40 Hollywood Stars Shared The Best Moment From Their Entire Acting Careers

You might go see a movie, have a good time, walk out again, and never give it much of a thought after that. But for the actors, their time making the film may have been the biggest, brightest, most beautiful experience of their whole lives. These 40 stars have spoken about when they had an experience like that — and what movie or TV show gave it to them. Some of their picks are very surprising!

1. Tom Hanks

Tom Hanks has been in a lot of movies. A lot. But his all-time favorite is 1992’s A League of Their Own, because of how much he loved filming it. He told the Bill Simmons Podcast in 2021, “We lived in a house in the middle of cornfields. We went to Burger King at night and Dairy Queen in the afternoon. It was a great summer and my entire family still speaks about it.”

2. Jennifer Aniston

Generally Jennifer Aniston has played nice people throughout her career, so her favorite role might come as a bit of a shock. It’s not Rachel Green, but Julia of Horrible Bosses. Aniston proudly told website The Wrap in 2014, “I love Dr. Julia… I love playing the crazy woman.”

3. Kirk Douglas

The late Kirk Douglas had one film he loved above all others: Lonely Are the Brave. In his 2012 book I Am Spartacus!: Making a Film, Breaking the Blacklist, he wrote that he considered it “the best script I’ve ever read.” He then declared, “I still believe the character of Jack Burns is the best role I’ve ever played.”

4. James McAvoy

Tweens the world over fell in love with James McAvoy when he appeared as the adorable Mr. Tumnus in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. McAvoy himself considers that a highlight of his career, as well. Tumnus was his favorite character across not only the Narnia books but all children’s books, and he was thrilled to bring him to life.