What 20 of the biggest actors were doing before they got famous

Jessica BoothJul 8, 2020, 22:36 IST

Some actors had different jobs before finding fame.MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters; LUCAS JACKSON/Reuters; Getty/Alberto E. Rodriguez

Celebrities who weren't born into stardom had different odd jobs — or even full-fledged careers — before finding success as actors.
Brad Pitt, Rachel McAdams, Amy Adams, Melissa McCarthy, and Megan Fox all worked in the food-service industry before making it big.
Other celebrities, like Harrison Ford and Matt LeBlanc, have a background in carpentry.
Christopher Walken was a lion tamer's apprentice in a circus and Whoopi Goldberg was a mortuary beautician before gaining fame.

A lot of the biggest actors weren't born into a life of stardom and fame.

As weird as it is to think about, most celebrities had odd jobs or even full-fledged careers before they became A-listers.

Here's what some of the most popular actors in Hollywood were doing before they got famous.

Before he took on the role of Wolverine, Hugh Jackman was a high-school gym teacher.

Hugh Jackman was working as a teacher before he got famous. PETER NICHOLLS/Reuters

Brad Pitt had to wear a chicken costume at work before he became an international heartthrob.

Brad Pitt wore a chicken suit when he worked for the restaurant El Pollo Loco. Gregg DeGuire / Getty Images

Years before becoming a famous actress, Taraji P. Henson worked at the Pentagon.

Taraji P. Henson worked as a receptionist at the Pentagon. MARIO ANZUONI/Reuters

Rachel McAdams worked at McDonald's long before snagging an Oscar nomination.

Rachel McAdams used to work at McDonald's. Charles Sykes/Invision/AP

George Clooney was selling insurance before he became one of the most iconic stars around.

George Clooney worked a few different jobs when he was trying to make it big in LA. Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Before she became Rachel from "Friends," Jennifer Aniston worked as a telemarketer and a bike messenger.

Jennifer Aniston worked as a bike messenger before starring on TV. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Years before he started acting, Christopher Walken worked alongside a lion tamer.

Christopher Walken was part of a traveling circus. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival

Sofía Vergara almost became a dentist before taking on Hollywood.

Sofía Vergara studied to become a dentist, but she said she never finished. Gregg DeGuire/Getty Images

Before taking on award-winning roles, Amy Adams worked as a waitress at Hooters.

Amy Adams used to be a waitress. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

He'll forever be known as Michael Scott to most fans, but Steve Carell was once a neighborhood mailman.

Steve Carell delivered mail before getting into improv. Joel C. Ryan/Invision/AP

Before taking on an iconic role on television, Jon Hamm worked as a set dresser for soft-core pornography films.

Jon Hamm said a friend offered him her job on the set. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP

Melissa McCarthy was serving coffee at Starbucks before she made it big.

Melissa McCarthy worked as a Starbucks barista. Steve Granitz/Getty Images

Bradley Cooper dabbled in journalism before taking on big movie roles.

Bradley Cooper used to write for a newspaper. Mario Anzuoni/Reuters

Megan Fox wore a banana suit outside a smoothie shop before her big role in "Transformers" (2007).

Megan Fox worked at a smoothie shop in Florida before getting her big break. Rodin Eckenroth/Getty Images

Before becoming one of Charlie's Angels, Lucy Liu was an aerobics instructor.

Lucy Liu used to teach aerobics classes. Bryan Bedder/Getty Images

He rose to fame playing Han Solo, but before that, Harrison Ford was a carpenter.

Harrison Ford was a carpenter when he landed his "Star Wars" role. PHIL MCCARTEN/Reuters

Before winning an Oscar, Whoopi Goldberg worked as a mortuary beautician.

Whoopi Goldberg is a licensed beautician. Kevin Mazur / Contributor / Getty Images

Before playing a doctor on the big screen, Ken Jeong was an actual doctor.

Ken Jeong was a doctor in real life before playing one in films. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

He'll always be Joey in fans' hearts, but Matt LeBlanc was on track to be a carpenter before making it big on TV.

Matt LeBlanc has a background in carpentry. Alexander G. Seyum/Invision/AP

She's now a famous actress, but Nicole Kidman once studied massage therapy.

Nicole Kidman trained to be a masseuse to help with her mother's cancer treatments. Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images

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