What Our Favorite Hollywood Celebrities Looked Like Before They Got Famous

Even the most in-demand and highly-paid stars of the cinema world were once at the stage of taking their first timid steps on the big screen. Some started their career by appearing on soap operas while others tried themselves at movies for kids — and some even dabbled in sketch comedy. Believe it or not, some famous actors and actresses’ biggest fans might not know what their lives looked like when they were only starting off in their fight for a spot under Hollywood’s bright lights.

We at Bright Side checked which flicks and TV shows our favorite movie stars debuted in and are revealing how much they’ve changed since then.

1. Margot Robbie

Robbie’s acting career started in 2007 in Australia when she starred in the films, ICU and Vigilante. It was as the role of Donna Freedman on the soap opera, Neighbours, that brought her fame in her motherland.

2. Robert Downey Jr.

In 1985, 20-year-old Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast of the popular show, Saturday Night Live on NBC for just one season. However, after working in television, he chose to lean more toward the film world.

3. Hilary Swank

The actress’s debut in the movie world was a small role in the 1992 comedic film, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which inspired the cult TV series that she played Kimberly Hannah in.

4. Gabriel Macht

The future Suits star first appeared on-screen in an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. However, this supporting role didn’t bring him fame.

5. Kirsten Dunst

One of Dunst’s first projects, when she was only starting to conquer Hollywood in her early childhood, was as the role of Sherman McCoy’s daughter in The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990).

6. Tom Hanks

In 1980, Hanks acted in a horror movie called He Knows You’re Alone. But the actor’s first recognizable gig was on the sitcom, Bosom Buddies, where he played the main role of Kip Wilson/Buffy.

7. Felicity Jones

The actress’s debut on the big screen took place in 1996 in the movie, The Treasure Seekers where she played Alice, one of the main characters.

8. Daniel Radcliffe

Before his appearance in the legendary Harry Potter franchise, the young actor had one other acting credit to his name: Pendel’s son in The Tailor of Panama (2001).

9. Emma Stone

Stone’s acting career started with a series of supporting roles in teenage TV series, including Medium where she appeared in just one of the episodes.

10. Dwayne Johnson

That ’70s Show brought popularity and fame to many actors, like Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, and Dwayne Johnson who played his own father, Rocky Johnson, in an episode.

11. Elisabeth Moss

In 1999, the future star of The Handmaid’s Tale series appeared in the movie, Girl, Interrupted as the role of Polly, a girl disfigured by burns.

12. Matt Damon

Damon’s debut on the big screen was in the movie, Mystic Pizza, where he played the character named Steamer.

13. Scarlett Johansson

One of the actress’s first memorable works was in her role as Emily in the movie, If Lucy Fell (1996).

14. Daniel Craig

Audiences first saw Craig on the big screen in the movie, The Power of One, where he played Jaapie Botha.

15. Evan Rachel Wood

Just like Kirsten Dunst, the future Westworld star started to conquer Hollywood during childhood. Her first leading role was as the main character in the movie, Digging to China.

16. Chris Pratt

Pratt’s debut on the big screen took place in 2003 in the action movie, The Extreme Team, where he played Keenan.

17. Drew Barrymore

The acting breakthrough for Drew Barrymore was in her role as Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). At that time, she was only 7 years old.

18. Russell Crowe

Crowe landed his first big role on the big screen in the movie The Crossing (1990). Before that, the actor could only be seen on a couple of TV series.

19. Amy Adams

Adams’ debut movie was released in 1999. She played a supporting character, Leslie Miller, in the black comedy, Drop Dead Gorgeous.

20. Christian Bale

In 1987, the 12-year-old Christian Bale got the role of Jamie “Jim” Graham in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun, winning the part amid 4,000 other candidates.

21. Emilia Clarke

Before acting in Game of Thrones, the actress appeared on-screen only a couple of times, including a small role in one of the episodes of a British series called Doctors.

22. Jason Momoa

Even Momoa’s most avid fans might not know that the actor’s debut took place in the cult series, Baywatch, where he can be seen in the tenth and eleventh seasons in the role of Jason Ioane.

23. Mila Kunis

It was in the movie Piranha (1995) where Kunis played one of her first roles — the daughter of a local sheriff.

24. Monica Bellucci

The Italian diva’s acting career started in a low-budget movie called The Raffle (1991) where she played the main role, a widowed bourgeois woman named Francesca.

Which of the actors or actresses, in your opinion, haven’t changed much since their first appearance on screen? Have any of them changed beyond recognition?