With over 167 million subscribers, Netflix has the power to turn unknowns into superstars virtually overnight — and that’s been the case for the stars of several of the streaming service’s original television series and films. Some Netflix notables had been pursuing acting for years before getting their big break, while others had gotten their start in other industries before gaining small-screen fame.
See what the stars of “Stranger Things,” “You,” “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and more were doing before they were famous.
Last updated: Aug. 7, 2020
Uzo Aduba
Uzo Aduba was relatively unknown when she was cast as Suzanne “Crazy Eyes” Warren on “Orange Is the New Black.” Before she got the small-screen role, Aduba was predominantly a stage actress, having starred in several off-Broadway shows as well as the Broadway show “Godspell.”
Penn Badgley
Penn Badgley’s acting career started long before he appeared