Once auditioned for American Idol before a global pop career
Katy Perry briefly appeared in early seasons of "American Idol" before releasing her massive hit, "I Kissed a Girl."
Grew up in Texas, wanted to be a singer but became a superhero
Matthew McConaughey, who originally pursued music, became a famous actor known for both dramatic roles and superhero movies
Played the guitar in coffee shops before getting their big break in acting
Chris Pratt was once homeless and played guitar in Maui before landing roles in "Parks and Recreation" and eventually starring in "Guardians of the Galaxy."
Known for playing high schoolers, this actor once worked as a janitor
Matt Damon, famous for “Good Will Hunting,” worked as a janitor in his early days.
Once a high school dropout, later a two-time Oscar winner
Hilary Swank dropped out of high school to pursue acting, eventually winning two Academy Awards.
Former truck driver turned action hero
Before “Star Wars,” Harrison Ford worked as a carpenter and truck driver, only becoming famous later
Known for starting out as a magician before making it big in Hollywood
Before becoming a household name in "How I Met Your Mother," Neil Patrick Harris had a passion for magic and often showcased it in his early career.
Once worked as a firefighter before acting
Steve Buscemi worked as a firefighter in New York before becoming an iconic character actor.
Born in Kentucky, this actor was a telemarketer before fame
Johnny Depp took odd jobs, including as a telemarketer, before becoming the iconic Captain Jack Sparrow.
Born in South Africa, worked as a ballerina before acting
Charlize Theron initially trained as a ballerina in South Africa before moving into acting.
Grew up on a farm and became a famous country singer
Shania Twain grew up in rural Canada, working on her family's farm before breaking into the country music scene
First job was handing out leaflets dressed as a chicken
Brad Pitt’s early days included dressing as a chicken for a fast-food chain before rising to Hollywood stardom.
Grew up in Hawaii, was once a wrestler before acting
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson was a professional wrestler before transitioning into a successful acting career.
Modeled for Abercrombie & Fitch before becoming an Avenger
Channing Tatum modeled and danced before rising to fame in movies like "Magic Mike" and "21 Jump Street."
Former beauty queen, later an iconic action heroine
Gal Gadot, who represented Israel in the Miss Universe pageant, went on to star as Wonder Woman.
Sold Christmas trees before turning into an A-list comedian
Jim Carrey once sold Christmas trees to make ends meet before becoming one of the biggest comedic actors in Hollywood.
Used to work in a bakery before becoming an international pop star
Harry Styles worked in a bakery before joining One Direction and achieving global fame.
Raised by a single mother, this celeb grew up dreaming of becoming a writer
J.K. Rowling, best known for writing "Harry Potter," struggled with financial hardships before achieving fame.
Once worked as a waitress before becoming a comedic actress
Jennifer Aniston worked as a waitress before landing her iconic role as Rachel on "Friends."
Raised in Australia, this actress once considered becoming a veterinarian
Nicole Kidman was born in Hawaii but grew up in Australia and nearly pursued a career in veterinary science before acting took over.