13 Celebrities Share What They Did For A Living Prior To Stardom
We all start somewhere, and until you make your big break, you still have to afford to eat.
Before the fame, the red carpets, and the headline-making roles, a lot of celebrities were just trying to pay the bills like everyone else. Some worked ordinary jobs, some took on strange side gigs, and some ended up in places you would never expect.
This roundup looks at 13 stars and the pre-fame work they did while chasing a bigger break. From food service and office work to hospital shifts and mall jobs, their early careers were a lot more relatable than their current lives.
Some of these jobs are genuinely surprising, and a few are just plain funny in hindsight. Read on.
1. Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez has shown countless times that she’s a talented dancer, actress, and singer. But before becoming a triple threat in the entertainment industry, Lopez worked as a secretary at a law firm.
Invision / Invision / East NewsPart of her job responsibilities included filing tax returns for public service workers.
giphy2. Miley Cyrus
Before Miley Cyrus came into the spotlight on the Disney TV series, Hannah Montana, she worked as a cleaner for a cleaning company. As relationship expert Dr. Esther Perel notes, "Many people find that their early jobs shape their understanding of work and relationships, providing valuable life lessons." This experience can often influence their future paths in unexpected ways.
MICHAEL TRAN / AFP / East News
She was only 11, but she says she enjoyed the job.
giphy
3. Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes worked in a pizzeria, then she sold hot dogs in a shopping mall before she made her way to fame.
depositphotos
At least most food jobs feed you as well as pay you.
giphy
4. Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston was a telemarketer selling time-shares for the Poconos before landing the pivotal role on the TV show Friends. According to renowned life coach Tony Robbins, "Every experience, even the ones that seem mundane, can contribute to your growth and success." This highlights how Aniston's early job helped shape her resilience and work ethic in her later career.
depositphotos
She admits that she was terrible at the job and never made a sale.
giphy
5. Stephen King
The famous horror writer made a living working as a janitor, a gas-station attendant, and an industrial laundry worker in order to pay for his studies at the University of Maine.
depositphotos
I wonder if he got any inspiration from these jobs.
giphy
If you like the “before fame” grind, this hits the same raw nerve as celebrity memoirs that swap Hollywood gloss for unvarnished honesty.
6. Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg was a licensed beautician before she became an actress and ended up putting her beauty school experience to work. As Dr. Laura Berman, sex therapist, notes, "The skills learned in cosmetology can often translate into a deep understanding of personal care and empathy, which are vital in many professions." This highlights how her background in beauty contributed to her multifaceted career.
Invision / Invision / East News
I wonder if working with dead people helped her for her role in 'Ghost.'
giphy
7. Evangeline Lilly
The Lost actress had many odd jobs before becoming famous, but the most memorable job was being a flight attendant. As Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, notes, "Experiences in diverse roles can significantly shape one's personality and resilience, which are crucial in high-pressure careers like acting." This sentiment reflects how varied work experiences can contribute to personal growth and adaptability.
VALERIE MACON / AFP / East News
Apparently, the job was so exhausting that she quit after a month.
giphy
8. Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet worked at a delicatessen when she was 17. She was in the middle of making a sandwich for a customer when she got the call from her agent that she landed a role in Heavenly Creatures. As Dr. Susan David, an emotional agility expert, notes, "Embracing change and uncertainty is crucial for personal growth, and sometimes unexpected opportunities arise in the most ordinary moments." You can learn more about her insights on navigating life's transitions at her website.
depositphotos
The star was so blown away that she never did finish making the sandwich.
giphy
9. Gwen Stefani
Before her claim to fame, the pop star Gwen Stefani worked at Dairy Queen selling ice cream, as noted by Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist who emphasizes the importance of early job experiences in shaping character and work ethic. "Early jobs can teach valuable lessons about responsibility and perseverance," she states on her professional website.
Fernando Allende / Broadimage / Broad Image / East News
She also worked as a makeup artist in a department store.
giphy
10. Mick Jagger
The Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger, worked as a porter at Bexley Hospital while he was studying at the London School of Economics.
PHOTOlink / Everett Collection / East News
Porters are the folks who move patients around in hospitals.
tenor
11. Steve Buscemi
Steve Buscemi worked as a fireman in New York, and in 2014, he was named Honorary Battalion Chief by the New York City Fire Department.
Gilbert Flores / Broadimage / Broad Image / East News
Steve Buscemi spent four days helping out on “The Pile” at Ground Zero in New York after the 9/11 attacks.
giphy
12. Lucy Liu
In order to achieve her dream of becoming an actress, Lucy Liu worked her ass off. During the typical Monday-Friday work week, she worked as a secretary, and on the weekends, she was an aerobic instructor and a hostess in a restaurant in Soho in London.
Invision / Invision / East News
Yes, that does mean she worked all 7 days a week.
giphy
13. Hugh Jackman
Before Hugh Jackman played Wolverine, he worked as a Physical Education teacher at a school in England for a year. Once, he was giving an interview at a red carpet event and spotted one of his students among the reporters. The actor couldn’t miss the opportunity to tease the man. He asked how his physical education was progressing because it was really important for Jackman.
Kristin Callahan / Everett Collection / East News
Before Hugh Jackman got jacked up to play Wolverine, he worked at a school in England as a Physical Education teacher for a year. In a funny turn of events, Jackman spotted one of his past students while he was giving an interview at a film festival.
giphy
What sort of jobs did you have when you first started working? Has your career path changed since then, or are you in a similar role now?
Did any of these pre-fame celebrity jobs surprise you, or do you know of any other jobs celebs had prior to stardom? Let us know in the comments section below, and be sure to share this with your friends!
Wait, Kaley Cuoco says the A-list actress overlooked her on the “Charmed” set, read it.
