Jason Momoa

Telling a lie is generally an unacceptable behavior unless the situation calls for it. Yet, in Jason Momoa's case, a fabricated story might have helped him land a role that jumpstarted his acting career. The actor was not bringing any resume when he walked into the casting call for Baywatch: Hawaii, so he truthfully said 'no' when asked whether he had experience acting.

Yet, when they questioned whether he had modeled in the past, he lied that he'd posed for big fashion brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton. The harmless pretense eventually gave the world the inch-perfect Khal Drogo and Aquaman.

 

Courteney Cox

Fans of the TV show Friends couldn’t imagine the role of Monica Geller being played by an actress other than Courteney Cox; without question, the part was tailor-made for the actress. So, it makes us think, could the star have been anything else other than an actress.

As it turns out, Cox almost didn’t find her way to Hollywood when she decided to study architecture at Mount Vernon College. The call of fame called out to the dark-haired beauty, and before she knew it, she was leaving university to start a career in modeling and acting.

 

Sebastian Stan

At a glance, some would think Sebastian Stan got a break in Hollywood mainly because of his good looks. Of course, his handsome face and movie star charm had weight, but Stan got into acting because he was passionate about the craft.

As a young boy, the Falcon and the Winter Soldier actor starred in many school stage plays that eventually led to him studying acting at the Shakespeare’s Globe Theater in London. Although Marvel’s Bucky Barnes was the role of a lifetime, his award-nominated part in Political Animals showcased his acting prowess.

 

Angelina Jolie

Getting into Hollywood was kind of inevitable for Angelina Jolie since her father is the legendary Jon Voight. Nevertheless, having a well-known actor for a parent may be one’s ticket to Hollywood, but it doesn’t mean success automatically follows. Being the daughter of Voight didn’t make the actress’ entry into the acting world easy, especially when she went through difficult teenage years.

As a teen, Jolie was enrolled in acting classes by her mother but eventually dropped out to become a funeral director. She finally got through that phase and went back to theater studies. The star’s breakthrough role was through HBO’s Gia, where she portrayed supermodel Gia Carangi.

 

 

Anthony Mackie

Anthony Mackie grabbed our attention when he featured in Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier in 2014 and has steadily risen in popularity ever since. He worked hard for five months shaping up to take on the challenge of playing the Falcon in the movie. For a man who’s not fond of heights, the role of a superhero even pushed him to overcome that fear.

Before stardom happened, Anthony spent his time helping his father with his carpentry business. A keen carpenter, he even built an outdoor kitchen in his backyard during the lockdown. We wouldn’t be surprised if he hosts his show on home improvement someday!

 

Henry Cavill

Henry Cavill is the quintessential Superman who stole our hearts when he appeared in his bright red cape in 2013 Man of Steel. His journey to playing the role is both heartwarming and inspiring. He not only read and researched the character extensively but also trained hard for five months to attain the physique needed to portray the legendary hero authentically.

It looks like Cavill had subconsciously prepared for the role for years. Who knew our on-screen superhero was addicted to playing video games in real life, The Witcher being one of his favorites! No wonder he was planning to join the armed forces if acting didn’t work out.

 

Jason Bateman

Barely ten when he first faced the camera for commercials, Jason Bateman soon started featuring in a string of television shows such as Silver Spoons. So busy was he playing various characters that the young boy hardly had time to earn his high school diploma. He also holds the record for being the youngest director for directing a few episodes of The Hogan Family at eighteen.

Interestingly, despite his tremendous success on-screen, especially in comedies such as Arrested Development and The Switch, Bateman won his one Emmy for directing Ozark in 2019. In his career spanning over forty years, he has earned a permanent place as a multi-talented artist.

 

Harrison Ford

During his high school days, the young Harrison Ford developed an interest in dramas and proceeded to take an arduous path to become an actor. In the following years, he faced many rejections and landed a job as a contract player at Columbia and Universal.

Being a struggling actor who was often told he wasn’t good enough to make it big, Ford learned not to feel defeated by his frustration. Therein lay the marks of a true hero whose talent remained undiscovered until he began playing Han Solo in the Star Wars trilogy. His subsequent roles in Air Force One and the Indiana Jones franchise cemented his superstardom.

 

Chris Evans

Digest this: Chris Evans turned down the role of Captain America thrice for fear of losing his anonymity! Well, his mom and Robert Downey Jr. convinced him to take it up eventually. You now know whom to thank! Growing up, he dreamed of joining Disney as an animator. Years later, he did become part of the company but as an actor.

Chris was sixteen when he first appeared in an educational film, Biodiversity: Wild About Life in 1997 and made his screen debut three years later in The Newcomers. Yet, it was his impressive portrayal of Captain America since 2011 that thrust him into the limelight as he feared initially!

 

Daniel Craig

We mostly associate Daniel Craig with his James Bond character, which he has portrayed since 2016 in several films. The English actor has however been on quite the streak of films besides that and the list keeps growing by the day since his first stage role in 1984.

Craig’s mom stirred his interest in the performing arts from a very young age, and it would only be fair to say it’s all the actor who left school at 16 to pursue acting, has known. His 1996 role in the relationship miniseries Our Friends in the North cast Daniel deep into the Hollywood space and fanned his great success.

 

Chris Pratt

Is there a more charming actor on the screen than Chris Pratt because we think not. The American star has gained quite the popularity for his comic and heroic roles. Before becoming the movie legend he is, Pratt was a TV actor, and before any of that glam, the actor worked odd jobs and lived in a beach tent.

Chris landed his first stint while working in a restaurant in Rae Dawn Chong’s comedy-horror Cursed Part 3. His career breakthrough , however, came after casting on 2015’s Parks and Recreation, and it’s been one huge hit after another for him since.

 

Saoirse Ronan

As talented as she is in giving life to the intricate inner lives of the characters she plays, Saoirse Ronan isn’t your average Irish American actress. Well, maybe she was during the three uncertain years of her childhood as an immigrant but that changed when her family moved back to Ireland and she was cast in the medical Tv series The Clinic.

The overly talented actress was also featured in Proof, and I Could Never Be Your Woman, but 2007’s Atonement was the hit for her as she was nominated for an Academy Award. Saoirse has since continued to melt our hearts in every film she’s been on.

 

Scarlett Johannson

From period drama to thriller and adventure films, Scarlett Johannson has appeared in quite an array of genres. The talented American actress and singer’s passion for acting showed at an early age as she began auditioning for commercials by age seven.

While her dream could easily have crumbled when a talent agent didn’t pick her, thankfully, Johannson didn’t let it. Her childhood wasn’t the best, too, as she once revealed they lived on welfare and food stamps but look at her now! Scarlett made her film debut in Rob Reiner’s 1994 North and turned into an absolute star, eventually becoming one of the world’s highest-paid actresses in 2018 and 2019.

 

 

Will Smith

We know Will Smith as the famous actor who's engraved his name in Hollywood's blockbuster hall of fame, though some might know of his early struggles. Will started his entertainment career as a rapper in the '80s under the name of The Fresh Prince. While Smith found some success in rap music, some trouble with the law tarnished his income leading to financial struggles.

Will's breakthrough into acting finally came in 1990 when he began starring in the NBC television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The Men in Black actor has shown no sign of slowing down since then, and he's got multiple notable movie awards to show for it.

 

Sigourney Weaver

Iconic American actress Sigourney Weaver is well known for pioneering action heroine roles in science fiction movies. Yet, all was not rosy from the start for this talented performer. Before venturing into acting, Sigourney was planning a Ph.D. in the English program at Stanford to become a journalist and writer. Due to frustration with the program modules, she changed her mind.

Sigourney later joined Yale University, where she studied drama but admits the studies were challenging, with some of the teachers even calling her talentless. The Heartbreakers star's big break finally came in 1979 when she starred as Ellen Ripley in the blockbuster film Alien.

 

Tom Cruise

Famous for his unforgettable role in Mission: Impossible, Tom Crusie is one of the finest actors of his generation, and the tale of his rise to fame is an interesting one. Tom had an extensively religious background. The devoted catholic hoped to become a priest until discovering his passion for acting. That eventually led to Tom dropping out of school at 18 to pursue an acting career.

Ranked by Forbes as the most powerful Hollywood star in 2006, Tom finally made his breakthrough in 1983. He got the lead in Risky Bussiness, followed by the action-drama Top G** in 1986, and both were critically acclaimed successes.

 

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst got involved with entertainment and showbiz at a very tender age. When she was 3, Kirsten had already signed with Ford as a child model for a television commercial. By the age of six, she made her screen debut in a Woody Allen film.

Kirsten eventually transitioned from budding prodigy to an internationally acclaimed starlet with a stellar performance in 1994. Her portrayal of Claudia in Interview With The Vampire got rave reviews and even won her an MTV Award for best breakthrough performance. Not a bad start, right? Yet, the actress later admitted to struggling with the growing fame that came so early in life.

 

Ryan Gosling

Born in Ontario, Canada, movie star and musician Ryan Gosling is another child actor who's genuinely achieved a lot. Ryan first gained significant recognition when he began starring in the Micky Mouse Club series in the early 90s'. Landing a role in the acclaimed TV show didn't come easy for Ryan, as he had to beat out 17,000 other aspiring performers in an open audition.

Although he never had any formal training, Ryan has nevertheless has gone on to deliver knockout performances in countless blockbusters since his debut. Most notable among them is his classic The Notebook and, more recently, the multiple Oscar-winning success La La Land.

 

Elisabeth Moss

American actress Elisabeth Moss had a very relaxed childhood, thanks to her musician parents who homeschooled her. However, it wasn't all fun and games at home; Elizabeth had also started acting at a young age. Her first acting role was in 1990, when she was only an 8-year-old girl, in the TV movie Bar Girls.

After that, the budding starlet's career just took off. She continued to land numerous notable roles in childhood. By the time Elizabeth was in her teen years, she finally landed the role that gave her an international breakthrough in The West Wing.

 

Brad Pitt

Before becoming one of the most popular actors alive today, Brad Pitt had a surprisingly 'average' life. The Oklahoma-born country boy was highly athletic growing up and was even part of his school's sports teams.

After auditioning for some minor roles in a couple of TV shows, Brad got his Hollywood break in the cult classic Thelma and Louise in 1991. Though his screen time was only a few minutes long, Brad's charisma got him widespread attention, and many believe that role to be his big break. Following that success, this leading man has delivered one blockbuster hit after another in a career stretching over multiple decades now.

 

Joaquin Phoenix

Acclaimed leading man Joaquin Phoenix started his Hollywood career as a child actor in the anthology series Alfred Hitchcock Presents. His appearance on the show's 1986 episode A Very Happy Ending got favorable reviews. By 1989, he landed a coveted role in the comedy-drama Parenthood; The film found significant box office success, earning $126 million worldwide.

Joaquin finally got his big break in 1995 when he starred as Jimmy Emmet in the dark comedy To D** For, based on an acclaimed novel of the same name. The film was a financial and critical success, and Joaquin's complex and compelling performance made him the internationally known superstar we know today.

 

Tom Hardy

Tom Hardy is ruling the film industry these days. Yet, a little-known fact is that he struggled with substance abuse issues not too long ago. After going to rehab in 2003, he got his life and career back on track and has not stopped since.

Tom landed his first TV role in HBO's Band of Brothers and Black Hawk Down was his silver screen debut. Delivering back-to-back ace performances, Tom became famously known for his ability to transform for his roles. To play the dark and complex homeless man's character in 2007' Stuart: A Life Backwards, Tom lost nearly 30 pounds and earned his first BAFTA nomination.

 

Liv Tyler

American actress Liv Tyler is best known for playing the Elvish princess Arwen Undomiel in the Lord of the Rings films. A lesser-known fact is that she first started as a model aged just 14 with the help of acclaimed international supermodel Paulina Porizkova. Liv also occasionally appeared in TV commercials back then.

Her feature film debut was in Silent Fall in 1994. A year later, she appeared in the comedy-drama Empire Records. Finally, when Liv got a supporting role playing a naïve young actress in the 1995 drama Heavy, it turned the young performer into an overnight acting sensation.

 

Renee Zellweger

This Texan actress had to carve her way through the industry before landing the iconic role that forever changed her status in Hollywood. Her first job out of college was working on a beef commercial; she was also the uncredited 'girl in the blue pickup truck' in Matthew McConaughey's Dazed and Confused.

Things began to change when the budding starlet got favorable reviews for Jerry Maguire and One True Thing playing opposite big names like Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep very early in her career. Yet Renee truly became a household name thanks to the rom-com Bridget Jones Diary and its sequels.

 

Laura Dern

Critically acclaimed star Laura Dern has bagged Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, Academy Awards for her continued brilliance on-screen. Yet, it is hard to believe there was a time when this legend was not famous. Before making it big in the industry, Laura played minor roles in teen movies.

Yet, the determined performer worked on improving her craft by fitting into more challenging roles. Though that process was slow for Laura, it was effective. When she finally landed significant roles, starring in Lynch’s Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart, this versatile performer ultimately proved her mettle, and her trophy cabinet today is proof of the fact.

 

Eric Stoltz

Eric Stoltz had a bit of hard luck in the industry after dropping out of college to pursue his true passion in the television and film industry. His friendship with Cameron Crowe helped him land minor roles in films like Singles, Jerry Maguire and The Wild Life.

Eric had been longing for more substantial roles until Pulp Fiction came along. However, his true breakthrough was his Golden Globe Award-winning role of Rocky Dennis in Mask. Since then, Eric has even frequented the director's chair and is known for directing episodes of Glee, Madame Secretary, and even Grey's Anatomy.

 

Morgan Freeman

Today, Morgan Freeman's rich and profoundly sonorous voice is iconic. Yet few know that this legend studied arts and theater in Los Angeles and struggled to land stage roles for a long time before anything worthwhile happened in his career.

Morgan's first break came with the hit children's series The Electric Company in the '70s. Before then, he'd struggled to find any lasting acclaim and steady work. Finally, the young Art graduate made his Hollywood breakthrough with four consecutive releases in 89'. By the early '90s, Morgan had become the highly bankable star that re remains to this day.

 

Antonio Banderas

Sensational Spanish performer and the winner of the Best Actor Award at Cannes, Antonio Banderas, began his acting career with a series of films by Pedro Almodovar. Before gracing Hollywood with his countless hits, Antonio was a footballer until an unfortunate foot injury at the age of fourteen crushed that dream.

After moving to Tinsel Town, the young Antonio eventually found success with American audiences after playing Zorro's character in the eponymous film series. That role is what paved the way for his Hollywood success in not just acting but also direction and production.

 

 

Tom Hanks

Zero-to-hero perfectly describes two-time Academy Award winner Tom Hanks. He went through a tough childhood following his parents' divorce and got absolutely no acting experience in college. Nevertheless, Tom's career was only just beginning when the director of a play he once auditioned for invited him to Cleveland.

Between 1984 and 1988, Tom starred in three movies; Splash, Dragnet and Big. They were all moderate successes and brought in a small amount of fame. Eventually, the performer finally made his big Hollywood breakthrough with Forest Grump following it with Toy Story in the early '90s, both of which remain classics to this day.

 

Bruce Willis

Blockbuster movie lovers know who Bruce Willis is! Some probably still call him John McClane because of the leading man's stellar performance in the D** Hard franchise. Even though Hollywood is where Bruce has found the most significant success, he actually started on Broadway like many other famous actors.

Bruce eventually tried transitioning into TV from the theatre by auditioning for countless small parts until finally landing a role in Moonlight. That 1985 television series officially put Bruce on the rising star map. Following that project, he even briefly made music, releasing three albums, though, in the end, it was action films where the A-list star has thrived best.

 

Cher

Finding your talents at a young age can be a blessing since it can help get you out of a difficult situation when you least expect it. That's the story of Cherilyn Sarkisian, who had undiagnosed dyslexia, which always made school difficult for her. Yet, her life turned around when the young Cher quit school to pursue her singing dreams.

Her showbiz career had a great start, and just a year after getting married to Sonny, Cher decided to make music as a husband-wife duo. Sonny & Cher became one of TV's most beloved wedded variety show hosts. This Oscar-winning star achieved all this long before eventually breaking into acting.

 

Kathy Bates

Kathy Bates began acting at a young age in her high school theatre. She always had an unwavering mindset to rise, knowing it takes great dedication to fulfill dreams. To do so, Kathy regularly took little jobs to help fund her auditions, and in 1970 she made her professional theater debut in the play Lemon Sky.

She eventually entered films in 1971 after starring in Taking Off, which wasn’t a success. After a seven-year hiatus from Hollywood, Kathy returned to acting and broke records with her role in the classic horror Misery; the film brought her critical acclaim, a growing fandom, and countless awards.

 

Freddie Highmore

Freddie Highmore was born into a family enmeshed in the entertainment industry, with his mother being a talent agent and his father a former actor. So, it was no wonder that Freddie followed in their footsteps and dipped his toes into acting as a young child. His career took off with minor roles at the age of 7.

In 2004, he starred in the movie Finding Neverland, delivering such a stunning performance that his co-star Johnny Depp highly recommended Freddie for a role in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He won several awards for the latter, and it became the performance that boosted this English actor’s name in the industry.

 

John C. Reilly

Long before this celebrated actor and comedian rose to fame through his supporting roles in Days of Thunder and What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? John C. Reilly was self-admittedly a mischievous child. That trait would set the tone for numerous comedic roles that he would play in the coming years.

Growing up in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood, John has fond memories of the antics he and his friends used to pull off, like stealing 500 boxes of Sugar Corn Pops from a freight train, aged just 12. Just a few years later, in 1989, John landed a minor role in Casualties of War, and the rest is history.

 

Michael Caine

Before this highly-acclaimed and award-winning British actor rose to fame and became a household name, Michael Caine had a reasonably normal childhood. His family was not well-off; dad was a fish porter and his mother a cook. At the age of 10, Michael starred in a school play with his zipper undone, getting a hearty laugh from the audience. He credits that reaction as his inspiration for taking up acting to this day.

Between the years 1952 and 1954, the English film icon was called to serve in the British Army. Finally, by age 20, Michael professionally took up acting, leading to a distinguished career spanning over six decades.

 

Queen Latifah

Dana Elaine Owens, more popularly known as Queen Latifah, was born in New Jersey to a police officer dad and a teaching mom. She began her music career beatboxing for the hip-hop group Ladies Fresh. Queen was also an original member of an emcees and DJs crew from New York called Flavor Unit.

After becoming a trailblazing pioneer in female rap, Queen dove headfirst into acting with fabulous success. She appeared in numerous supporting parts before landing starring roles in sitcoms and films, eventually even hosting The Queen Latifah Show on daytime TV.

 

Iman

Iman Abdulmajid, fashion model and widow of the late English rock musician David Bowie, was born in Somalia. She spent the early years of her life with her grandparents and most of her childhood and adolescence in a boarding school in Egypt. After being discovered by an American photographer, Iman moved to the United States to begin her modeling career.

Widely praised for her striking looks, this fashion queen quickly became a muse for numerous designers and posed for some of the most prestigious magazines in the world. After reigning in the industry for decades, Iman continues to be a generous and active philanthropist even to this day.