Johnny Depp

When this pretty boy leapt to stardom in the '80s, no one could have predicted that he would become one of the most revered thespians of his generation. A former rock-and-roll wannabe, Depp segued into acting with a handful of big-screen supporting roles. With his stunning cheekbones and pouty lips, he became an instant sex symbol on the TV series 21 Jump Street. After graduating from the small screen, Depp shrewdly eschewed the traditional leading-man route, playing offbeat characters in films helmed by edgy directors: John Waters, Terry Gilliam, and his most frequent collaborator, Tim Burton. Off screen he cultivated a bad-boy image with a string of high-profile romances (Winona Ryder, Sherilyn Fenn, Kate Moss) and trashed hotel rooms. But Depp matured both personally and professionally in the '00s, earning Oscar nods and making a stable home with his girlfriend Vanessa Paradis and their children. In 2007, he proved that, despite his megastar status, his family was his top priority when he interrupted the shoot of Sweeney Todd to be by his sick daughter's bedside.