#20. Johnny Depp In Elm Street
When Johnny Depp was a teenager he had different dreams than being an actor. Depp dropped out of high school and formed his rock band, The Kids, when he was 15. The members of the band decided to move to Los Angeles and from 1980 to 1984 they played together until they split up. Depp married make-up artist Lori Anne Allison in 1983 and she was the one who introduced Depp to actor Nicolas Cage.
Cage encouraged Depp to start his acting career but he didn’t want to do it. One day, his friend Jackie Earle Haley asked Depp if he could go with him into his audition for Nightmare On Elm Street. Director Wes Craven’s daughter fell in love immediately with Depp and asked her dad to give him a small role in the movie. Since then, Depp’s career has never stopped growing.
#19. Jennifer Lawrence In Monk
It’s hard to believe that the career of the talented and famous Jennifer Lawrence started almost by chance. It’s even more incredible if you think that nowadays she is one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. Everything started when she was only 14 years old and was having a good time whit her family. Let’s see her story!
Lawrence was vacationing with her family in the Big Apple when her beauty caught a modeling scout’s eye. In the company of her family, she moved to Los Angeles and started her acting career. Lawrence’s first gig was being part of the TV series Monk. Nowadays, she's considered one of the best actresses of all time in Hollywood, as you probably already know.
#18. Rosario Dawson In Kids
Sometimes your lifetime opportunity appears when you aren’t expecting anything, like in the case of the actress Rosario Dawson. In many interviews, she talked about her difficult childhood and adolescence and how her big opportunity came when she was sitting in front of her porch in the Lower East Side at the age of 15.
Dawson was photographed by Larry Clark, who thought she was perfect for a role in the film of his working partner Harmony Korine. Both producers thought about Dawson for a role in the controversial film Kids. Since the release of the film, Dawson has been part of many films like Rent and Top Five.
#17. Marilyn Monroe In Dangerous Years
If we have to think about a hard life, definitely Marilyn Monroe’s life would come to mind. Since Marilyn was very little, she suffered abuse and neglect and spent most of her childhood in foster homes. In many interviews, the actress stated that she dreamed about being an actress since she was 5 because she wanted to escape from her grim world.
In 1944, Marilyn was working at the Radioplane Company, a factory of munitions. One day, David Conover had to go photograph the company for a mission of the U.S. Army Air Forces. Conover was dazzled by the beauty of the brunette employee. As you are read it, Marilyn was born a brunette but after she quit working in the plant, she dyed her hair the mythical blond. It didn’t take her long to have her first film role in the movie Dangerous Years.
#16. Charlize Theron In Children Of The Corn III: Urban Harvest
Nowadays, there’s no doubt that Charlize Theron is one of the most talented actress in Hollywood and one of the most beautiful too. It’s hard to imagine that at the beginning of her acting career, everything was very hard for her. As she stated in many interviews, Theron suffered a lot during her adolescence and she had to work hard for the money.
The actress was living in Los Angeles and was trying to find a job in 1994. Theron’s mother sent her a check to help her to pay the rent but he bank didn’t want to cash it, so Theron began shouting at the teller. What Theron didn’t know is that her life was about to change. John Crosby, a talent agent, was behind her at the bank line and looked at her. Crosby was impressed by two things: her beauty and her temper. It didn’t take long for Theron to have her big opportunity and in 1995 she was part of the film Children Of The Corn III: Urban Harvest.
#15. Danny Trejo In Runaway Train
The life of Danny Trejo was not always easy and peaceful. Since he was a teenager, he had been in and out of many prisons and rehabilitation centers. Trejo spent most of his youth behind bars, and he never thought he would one day become a famous actor.
Trejo was part of a twelve-step recovery program when a teenager asked for his help in the set of Runaway Train in 1985. Edward Bunker, the screenwriter, recognized Trejo from their stay in San Quentin, a rehab facility, and offered him a small role as an extra. Since then, Trejo has been in films like Spy Kids or Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy. Also, Trejo has been part of famous TV series like Breaking Bad and Brooklyn Nine Nine.
#14. Matthew McConaughey In Dazed And Confused
Sometimes parents want their kids to follow in their steps, for example, if the father is a lawyer they’ll probably want their children to be a lawyer. The case of actor Matthew McConaughey was like this when his father, James McConaughey, wanted Matthew to work with him in the oil business.
All that Matthew knew is that he didn’t want to do that but he didn’t have any idea of what to do. Everything happens for a reason and when he was having a drink at a hotel bar, he met a casting director who introduced him to Richard Linklater. Who is Linklater? The director of Dazed And Confused! Since his performance in the controversial film, Matthew has claimed his space in Hollywood and nowadays he’s considered one of the greatest actors of all time.
#13. Lana Turner In They Won’t Forget
Lana Turner was one of the greatest actresses in Hollywood and one of the most iconic stars of MGM studios. Turner’s beauty and personality gave her a lifetime opportunity when she was only a teenager. When Turner was studying at Hollywood High School typing class, she skipped the class and went to the Top Hat Malt Shop. Turner was having a coke when William R. Wilkerson, a publisher of The Hollywood Reporter, saw her.
Wilkerson asked Turner if she wanted to be in a film and Turner said she needed to ask her mom for permission. Eventually, she started modeling and her big opportunity came when she was introduced to director Mervyn LeRoy, who offered Turner her first film role in They Won’t Forget. After that, she was part of classic films like The Postman Always Rings Twice.
#12. Evangeline Lilly In Lost
Evangeline Lilly’s plans changed one day by chance. Lilly was studying International Relations in college and she needed an extra job to pay for her tuition. While she was walking the streets of Kelowna, a Ford Modelling Agency agent discovered her and gave her his card. No surprise there, however, as she is drop-dead gorgeous.
Lilly didn’t call him immediately because she didn’t want to be a model or an actress but she needed the extra money. Eventually, she started to work for the agency in small roles for TV series like Smallville and Kingdom Hospital. Lilly’s breakthrough came when she was offered a role in the mythical series Lost. Nowadays, she is a famous actress that has been part of movies like Ant-Man and the Wasp and Avengers: Endgame.
#11. Mel Gibson In Mad Max
Mel Gibson is one of the most famous and talented actors in the history of Hollywood. Nowadays, we can’t imagine Hollywood without him but Gibson’s original plans for his life were not exactly as they are today. Gibson was a young man that didn’t know what to do but what he least imagined was that he was going to be an actor. One day in 1979, he drove his friend for an audition for a role in the film Mad Max. Gibson’s friend wanted to have the main role in the film.
Director George Miller saw Gibson and thought he could have a minor role as the bad guy. Why did Miller think that? Gibson had a bruise on his face because he had a fight the night before and he looked perfect for the role. A few weeks later, Gibson came back to the film set without any bruises in his face ad Miller realized his good-looking face was perfect for the role of hero, the same role that his friend wanted! Surprisingly, his friend wasn't jealous and was very supportive.
#10. Sharlto Copley In District 9
Sharlto Copley thought his future was going to be related to computers as he worked at a production company from a very young age. When he was a little boy, Copley dreamed about an acting career but when he grew up, he threw the towel on his dream.
Copley was only 16 when he met the director Neill Blomkamp who was only 22. Blomkamp asked for Copley’s computers for a new movie he was making. To give a retribution for his generosity, the director gave Copley a small role in the District 9. After that, Copley’s dream came true and he began his acting career.
#9. Sarah Michelle Gellar In An Invasion Of Privacy
Sarah Michelle Gellar had the fortune to start her acting career when she was very young. Gellar was only 4 years old when she was spotted by an agent while she was eating in a restaurant in Upper Manhattan. Only two weeks later, Geller was offered for a role in the TV film An Invasion Of Privacy.
Since then, Geller has worked in series like All My Children and Swans Crossing, and films like Over The Brooklyn Bridge, Funny Farm and High Stakes. The young actress rose to fame with her performance in the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer.
#8. David Boreanaz In Buffy The Vampire Slayer
David Boreanaz had a degree in filmmaking and cinema but he never thought he was going to become an actor. Boreanaz wanted to work in the film industry but he couldn't get any good job. One day, his big break came when he was…walking his dog!
Apparently, a neighbor saw Boreanaz and thought that he was perfect for a role in the TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer. One of them contacted Marti Noxon and recommended the young actor. Well, the rest is history: Boreanaz became the mysterious Angel, a vampire from the TV series.
#7. Jason Statham In Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels
Jason Statham was trying to make money when he had his lifetime opportunity in 2000. Statham was chosen by a model agency because he looked like a “normal guy”. Also, he was an amateur high diver. While Statham was modelling for French Connection, an agent introduced him to director Guy Ritchie.
Ritchie needed someone for the role of a black market salesman. What Richie didn’t know is that Statham in the past was a fake jewelry seller! Eventually, Ritchie choose him for the role of Bacon in the film Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. The actor didn’t have to study at all for the role!
#6. Marion Robert Morrison In Mother Machree
Marion Robert Morrison had plans for his future that were completely different from acting. Morrison wanted to be a professional football player but after he suffered an accident, he couldn’t play anymore. Morrison was very sad about his injury and found another job as an employee for Fox Film Corporation. Morrison used to move furniture and props from one set to another.
Morrison became a very good friend to the director John Ford, who eventually gave him extra roles in his movies. Ford saw Morrison’s talented and introduced the young actor to other directors. It didn’t take long and Morrison had his first main role in the film Mother Machree.
#5. Natalie Portman In Léon: The Professional
Natalie Portman had her lifetime opportunity at the young age of 10. Portman didn’t have to put an extra effort because she was eating a pizza when a modeling agent from Revlon spotted her! But modeling was not in her interests and she got bored very quickly.
Portman used her chance and got an audition for the role of Mathilda in the controversial film Léon: The Professional. Still to this day, some people think she was very young for that role but Portman showed a lot of professionalism at a very young age and and now, she is a consolidated actress in Hollywood.
#4. Alexis Bledel In Gilmore Girls
Believe it or not, some actors and actresses didn’t know that they were going to be part of the film industry, like the case of Alexis Bledel. The Gilmore Girls star was studying at college and she needed the money to pay for her tuition. Bledel had no better idea that entering into the acting world would pay for it and more.
When she came to the audition of the famous TV series, she was sick and weak but producers saw something in her and chose Bledel for the lead role of Rory Gilmore. The young actress said that it was going to be a temporary job, but we all know how that went.
#3. Pamela Anderson In Home Improvement
Be careful if you go to a football game and suddenly you appear on the big screen, that could be your big lifetime opportunity! Believe it or not, for Pamela Anderson, her acting and modeling career started that way. In 1989, Anderson went to a BC Lions Canadian football game wearing a Labatt’s Beer T-shirt. During the game, cameras showed her on the big screen and the crowd went crazy.
The brewing company hired her and that was the beginning of it all. After that event, Playboy magazine hired her for a centerfold and in 1991 she was offered a minor role as Lisa in the ABC comedy series Home Improvement.
#2. Wilford Brimley In True Grit
Wilford Brimley never had the intention to become a Hollywood actor. He served in the United States Marine Corps for three years and after that, Brimley worked in jobs as a bodyguard, a ranch hand, a wrangler and a blacksmith. Maybe, that’s why he started to shoe horses for films and TV series.
It didn’t take long until someone looked at him and encouraged Brimley to think of pursuing an acting career. Brimley met actor Robert Duvall at a western film set and the actor recommended Brimley for a minor role in the film True Grit. Later, Brimley got his breakout role in The Waltons.
#1. Harrison Ford In Star Wars
Harrison Ford tried to be a professional actor many times before he got his breakout role as Han Solo in the successful Star Wars franchise. What was Harrison Ford doing before that? The young actor decided he wanted to be a professional carpenter after many failed roles.
Fred Roos, a casting consultant, thought that Ford could be perfect for a role in George Lucas’ film. Roos took Ford to an audition, as Lucas wanted young and unknown actors for his new movie. The director saw Ford in the audition and immediately gave him one of the lead roles and the rest is history.