These Oscar winners that transformed the show they were in

15/04/2021

Over the years, TV series have gained a lot of quality and have become serious competitors to motion pictures. A real evolution, which therefore allowed to attract great Hollywood actors on the small screen. Let's take a look at 6 stars of cinema who have sublimated television with their immense talent.

Adrien Brody – Peaky Blinders

In 2003, Adrien Brody received the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as Wladyslaw Szpilman in Roman Polanski's The Pianist. This golden statuette, a consecration for an actor in the film industry, did not prevent him from turning to the serial format. Nearly 15 years after his coronation, the American actor made an appearance in season 4 of the British program Peaky Blinders. There he slipped into the shoes of the Italian-born mobster Luca Changretta, offering the viewers a most convincing performance. His duel with the charismatic Thomas Shelby was therefore even tastier.

Meryl Streep - Big Little Lies

Academy Award for Best Actress recipient in 1983 for Alan J. Pakula's Sophie's Choice, and in 2012 for Phyllida Lloyd's The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep has also ventured onto the small screen several times. The latest was in 2019, when she joined the five-star cast of Big Little Lies Season 2. Facing Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon and Shailene Woodley, the American actress brilliantly took on the role of Mary Louise Wright, mother of the late Perry. Her portrayal of Celeste's irritating stepmother convinced fans hands down. We could then discover how the actress was brilliant at making herself truly despicable.

Matthew McConaughey – True Detective

2014 marked a turning point in his career. Oscar Best Actor winner for his performance in Jean-Marc Vallée's Dallas Buyers Club, Matthew McConaughey then wowed viewers with his role as a brilliant policeman in True Detective. Headlining the first season with Woody Harrelson, the Texan actor managed to give Nic Pizzolatto's program the charm and presence necessary to make it a classic of the genre. A grand success that then led to the production of two more seasons.

Russell Crowe – The Loudest Voice

Renowned for playing General Maximus in Ridley Scott's Gladiator, a role that won him an Oscar in 2001, Russell Crowe has taken on a completely different challenge in 2019: stepping into the shoes of Fox News founder Roger Ailes for the small screen. Headlining the Showtime mini-series The Loudest Voice, the New Zealand actor underwent an amazing physical transformation to offer the biopic as much realism as possible. A considerable amount of work for which he was subsequently rewarded at the 77th Golden Globes Awards.

Olivia Colman – The Crown

Successful with Yorgós Lánthimos' film The Favourite, for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 2019, Olivia Colman then replaced Claire Foy on the throne of The Crown. The British actress took over as Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix historical drama for seasons 3 and 4. This leading role allowed her to reach a different kind of viewers, but also to earn a nomination for the coveted Emmy Awards.

Nicole Kidman – The Undoing

Iconic Hollywood star Nicole Kidman often won over audiences and critics, until she received the ultimate accolade in 2003 with Stephen Daldry's The Hours. Since then, the Australian actress has tried different genres and formats and has been particularly focused on the small screen in recent years. After Big Little Lies in 2017, the 53-year-old actress immersed herself in David E. Kelley's drama The Undoing. A dark and emotional series, where she was able to deliver a heartbreaking performance alongside Hugh Grant.

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