Kristen Stewart
When you think of Kristen Stewart, you probably think of The Twilight Saga. Yes, this lady took the vampire world by storm with her pale features and her inability to smile, and soon became a huge name in Hollywood. However, it might surprise you to learn that Kristen hasn’t always been part-human, part-vampire. When she was just a child, she played the “Girl in Fountain Line” in The Thirteenth Year. You read that correctly, Kristen Stewart really did appear in a Disney Channel movie!
Kristen Stewart
Donald Glover
Let’s be honest; Donald Glover is an icon. With more job titles on his resume than we can count, he prides himself on being an actor, a rapper, a comedian, and a whole lot more. He first rose to fame as a writer for the sitcom 30 Rock but that wasn’t his first rodeo on the show. During one episode in season one, Donald actually took on the role of an extra. He became a personal assistant in a fleeting scene that you’d miss if you blinked.
Donald Glover
Marilyn Monroe
There’s no doubt about the fact that you know who Marilyn Monroe is. As one of the most famous and most iconic actresses to ever exist, this woman’s legacy will live on for years to come. But did you know that she wasn’t always at the top of her game? Before she became one of the biggest names in the industry, Marilyn Monroe was cast as Betty, an uncredited character in the 1948 movie, Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! That was just the start of something magical.
Marilyn Monroe
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga is the kind of woman who can do everything. She can sing, she can act, and she can even reduce the whole world to tears thanks to her performance in A Star Is Born. Nowadays, she’s known as one of the most successful recording artists of all time, but before she turned us all into Little Monsters, she was a star in the making. In 2001, she was cast as “Girl at Swimming Pool #2” in an episode of The Sopranos.
Lady Gaga
Lin-Manuel Miranda
There’s no doubt about the fact that Lin-Manuel Miranda is a legend. As a star of stage and screen, Miranda is to thank for bringing The Heights, Hamilton, Moana, and Mary Poppins Returns into our lives – and for that, we will be forever grateful. However, there was a time when Miranda was just another struggling actor. In fact, he donned a bellhop uniform in season six of the popular show, The Sopranos. Who would have thought? We believed he was always at the top of his game.
Lin Manuel Miranda
Brad Pitt
It’s hard to imagine a time where Brad Pitt wasn’t one of the most famous actors in the world, but we’re going to have to. Before he took the world by storm, Pitt was just like many other struggling actors out there. He wanted to get his name heard and his face seen, and he would take on any role to do that. That’s how he became the “Partygoer/Preppy Guy at Fight” in the 1987 movie, Less Than Zero. Yes, he really did wear that striped tank top.
Brad Pitt
Viola Davis
Viola Davis is arguably one of the most famous women in the world right now. As the recipient of the Triple Crown of Acting, it’s safe to say that her talent knows no bounds. Yet, she hasn’t always been at the top of the Hollywood food chain. Viola landed her first professional acting gig in 1996 when she took on minor role of “Woman” in the NYPD Blue episode, “Moby Greg.” Since then, she has wowed us all over as the lead role and producer of How to Get Away with Murder.
Viola Davis
Milo Ventimiglia
Milo Ventimiglia seems to have risen through the ranks over the past few years. Whether you know him as Jess Mariano from Gilmore Girls, as Jack Pearson from This Is Us, or whether you just know him for the rather impressive ‘tache he’s now sporting, there’s no doubt about the fact that he is super famous. However, before he became a leading man, Milo took on the role of “Party Guest #1” in the Will Smith sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Milo Ventimiglia
Harrison Ford
Although we don’t remember life without Harrison Ford, there’s no doubt about the fact that his glow up has been extremely impressive. Before his career really took off, he donned his bellhop uniform to appear as an extra in Dead Heat on a Merry-Go-Round. Since then, Harrison has gone from strength to strength and worked on iconic Hollywood movies such as Blade Runner, Indiana Jones, and Star Wars. Yes, this man has done it all, and he’s not stopping anytime soon.
Harrison Ford
Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh is the woman of the hour, and it’s fair to say that her appearances in the likes of Grey’s Anatomy and Killing Eve have thrust her into the limelight. It seems as though everyone loves this lady, and it’s not hard to see why. Of course, Sandra hasn’t always been at the top of her game, and she had to work hard to get where she is today. Back in 1992, Sandra took on an uncredited role in Degrassi: School’s Out as a waitress.
Sandra Oh
Adam Brody
Adam Brody was the ultimate teen idol back in the ‘00s, and everyone had a picture of Seth Cohen taped onto their bedroom wall. Although he played this good boy role in The O.C., it’s fair to say that young Adam Brody wasn’t always PG. In fact, one of Adam’s first movie roles came in the form of a “High School Guy” at a party. Which party, we hear you ask? Only one thrown by the non PG-friendly crew of American Pie 2.
Adam Brody
Matt McGorry
Viola Davis and Matt McGorry have a lot in common. While they are now two of the biggest stars in How to Get Away With Murder, they once had to take on smaller roles as extras to try and get their names out there. For Matt McGorry, he had to become a personal shopper for Rufus Humphrey on teen drama Gossip Girl. Of course, he still wore a suit and tie, because we have a feeling that Matt was actually born in this outfit…
Matt McGorry
Sally Field
It seems as though Sally Field has been in the business for years, but even the best of the best have to start somewhere. Our favorite leading lady managed to bag her start in the 1962 movie, Moon Pilot. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the role that thrust her into the limelight, as this movie saw her stand in a police lineup as a “Beatnik Girl in Lineup.” For the next decade or so after this role, Sally continued to take on small roles before her big break finally came.
Sally Field
Mahershala Ali
Mahershala Ali has a whole host of awards on his shelf at home, and this should come as no surprise. This hugely talented actor has been at the top of his game for years now, but he also had to start at the bottom of the food chain. Before starring in the likes of Luke Cage, Moonlight, and Green Book, Mahershala Ali became a security guard in an episode of the famous crime drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. We bet he can’t believe where his career has now taken him.
Mahershala Ali
Danai Gurira
If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead or Black Panther, there’s a high chance that you’re also a huge fan of Danai Gurira. This legendary actress has taken on the roles of Michonne and Okoye respectively in the past few years, but she hasn’t always been a household name. Danai landed one of her first professional acting roles in 2010 when she played a “Woman in Blue Dress” in the independent movie 3 Backyards. Just a few years later she became a household name.
Danai Gurira
Sylvester Stallone
Didn’t Sylvester Stallone just instantly become famous the moment he was born? Well, not quite. Before he took the world by storm as Rocky Balboa, Sylvester was actually cast as an extra in one of Woody Allen’s movies. In fact, Sylvester used his strong look and his strong muscles to take on the role of a mugger in the film Bananas. Since then, he has become one of the most famous men in the world, and everyone knows his face, his voice, and his biceps.
Sylvester Stallone
Julianne Hough
If we weren’t already super jealous of Julianne Hough, we definitely are now. Known for her role as an actress, singer, and dancer, this woman is the ultimate triple threat. Yet, it seems as though she was even gifted with her very own Hogwarts acceptance letter. Before she rose to fame on Dancing With The Stars and Footloose, Julianne appeared as an uncredited extra in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. She stood next to Dean Thomas and Ron Weasley while watching a Quidditch match.
Julianne Hough
William Jackson Harper
If you haven’t watched The Good Place, then you need to get a move on. This Netflix comedy series has become wildly successful, and it’s also allowed William Jackson Harper to truly make his mark on the acting world. Nevertheless, he hasn’t always been known as the hunk who always has a stomach ache. In 2011, William was just starting out in the acting world and was cast as a protestor in an episode of 30 Rock. Since then, his career has continued grow.
William Jackson Harper
Evangeline Lilly
Evangeline Lilly is at the top of her game right now, and it seems as though she can do no wrong. She’s played Hope Van Dyne/The Wasp in the Antman series, and she’s even played Tauriel in The Hobbit series. Of course, she didn’t just magically make her way into the Marvel Cinematic Universe or just pop on a plane to Hobbiton. Evangeline had to work her way up, and in 2003 she took on an uncredited role as a police officer in The Lizzie McGuire Movie.
Evangeline Lilly
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Today, Cuba Gooding Jr. is a hugely recognizable face in the world of Hollywood. He has appeared in the likes of Boyz n the Hood, Pearl Harbor, The People v. O.J Simpson: American Crime Story, American Horror Story: Roanoke, and plenty more. While he has been acting in the movie industry since 1986, he wasn’t always cast as a leading male character. In 1988, he took on a non-speaking extra role in the film Coming to America.
Cuba Gooding Jr
Nina Dobrev
If you’re a fan of The Vampire Diaries, then you’ll definitely be familiar with this brunette beauty. Nina Dobrev is now a household name thanks to her work on the vampire drama, and her career has since gone from strength to strength. While she is now a leading lady, there was once a time when Nina was just an extra. In 2007, in fact, Nina became the “Tall Girl in Bathroom” during one scene in the drama movie How She Move.
Nina Dobrev
Jeff Goldblum
Jeff Goldblum is arguably one of the biggest names in the world right now, and he has been for many years. After all, how can you not love this guy? He has starred in some of the coolest movies ever, including The Fly, Jurassic Park, and Thor: Ragnarok. However, like every other actor in the business, Jeff had to work his way up the acting ladder before he could shine. That’s why he portrayed the “Party Guest” in the 1977 movie Annie Hall.
Jeff Goldblum
Megan Fox
Megan Fox is the kind of name that’s always on the lips of Hollywood hotshots, and this model and actress has a huge fan following thanks to her awesome career. Yet, she hasn’t always taken on the lead role in these blockbuster hits. Although she can’t be seen in the final cut of the movie, Megan Fox took on the role of the “Stars-and-Stripes Bikini Kid Dancing Under Waterfall” in the 2003 movie Bad Boys II. She was not credited for this role, but the internet remembers.
Megan Fox
Ashley Tisdale
It’s hard to imagine Ashley Tisdale as anyone other than Sharpay Evans, but it seems as though this actress wasn’t always sipping cocktails by the pool and singing for an audience. Before her High School Musical fame, Tisdale took on the role of “Dorky Girl” in the famous movie Donnie Darko. This is a world away from the role she later went on to play because Sharpay Evans definitely isn’t a dork. We hope that Ashley has framed this image to remind her of how far she has come.
Ashley Tisdale
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio has been famous for as long as we can remember. He’s taken on iconic roles in the likes of Titanic, Romeo + Juliet, and The Wolf of Wall Street, but there was a time when Leo was just a struggling actor like many others. When he was just a youngster, he tried to make his mark on the acting world, and he took on the role of an extra in an episode of the sitcom Roseanne. Even back then he was rocking his trademark hairstyle.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jesy Nelson
If you’re a fan of British pop music, you’ll definitely be a fan of Jesy Nelson. This lovely lady is a member of Little Mix, and her name has since made its way across the globe. However, that doesn’t mean that Jesy doesn’t still have a soft spot in her hearts for her home country. Before she made a name for herself on The X Factor, Jesy actually starred as an extra in the Hugh Grant movie About a Boy. Yes, she really did get to work alongside Hugh Grant!
Jesy Nelson
Matt Damon
Everyone knows who Matt Damon is, right? He has appeared in some of the biggest movies of the past few decades, including Good Will Hunting, Saving Private Ryan, and the Jason Bourne franchise. Of course, it wasn’t as simple as it sounds for the young actor back in the day. While trying to make a name for himself, Damon worked as an extra in the likes of Field of Dreams and Mystic Pizza. In the latter movie, he had just one line – but that’s one more than in Field of Dreams!
Matt Damon
Rachel Brosnahan
Today, Rachel Brosnahan is known for her incredible role in the comedy series, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Yes, she’s now a marvel in the Amazon Video world and is one of the most in-demand actresses in the world. Of course, there was once a time where she could only dream of such a life. At the start of her career in 2010, Rachel took on the role of “Girl” in an episode of Gossip Girl. She was no Blair Waldorf, but she has certainly made her way up the social ladder now.
Rachel Brosnahan
Renée Zellweger
Over the course of her career, Renée Zellweger has taken on some iconic roles. Not only did she become Bridget Jones (big underwear and all), but she has also appeared in the likes of Chicago and Miss Potter. However, before the American actress became famous for her iconic British role, she took on many uncredited roles. Most notably, she appeared in Dazed and Confused as the “Girl in Blue Truck.” Since then, she has just gone up and up the career ladder.
Renee Zellweger
Dax Shepard
Today, Dax Shepard is known for numerous Hollywood ventures. He’s known for appearing in the likes of Without a Paddle, Parenthood, and he even wrote and directed episodes of Punk’d. As if that wasn’t enough, Dax is also married to Kristen Bell! However, before he made a name for himself as an actor and producer to watch, Dax had to start at the bottom. In 2003, he appeared in the comedy movie, Cheaper by the Dozen, where he played a camera crew member in a small cameo role.
Dax Shepard
