30 Celebs Who Had Ordinary Jobs Before They Got Famous
By Kirsty
1 year ago
Johnny Depp: Telemarketer
Image Source / Work + MoneyNow one of the most famous actors, you might think he did this all his life when starting so young, but he actually used to have a job as a telemarketer. Apparently he hated it and only made one sale – which he then talked the customer out of making. Imagine being that one customer that was on the phone to Johnny Depp!Brad Pitt: Dressed Up As A Chicken
Image Source / RVCJ MediaNo, not just for fun – he actually got paid for it. The Hollywood actor used to dress up as a chicken for an El Pollo Loco Restaurant in Hollywood. Well, it’s not unusual for actors having to take restaurant gigs to make a wage while auditioning, and dressing up as a chicken might be kinda fun.Hugh Jackman: Gym Teacher
Image Source / RankerThis one checks out when you think of Hugh’s fitness levels, and he seems like a guy who’d be great with kids, so gym teacher definitely seems to suit him! Imagine watching Wolverine and going ‘oh wow that’s Mr Jackman! He gave me detention for not doing enough sit-ups’. It’d be pretty cool to have him as a teacher, though.Steve Buscemi: Firefighter
Image Source / YouTubeActor Steve Buscemi had a full-on firefighting career before switching to acting, and the hero even returned to his firefighting roots when the attack on the Twin Towers during 9/11 occurred. He helped out the other firefighters during the attack to make sure people were safe. Hero.George Clooney: Sold Women’s Shoes
Image Source / EsquireI mean, looking at him now, he’d probably be able to charm the pants (and shoes) off anyone, so it’s not so surprising to imagine him in a sales role. As well as selling women’s shoes, he was also a door-to-door insurance salesmen, but he also worked as a shelf-stocker, a construction worker and even cut tobacco. A man of many talents.Christopher Walken: Lion Tamer
Image Source / GlobStartYep, you read that right. The legendary actor Christopher Walken was a lion tamer at the young age of 16 before he turned to acting. And apparently he was very good at it, because he’s still here. He would perform with a lioness named Sheba.Danny DeVito: Mortician Hairdresser
Image Source / The Golden Throats WikiYou might not relate the comic personality of Danny DeVito with a funeral home, but yep, before he made it big time in Hollywood, he was actually a hairdresser for the deceased. He would be responsible for styling recently-passed women’s hair to make them look beautiful ready for their funeral.Pierce Brosnan: Professional Fire Eater
Image Source / Bored PandaThe key word here is professional – he didn’t just do it for fun, so don’t try this at home, kids. We’ve had a professional firefighter, and now here is a professional fire eater. He had this job in his teens before turning to acting, and he had a job under The Big Top for three years as a performer.Jim Carrey: Janitor
Image Source / PinterestJim Carrey has an extremely successful career in acting, both in comedy roles and jarring serious roles. Before this, he actually quit school in order to get a job and support his family. He did this by earning a living working as a janitor instead of continuing his studies.Barack Obama: Ice Cream Scooper
Image Source / NPRImagine watching the former President of the United States giving a speech on TV and remembering that he once scooped your strawberry ice cream for you. Former President Barack Obama was once an employee at Baskin Robbins where he scooped ice cream for a living.Katheryn Winnick: Martial Arts School Owner
Image Source / Martial Arts FemalesActress Katheryn Winnick of Vikings Lagertha fame is actually an accomplished martial artist, which should come as no surprise when you’ve seen her fight scenes in her roles. But way before she became an accomplished actress, she actually founded and owned not one, but three martial arts schools by the age of 21.Chris Pratt: Stripper
Image Source / Eonline.comThis is probably a go-to for a lot of aspiring male actors when trying to make a living in Hollywood, and apparently that was the case for actor Chris Pratt. Chris worked as a stripper before his acting career whilst he was struggling to make a living whilst living in Hawaii.Tom Hanks: Popcorn And Peanuts Vendor
Image Source / ABC NewsTom Hanks is such a legendary actor – and started so young – that it’s hard to imagine him doing anything else. But apparently he was a popcorn and peanuts vendor before his acting career kicked off. And with that personality, we can actually imagine him being the most successful popcorn and peanuts vendor that there ever was.Kate Winslet: Sandwich Maker
Image Source / TumgirKate Winslet is a treasured British actress most known for her role as Rose in Titanic, of course, but has dominated the movie world ever since. But before her iconic movie beginnings, she was actually a sandwich maker in a delicatessen. Did she dream of her acting roles as she put lettuce on bread?Nicole Kidman: Masseuse
Image Source / The List
Sandra Bullock: Bartender And Waitress
Image Source / ABC NewsWe all know that when you’re young and need to make a living, waitressing is one of the go-to jobs no matter where you’re based in the world, because there’s always work available. And the same goes for aspiring actors, as it did in the case of Sandra Bullock. She worked as both a bartender and waitress in a restaurant in Manhattan.Channing Tatum: Stripper
Image Source / Bored PandaThis one might not come as a surprise based on his looks – and his famous appearance in Magic Mike as a stripper. Well, this role apparently came naturally to him, as he used to work as a stripper to make ends meet before he got his big Hollywood breakout. There are sure to be many people who remember him from their bachelor/bachelorette parties!Gerard Butler: Trainee Lawyer
Image Source / The Hollywood ReporterYou can actually imagine actor Gerard Butler being a pretty intimidating lawyer – I certainly wouldn’t want to be up against him in court. The actor was training in law school before his acting career, when he actually got fired. The reason? He was partying too much and frequently missing work. Sounds more like an actor than a lawyer, after all.Charlize Theron: Ballet Dancer
Image Source / Daily MailActress Charlize Theron has long since been known for her beauty and performing prowess, so learning she was originally studying to be a ballet dancer sounds completely natural. She studied at the Joffrey Ballet School based in New York to start her dancing career, but had to cut her plans short at 19 years old due to a knee injury. Ouch.John Hamm: Porn Film Set-Dresser
Image Source / YouTubeNo, John Hamm wasn’t a porn actor before he was a mainstream actor, but he did dabble in the industry – with a very important role, by the sounds of it. He was actually a set-dresser for porn films, meaning it was his responsibility to create the sets for *those* scenes. Yep.Victoria Beckham: Played A Sperm
Image Source / CR Fashion BookYou read that correctly: former Spice Girl, musician and now fashion icon once played the role of a sperm for a BBC Sex Education show. The UK show, ‘Body Matters’, not only had the designer play a sperm – but she played a sperm on roller skates, too. Because why not? But we always said learning should be fun.Adrien Brody: A Magician
Image Source / PinterestThe actor Adrien Brody was once a magic extraordinaire who performed magic shows at children’s birthday parties. That’s kinda cute, and certainly more interesting than having to work as a waiter. He not only performed magic at parties, but he even had his own act name: The Amazing Adrien!Rachel McAdams: McDonald’s Worker
Image Source / PinterestWhen you’re looking for a job and a secure income when you’re young, then waitressing is a go-to – but especially so when it’s the massive food chain, McDonald’s, where there’s always going to be a job going. For actress Rachel McAdams, this was her situation when she needed a wage! Would you like fries with that?Jennifer Aniston: Telemarketer
Image Source / RankerActress and Friends-legend Jennifer Aniston wasn’t always in the spotlight. Just like Johnny Depp, she once worked as a telemarketer selling items over the phone – and maybe her natural charm meant she made a fair few sales. It’s unknown whether she had more luck with it than Johnny did though!Walt Disney: Paper Boy
Image Source / D23Walt Disney needs no introduction. The man behind Disney, behind every person’s childhood, behind the new TV shows and films still being spewed out by yet another subscription provider. Yet Walt Disney wasn’t always preparing for huge success with his characters and animations. He once had a simple job as a paper boy when he was younger.Ashton Kutcher: Sweeping Up
Image Source / CR Fashion BookSomeone needs to sweep the floors, after all, so why not actor Ashton Kutcher? He was responsible for sweeping up cereal dust off the floor at a General Mills factory. Not only that – to make extra cash, he sold his blood on the side, too. Obviously all above board to healthcare services that needed it!Michael Fassbender: Altar Boy
Image Source / PinterestActor Michael Fassbender was once an altar boy who attended weddings and baptisms. Alongside that, he was also a market researcher for Royal Mail, the postal company in the UK. With these talents not being enough, he also worked in more than one bartending position to earn a little extra cash.Madonna: Dunkin Donuts
Image Source / RedditQueen of Pop Madonna seems to have just always been there in the music and acting world, that you can never imagine her doing anything different. But not only did she have an ordinary job, she actually worked as an employee at Dunkin Donuts. Can you imagine being served your favourite donut by Madonna herself? But you might not have got chance, because she actually got fired!Elon Mulk: Shoveled Up Dirt
Image Source / ObserverElon Mulk is the richest man in the world. So it’s hard to think of a billionaire having an ordinary job, but he did – and that job was actually shoveling up dirt in a boiler room. He apparently got paid $18 an hour to do this, which actually seems like a pretty good wage considering what the job was! Most waitresses would probably get paid far less!Megan Fox: Waitress
Image Source / AllureLike many Hollywood actresses, Megan Fox once worked as a waitress to make ends meet. But Megan is no stranger to unwanted and inappropriate attention because of the way she looks, and it seems like it started way before her acting career, too. She apparently quit her waitressing job because customers couldn’t keep their hands to themselves.What To Read Next
Load More