breakthrough role

{{Short description|Term used in the theatre, film or television industry}}

{{redirect|Breakout star}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}

A breakthrough role, also known as a breakout role,{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Michael|title=Breakout role revisited|url=http://www.tulsaworld.com/spot/article.aspx?articleID=20080801_282_D8_spancl9646|access-date=18 December 2011}} is a term in the theatre, film and television industry to describe the performance of an actor or actress which contributed significantly to the development of their career and beginning of critical recognition. A breakthrough role is often a significant increase in importance in the actor's part, such as moving up from a minor character to one of the main cast or a "high impact" role in a film, play or show which has mainstream success and results in the actor's widespread recognition and popularity.{{cite book|last=Squire|first=Jason E.|title=The Movie Business Book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aWf4AAAAQBAJ&pg=PA226|date=1 May 2006|publisher=McGraw-Hill Education (UK)|isbn=978-0-335-22002-1|page=226}} A breakthrough performance has also been defined as one which "attracts the attention of film critics, or receives rave reviews and is subsequently nominated for many major awards".{{cite book|last=Porter|first=Lynnette|title=Benedict Cumberbatch, In Transition: An Unauthorised Performance Biography|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nyO7BAAAQBAJ&pg=PT170|date=3 June 2013|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78092-437-3|page=170}}

Lord Rohan in The Man in Grey has been cited as James Mason's breakthrough performance.{{cite book|last1=Mayer|first1=Geoff|last2=McDonnell|first2=Brian|title=Encyclopedia of Film Noir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RsBHnZoyO4kC&pg=PA280|date=1 January 2007|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-33306-4|pages=280–}} The television film adaptation of Gideon's Trumpet has been referenced as Lane Smith's breakthrough role, despite lacking a theatrical release.{{cite book|last=Scivally|first=Bruce|title=Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HCKfBQAAQBAJ&pg=PA124|date=3 October 2007|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-3166-3|page=124}} Similarly, the BBC series Pennies from Heaven has been highlighted as the breakthrough of Bob Hoskins.{{cite book| last1= Welsh| first1= James Michael|last2=Whaley|first2=Donald M.|title=The Oliver Stone Encyclopedia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a-yFqzSB1oUC&pg=PA104|year=2013|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=978-0-8108-8352-9|page=104}} Brandon Lee's starring role in The Crow has been cited as his breakout, though it was also his final film as he died when a prop gun malfunctioned on the set of the film.{{cite book|last=Lott|first=M. Ray|title=The American Martial Arts Film|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3r0yDJcHYtYC&pg=PA123|date=1 January 2004| publisher= McFarland| isbn=978-0-7864-1836-7|page=123}}{{cite book|last=Cettl|first=Robert|title=American Film Tales|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aBWQBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA51|date=12 October 2014|publisher=Lulu.com|isbn=978-1-312-56680-4|page=51}}