Mariska Hargitay
Detective Olivia Benson wasn't always prowling the streets of New York City in search of bad guys. In 1985, Hargitay made her film debut as Donna in the cult classic Ghoulies. The film was dismissed as "a cut-rate 'Gremlins'" with "unexceptional performances" and "a lot of badly simulated gore," but that didn't stop Mariska from earning a well-deserved spot among Hollywood's elite.
Jessica Lange
She may have reentered the modern mainstream with her iconic roles in American Horror Story, but Jessica Lange first rose to popularity when she debuted in 1976's King Kong. Lange earned a Golden Globe Award for her performance as Dwan. Although the monster flick did effectively launch her career, she reportedly received enough negative publicity that it "almost destroyed her career."