Before achieving fame and all the glamour, even celebrities had some pretty surprising and odd jobs that might just blow your mind. From flipping burgers at fast-food joints to cleaning restrooms, their unusual pre-fame careers show that success often starts in the most unexpected places.
Mortuary Worker
Whoopi Goldberg, aged 65, initially pursued a career as a beautician and found employment at a nearby mortuary.Describing her unique occupation, Goldberg told the Huffington Post, “It’s quite a challenging profession. You need a specific kind of personality and a deep compassion for people to ensure they receive a dignified farewell.
Hugh Jackman
Before achieving fame in Hollywood, the accomplished actor Hugh Jackman showcased his acting talents in an entirely different setting. In his early days, he donned the colorful attire of a clown to entertain children at parties, demonstrating his entertainment skills even before hitting the big screen. He shared, “I took on the persona of Coco the Clown, but I had no magic tricks. I vividly remember a six-year-old child at a party who stood up and declared, ‘Mommy, this clown is terrible! He doesn’t know any tricks,’ and he was absolutely right.”
Taylor Swift
Prior to her Grammy Award-winning music career, Taylor Swift had an unexpected job on a farm, where she would pick praying mantis pods off trees. In an interview with Esquire, Taylor revealed that the reason behind this task was her small stature, as she couldn’t lift the trees herself.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox made a surprising revelation during her appearance on The Ellen Show, “I used to work at a small smoothie shop in Florida, and my primary role was behind the cash register.” She went on to explain the shop’s quirky tradition, saying, “However, every week, typically on Fridays, someone had to take on the role of dressing up as a fruit, a specific fruit, and then stand by the highway.” With a grin, she added, “I was chosen to be a banana, a gigantic banana.”
Rod Stewart
Stewart spent his teenage years employed as a gravedigger at Highgate Cemetery in London. As mentioned in “Rod Stewart: The New Biography,” his intention behind taking up this role was to confront his deep-rooted fear of mortality. Having battled nightmares related to death since a young age, Stewart believed that by immersing himself in the process of digging graves for actual bodies, he could gradually overcome this fear.
Halle Berry
It may not be surprising to learn that Halle Berry achieved significant success in beauty pageants before capturing the attention of audiences on the big screen. She achieved the remarkable feat of being the first runner-up in the Miss USA pageant and securing the sixth position in the Miss World 1986 competition. However, In an interview with People, she shared that her early days in New York were marked by homelessness. She endured several weeks of sleeping in a homeless shelter and later found temporary accommodation at a YMCA before eventually establishing herself as an actress.
Michael B Jordan
Jordan started his career in the entertainment industry as a child model, representing various companies and brands, such as Toys ‘R’ Us. His modeling endeavors provided him with valuable experience before he eventually transitioned into acting. Jordan’s early acting career included securing minor roles in popular television shows like Cosby and The Sopranos.
Beyoncé
During her childhood before her time with Destiny’s Child, Beyoncé had the experience of working in her mother’s hairdressing shop. From the age of six to nine, she would help by sweeping the floor and interacting with the salon’s clientele. Beyoncé shared in an interview with Essence magazine that she would often showcase her singing talents by putting on small solo performances for the women who came in for hair services, providing them with both entertainment and engaging conversations.
Miley Cyrus
Before her rise to stardom as Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus had an unconventional job that may come as a surprise. In her pre-fame days, she served as a “bra collector,” a role her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, paid her for. Miley’s task was to gather the bras and underwear thrown onto the stage during her father’s performances—an interesting and unique gig that certainly added some excitement to her early experiences in the entertainment world.
Victoria Beckham
Victoria Beckham, also known as ‘Posh Spice,’ is famous for her refined persona. However, her followers on social media are aware of her love for humor. She once took on the role of a rollerskating sperm in a BBC sex education program called Body Matters back in 1986.
Jennifer Aniston
During the promotional campaign for the film ‘Horrible Bosses,’ Jennifer Aniston candidly shared that her most challenging job experience was working as a bike messenger at the age of 19. Reflecting on her lowest point, she humorously admitted to the embarrassing mishap of accidentally riding into an opening door—a moment that surely left her with a lasting memory.
Amy Poehler
Amy Poehler started earning money by working as an ice cream scooper at a local parlour. Her deep affection for the job led her to write a heartfelt piece recounting her experiences, which was published in The New Yorker.
Cardi B
Before rising to rap superstardom, Cardi B’s journey took an unexpected turn as she found herself working as a cashier at an Amish Market in NYC’s Tribeca neighborhood, only to be dismissed for offering a hefty discount to a coworker. However, fate had other plans for her, as her manager’s suggestion to pursue a job at a nearby strip club would ultimately become the stepping stone that propelled her into a successful career as a stripper.
Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle’s elegant and regal signature holds a special significance, and it goes beyond her role as a member of the royal family. Prior to meeting Prince Harry and her acting career on Suits, Meghan worked as a calligrapher. In fact, she showcased her talent by personally crafting the wedding invitations for Paula Patton and Robin Thicke’s wedding back in 2005.
Brad Pitt
In Brad Pitt’s early days in Hollywood, his first job utilized his acting abilities in an unconventional way. He worked at El Pollo Loco, a chicken restaurant, where his task was to dress up as a chicken mascot and engage with pedestrians to encourage them to dine at the restaurant. This job required Pitt to employ his acting skills in a lively and engaging manner to attract potential customers. It was an interesting and perhaps amusing chapter in his journey before he rose to fame as a renowned actor.