The Ten Most Convincing Screen Tests Of All Time

These audition tapes from TV and movies show that first impressions do matter, and thank heavens they were such good ones.

10. Lindsay Lohan - “The Parent Trap”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=u2egLgqjdxw.

Oh, this is sad.

Source: youtube.com

9. Steve Carrell - “Anchorman”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=CdtSkqYT6U8.

Hilarious.

Source: youtube.com

8. Mark Hamill - “Star Wars”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=lSjP2GBTr9U.

Is this more convincing than he is in the actual films?

Source: youtube.com

7. Hugh Laurie - “House”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3Iwqj9i4QDc.

It’s hard to believe this role wasn’t written just for him.

Source: youtube.com

6. Rachel McAdams - “The Notebook”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_XfUUYK7Gkg.

Girl can cry. Bonus off-screen Gosling.

Source: youtube.com

5. Phil Hartman - “Saturday Night Live”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=2X2hqdOMxyM.

Caution, genius at work… R.I.P., Phil.

Source: youtube.com

4. Daniel Radcliffe (with Emma Watson and Rupert Grint) - “Harry Potter”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=-4V40twk63A.

Thank goodness they grew up just as cute.

Source: youtube.com

3. Natalie Portman - “The Professional”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JhRW8J3gTuo.

It’s hard to imagine this role played by anyone else.

Source: youtube.com

2. James Dean and Lois Smith - “East of Eden”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=1s6sjDAJWf8.

No words are spoken and yet Dean exudes a metric ton of raw charisma.

Source: youtube.com

1. Henry Thomas - “E.T.”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=VzCeOqBFu6w.

Henry Thomas is so convincingly depressed that E.T. is being taken away from him that this audition makes me cry even more than the movie. It’s believed that’s Steven Spielberg at the end saying “Okay kid, you got the job!”

Source: youtube.com