Before they became household names, many celebrities worked ordinary jobs to pay the bills and chase their dreams. From fast-food restaurants and retail stores to construction sites and offices, their early careers were often far removed from the spotlight. Here are 27 celebrities with surprising first jobs.
Hugh Jackman
Before becoming Wolverine, Hugh Jackman worked as a clown at children’s birthday parties. He has joked that he was terrible at making balloon animals.
Megan Fox
At 15, Megan Fox worked at a smoothie shop in Florida. Part of the job required dressing up as a giant banana to attract customers.
Brad Pitt
Before acting, Brad Pitt wore a giant chicken costume outside an El Pollo Loco restaurant to advertise special offers.
Beyoncé
As a child, Beyoncé swept hair off the floor at her mother Tina Knowles’ hair salon before her music career took off.
Christopher Walken
As a teenager, Christopher Walken worked as an assistant lion tamer in a travelling circus.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg worked as a mortuary cosmetologist, applying makeup and preparing bodies for funerals.
Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne worked in a slaughterhouse, where one of his jobs involved processing livestock before entering music.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp sold pens over the telephone before landing his first acting roles.
Channing Tatum
Before Hollywood, Channing Tatum worked as a stripper. His experiences later inspired the film Magic Mike.
Rachel McAdams
Rachel McAdams spent about three years working at McDonald’s before becoming an actress.
Madonna
Madonna briefly worked at a Dunkin’ Donuts shop in New York before being fired after squirting jelly onto a customer.
Steve Carell
Steve Carell spent time working as a mail carrier before focusing on comedy and acting.
Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes worked at a pizza restaurant while studying before pursuing acting full-time.
Mick Jagger
Before The Rolling Stones became famous, Mick Jagger worked as a porter at a psychiatric hospital.
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj worked as a waitress at Red Lobster before being fired for arguing with customers.
George Clooney
George Clooney sold women’s shoes and also worked cutting cigarettes before becoming an actor.
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Aniston earned money as a bike messenger, waitress, and telemarketer while auditioning for acting roles.
Rod Stewart
Before music, Rod Stewart worked digging graves at Highgate Cemetery in London.
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan trained as a commercial illustrator before later studying acting.
Ken Jeong
Before comedy, Ken Jeong worked as a licensed physician practising internal medicine.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford worked as a professional carpenter, and the trade helped support his family before acting made him famous.
Terry Crews
After leaving the NFL, Terry Crews worked as a courtroom sketch artist while trying to break into entertainment.
Sean Connery
Sean Connery worked as a milkman, lifeguard, coffin polisher, and bodybuilder before becoming James Bond.
Rachel Weisz
Rachel Weisz briefly worked as a fashion model before focusing on acting at university.
Sylvester Stallone
Stallone cleaned lion cages at the Central Park Zoo before Rocky transformed his career.
Kanye West
As a teenager, Kanye West worked folding clothes at a GAP store in Chicago before becoming a producer and rapper.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams worked as a waitress at a notable restaurant chain known for its “hostesses” before leaving to pursue musical theatre.
