HUMBLE BEGINNINGS
You Won’t Believe The Jobs These 10 Celebs Had Before Hitting Stardom
Published on July 23, 2024
Image: Ben White
Who didn’t have a weird job in their youth? Celebrities are no exception. Before their rise to stardom, they led ordinary lives, taking on whatever jobs they could to make ends meet, no matter how odd or unglamorous.
From dressing as brand mascots to conducting espionage missions during World War II, we've uncovered some of the most curious pre-fame occupations of everyone’s favorite stars.
Brad Pitt
Image: Laura Gariglio
Brad Pitt worked as a limousine driver and even dressed as a chicken mascot for "El Pollo Loco", a popular restaurant in Los Angeles. Despite these humble beginnings, Pitt's drive and determination eventually led him to become one of Hollywood's most sought-after actors.
His early jobs instilled in him a strong work ethic and a down-to-earth attitude, qualities that have become integral to his memorable performances and off-screen persona.
Hugh Jackman
Image: Pascal Bernardon
There was a time when you could book Hugh Jackman for just $50. Before becoming Wolverine in the X-Men films, he was known as Coco the Clown, entertaining children at birthday parties and various events.
This early gig taught him how to think on his feet and keep a crowd entertained, skills that undoubtedly contributed to his later success on the silver screen.
Channing Tatum
Image: Wesley Tingey
Although it might come as no surprise to anyone who watched his truthful performance in the film Magic Mike, Channing Tatum began his career as a stripper at a nightclub.
While some actors prefer to forget or hide their less-than-glamorous jobs, Tatum embraced this experience. It certainly gave his acting a unique perspective and authenticity, helping him connect with audiences on a more personal level.
Megan Fox
Image: Mark de Jong
Before her breakout role in Transformers, Megan Fox used to work all sorts of odd jobs to pay the bills. At one point, she worked at a smoothie shop in Florida, where she occasionally dressed as a giant banana to attract customers.
Despite the unglamorous nature of the job, her determination to succeed in Hollywood never wavered. After years of hard work, she finally landed her first successful role.
Matthew McConaughey
Image: rivage
Matthew McConaughey spent a year in Australia cleaning chicken coops and washing dishes while taking acting classes. In his free time, he surfed and relaxed at the local beaches.
He claims this period was life-changing, making him a more humble and better person. It also infused his performances with notable authenticity. Though he nearly pursued a different career path as a production assistant, he ultimately realized that acting was his true calling.
Whoopi Goldberg
Image: The Good Funeral Guide
Whoopi Goldberg could be crowned the queen of odd jobs. Before becoming everyone’s favorite no-nonsense host of The View, she worked as a bank teller and a bricklayer, among other unusual gigs.
However, the strangest job by far was her stint as a mortuary beautician. In an interview with Oprah, she even recalled a moment when her boss played a prank on her by hiding in a funeral home drawer.
Rod Stewart
Image: Lucas van Oort
Rod Stewart had his fair share of odd jobs, largely due to his father's insistence that he stay busy during his teenage years. His father would wake him up early to ensure he found something productive to do. Among his many stints at different occupations, he once worked at the Highgate Cemetery in London, measuring out plots and marking them off with string.
Eventually, a myth arose that he worked as a gravedigger at the cemetery, but that’s a bit of an exaggeration. Stewart himself clarified that he only marked the spots where the actual gravediggers would work later.
Ozzy Osbourne
Image: Prometheus
For 18 months in 1964, Ozzy Osbourne worked in an abattoir in Birmingham. He claimed that he enjoyed the job, not because of what it involved but because if you finished early you would have the rest of the day off, and the pay was good.
Considering his later career, this job seems oddly fitting. After all, which other musician could you picture working in the grim environment of a slaughterhouse?
Warren Beatty
Image: slyfox photography
Before becoming Clyde in Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Warren Beatty worked in what has to be one of the most unglamorous jobs on this list: rat catcher for a theater in Washington, D.C.
Still, it was for a theater, so there was some sort of connection to his later career, right? In any case, such a job likely helped him develop the crucial qualities necessary to thrive in show business.
Christopher Lee
Image: Tetiana SHYSHKINA
Before becoming an iconic actor known for portraying spine-chilling villains like Dracula or Saruman in the Lord of the Rings franchise, Christopher Lee served as an intelligence officer in the Royal Air Force during World War II.
It is even speculated that he might have served as partial inspiration for the character of James Bond, as author Ian Fleming was a distant relative and knew of his wartime exploits. If anything, this only adds another layer to the charismatic and complex personality that was Christopher Lee, who also loved to sing opera and occasionally collaborated with heavy metal bands.
