#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
At the time of its release in December 2001, Julia Roberts was arguably the most famous actor in the cast, though the film was marketed as an ensemble led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt.
Determining "the most famous" is subjective, but by 2001, Julia Roberts was at the absolute zenith of her career, having just won the Academy Award for Best Actress and being the first woman to command a $20 million salary per film.
Here is a detailed look at the most famous stars in the film and their notable works leading up to 2001:
1. Julia Roberts (Tess Ocean)
In 2001, Roberts was the undisputed "Queen of Hollywood." She had just won the Oscar for Erin Brockovich (2000), which was a massive critical and commercial success.
Other Notable Films:
- Pretty Woman (1990): Her breakout role that turned her into a global superstar.
- Steel Magnolias (1989): Earned her first Oscar nomination.
- My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997): Solidified her as the face of the romantic comedy genre.
- Notting Hill (1999): A massive international hit where she essentially played a version of herself (the world's most famous actress).
2. George Clooney (Danny Ocean)
While Roberts was the bigger "brand," Clooney was the face of the Ocean's franchise. He had successfully transitioned from television superstardom on ER to film, though his status as a "bankable" movie lead was still being solidified in 2001.
Other Notable Films:
- Out of Sight (1998): His first collaboration with Ocean's Eleven director Steven Soderbergh; this film established his "cool" leading-man persona.
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000): A Coen Brothers film that showed his range in comedy and earned him a Golden Globe.
- Three Kings (1999): A critically acclaimed Gulf War heist film.
- Batman & Robin (1997): Though critically panned, it was a major (if notorious) blockbuster role.
3. Brad Pitt (Rusty Ryan)
Pitt was the primary "cool factor" of the movie. In 2001, he was a massive tabloid fixture and an established A-lister known for blending heartthrob status with gritty character work.
Other Notable Films:
- Seven (1995): A dark thriller that proved he was more than just a "pretty face."
- Fight Club (1999): His performance as Tyler Durden became an era-defining piece of pop culture.
- 12 Monkeys (1995): Earned him his first Oscar nomination.
- Legends of the Fall (1994): Established him as a major romantic and dramatic lead.
4. Matt Damon (Linus Caldwell)
Damon was the "young star" of the group, having risen to fame just a few years prior.
Other Notable Films:
- Good Will Hunting (1997): He won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Actor, launching his career.
- Saving Private Ryan (1998): He played the titular character in Steven Spielberg’s war epic.
- The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999): Showcased his ability to play darker, more complex roles.
Summary
While Julia Roberts held the highest level of fame and industry prestige (the "Oscar/Money" peak) in 2001, the film's legacy is most closely tied to the chemistry between George Clooney and Brad Pitt, who used the film to define the "modern cool" aesthetic of the early 2000s.
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Ocean's Eleven was released in the US on December 7, 2001.
[2] While fame is subjective, Roberts was the highest-paid actress and a recent Oscar winner, giving her a strong claim to being the most famous cast member in 2001.
[3] Roberts won the Best Actress Oscar for Erin Brockovich in March 2001 and was the first woman to receive a $20 million salary for a single film (also for Erin Brockovich).
[4] The title 'Queen of Hollywood' was a common media moniker for Roberts during her peak in the late 90s and early 2000s.
[5] Erin Brockovich grossed over $256 million worldwide and earned Roberts the Academy Award for Best Actress.
[6] Pretty Woman (1990) was a massive hit and is considered Roberts' breakout role.
[7] Roberts was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for Steel Magnolias (1989).
[8] My Best Friend's Wedding (1997) was a major commercial success and a key film in the rom-com genre.
[9] In Notting Hill, Roberts plays Anna Scott, a famous American actress, a role widely seen as a meta-commentary on her own fame.
[10] Clooney played Danny Ocean, the leader of the group, and was the primary focus of the film's marketing alongside Brad Pitt.
[11] Clooney left ER in 1999. While he had hits like The Perfect Storm (2000), Ocean's Eleven is credited with cementing his status as a top-tier movie star.
[12] Out of Sight (1998) was Clooney's first collaboration with Soderbergh and is often cited as the film that established his cinematic 'cool'.
[13] Clooney won the Golden Globe for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).
[14] Three Kings (1999) received high critical praise and was a notable success for Clooney.
[15] Batman & Robin (1997) was a major blockbuster role for Clooney, despite its poor critical reception.
[16] Pitt was a massive star in 2001 and his marriage to Jennifer Aniston in 2000 made him a constant subject of tabloid coverage.
[17] Seven (1995) was a critical and commercial hit that established Pitt as a serious actor.
[18] Fight Club (1999) is one of Pitt's most culturally significant films.
[19] Pitt received a Best Supporting Actor nomination for 12 Monkeys (1995).
[20] Legends of the Fall (1994) was a major success that solidified Pitt's leading man status.
[21] Damon was 31 in 2001, while Clooney was 40 and Pitt was 37.
[22] Damon won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and was nominated for Best Actor for Good Will Hunting (1997).
[23] Damon played the title character, Private Ryan, in the 1998 film.
[24] The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) was a critical success that showcased Damon's range.