What we are used to seeing in film and TV is usually full to the brim in glitz and glamour. Sometimes it can be easy to forget that getting into show business isn’t all peaches and cream. Many aspiring actors work odd temporary jobs to sustain them until they make their big break, and Hollywood’s biggest stars are no different.
The biggest A-listers in the industry came from very humble beginnings. So, who used to sell pens? Who worked at a funeral home? (more celebrities than you think!) And who used to be a lion tamer? All the answers and more in the following article.
Amy Adams: Hooters
Amy Adams and her famous red hair are no strangers to the silver screen. You might recognize her from “Catch Me If You Can”, “Man of Steel”, and “Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian.” But before she became so famous, Adams was just an aspiring actress waiting for her big break. Much like half the population of LA.
Believe it or not, but her talent wasn't instantly recognized. Before her acting career took off, Adams worked as a greeter at a Gap store and waited tables at Hooters. Once she made enough money to get a used car, she quit.
Madonna: Dunkin' Donuts
Everyone knows Madonna. The "Queen of Pop". Her music has always pushed the boundaries of songwriting, film, and mainstream art. But before any of that happened, she had to make ends meet in a different way.
It is almost impossible to imagine Madonna wearing a waitress uniform or serving anyone food, but that's really what happened. The queen of pop used to work at Dunkin' Donuts in Times Square. It seems she wasn't very good at it because she was reportedly fired after squirting jam on some customers. We bet those customers now proudly tell that story to everyone they know.
Sean Connery: Milkman
Famous Scottish actor Sean Connery (forever James Bond) was in the industry from 1954 to 2003 and passed away in late 2020. His official retirement from acting was in 2003 with the exception of a few later appearances in voice-over roles. Connery was highly respected in his field, but that is only one of the fields in which he worked over the years.
When he was younger, Connery worked as a milkman. In fact, calling it a milk-man would be inaccurate, as he was just a boy at the time.
Tom Cruise: Bellhop
One of the prettiest faces of the 1980s, Tom Cruise’s career kicked into high gear after filming "The Outsiders" and "Taps". Mr. Cruise is one of the highest-paid actors ever. But you would never guess that this would be his career based on his first job.
He was 18 when he moved to N.Y.C. to be a movie star. He got a job as a bellhop and a busboy, clearing tables in between auditions. That's not even the most surprising thing about his early life. Before that, he wanted to be a priest, and even enrolled in a seminary at age 14!
George Clooney: Shoes Salesman
George Clooney had his beginnings in ER. He shot into fame thanks to his charm, good looks, and acting chops. He is also an activist for human rights and the environment. He has tried his hand at producing too. But those are only the glamorous things he has done.
Clooney used his charisma for a variety of other jobs such as selling women's shoes. Can you imagine buying shoes from George Clooney? His sales must have been the best in the store!
Whoopi Goldberg: Beauty Mortician
Whoopi Goldberg is known for a lot of things, mainly "Sister Act" and "Ghost". But did you know that before that her resume included jobs that don't involve acting or comedy whatsoever?
While trying to make it on Broadway, Goldberg worked as a funeral makeup artist and a bricklayer! How random is that? We imagine that those jobs were an important tool to build up her sense of humor.
Hugh Jackman: Clown
Hugh Jackman is known to many as X Men's Wolverine, so we know of his athletic body and about his impressive physique. Those qualities, as well as his other assets (charming Australian accent, impressive singing chops, and more), have granted him quite a standing in Hollywood. But his first job would hardly have a similar impact.
Then, this Australian hunk may have a well respected acting career now, but before that, he worked as a clown. Can you imagine hiring him to entertain a bunch of 6-year-olds? Or better yet, a grownup who can literally say that Hugh Jackman was the clown at his birthday party?
Jennifer Aniston: Bike Messenger
Jennifer Aniston is one of the most beautiful, talented, and beloved actresses in Hollywood. She is most famous for portraying Rachel Green, in "Friends" and she now enjoys a whopping net worth of over $200 million dollars. That would never have been the case had she stuck with her first job.
Before getting enough acting credits to support herself, Aniston worked part-time jobs as a waitress (just like Rachel), a telemarketer, and a bike messenger. The latter must have been a great fit for the fitness-loving actress. Nowadays, she stays fit with Hatha yoga and Budokan karate.
Brad Pitt: El Pollo Loco Chicken Mascot
Producer and actor, Brad Pitt has one of the world’s most recognized faces. We first recognized it, and the rest of him, in "Thelma and Louise" as a hitchhiking charmer who Geena Davis’ character falls for.
Prior to the onset of success, Pitt bailed on a journalism degree in order to pursue acting, but success took time and he worked some odd jobs before it struck. He has worked as a mover, a limo driver, and even as an El Pollo Loco chicken mascot before becoming one of the wealthiest and hottest names in the business.
Sylvester Stallone: Lion Cage Cleaner
Sylvester Stallone became a household name after starring in action flicks like "Rocky" and "Rambo". It is pretty amazing that he became an action star when you learn about his past jobs.
Much like you would expect from someone who played two of the strongest characters in film, Stalone's pre-acting job was pretty unique. He worked at the Central Park Zoo as a cleaner at the lion cages!
Helen Mirren: Amusement Park
Actually, it's Dame Helen Mirren, mind you. Known for playing the late Queen Elizabeth herself in the 2006 feature, "The Queen", this incredible actress has seen and done anything there is to do in acting. Before that, however, she had done some things that not many actors can say that they have done.
You must be wondering what those things were, as it is next to impossible to imagine her doing anything but act. Well, it turns out that Mirren used to promote amusement park rides for an amusement park in Essex.
Lady Gaga: Greek Restaurant
Lady Gaga is known as a talented musician, but after watching her in the critically-acclaimed film, "A Star Is Born" she proved that she is quite the actress as well. Before any of those things happened, Gaga waited tables in a Greek restaurant.
The surprising thing about that job is not the waitressing part (which many stars did for a while), but the fact that the place was Greek. If you've ever watched Gaga in an interview, you know she loves bringing up her Italian heritage. We would have thought her first job would be at a pizzeria of all places.
Alec Baldwin: Busboy
Alec Baldwin rose to prominence following his performance in the CBS television drama, "Knots Landing". Since then, he has appeared in numerous movies portraying various distinguished roles. But none of those roles was his first job ever.
Reportedly a nightmare to work with on the set, Baldwin had worked as a busboy, and later used his intimidating personality to scare people off as a night club bouncer.
Julia Roberts: Baskin Robbins
Julia Roberts has one of the most recognized smiles in the industry, if not the world. While she gets tons of offers, she makes sure to choose her roles carefully. This hasn't always been a luxury she could afford.
Can you imagine buying an ice-cream cone from Julia Roberts? No, you can't. It is impossible to imagine her in a location that isn't your screen. But when she was younger and still an aspiring actress, little Julia paid for her own acting classes as an ice-cream scoop at Baskin Robbins!
Gerard Butler: Lawyer
Before he became an on-screen Spartan, Butler obtained a law degree from the University of Glasgow. After graduation, he was a trainee lawyer at a big firm but because he was quite the party animal at the time, he would often miss work, and subsequently got fired just one week before he'd become a qualified lawyer.
Butler already realized that being a lawyer wasn't his true passion, and although he wasn't is what direction he would take, he was sure of one thing, he wanted to be famous. At the age of 25 at he made the decision to pursue a career in acting, and the rest is history.
Jim Carrey: Janitor
Jim Carrey became famous for his slapstick, over-the-top comedic routines in movies such as "Ace Ventura", "The Mask", "Liar Liar", and more. Rumor has it that he plans to step away from the screen to focus on political activism.
If it's true, this would be the third chapter in his career life. We all know his second chapter as a comedic actor. The first chapter was his earlier job as a janitor in a factory. We doubt that this kind of job would have earned him his current net worth of $150 million.
Harrison Ford: Carpenter
"Star Wars". "Raiders of the Lost Ark". These two mega-franchises made Harrison Ford one of the most in-demand actors ever. Every dude wanted to be cool like him. Every gal swooned in the presence of the silver screen king. The man’s a legend.
But before becoming a legend with a substantial net worth of $230 million, Ford was a mere carpenter. He supported his wife and kids by becoming a carpenter when he got set up with George Lucas. When he landed Han Solo on "Star Wars", who knew he’d become an American demigod? Lucas. That's who.
Rachel McAdams: McDonald's
The Canadian activist and actress rose to fame in the iconic tear-jerking romantic drama, "The Notebook". She has since acted in many successful movies, accomplishing her dream of becoming an actress, which she had had since she was 7, despite her parents’ concerns.
While 7 years old McAdams knew she wanted to be an actress, she had no idea what it would eventually take — three consecutive summer holidays working at McDonald's. The poor thing. Thank god that acting worked out for her!
Meghan Markle: Caligrapher
Large chunks of Meghan Markle's life are now public information, but there are some things about her that may not be so well-known. Not only did she pick up roles here and there on television, but she also utilized one skill that may not be so common in Hollywood – calligraphy.
Between 2004 and 2005, Markle could be found at a store in Beverly Hills teaching others how to rock some perfect handwriting. She also wrote handwrote the invitations for Robin Thicke’s wedding. Something tells us that her talent in calligraphy definitely came in handy as a royal.
Jon Hamm: Adult Films
Jon Hamm is mostly known as the sexy yet somewhat abusive Mad-Men star, Don Draper. He is one of the top eligible bachelors Hollywood has to offer, but none of that would have happened had he continued doing what he did before he started acting.
In the mid-90s, Hamm paid his bills as an adult film set dresser. When asked about the job, Jon described it as "soul-crushing". Good thing he doesn't do it anymore.
Amy Poehler: Ice Cream Scooper
There’s just something about Amy! This actress and comedian got her start on the very popular show, "Saturday Night Live". She was on the show for many years before she joined her very best friend, Tina Fey in the film industry. But before Poehler appeared on anyone's screen, she could only entertain her customers as an ice-cream scooper at a local shop.
Judging by an essay she wrote (yes, she wrote an essay) about the issue, she really did entertain them — "Every time a customer was celebrating a birthday, an employee had to bang a drum that hung from the ceiling, and play the kazoo, and encourage the entire restaurant to join him or her in a sing-along," she wrote. That's quality entertainment right there.
Nicole Kidman: Massage Therapist
Oscar-winner Nicole Kidman is known for her amazing performances in films like "The Hours", "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Moulin Rouge" and in television series like "Big Little Lies". What you may not know, is that prior to her on-screen success, Kidman had a different career.
Kidman first learned massage therapy in order to help her sick mother with muscle pains. But the actress liked it so much she worked as a massage therapist. We would really appreciate a live demonstration of this skill. Our shoulders would love proof.
Channing Tatum: Exotic Dancer
You may have first seen Tatum as the lead character in "Step Up", but acting hasn't always been his main profession. Channing made his way into the entertainment industry as an exotic dancer. Exotic dancing turned into a modeling career with Abercrombie & Fitch, Gap, and Nautica all clamoring for his chiseled bod.
A fortuitous spot on Ricky Martin’s music video, “She Bangs” earned him four hundred bucks and a big break into film acting. Just as his stint as an exotic dancer prepared him for "Magic Mike", his martial arts cued him for action roles.
Miley Cyrus: Bra Collector
We probably don’t need to brief you on who exactly Miley Cyrus is anymore. Obviously, she’s one of the most famous celebrities both as an actor and as a musician. She had her big break as the star of her own Disney show, "Hannah Montana", as a young teen, which usually means this was her first job. However, this is not the case.
Before her Hannah Montana days, Miley worked for her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus. She would go up on stage after his concerts were over and collect all the bras his screaming fans threw on him during the show. She was paid $10 per show for her lingerie-picking services.
Melissa McCarthy: Starbucks
Ooh, Melissa McCarthy has always been such a delightful actress. She portrayed Sookie on "Gilmore Girls" and has since appeared in many other projects like "Spy", "Tammy", and "Bridesmaids". But there is a chance you could have recognized her as that girl who used to serve you coffee.
Before rising to stardom, McCarthy worked as a Starbucks barista. While serving coffee may not have been her favorite thing to do, she did enjoy an occasional celebrity sighting — most notably Chris Farley. "I got so overwhelmed because he was right there, that I started crying," McCarthy recalls.
Megan Fox: Smoothie Shop Mascot
Megan Fox became a staple in the TV sitcom, "Hope & Faith". In 2004, she achieved her first film appearance in the teen comedy, "Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen", and a breakout performance in 2007 in the hit action franchise, "Transformers".
But before becoming a big star and fighting on-screen robots, the only acting Fox got paid for was acting bananas — literally. Fox used to work as a smoothie shop mascot in a banana costume. Clearly, her boss's vision was impaired, because when your mascot looks that good, there are no costumes needed.
Jennifer Hudson: Burger King
Jennifer Hudson had her big break in 2004 when she competed on “American Idol.” The show was just the springboard she needed to have a full career as a respected musician. Just a few short years after competing, Hudson won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress win for her performance in "Dreamgirls".
The world needed some time to recognize this oscar winner's talent. And before that happened, she needed to work somewhere. That somewhere was Burger King restaurant in Chicago. In 2007, a year after "Dreamgirls" was released, the chain gave Hudson something most people can only dream of — free burgers for life.
Naya Rivera: Hooters
Young actress Naya Rivera played Santana Lopez on 'Glee' for five seasons. Since she left 'Glee', she has had a starring role in shoes like "Devious Maids" and "Step Up: highwater", where she could show off her sweet dance moves.
Before the world knew who this talented woman was, she worked at a couple of chains: Hooters (which she hated for obvious reasons) and Ambercrombie & Fitch (which she got fired from for listing her own purchase as a regular sale).
Eva Mendes: Hotdog on a Stick
Eva Mendes has everything that women of this world could want — a glamorous acting career, beauty beyond compare, and Ryan Gosling. However, she didn't always have all those things. Yes, she was always beautiful, but things like Ryan Gosling and being recognized in Hollywood take time. Before she became a world-famous actress, Mendes has had to work in other jobs until she made it big.
One of those jobs was selling hotdogs at the Hotdog on a Stick franchise. The job included serving hotdogs and wearing a waitress uniform that would never look like what she wears on the red carpet these days. A version of the striped uniform was worn by Katy Perry during her 2016 halftime show at the Superbowl!
Eva Longoria: Wendy's
"Desperate Housewives" star Eva Longoria has proven herself to be a success both in business and as an actress of worth. Prior to dazzling us with her acting skills and her bright smile, Longoria could only dazzle people at her old job as a Wendy's worker.
Having worked around burgers for a while, Longoria once shared a tip with celebrity chef Rachael Ray: for the perfect burger, put the mayo on the bun first, then the ketchup, and finally, put the mustard on the meat (not on the bun). Thanks, Eva!
Dwayne Johnson: Dishwasher
Dwayne Johnson is not only one of the greatest professional wrestlers we’ve ever seen, but he’s also huge on the big screen. Have you ever wondered what this human mountain used to do with all these muscles before displaying them to the world?
The dishes. The answer is the dishes. When The Rock was a 13-year-old boy (a pebble, if you will), he worked as a dishwasher after school. In a tweet, he said he did that from 3 to 11:30 pm. On a school night?! That's incredible!
Johnny Depp: Pen Salesman
Johnny Depp has been nominated for three Oscars and ten times for a Golden Globe, one of which he won. He has often appeared in dramas, thrillers, and even a couple comedies. He has found a lot of commercial success with his appearances in "The Pirates of the Caribbean" series.
While Depp started acting more than three decades ago, but that doesn't mean it was his first job ever. Depp's first dollars were made doing a completely different job — selling pens on the phone. A job which we hope no one has to do ever again.
Jerry Seinfeld: Light Bulb Salesman
Jerry Seinfeld is best known for playing himself in the hit sitcom "Seinfeld". It was during his time in College that Seinfeld developed an interest in stand-up comedy, and started performing at an open-mic night at New York City’s Catch a Rising Star. But that humble beginning wasn't how he supported himself at first.
Before becoming an actor and a comedy superstar, Jerry sold light bulbs over the phone, which tells us a lot about the telemarketing industry back then. Other than that, Seinfeld also sold knockoff jewelry around New York City. None of those jobs would have helped him get his impressive car collection, that's for sure.
Tina Fey: Receptionist
Tina became famous thanks to her participation on Saturday Night Live, where she is most commonly known for her sketch comedy work. She also took on roles in the TV show "30 Rock" and other movies.
Tina has too many awards to count, but that hasn't always been the case. Before her glory days as an award-winning comedian with a net worth of $65 million, Fey was working in something far less glamorous as a YMCA receptionist.
Ashton Kutcher: Janitor
Yes, it's Christopher Ashton Kutcher, and no, you're not being Punk'd! Kutcher started acting in his teenage years. His career only grew from there, and even branched beyond entertainment into the realm of venture capital firms.
Looking like he does makes it hard to believe that he's ever done anything not glamorous, but reality tells a different story. When he was younger, Kutcher worked as a grocery store employee, cleaned factories, and helped his father with construction projects. Such a hard-working kid!
Demi Moore: Debt Collector
Demi Moore is an accomplished actress, director, model, and former songwriter. She has proven again and again how dedicated she is to her craft as not many actresses would shave their heads bald for a movie role like she did in the iconic film, "G.I. Jane".
Have you ever wondered how Moore used to pay her bills before becoming a well-respected actress? Well, we have, and we looked it up. Apparently, Moore used to work as a debt collector! Not what you'd expect from a dainty woman such as Demi.
Christopher Walken: Lion Tamer
We were shocked to find out that Christopher Walken's first job was a circus lion tamer when he was just 16 years old. Next, he liked to dance, so he trained as a dancer before moving on to stage performance. He broke into showbiz a stage actor in an off-Broadway musical starring alongside Liza Minnelli.
The next thing he knew, he was starring opposite Sean Connery in "The Anderson Tapes" and a slew of eccentric characters and powerful roles. None of those roles, however, required lion taming. Oh well, maybe in his next film.
Matt LeBlanc: Carpenter
Hey look, it's Joey Tribbiani! Matt LeBlanc is probably used to being called Joey all the time. Playing the same characters for 10 seasons in one of the most successful sitcoms in history would do that to you.
LeBlanc initially had his eyes set on becoming a model but that's not what he did before acting took off for him. Parallel to small appearances in shows like "Married... with Children" and a ketchup commercial, he also worked as a carpenter.
Beyoncé: Hair Salon
Beyoncé Knowles did not gain her success overnight. She had her first job sweeping the floor of her mother's Texas hair salon. She did that from the age of 6 until she was 9 years old and use that platform to put on little shows for her mother's clients. How adorable is that?
She rose to fame in the 1990s as the lead singer of the ever-popular R&B girl-group Destiny's Child, but acting soon followed. She acted in several films, such as "Dreamgirls", "Obsessed", and "The Lion King". Now she can probably afford several people to sweep her floor for her.
Margot Robbie: Subway
Most of us first saw Margot Robbie in her 2013 breakthrough role as the rich and seductive Naomi Lapaglia in "The Wolf of Wall Street". She later went on to play the beautiful, yet totally psychotic, Harley Quinn. Robbie was critically acclaimed for her portrayal of the disgraced figure skater Tonya Harding, in the biographical film 'I, Tonya'.
But acting is not the only thing she has a knack for. As it happens, Robbie used to work in a Subway restaurant and was pretty good at it, too. According to her, she used to prepare her sandwiches very meticulously and spread all the condiments evenly all the way to the edges. Is anyone else getting hungry?
Angelina Jolie: Funeral Director
Angelina Jolie has left a deep mark in the film industry in roles like Lara Croft ("Tomb Raider"), Mrs. Smith ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith"), and most recently, Maleficent ("Maleficent"). Besides an incredible acting and directing career, Jolie is noted for her humanitarian efforts, but things could have taken a completely different turn for her.
When her grandfather passed away, Jolie felt that his funeral wasn't directed properly, and thought she could do a better job running it. That was when she applied to become a funeral director. Then life happened, and she became one of the most famous faces in Hollywood. Oh well.
Tiffany Haddish: Alaska Airlines
You might recognize Emmy award-winning comedian and actress, Tiffany Haddish, from the movie "Girls Trip" or her Netflix comedy specials. Or the book she wrote. Or the music videos she appeared in. You get it. She's been busy.
In the past, though, she had a different job to keep her busy as a member of the ground staff for Alaska Airlines. She says that the skills she picked up doing that job are still being used by her to this very day. Thank you for flying, Tiff!
Chris Hemsworth: Breast Pumps Cleaner
When casting for the Thor franchise, the producers needed to find someone who looks like a god to play a god. Then they found Chris Hemsworth and all was well with the world. Before becoming widely known as the god of thunder, Hemsworth has had a score of other roles. One such role was that of Kim Hyde in "Home and Away", the Australian soap opera.
But oddly enough, this fine man did things other than acting. Hemsworth's first job was cleaning breast pumps. Crazy as it sounds, it's true! He used to work at a pharmacy that would rent out pumps. Chris was the one who would get them back, clean them, and fix them if they were broken. More than just a pretty face right here.
Justin Hartley: Gardener
Justin Hartley was a cast regular in TV shows such as "Smallville" and "Revenge", but you probably remember his face from the recent NBC drama "This Is Us".
Hartley and that lovely square jaw of his were actually around for longer than you think. In 2002, he got the part of Fox Crane in the soap opera "Passions". What was he doing before that, you ask? The answer is mowing lawns with his brother around their neighborhood. They would charge $20 for their services, in case you are looking to hire.
Steve Buscemi: Firefighter
Steve Buscemi is a famous character actor. He has appeared in dramas, comedies, thrillers, and pretty much any film from across the genres. He is known for his ability to portray unusual, weird, and/or creepy characters.
Buscemi is more than a trained actor. He is also a trained firefighter. He used to work as a firefighter in New York in the 80s, and he assumed that position once again to help out during the 9/11 attacks. A true hero.
Danny DeVito: Beauty Mortician
Danny DeVito is well known in show business thanks to the many comedic roles he's played over the years. His different roles have won him a Golden Globe, an Emmy, and many other awards and nominations. None of this would have happened had he kept working at his previous job.
Before his acting career took off, DeVito was a beauty mortician who styled corpses' hair before they were taken to be buried. We wonder if his hairstyling skills were ever needed in different capacities or not. After all, his customers never complained.
Pierce Brosnan: Fireeater
James Bond was one of Pierce Brosnan's most famous roles, though he has had a few films outside of the Bond series. He appeared in "The Matador" and "Nancy Astor", both of which earned him Golden Globe nominations.
He is also an environmental activist and philanthropist known for his work in many charities. But none of this will matter to you once you learn he used to be a professional fireeater and did that for three years. Does her majesty even know?
Bill Murray: Chestnut Salesman
Murray was born in Evanston, IL, and he is a comedic actor who first became famous on SNL. His performances there earned him an Emmy Award and many fans all over the world. The thing about Bill Murray is that his sense of humor is so deadpan that it is hard to tell when he’s being serious.
His comedy chops are worldwide famous, but years ago, only the people who bought chestnuts from him got to enjoy them. Yes, your eyes are working just fine. One of Murray's first jobs was to sell chestnut outside of a grocery store in Chicago.
Tom Hanks: Popcorn Vendor
Tom Hanks became Hollywood's darling after his iconic role in "Forrest Gump", which became one of the most popular and beloved movies of all time. The actor played various great roles since the mid-'80s and continues to act to this very day.
Tom Hanks gets most of his charm from being very relatable to everyday people, which must have been great for his customers in his pre-famous job as a popcorn and peanuts vendor.
Jake Gyllenhaal: Lifeguard
Jake Gyllenhaal started acting as a child actor and has since nurtured a prolific career. This doesn't mean that he has never done anything else — before he became famous, Jake worked as a lifeguard, much to the delight of every straight woman in his vicinity.
Despite getting acting roles as a child, Gyllenhaal went on to attend Columbia University and got his degree. Later on, he received acclaim in "October Sky", playing Homer Hickam, which is only one of his many accolades.
Adrien Brody: Magician
The American actor and producer, Adrien Brody first showed his incredible acting skills when he starred in Roman Polanski’s "The Pianist", which went on to secure him an Academy Award for Best Actor.
Brody may not have been on screen for his entire life, but that doesn't mean that he wasn't acting. In fact, Adrian, or "The Amazing Adrian" as he would go by back then, was a magician and performed his magic trick at children's birthday parties!
Bradley Cooper: Doorman
Bradley Cooper has become a well-known name in Hollywood in the past decade. His most memorable performance, however, has to be in "A Star Is Born" as Jackson Maine, the alcoholic singer discovering a promising young singer and falling in love with her in the process.
What makes his performance there extremely powerful is the fact that he shows off not only his acting skills but his impressive vocals. We wouldn't have known of any of his talents if he kept his doorman job from the Morgans Hotel.
James Franco: McDonald's
James Franco is a gifted yet controversial actor. After a short-lived stint as a McDonald's worker serving people McNuggets left and right, his acting break came in 1999. He finally gained worldwide fame in the film "Spider-Man", in 2002, when he played Harry Osborn.
Franco loves to learn, and who wouldn’t with that remarkable intellect of his? He graduated from Columbia University with a master’s in fine arts. So we know that he is smart, talented and that he knows how to make a good burger. Sounds perfect. We'll take two.
Will Ferrell: Valet
Will Ferrell is a household name in the comedy industry and has done quite a lot of films in his career. However, he did not originally plan on following the entertainment path as he was growing up. He was never the class clown in high school and was, in fact, studious.
When you learn that he used to park cars for a living, his career in acting and comedy becomes even more surprising. In 1990, Ferrell received a bachelor of arts in sports information from the University of Southern California, but it seems that with his many talents as an actor, comedian, and supreme parking skills, he could easily get a job without it.
Rooney Mara: Camp Counselor
Rooney Mara is an award-winning actress who rose to fame in the film, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo". She did not think she would end up in the world of acting, and when we saw that she used to be a camp counselor, we were surprised too.
Mara has three notable degrees—psychology, international policy, and nonprofits. With her past as a camp counselor and her degrees, we would expect her life's work to be leading an NGO for underprivileged children, rather than acting.
Sarah Silverman: Mexican Restaurant
Sarah Silverman is one of the most divisive figures in comedy. With her jokes revolving around confrontational topics such as politics, and religion, the actress and comedian has managed to agitate people in both left and right political circles.
Silverman has acted in various films, such as "School of Rock", and "Wreck-It Ralph". Before she became a comedy sensation with a prolific career, Silverman worked as a waitress at a Mexican restaurant called La Cantina, serving guacamole to however paid for it.
Ashley Judd: The Ivy
It seems that there is nothing Ashely Judd hasn't done. Focusing on a single profession must not have been easy for her as she was always drawn to different interests and changing schools as a result.
While trying to make it in Hollywood, Judd worked as a hostess at the Ivy restaurant, where she greeted celebrities who didn't know they were facing a star in the making. This busy lady's record also includes a period of service in the Peace Corps and several degrees. When did she have the time?
Ellen Pompeo: Bartender
When you are an actress in a long-running television show, it comes as no surprise that your net worth has already passed the $35 million mark. This is especially true if you are Ellen Pompeo, who allegedly receives $300,000 per "Grey's Anatomy" episode.
Prior to her success as a TV star, Pompeo mixed drinks and made cocktails as a bartender, which would hardly result in similar net worth or worldwide recognition.
Chelsea Handler: Morton's Steakhouse
If you aren’t familiar, Chelsea Handler is an American stand-up comedian, actress, author, and late-night talk show host. She is also a former waitress, which is pretty hard to imagine. Handler is known for her snarky attitude, which is usually frowned upon when you wait tables. She had a short stint of doing just that at a Morton's Steakhouse.
Handler later performed as a comedian all across the nation and is probably most famous for being the host of the popular show "E!". When you're a waitress, a bad attitude usually means bad tips. But as a comedian, it is the exact opposite.
Kate Winslet: Sandwich Maker
Does she need any introduction at all? The entire world came to know Winslet after she nailed the character of the vulnerable-yet-strong Rose in "Titanic". An exceptionally gifted actress, Winslet continues to be one of the best actresses in Hollywood even today.
To her credit, she is the world’s youngest actress to receive six Oscar nominations and has won three out of four important American entertainment awards. None of which she would have had if she kept making sandwiches in a delicatessen. That's right. Somewhere out there, there are people who ate a sandwich made by Winslet herself!