The Hollywood Knights (1980) Pfeiffer was only 21 when she was chosen to star as a high schooler in the 1980 frat house comedy, The Hollywood Knights. It was her first feature film that also had an R-rating. She played a small role as Tony Danza’s girl named Suzie Q.
The story of the film takes place on Halloween night when members of a drag racing club known as the Hollywood Knights learn that their favorite Beverly Hills hangout, Tubby’s Diner, is being demolished to give way for the construction of an office building. The club’s leader vows to fight for the diner while the police try to do their job and shut the diner down. The film is known to be a rip-off of American Graffiti but is also noted for the debut performances of many famous actors.
Bradley Cooper
Wet Hot American Summer (2001) Aside from Amy Poehler, Bradley Cooper was also making his first R-rated film debut in Wet Hot American Summer. He was by Amy’s side for most of her scenes but will be remembered for his highly sensual make-out scene in the woodshed with Michael Ian Black.
Cooper has been a nominee for many awards, like seven Academy Awards and a Tony Award. He won a Grammy and a BAFTA award. He was also included in Forbes Celebrity 100 two times and Time’s list of 100 most influential people in the world for 2015. His movies have grossed over $7.8 billion globally, and he has been listed as one of the world’s highest-paid actors for three years.
Scarlett Johansson
Just Cause (1995) Before her popular role as Black Widow in Marvel’s Avengers series of films, a 10-year-old Scarlett made her R-rated film debut in 1995 in the thriller Just Cause with veteran actors Sean Connery and Ed Harris. She gets kidnapped near the end of the movie and was going to loos her life but was saved in the end. Scarlett must have enjoyed R-rated films because her next two roles were rated R as well ( If Lucy Fell, Manny, and Lo).
Many forget that Scarlett is not only an actress but a singer as well. She is one of the world’s highest-paid actresses and has her own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She always wanted to be an actress as she appeared on stage in an Off-Broadway play as a young child. She debuted in the comedy fantasy film North and got nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Manny and Lo.
Daniel Day-Lewis
My Beautiful Laundrette (1985) Some critics consider him the greatest living actor in the history of cinema. He started off in television and had his first major supporting role in The Bounty (1984), which was followed by an independent film and his first R-rated film for Lewis, My Beautiful Laundrette. The latter has now become a landmark film for gay cinema. A British comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and released by Working Title Films.
My Beautiful Laundrette opened in New York City, and it showed his astounding acting skills to audiences and critics alike, which established him as a major talent in the business. The New York Film Critics cited him as Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
Meryl Streep
The Deer Hunter (1978) Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep had an astounding debut on the R-rated arena, with the film The Deer Hunter, in 1978. It was an epic American war and drama film about a trio of Russian American steelworkers whose lives were forever changed after fighting in the Vietnam War. The three soldiers were played by famous actors Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage.
Streep was already 28 at the time, which saw her transition into film late after being a successful stage actress. This film marked Streep’s first Academy Award nomination as Best Supporting Actress. She is known to be the most nominated actress in film history.