15 Soap Opera Stars: Then & Now

Oh, the drama! Before they went on to become Oscar-winning movie stars, talk show hosts, and reality show hosts, these 15 well-known celebrities kicked off their careers on soap opera melodramas.

The Academy Award-winning actress pulled double duty, playing twins Frannie and Sabrina on As The World Turns from 1985 to 1988.

Since her days on the soap, Moore has become a bonafide A-list movie star, with credits such as Boogie Nights, The Hours, and Still Alice to her name.

Before the couple said "I do" in real life, they played the blissful newlyweds, Hayley and Mateo on ABC's All My Children. The duo both left the show in 2002. Ripa performed on the show for over a decade, while Consuelos made his exit after seven seasons.

Still together after 23 years of marriage, the power couple continues to kill it on TV. Ripa is entering her 17th year hosting Live!, while her hubby currently stars on the hit CW drama, Riverdale.

Straight out of high school, Seyfried served back-to-back roles in two soaps — playing Lucy Montgomery on As the World Turns from 2001—2002 and Joni Stafford on All My Children from 2002—2003.

From Mean Girls to Mamma Mia!, Seyfried's resume includes cult classics and box office hits. She has most recently starred in the Netflix film, Anon.

Longoria got her start in the early-aughts playing Isabella Brana on the CBS daytime soap, The Young and the Restless, from 2001—2003. Following her departure, she immediately transitioned to her star-making role on Desperate Housewives in 2004.

After wrapping Desperate Housewives in 2012, Longoria has appeared in several television series, including Devious Maids, Empire, and Jane the Virgin. She also tried her hand at directing for the season three finale of ABC's Black-ish.

In 1991, Phillippe broke down barriers when he portrayed Billy Douglas, the first openly gay character on daytime television. His role in One Life to Live ran for three seasons.

The 44-year-old actor has since had success, starring in Crash, Cruel Intentions, and The Lincoln Lawyer. He currently stars in the USA series, Shooter.

Before Lohan dazzled the world in Disney's The Parent Trap, the young actress played Alexandra Flower on Another World from 1996—1997.

After starring in a string of hit movies, the Mean Girls actress went down a troubled, tabloid-littered path. She now lives in Dubai and manages several nightclubs — as featured in her MTV reality series, Lindsay Lohan's Beach Club.

At age five, Panettiere landed the role of Sarah Roberts on One Life to Live. The young actress starred on the show from 1994—1997. She then went on to play Lizzie Spaulding on Guiding Light from 1997—2000.

Panettiere returned to television in 2012, where she played country music superstar Juliette Barnes, on the CMT primetime drama Nashville for six seasons.

Moore portrayed investigative reporter, Jackie Templeton, on General Hospital from 1981—1984.

Since her debut in daytime, the actress has garnered international stardom for her roles in Ghost, Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, G.I. Jane, and St. Elmo's Fire. Moore currently stars in the Sundance hit, Corporate Animals.

At age 27, Duhamel was an up-and-coming model when he snagged his first acting gig, playing Leo du Pres on All My Children from 1999—2002. He collected a Daytime Emmy Award for the role in 2002.

Nowadays, you can catch the Hollywood hunk in the mega-successful Transformers franchise, as well as the teen rom-com Love Simon.

Between 1997 and 2000, Ackles nabbed three Daytime Emmy nominations during his three-season run as Eric Brady on Days of Our Lives.

Ackles has been slaying ghosts (and our hearts) for the past 15 seasons on Supernatural. The show marks the longest-running live action fantasy series in television history.

Ryan was a staple in early '80s daytime television thanks to her role as Betsy Stewart on As the World Turns.

From rom-com starlet to indie darling, the Sleepless in Seattle star most recently moved behind the camera for her 2015 directorial debut, Ithaca.

Before Bacon was a footloose household name, he starred as T.J. Werner on Guiding Light from 1980—1981.

The actor has sustained a steady career, with Mystic River, Friday the 13th, Patriots Day, and Apollo 13 under his credits.

Before she became Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Gellar was Kendall Hart on All My Children. Her 1993—1995 run on the series garnered the actress a Daytime Emmy Award.

Since her days starring in box office hits, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Cruel Intentions, the actress has taken a break from the screen to focus on her organic baking kit business, Foodstirs.

The blonde-haired beauty made her television debut as Kelly Capwell in the NBC daytime series Santa Barbara, from 1984—1988.

From the beaches of Santa Barbara to the trenches at the White House, Wright became one of the highest paid actresses on television with her $420,000 per episode paycheck she collected for Netflix's political drama House of Cards.

A few short years before becoming known to the world as Luke Skywalker, Hamill played Kent Murray on the 1972—1973 season of General Hospital.

In 2015, Hamill picked up the lightsaber once again to return to the Star Wars universe. In addition to having a role in the recent Star Wars reboot trilogy, Hamill will voice Chucky the killer doll in the Child's Play remake.