Hollywood is a hotbed of competition with countless multi-skilled individuals competing for elite stardom at any given moment. With such intense rivalry in the industry, ascending to the pinnacle is seldom seen. Numerous artists endure years of diligent work and minor roles without ever landing a significant opportunity. This experience alone can be sufficient to shatter their spirit and veer them towards an alternative career journey.
The thing is, making it in Hollywood isn’t just about hard work and dedication – it also takes a good helping of luck. Indeed, for some, luck was all it took. They instantly skyrocketed to fame and joined the ranks of those who spent blood, sweat, and years on making it to their position. Maybe these lucky few were just born for greatness? To get to the bottom of this question, we’ve gathered together the most fascinating Hollywood stories, and we’re delighted to present you 20 of your favorite A-list celebrities who became famous in unlikely ways.
Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence got her big break in New York City at the age of 12 and swiftly moved into teenage modeling assignments. This work continued until she transitioned to acting, making her television debut in 2006. Lawrence has since risen to prominence and is now a renowned Academy Award-winning actress, an achievement that has made her a familiar name in many households.
Being talented and quite a charmer, Lawrence became the star of the famous film trilogy entitled The Hunger Games. Doing this movie skyrocketed her to the top ranks in Hollywood.
Johnny Depp
The legendary and iconic Johnny Depp was quite a charmer during his time. But he was only discovered as a star because he tagged along with his friend to an audition for the first Nightmare on Elm Street film.
Director Wes Craven saw potential in the young newbie, and the rest was history. Depp is known for taking weird roles in eccentric movies like Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Pirates Of The Caribbean, Edward Scissorhands, and Sweeny Todd.
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson’s first shot to fame happened in the year 1989 when she was placed on the JumboTron during a hockey game. The beauty captivated everyone in her Labatt Blue t-shirt (a company for whom she would soon become a model).
This moment also signaled the start of her career in acting, but it wasn’t until 1992 that she got her biggest break. Anderson was cast as one of the main characters in the hit TV show, Baywatch.
Mel Gibson
Mel Gibson drove his friend to an audition the day after getting battered in a bar fight. This series of events resulted in him being discovered by George Miller, the famed director of the original Mad Max.
The unkempt look of Gibson caught the director’s attention, creating a vision in his mind. Following an audition, Miller was certain he had discovered the ideal protagonist for his action movie. And indeed, he was correct! Regardless of some disputes on his journey, Gibson has emerged as one of the most acclaimed actors and filmmakers in Hollywood.
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron’s discovery happened as she was having a heated exchange of words with a bank teller. The talent agent saw her fire and knew instantly that she would be a great actress. A few months later, she landed her first movie role.
Theron was raised in South Africa before she relocated to the United States, making her home in Hollywood at the age of 18. The actress, now a familiar name in households, continues to radiate a youthful aura.
Harrison Ford
Before becoming famous, Harrison Ford was known as a “carpenter to the stars,” handling big jobs for celebrities and production companies. When George Lucas was holding auditions for Star Wars, Ford was called in from where he was woodworking in a nearby studio so that Luke and Leia could have someone to read lines with.
A few weeks after his unintentional audition, Ford got a callback telling him they wanted him to play Han Solo. Star Wars remains one of the most famous sci-fi, fantasy sagas out there, and Ford gave life to one of the most iconic characters of the series.
Marilyn Monroe
Prior to her worldwide fame as Marilyn Monroe, she was Norma Jean, a WWII arms factory worker. An article about women’s roles in warfare featured her picture. However, her breathtaking beauty gained immediate attention and after the article hit the newsstands, her rapid ascent to stardom commenced.
Adopting the persona of Marilyn Monroe, Norma-Jean emerged as one of the globe’s most celebrated and iconic symbols of sex appeal. Her influence was so immense that she continues to be one of the most recognized names in households today.
Ashton Kutcher
Upon triumphing in a modeling competition, Ashton Kutcher chose to leave university and relocate to New York City. He immediately began working as a model for renowned brands like Calvin Klein and Versace. Despite thoroughly enjoying his modeling career, Kutcher was aware that his ultimate calling lay elsewhere.
Well, he was right about that. It didn’t take long for young Ashton to win a lead role in the famous sitcom, That ’70s Show. He would continue to pursue acting and later moved into hosting his own show.
Natalie Portman
At just 11 years of age, Natalie Portman looked so stunning that she was scouted by a Revlon makeup representative who wanted her to model right away. She went to audition after audition, and it didn’t take long before she landed her first job.
Portman’s first acting role was that of Mathilda Lando, a young hitman-in-training in the film, Léon: The Professional. But it wasn’t until she scored the role of Queen Amidala in Star Wars that she became a household name across the globe.
Peter Mayhew
Before Peter Mayhew joined the crazy world of Hollywood, he worked as a hospital orderly. But since he stood 7’3″, George Lucas saw him as the perfect actor to play Chewbacca.
Though he has played many roles in his lifetime, his most famous one remains the much-loved Chewy from the Star Wars films. He is now retired but remains one of the most respected performance artists of all time.
Christie Brinkley
Photographer Errol Sawyer came across Christie Brinkley in a post office, where he was compelled to organize a photoshoot with her. The photos were so captivating that he mailed them to Elite Modeling’s branch in Paris. The agency was so impressed with her pictures that they immediately decided to bring her onboard.
Ms. Brinkley, who is synonymous with Covergirl for a quarter of a century, created a formidable foundation that paved the way for her success not only as a model but also as an actress and businesswoman. Having graced nearly 500 magazine covers, she is considered one of the most emblematic models of her era.
Vin Diesel
Vin Diesel’s breakthrough came from producing a short film that depicts the challenges of an aspiring actor. The high quality of the film led to its feature at the renowned Cannes Film Festival. The legendary director, Steven Spielberg, saw the film, and its impact resonated with him.
Spielberg loved it so much that he gave Diesel his big break – a role in the epic war film, Saving Private Ryan. Today, Diesel is famous for his action blockbusters, particularly the iconic Need For Speed films.
Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo was working as a Bartender in New York City when she was discovered by a casting agent who helped her get a contract with L’Oreal. Little did she know that this would skyrocket her to A-list stardom.
Soon after the campaign was finished, Pompeo scored minor roles in movies and TV. Finally, in 2005, she caught her big break when she joined the Grey’s Anatomy cast. Her solid acting skills and lovable charm helped her get where she is now.
Burt Reynolds
Now here’s someone who never really wanted to have a career in entertainment. Reynolds wanted to become a professional football player, but the universe clearly had other things in mind. When Burt took a role in the 1972 film Deliverance, he achieved celebrity status instantly.
The late Burt Reynolds became a successful actor, producer, and director in his lifetime. One of his most iconic roles was in the iconic Western TV series, Gunsmoke.
Rosario Dawson
Rosario Dawson was just 15 years old when a screenwriter and a photographer approached her to audition for a film entitled Kids. She was up for the challenge and despite not having any acting background, she was able to get in. The movie was controversial and received mixed reviews, but it was enough to kick off a bustling entertainment career for the young woman.
Dawson’s filming schedule soon filled up with roles in He Got Game, Men in Black II, Rent, Josie and the Pussycats, Clerks II, Sin City, Top Five, Death Proof, and Unstoppable. She also enjoyed plenty of off-screen time, working as a voice-over talent in projects for DC Comics, Disney, Viacom, Warner Brothers, and Nickelodeon.
John Wayne
John Wayne attended the University of Southern California in 1925. He was on a football scholarship that didn’t last long because he had was hit with an injury that stopped him playing competitively. He thought things were over for him, but once again, the universe had a different plan in store for him.
John Wayne’s football coach was connected to John Ford, a Hollywood director. He introduced the pair, and Wayne was almost immediately cast as Ringo Kid in the Academy Award-winning western film, Stagecoach. This led to a string of Westerns that cemented the actor as one of the most legendary stars of Hollywood.
Katherine Heigl
Katherine Heigl’s first modeling campaign came when she was just nine years old. The soon-to-be famous actress was hired by her aunt to endorse her line of hair care products. This family endeavor led to bigger things as Heigl was booked for more modeling projects from other brands.
From modeling, she progressed into some minor film and TV appearances. But it wasn’t until 1999 that Katherin Heigl experienced her first breakout role, taking the lead in a sci-fi show called Roswell that ran for three seasons.
Danny Trejo
Danny Trejo’s early life wasn’t particularly pleasant, marked by substantial engagement with alcohol and narcotics. Yet, his journey is incredibly motivational, culminating in him achieving sobriety. He internalized the severity of his past mistakes to such an extent that he adopted the role of a drug counselor, committing his time to assist others.
At this point, his tale takes an even more fascinating turn. He had to be summoned to a movie set by one of the individuals he was assisting, in order to avert a potential relapse. Trejo showed up with his distinctive, hard-edged appearance, which stirred whispers among the production crew. He was so mesmerizing that they decided to give him a part as a background actor in the film. One event unfolded after another, and the rest, as they say, is a part of Hollywood’s illustrious history!
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes has one of the most unlikely stories on this list. Her career started after she was accidentally shot in the background of her neighbor’s modeling portfolio. An agent saw how beautiful she was and did everything he could to get find out who she was and get in touch with her.
Mendes moved from modeling to acting in the late 90s, taking roles in B-rated films like Children of the Corn V: Fields of Terror as well as Urban Legends: Final Cut. Today, Mendes is a popular actress and successful businesswoman.
Tippi Hedren
Tippi Hedren’s discovery happened as she was trying to exit a cab in Minnesota. A modeling scout saw her and thought that her beauty shouldn’t go unseen by the world at large. She accepted the offer and did a few endorsements soon after.
Hedren appeared in numerous television commercials, and that’s most likely how iconic director Alfred Hitchcock discovered her. The director knew she would be perfect for his horror film, The Birds, which was released in the year 1963.