In Focus

In Focus: Brad Pitt Premiered 06/15/2007 He started out in a chicken suit, got Oscar attention by playing a maniac and spent a whole lot of screen time begging to be hit. This guy goes to great lengths to take your mind off his looks.
In Focus: Elisha Cuthbert Premiered 06/08/2007 Abducted on "24," underestimated in "The Girl Next Door" and tortured in "Captivity," she's earned the right to inflict a little pain in "My Sassy Girl."
In Focus: Steve Carell Premiered 06/01/2007 His "Office" personality is (mercifully) put on, and that "Evan Almighty" beard is movie magic — but "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" chest hair is all real. We're not sure about the screaming.
In Focus: George Clooney Premiered 05/25/2007 There was a time when this guy was best known for a haircut. A dozen films, a handful of Oscar nominations and a gold statue later, he's way past Dr. Dreamy.
In Focus: Breakthrough Performance Premiered 05/18/2007 A pageant princess, a warrior queen, a mean girl, a very bad boy, a perfect son and a dancing king all made their mark this year. Who will take the prize?
In Focus: Katherine Heigl Premiered 05/11/2007 Being stuck with Seth Rogen for life may sound less than appealing, but when you've pretended your dad is your boyfriend to impress a guy, you can't be too picky.
In Focus: Amanda Peet Premiered 05/04/2007 She's been a prostitute, a network executive, a society wife and a would-be assassin. Keeping 'em guessing keeps Amanda Peet onscreen -- even after "The Whole Ten Yards."
In Focus: Eric Bana Premiered 04/27/2007 Eric Bana started his career as a stand-up comedian -- so why have his movie roles been everything but funny?
In Focus: Tobey Maguire Premiered 04/23/2007 Talk about money well spent — if Tobey Maguire's mom hadn't slipped him $100 to try acting, Peter Parker would have been a completely different man.
In Focus: Emily Blunt Premiered 04/13/2007 Before "The Devil Wears Prada," it was Emily Who? After the film -- and her Golden Globe win -- she's got a to-do list that's going to make her tough to miss.
In Focus: Adam Brody Premiered 04/06/2007 A guy finds his big break as Greg Brady, makes comic-book geekdom dreamy and gets an entire family of women to fall in love with him. Now that's Hollywood magic.
In Focus: Shia LaBeouf Premiered 03/30/2007 This onetime Disney Channel heartthrob started out as a preteen stand-up comedian, and now he's taking a beating alongside a horde of robots.
In Focus: Bijou Phillips Premiered 03/21/2007 This real-life wild child played onscreen party girls for a big hunk of her acting career. Now she's running for her life.
In Focus: Rosario Dawson Premiered 03/16/2007 This NYC success story was discovered on a Lower East Side street and stuck with home-turf projects before hitting Hollywood with a series of sexy, butt-kicking roles.
In Focus: Will Ferrell Premiered 03/09/2007 He gave up a career in sports for comedy, but playing an overeager cheerleader, a NASCAR legend and a hard-up figure skater has offered Ferrell the best of both worlds.
In Focus: Isla Fisher Premiered 03/02/2007 Sacha Baron Cohen's fiancee can give him a run for his money when it comes to comedy, and she has a few other acting tricks up her sleeve as well.
In Focus: Sandra Bullock Premiered 02/23/2007 She battled her misadventure-prone girl-next-door image by playing a raging racist in "Crash." Watch the unexpected projects roll in.
In Focus: Gerard Butler Premiered 02/20/2007 He's played Dracula, Attila, the Phantom — all icons. But starring as lesser-known badass King Leonidas may finally make Gerard Butler a name to remember.
In Focus: Mark Ruffalo Premiered 02/09/2007 His long list of lovely co-stars proves that he's had no trouble catching ladies onscreen, but criminals are a different story.
In Focus: Jim Carrey Premiered 02/02/2007 Life as a blockbuster-comedy icon simply wouldn't satisfy Jim Carrey, who has tried everything from a thriller to a way-out-there romance since striking slapstick gold.
In Focus: Drew Barrymore Premiered 01/26/2007 While adorable, feisty Gertie has a lot in common with this bubbly leading lady, she's lived 25 years and a whole lot of drama since "E.T."
In Focus: Sienna Miller Premiered 01/19/2007 Standing up to two notorious womanizers turned "Sienna who?" into the woman who could land a sought-after role as the ultimate It girl.
In Focus: Jennifer Garner Premiered 01/12/2007 This lovely girl-next-door looks like a romantic comedy regular, but she's spent a lot more time kicking butt.
In Focus: Alicia Keys Premiered 01/05/2007 How does the singer follow three hit albums and nine Grammys? With a role as an assassin, of course.
In Focus: Hilary Swank Premiered 12/29/2006 Ten years, a few choice roles and a couple of awe-inspiring performances put two Oscars into the hands of 'The Next Karate Kid.'
In Focus: Michelle Trachtenberg Premiered 12/22/2006 Her "Harriet the Spy" cracked the case, and she was all-powerful on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Does that "Black Christmas" baddie stand a chance?
In Focus: Jessica Biel Premiered 12/15/2006 Vampire slayer, unfaithful princess, Iraq vet — "7th Heaven" bad girl Mary Camden couldn't have predicted what kind of adventures she'd have on film.
In Focus: Angelina Jolie Premiered 12/08/2006 This wild child evolved into a politically conscious mom, but that's nothing compared to the changes she's made onscreen.
In Focus: Patrick Dempsey Premiered 12/01/2006 Sure, he's dreamy now, but it took him 20 years to get here. Trace Dempsey's onscreen path from '80s nerd to leading man.
In Focus: Cameron Diaz Premiered 11/22/2006 This California girl makes everything from gross-out humor to gritty drama look easy — she's even a crush-worthy ogre.
In Focus: Heather Graham Premiered 11/17/2006 There's a lot more to "Bobby" star Heather Graham than Rollergirl and that sitcom that was canceled after one episode. Trust us.
In Focus: Daniel Craig Premiered 11/10/2006 With a history of tough-guy roles and a future as Lucifer, think twice before calling the new 007 "James Blond" — at least to his face.
In Focus: Eva Green Premiered 11/03/2006 The French actress hits the big leagues with breakout roles as a bad Bond girl and a good witch.
In Focus: Penelope Cruz Premiered 10/27/2006 Sorry, Tom Cruise and Matthew McConaughey — no other movie man makes Penélope shine quite like Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar.
In Focus: Scream Queens Premiered 10/20/2006 They're targeted and terrified, and horror movies just wouldn't be the same without them. Take a good look at the women who scream bloody murder so well.
In Focus: Scarlett Johansson Premiered 10/13/2006 Hate her because she's beautiful? Fine, but don't assume good looks equal smooth sailing. There's 12 years of work wrapped up in that pretty package.
In Focus: Ryan Phillippe Premiered 10/06/2006 He's played a bad guy, a cop, an innocent and a total creep, but Phillippe lands right on the front lines of war in his next films.
In Focus: Amber Tamblyn Premiered 09/29/2006 She assisted a higher power for two years on TV, but Amber Tamblyn will need all the heavenly help she can get as she shifts to scream queen.
In Focus: Jordana Brewster Premiered 09/22/2006 The strong, sexy actress has consistently played feisty to a T, but taking on Leatherface would have any tough girl quaking in her boots.
In Focus: James Franco Premiered 09/15/2006 He makes brooding bad boys look even better, but Franco's no one-trick star: There's an action hero, a romantic lead and even a director in him too.
In Focus: Ashton Kutcher Premiered 09/07/2006 It hasn't taken Kutcher long to go from factory worker to TV star to movie lead to producer. What's his next move? Action hero, of course.
In Focus: Jacinda Barrett Premiered 09/01/2006 Straight from "The Real World" to the big screen? Not quite. Education, bit parts and a few false starts paved her real-world road to the spotlight.
In Focus: Maggie Gyllenhaal Premiered 08/25/2006 Her father helped launch her acting career, and her brother may be the bigger star, but Maggie Gyllenhaal isn't standing in anyone's shadow.
In Focus: Amy Smart Premiered 08/18/2006 She's played the perfect girl next door for 10 years, but now Amy Smart is moving into edgier territory, dating a hit man and pulling off bank heists.
In Focus: Andr� Benjamin Premiered 08/11/2006 Triple threat? How limiting. This rapper, singer, songwriter, music producer, TV producer, film actor and fashion icon is a walking one-man show.
In Focus: Samuel L. Jackson Premiered 08/04/2006 He's made up for a slow career start by kicking onscreen butt all over the place -- including a galaxy far, far, away and the not-so-friendly skies.
In Focus: Hilary Duff Premiered 07/28/2006 She took her first job at age 6 and hasn't slowed down since, but you don't find success as an actress, singer and fashion designer by taking it easy.
In Focus: Julia Roberts Premiered 07/21/2006 The small-town Southern girl turned Hollywood superstar smiles big, takes career chances and wins America's heart -- and an Oscar -- with down-to-earth roles.
In Focus: Ashanti Premiered 07/14/2006 R&B star Ashanti is relatively new to the acting game, but she's been quick to battle, facing off with bad boyfriends, evil scientists and a leather-clad Miss Piggy.
In Focus: Bryce Dallas Howard Premiered 07/07/2006 The road to success was laid out for this child of Hollywood royalty, but she's forged her own path paved with fearless choices and the faith of M. Night Shyamalan.
In Focus: Kate Hudson Premiered 06/30/2006 She's bubbly and fun and all but sparkles onscreen, so it's no wonder Kate Hudson's career has been full of romance and laughter -- and the odd nightmare.
In Focus: Keira Knightley Premiered 06/23/2006 Dress her in a costume, send her back in time and look out. The Oscar-nominated actress is pretty as a picture, but few could take her in an onscreen fight.
In Focus: Johnny Depp Premiered 06/23/2006 He's creepy and he's kooky -- and a practically peerless actor. There's got to be someone Johnny Depp can't play, but he hasn't found him yet.
In Focus: Brandon Routh Premiered 06/16/2006 It's a bird, it's a plane -- um, no. It's a 6-foot-3 mystery man with dark hair who looks great in tights. Yes, it's Superman.
In Focus: Adam Sandler Premiered 06/09/2006 He's gone from "SNL" to superstardom, from starring as Satan's sheltered son to playing a decent, hardworking dad. And we're still laughing.
In Focus: Kate Bosworth Premiered 06/02/2006 She fell into acting because she wanted to ride horses, went on to a starring role riding some serious waves, and now she's riding shotgun with Superman.
In Focus: Julia Stiles Premiered 05/26/2006 Actively seeking out roles since age 11 has offered Julia Stiles the chance to live as a dancer, "shrew," temptress and mother of a demon.
In Focus: Hugh Jackman Premiered 05/19/2006 He sings. He dances. He grows amazing sideburns and saves the world through the deft use of razor-sharp talons. It's all in a day's work for the man behind Wolverine.
In Focus: Halle Berry Premiered 05/12/2006 The former beauty queen made Oscar history with "Monster's Ball," took her "Catwoman" lumps with a smile and continues to unleash a Storm on action fans.
In Focus: Jessica Simpson Premiered 05/05/2006 From singing in the church choir to walking all over you, Texan Jessica Simpson has played out career shifts and personal changes in plain view.
In Focus: Jessica Alba Premiered 05/01/2006 The actress went from 'Nowhere' to everywhere with a few choice career steps, a big-budget break and a 2005 to remember.
In Focus: Tom Cruise Premiered 04/28/2006 It's been six years since Tom Cruise last stepped into "Mission: Impossible" Agent Ethan Hunt's shoes -- and a whole lot has changed for the actor since 2000.
In Focus: Movie Awards Sexiest Performance Premiered 04/24/2006 A Southern belle with moxie, a singer turned suspect, a stripper tailed by trouble, a beauty on the rise and a pro with the right stuff. So who's sexiest?
In Focus: Ciara Premiered 04/14/2006 The Grammy-nominated R&B singer has plenty of experience serving up hits and now she's adding volleyballs -- and acting roles -- to her repertoire.
In Focus: Mandy Moore Premiered 04/07/2006 She was a teen pop star with two hits to her credit at 16. Six years later, Moore is making a mark on the big screen in a big way.
In Focus: Eva Longoria Premiered 03/31/2006 It didn't take many episodes of "Desperate Housewives" to turn Eva Longoria from a "Who?" to an "Ohh." Will her steady climb end in big-screen success?
In Focus: Josh Hartnett Premiered 03/24/2006 An alien invasion, a super creepy uncle, countless broken hearts and a poorly timed chastity pledge -- is there anything Josh Hartnett can't handle?
In Focus: Big Boi Premiered 03/20/2006 Already a star on wax, Outkast's Big Boi breaks into celluloid, scoring a serious role in "ATL" and stepping into the 1930s for the elusive "Idlewild" ...
In Focus: Amanda Bynes Premiered 03/13/2006 She's been compared to comedy legend Lucille Ball, but even Lucy didn't have her own sketch-comedy show and a handful of film roles on her r�sum� at age 19 ...
In Focus: Natalie Portman Premiered 03/06/2006 With over a decade of silver-screen experience, a Harvard degree and a Golden Globe in her back pocket, Natalie Portman prepares to take on an unjust world onscreen ...
In Focus: Matthew McConaughey Premiered 02/27/2006 How did this laid-back Texan charm his way from sleazeball cameo player to romantic lead in record time? It's amazing what a shave and a haircut can do ...
In Focus: JoJo Premiered 02/20/2006 Before she turned 14, JoJo was a talent-contest reject -- with a platinum album. Now the singer is out to conquer the movie world with roles in "Aquamarine" and "R.V." ...
In Focus: Paul Walker Premiered 02/13/2006 The California golden boy stepped out of angelic child-star roles, graduated from high school films and took hold of the action-star wheel starting with "The Fast and the Furious" ...
In Focus: Sarah Jessica Parker Premiered 02/06/2006 She's danced with Helen Hunt on film, starred as "Annie" on Broadway, played a nerd on TV and fell for Ferris Bueller in real life. Move over, Carrie Bradshaw ...
In Focus: Justin Timberlake Premiered 01/30/2006 He found success as a boy-band star and a solo artist, and now Justin Timberlake is ready to try living as a relentless reporter, a drug-runner and a cartoon prince ...
In Focus: Tyrese Gibson Premiered 01/16/2006 How do you follow an initial acting job that introduces you to millions, a debut album that goes platinum and a first film role that places a whole movie on your shoulders? If you're Tyrese Gibson, you keep on fighting ...
In Focus: Scott Speedman Premiered 01/09/2006 He didn't have the goods for "Batman & Robin," but Scott Speedman has managed to lure Keri Russell across the country, drive Kate Beckinsale to betray her family and sing karaoke with Gwyneth Paltrow ...
In Focus: Kate Beckinsale Premiered 01/02/2006 She started off doing Shakespeare, hit her stride as a nurse torn between two pilots and played a film legend for Scorsese, but most know Kate Beckinsale as a love-struck vampire navigating the "Underworld" ...
In Focus: Jennifer Aniston Premiered 12/19/2005 Pretty girl with soap-star dad scores a hit TV series, becomes a style icon, marries a heartthrob, moves on to movies, divorces the heartthrob ... and what's next is anyone's guess ...
In Focus: Johnny Knoxville Premiered 12/12/2005 After a very brief stint in drama school, Johnny Knoxville jumped into the wild world of stupid pranks, where a "Jackass" -- and a star -- were born ...
In Focus: Jake Gyllenhaal Premiered 12/08/2005 Having family in the business doesn't help when they don't let you take roles, but Jake Gyllenhaal's interesting career choices have more than made up for missing out on "The Mighty Ducks" ...
In Focus: Luke Wilson Premiered 12/07/2005 Owen may be the bigger box-office draw, but younger brother Luke Wilson has the movie-star looks and a whole lot of love-interest experience ...
In Focus: Lindsay Lohan Premiered 12/06/2005 From her very first film role to more Personal music, Lindsay Lohan has tackled challenges head-on ...
In Focus: Naomi Watts Premiered 12/05/2005 Making friends with her competition and dropping acting for a behind-the-camera job may not sound like a recipe for critical and box-office success, but it's worked for Naomi Watts ...
In Focus: Jack Black Premiered 12/05/2005 He's pushed cereal with the Smurfs, taught school kids to rock and unleashed some seriously funny metal with the D. Now Jack Black attempts to harness the power of a giant ape ...
In Focus: Charlize Theron Premiered 11/21/2005 From a farm in South Africa to a Best Actress Oscar, good luck, good looks and unexpected acting choices have brought Charlize Theron a long way ...
In Focus: Usher Premiered 11/14/2005 With triple-threat appeal -- as a dancer, singer and actor -- Usher Raymond aims for the same success onscreen that he's had on the charts ...
In Focus: Reese Witherspoon Premiered 11/07/2005 From "Pleasantville" to "Legally Blonde" to playing June Carter Cash in "Walk the Line," the Lousiana native has never shied from tough (or goofy) roles ...
In Focus: Jamie Foxx Premiered 10/31/2005 The Oscar-winner has come a long way from the skit comedy show, "In Living Color" -- but it's not likely that he'll ever leave the jokes entirely behind ...
In Focus: Uma Thurman Premiered 10/24/2005 Perhaps her unorthodox upbringing helped the statuesque blonde adjust easily to a wildly varied career, playing an assassin one minute and a seductress the next ...
In Focus: The Rock Premiered 10/17/2005 Brains and brawn -- in Hollywood (as in life) a rather formidable and unlikely combination. For Dwayne Johnson, however, it's money in the bank ...
In Focus: Kirsten Dunst Premiered 10/10/2005 In a career spanning (brace yourselves) more than 15 years, the Dimpled One has managed to convey sweetness and strength in equal measure ...

MTV Movies | In Focus

In Focus