10 performances of the 1970s that turned actors into stars

The article argues that the 1970s were a defining decade for actors as well as directors, with several performances helping launch careers or reshape public reputations. It highlights how a single role could bring an actor to wider attention, even when they had already worked in film or theatre.

Among the examples, Al Pacino’s portrayal of a drug addict in *The Panic in Needle Park* preceded his celebrated run of films, while Sissy Spacek drew notice in *Badlands* before starring in *Carrie*. Robert De Niro stood out as Johnny Boy in *Mean Streets*, beginning a lasting collaboration with Martin Scorsese; the article also notes that some major performances, such as Gena Rowlands in *A Woman Under the Influence*, were not straightforward breakouts.