Matt Damon

Not your typical leading man, the first decade of Matt Damon's career was marked by small roles in films like School Ties and Geronimo. But his breakthrough came when he lost weight in a scene-stealing role in Courage Under Fire, starring in the John Grisham adaptation The Rainmaker, and nabbing an Oscar for cowriting (with Ben Affleck) the screenplay for Good Will Hunting. Proving adept at a range of dramas, such as The Talented Mr. Ripley, and a good sport in the comedy of Kevin Smith, his legacy might be cemented in his surprise emergence as an action star in the Jason Bourne trilogy. How do you like them apples?