The art of the celebrity comeback: 8 stars who clawed their way back to the spotlight

Brendan Fraser was one of the most reliable stars of the 1990s and early 2000s. He did drama (School Ties, With Honour, Gods and Monsters), comedy (Encino Man, George of the Jungle) and action (the Mummy franchise, Journey to the Centre of the Earth).

Fraser’s soaring career went crashing down after a chain of critical failures, lawsuits, and sexual assault allegations in which he was the accuser. In 2018, the Bedazzled actor revealed that Philip Berk, then-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, touched him inappropriately. Fraser believed this caused him to be blacklisted. The stress of the exposure, as well as a messy divorce and the death of his mother, plunged him into depression.

The ‘Brenassaince’ started after Fraser was hired by Steven Soderbergh in 2021’s No Sudden Move. He was further catapulted back to the limelight with Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale (2022). This role earned Fraser the Oscar for Best Actor, the first Canadian to do so.

Winona Ryder tops the list of It Girls from the ’90s. She was beautiful, yes, but it was a kind of allure that was relatable but enigmatic—and also a bit dark and ethereal. Her romance with Johnny Depp only added to her appeal. Ryder had a string of successes including Edward Scissorhands, The Age of Innocence, Reality Bites, and Little Women—the latter earned her an Oscar nomination.

In 2001, Ryder, clinically depressed, began using painkiller medication that clouded her judgement (the doctor who prescribed it would later have his license revoked). That same year, she was arrested on shoplifting charges; videos of her cutting tags off items at Saks Fifth Avenue circulated in the media and effectively destroyed her career. She was sentenced to three years of probation, 480 hours of community service, US$3,700 in fines, and US$6,355 in restitution to the department store. She also had to attend psychological and drug counselling.

After a respite, Ryder returned to the industry only to discover that it was a changed environment—not welcoming to women her age. She took small roles in blockbusters, such as Star Trek (2009) and Black Swan (2010), but it was her role as Joyce Byers in Stranger Things (2016) that jumpstarted her career. More recently, she’s starred in Haunted Mansion (2023) and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (2024).

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Before the Brenaissance, there was the McConaissance. It may not seem like it now but Matthew McConaughey used to be a one-note wonder. His roles served a rom-com template, playing a happy-go-lucky leading man in The Wedding Planner (2001), How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003), Failure to Launch (2006), Fool's Gold (2008), and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009). The success of this typecasting, however, was short-lived.

In a few short years, McConaughey pivoted his career, opting out of light-hearted projects in favour of more challenging ones. His performances in films like The Lincoln Lawyer (2011), Mud (2012), and Magic Mike (2012) marked the beginning of this transformation. It culminated with his Academy Award-winning portrayal of Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club (2013), where he played an HIV-positive man fighting for access to experimental treatment.

He would reinforce this gritty new image in Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar and the critically acclaimed HBO series True Detective—both in 2014—further cementing his place as a dramatic powerhouse.

Like Downey, Drew Barrymore’s career fell victim to the usual perils of childhood fame. Having come from an acting family, Barrymore was shooting commercials as early as 11 months old. Her memorable portrayal on E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) also cemented her in pop culture. At nine years old, she earned a Golden Globe nomination for Irreconcilable Differences (1984)—the same year, she started drinking. Soon after, she started doing drugs. Barrymore faced highly publicised struggles with substance abuse as a teenager but started overcoming them in her 20s.

She first redefined her image in the 1990s with standout roles in The Wedding Singer (1998), Ever After (1998), Charlie’s Angels (2000), and 50 First Dates (2004). Barrymore also co-founded Flower Films, producing successful projects like Donnie Darko (2001) and Never Been Kissed (1999), in which she also starred.

In the 2010s, Barrymore, now a mother, stepped outside her sweet rom-com image with her 2017 Netflix series Santa Clarita Diet. Three years later, she launched The Drew Barrymore Show, the perfect platform to showcase signature warmth, authenticity, and humour.

Ke Huy Quan’s career followed the trajectory of many child stars—it lost momentum as soon as he hit puberty. Quan rose to fame as a child actor in the 1980s, acting alongside Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) and the adventure flick The Goonies (1985). However, the roles dried up as he grew older. It also didn’t help that Asian representation wasn’t exactly a priority in the industry at the time.

Frustrated, Quan stepped away from acting in the 1990s and transitioned behind the camera. He worked as a stunt coordinator and assistant director for films like X-Men (2000). His turning point came after watching Crazy Rich Asians (2018), which signalled to him Hollywood’s readiness for Asian performers. Soon, he landed a role in Everything Everywhere All At Once (2022), a film that would not only mark his return but elevate him to new heights. His heartfelt performance as Waymond Wang won him numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar.

In case you missed it: 5 things to know about 2023 Oscar winner and ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ actor Ke Huy Quan

Keanu Reeves has never acted for fame or money, which may alter his definition of success. His career was steadily gaining traction thanks to the cult following he received from projects like Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989) and Point Break (1991). The pivotal moment in his filmography came in 1994 when he was cast in the action thriller Speed with Sandra Bullock. This transformed him from a kooky favourite to a leading man.

Reeves became an icon playing Neo in the original Matrix trilogy (1999 to 2003). However, his career took a dip after several high-profile flops, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008), Man of Taichi (2013), and 47 Ronin (2013). The latter is one of the biggest blockbuster fails of all time.

Reeves’ resurgence came with John Wick (2014), a sleeper hit that somehow revitalised his career. The action thriller became a cultural phenomenon, showcasing his ability to blend emotional depth with intense action. It also launched a franchise that continues to be a success.

On a side note, Reeves starred alongside Ryder and Downey in A Scanner Darkly (2006), a positively reviewed film directed by Richard Linklater. Unfortunately, it underperformed at the box office.

Cameron Diaz was one of the highest-paid superstars in the early 2000s. The half-Cuban beauty rose to fame in the late 1990s thanks to performances in The Mask (1994), My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), and There’s Something About Mary (1998). She had a steady gig with the Shrek franchise and earned millions from Charlie’s Angels. While not all her roles received critical acclaim, her body of work showcased a vast range that includes drama, comedy, and action.

By the mid-2010s, Diaz started to step away from the spotlight. She explained that she felt unfulfilled by the projects she was working on and sought a more balanced, meaningful life. She later announced her semi-retirement from Hollywood, opting to focus on personal endeavours. This was also prompted when she and husband Benji Madden became parents in 2019, then again in 2024.

Diaz returned to acting in 2025 with a spy thriller aptly titled Back in Action. According to interviews, she had been refusing scripts for a decade, but the plot and getting to act again with Jamie Foxx (her co-star in Annie) sealed the deal. Though the film isn't impressing critics, it did gain 46.8 million views during its opening weekend, proving that Diaz's star power has yet to dull. The actress has yet to announce whether this project is a one-time deal or whether she will return to the industry full time.

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