The movie choices that made stars

Steve Carrell

Helen Herimbi

Our favourite Hollywood hotties haven’t always sizzled. Whether they are an Oscar-winning actress or an awkwardly funny actor (we’re looking at you, Steve Carrell), they’ve had to play roles that could have gone either way.

Their roles could send them down a path of anonymity, or turn them into an overnight household name. Before they persevered and became who they are today, they had some tough decisions to make about the roles they took on as nobodies.

This is what The Role That Changed My Life, which airs on TopTV’s Star! channel on Sundays, is all about.

The American show was popular in 2008, but although it’s now somewhat of an oldie, it’s a goodie. It zones in on the turning points that made famous people into who they are now.

Each episode has a theme and features the stories of three celebrities. The themes are sizzling, funny and romantic.

For instance, one episode is titled, I Became an Instant Sex Symbol. Guess who the three Hollywood A-listers featured in that episode are?

Okay, you’ve twisted my arm, so I’ll tell you: Sharon Stone for ‘Basic Instinct’, obviously, Catherine Zeta-Jones for ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and Cameron Diaz for ‘The Mask’.

That means Salma Hayek was not included. Don’t be sad just yet, the hot Latina is featured in a more credible episode – one titled I Was More Than a Pretty Face for her portrayal of Frida Kahlo in Frida.

You can also look forward to the stories of Jennifer Lopez, Isla Fisher and Rupert Everett, who feature in I Was the Life of the Wedding Party.

The most interesting episode – which has yet to be aired in coming weeks – is I Finally Got a Date. Shame on you if you laughed at the title.

The actors who are put under the spotlight in this episode are Carrell, Minnie Driver and Kevin James.

If we were to be honest, we would have to say that some of the Hollywood actors included in this series aren’t all that memorable. Sure, there are the usual suspects – Will Smith, Sigourney Weaver, Halle Berry, Robert De Niro and others – but there are also glimpses at the roles that people like Brandon Routh took.

But that’s a tiny quibble in a series that is quite insightful.

‘The Role That Changed My Life’ is on Star! (TopTV channel 179) every Sunday at 7am.