7 Roles That Turned Dev Patel Into a Hollywood A-Lister

From 2007 to 2008, Patel starred alongside fellow future stars like Nicholas Hoult on the first and second seasons of the UK's hit series Skins. It's hard to believe that Anwar Kharral was his first onscreen role!

Breaks don't come any bigger than this. Patel was cast in Danny Boyle's 2008 drama Slumdog Millionaire, which won eight Oscars. He was nominated for a SAG Award and won a Critics' Choice Award for playing Jamal, a teen who is accused of cheating on India's version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?.

OK, OK, The Last Airbender was a huge misstep for director M. Night Shyamalan and will possibly go down in history as the worst film adaptation ever. Having said that, scoring a role in what was supposed to be a blockbuster was a big deal for Patel.

In 2011, Patel starred in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, alongside the likes of Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, and Tom Wilkinson. The movie was so well-received that it led to a sequel, in which Patel's character had an even larger part.

Patel took a chance on TV in 2012, starring as a reporter on HBO's The Newsroom. The drama, created by Aaron Sorkin, lasted three seasons, and Patel was a highlight.

While Chappie wasn't as critically lauded as Neill Blomkamp's first feature, District 9, the sci-fi film was still a good chance for Patel to reach a genre audience.

This brings us to Lion, his most complex role to date. He's been nominated by all the major award shows: Critics' Choice, Screen Actors Guild, Golden Globes, and Oscars. We has yet to win, but there's still time!