The 10 BEST Celebrity Career Comebacks!

Living in the UK, it’s proving quite hard to ignore all the negative celebrity news this week – TV, Twitter, Facebook, everyone has something to say. So rather than following the crowd and being a Debbie downer, we’ve decided to focus on the positive… We’re rooting for you Ant!

Here’s our favourite celebrity career comebacks!

BEN AFFLECK

2015 wasn’t a good year for Ben Affleck. He and Jennifer Garner announced that they were splitting up; he was caught having an affair with his children’s nanny; and his life became tabloid fodder. While 2015 was not his year, in 2016 he made his comeback thanks to his roles in the blockbuster Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and the action-thriller The Accountant. He’s even received some good press for his performances!

BRITNEY SPEARS

Britney Spears rocketed to the top of the music charts in 1999 with her debut album "...Baby One More Time." Several more successful albums followed, but Spears' music career took a hiatus following a much-publicized breakdown and hospitalization. Spears returned from her public meltdown to produce two more albums (with another on the way) and to serve as a judge on "The X Factor" in 2012. In December, Spears will begin her two-year residency tour in Las Vegas for a $30 million paycheck.

DREW BARRYMORE

Drew Barrymore's role as the young Gertie in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" made her one of the most famous childhood stars of all time. But her early stardom quickly led to trouble with partying, and drug use landed her in rehab at the age of 14. Barrymore returned to acting in the mid-'90s, and even started her own production company, Flower Films. Her leading roles in "Never Been Kissed," "50 First Dates," and "Charlie's Angels" followed thereafter, ricocheting Barrymore back into the Hollywood spotlight.

JUSTIN BIEBER

Following his rise to fame, Bieber’s bad behavior began to get the best of him in 2013. Highlights include the time he urinated in a bucket and cursed Bill Clinton, the time he egged someone’s house, and the time he was arrested for a DUI. But by 2015, the world was ready to forgive him. Hits “Where are U Now,” What Do You Mean?”, “Sorry” and “Love Yourself” turned him into one of the biggest pop stars on the planet – no longer just for teenage girls.

MARTHA STEWART

By 1999, Martha Stewart had a multi-billion dollar cooking, gardening, and entertaining company, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. But in 2004, things came crashing down as Stewart was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and lying to federal investigators. She served five months in prison, and six months under house arrest. Stewart revived her career starting in 2005, launching syndicated talk show, "The Martha Stewart Show." Her career continued with a home wares line for Macy's (among many other retail partnerships), countless entertaining books, and even a guest role on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."

MATT LEBLANC

Matt LeBlanc became a household name during his run on “Friends” as Joey Tribbiani, but after the series ended, he unfortunately fell off the radar. There was that short-lived spin-off “Joey” which was axed after two seasons (some episodes still remain unaired). He went through some things during his time off but it all seemed to work out for the best. In 2011 he joined the series “Episodes,” which earned him a Golden Globe. In 2016, he even began hosting Top Gear! Not bad.

NICOLE RICHIE

Nicole Richie first gained prominence for her role alongside Paris Hilton on the Fox reality show, "The Simple Life" (2003-2007). After being arrested for a DUI and drug charges in 2006, Richie's career took a brief standstill. In 2008, Richie debuted the House of Harlow 1960 fashion line, which won her Glamour's "Entrepreneur of the Year" award in 2010. She has since released a self-titled perfume, and a second women's clothing line, Winter Kate.

ROBERT DOWNEY JR

Robert Downey Jr. gained fame in the '80s for his roles on "Back to School" and "The Pick-up Artist," but numerous drug-related arrests cost him several movie and TV roles. After checking into his final rehab stint in 2001, Downey Jr. returned to acting with a bang. Lead roles in "Tropic Thunder," "Iron Man," "Sherlock Holmes," and "The Avengers" have since landed Downey Jr. at the top of Forbes' list of "Hollywood's Highest-Paid Actors."

SHANIA TWAIN

With hits like “Man! I feel like a Woman” and “That Don’t Impress Me Much,” Shania Twain solidified herself as the queen of country-pop in the ‘90s and early ‘00s. Her career went on hold when her producer husband left her for her best friend, and on top of that, Lyme disease devastated her voice. Luckily, Twain overcame everything and returned in 2017 with her first studio album in 15 years. It also debuted as the number-one album in the USA!

WINONA RYDER

As a major star of the ‘90s, Ryder showed off her chops in such films as Edward Scissorhands, Reality Bites and Girl, Interrupted. Then her world came crashing down when she was arrested for shoplifting in 2001. Ryder took a break from Hollywood, and when she was ready to return, the industry didn’t have much for her to do. A few years later, enter Stranger Things, the surprise Netflix hit that gave her a second act.