# I saw them before they were big stars and knew they had "it" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 16, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233 "2010-02-16T19:09:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/41 "2010-02-18T19:58:14Z")
When I saw Dracula 2000 I went and looked for other movies with Gerard Butler. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/42 "2010-02-18T19:58:58Z")
> [@Scumpup](#): > > I thought Arnold Vosloo had “it,” but I was wrong. I know! He’s had steady work, but after seeing him in _The Mummy_ movies, I expected a lot more. > [@](#): > > OTOH, I thought Jim Carrey was destined for the ash heap of syndicated TV, but I was wrong about that too. I’d put Carrey in the same category as Robin Williams (_Mork and Mindy_). Both of them were so manic, I figured they’d make it just on the force of their personalities. If they got a foot in the door, it’d be hell to get rid of them. They make their agents’ lives hell. Opposite from the OP, George Clooney made NO impact as Jackie’s boyfriend on _Roseanne_. He was utterly forgettable. My impression changed when he showed up on _ER_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/43 "2010-02-18T20:13:34Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Opposite from the OP, George Clooney made NO impact as Jackie’s boyfriend on _Roseanne_. He was utterly forgettable. My impression changed when he showed up on _ER_. This concept would make an excellent spinoff thread topic and I can think of quite a few of the same sort whose early work was dreadful but who have persevered to become Big Stars. I would almost have Bronson in that category, but he was always a better than average hood, creep, heavy or whatever. Would you do the honors and start that new thread, **AuntiePam**? ---
**Author:** ![infinitii](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e8c25b/32.png) [@infinitii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/infinitii)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/44 "2010-02-18T21:13:01Z")
I watched “Center Stage” back when it first came out and was very impressed with Zoe Saldana, enough to seek out all of her stuff whenever it would come out. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that she would eventually get huge (with “Star Trek” and “Avatar” coming so close together, she’ll only get bigger). ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/45 "2010-02-18T21:17:41Z")
I had to go back in my files of programs to be sure, but I did indeed see Zachary Quinto, the new Mr. Spock (and Sylar on Heroes) on stage when he was in high school, performing in _The Pirates of Penzance_. He won a local theatrical award for that. I don’t know that I knew that he had _it_ but I knew he had a great talent, and per my notes in the margins, amazing eyebrows. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233/46 "2010-02-18T21:19:53Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Would you do the honors and start that new thread, **AuntiePam**? [Done!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12134985#post12134985) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-saw-them-before-they-were-big-stars-and-knew-they-had-it/529233.md?page=2)