit comedies, Tom Hanks was an incredibly likable star by the end of the ‘80s. And then his venture into more dramatic acting garnered him an Oscar for “Philadelphia,” followed by another Best Actor win for “Forrest Gump.” The latter film arguably solidified his presence as the ultimate American everyman. Starring in these beloved movies helped to enshrine Hanks’ place on Hollywood’s A-list, and he accumulated enough goodwill to spend the next several decades doing all kinds of different projects. Even with all of his performances since then, the star still stands as one of the country’s favorite actors because of this success in the early ‘90s.
#3: Charitable Causes
Paul Newman
Both a massively popular star and an acclaimed actor, Paul Newman had decades of stellar work on the silver screen. He eventually decided to add charity to his already-busy schedule. This included launching the Newman’s Own brand, which began in the 1980s by selling salad dressing, with profits going to charities like the SeriousFun Children’s Network. Newman’s philanthropy only added to his legend. Before his death, the performer earned an Academy Award for Best Actor and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award for his steadfast work to help those in need. Many people now remember him as much for his philanthropy as his iconic roles.
#2: VMAs Fiasco
Taylor Swift
Back in 2009, Taylor Swift took the stage to accept an award at the MTV Video Music Awards. She never expected Kanye West to grab the microphone. Resulting in serious backlash for the rapper, Swift took the moment in stride. Even President Obama weighed in on the topic, but the media narrative basically sided with the “Love Story” vocalist. She took all of that energy and poured it back into her music. Already on top of the world, the artist entered the next decade with more success and decided to shake it off. Fans rallied around the singer and continued to make her one of the most beloved musicians of the century.
#1: Late Night Mess
Conan O’Brien
The host of NBC’s “Late Night,” Conan O’Brien eventually took over the network’s flagship “The Tonight Show” in 2009. The network originally offered former “Tonight Show” host Jay Leno a lead-in show in front of O’Brien’s new hosting gig, but soon tried to move Leno’s show to the main slot at 11:35 PM and bump O’Brien’s show a half-hour later. Feeling that O’Brien was being unfairly treated by NBC, audiences rallied around the lovable host. The presenter ultimately felt that the executives were making a mistake and decided to go his own way. Developing even more of a cult following, the funnyman became a symbol of integrity and level-headedness in the face of corporate shenanigans.
Did we forget another memorable moment when a celeb became beloved? Let us know in the comments below.
