Then and Now: How Hollywood Stars Changed Over The Years
Matt Leblanc
American actor and producer Matt LeBlanc skyrocketed to fame for portraying Joey Tribbiani on the hit sitcom Friends from 1994 to 2004. After the show ended, he has since gone on to star in multiple television shows and movies, such as Lost in Space, Charlie’s Angels, and Man With a Plan.
Before LeBlanc landed prominence, he attended Boston’s Wentworth Institute of Technology to earn his college degree. However, he left shortly after the second semester to start his acting career. In the 1980s, the startup actor appeared in a couple of television commercials for companies like Coca-Cola and Heinz and music videos for Bon Jovi and Alanis Morissette. He then had the opportunity to star on his first TV gig, TV 101, although it only lasted one season. From there, he received his big break after he auditioned for the goofy “ladies’ man” Joey Tribbiani on Friends.
Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford’s rise to international fame began when he played the role of Han Solo in the world-famous Star Wars trilogy. His popularity was further launched when he played the titular character in the Indiana Jones movie series. Ford is also known for dramatic and action roles, including Blade Runner, The Fugitive, and Patriot Games, among many others.
Harrison first sparked an interest in acting while earning his college diploma. According to him, he decided to embark on drama class to get over his shyness, but he easily became hooked on acting. He then appeared in several local theater productions after college. However, in order to support his family of four, he had to make ends meet and worked as a carpenter. By chance, he did some carpentry work for Francis Ford Coppola and George Lucas, and those two received due credit for helping Ford become famous.
Richard Gere
Richard Gere started his acting career in the ’70s and is widely recognized for his performance in such films as Chicago, Pretty Woman, and An Officer and a Gentleman. He has received multiple Golden Globe and SAG award nominations, among other acting honors. In his early days, Gere emerged as an up-and-coming actor in plays both on and off-Broadway. He started his professional acting work in 1969 at Cape Cod’s Provincetown Playhouse and the Seattle Repertory Theatre.
Since then, Gere has been hailed as a versatile actor who has been regarded as one of Tinseltown’s most bankable leading men. The actor was born in Philadelphia to a father who works as an insurance agent, and a housewife. He then attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst to study philosophy. While in school, he excelled at music, trumpet, and gymnastics. In fact, he got accepted into college because of his gymnastics scholarship.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson first realized she wanted to pursue acting when she was only six years old. Her parents enrolled her at the Stagecoach Theater Arts in Oxford, where she received education in the fine art of acting. She was only nine when she bagged her first major acting assignment, playing Hermione Granger in the acclaimed Harry Potter movies. Prior to being cast in Harry Potter, she had never set foot on a movie set and had only appeared in a few stage pieces.
Now, the British star has a net worth of $85 million. At the peak of her Harry Potter work, she earned $15 to $20 million every year in acting salary alone. Her performances in the movies earned her plenty of awards. Outside of acting salaries and investments, Watson has made millions of dollars from endorsements with big companies like Lancôme, Dolce & Gabbana, Calvin Klein, and Burberry.
Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is a director, actor, and producer who first achieved success in the television series Rawhide. He then rose to international fame after playing the Man with No Name during the ’60s and as Harry Callahan in the Dirty Harry movies throughout the ’70s and ’80s. These early roles, among several others, made the actor a cultural icon of masculinity and one of Hollywood’s veteran actors.
After he graduated from high school, Eastwood worked as a lifeguard, grocery clerk, golf caddy, paperboy, and forest firefighter. He later joined the army, and while there, he met Chuck Hill, who had contacts in the entertainment scene. Hill later introduced Eastwood to directors Irvine Glassberg and Arthur Libin, and the latter encouraged him to take acting classes. The budding actor followed the advice and began making investments so that he could appear in both the big screen and on TV.
David Bowie
David Bowie was an English singer-songwriter who made popular music for almost 50 years. He was best known for writing innovative and experimental music that was both commercially and critically successful. Selling more than 100 million records, Bowie is considered one of the world’s most influential rock artists. During his lifetime, he launched a total of 27 studio albums.
Bowie achieved his first major crossover success in the mid-’70s with the number-one single Fame, and the smash hit album Young Americans. He also began appearing on the big screen in the feature film The Man Who Fell to Earth, which was a modest box-office success. The hitmaker went on to release numerous popular singles, including Under Pressure with Queen, Modern Love, and Space Oddity. In 2006, he was given praise and credit through a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for being a major figure in the world of music.
Pink
American singer and songwriter Pink is one of today’s best-selling artists, selling more than 90 million records throughout her career. She has consistently been of the entertainment scene’s highest-paid singers. Outside of music, she has amassed millions of dollars and a high credit score by endorsing companies such as Sony Ericsson, CoverGirl, Polo, T-Mobile, and more.
Pink auditioned for and joined the female music group Basic Instinct at age 14. After the group disbanded two years later, she later formed the singing group Choice along with Chrissy Conway and Sharon Flanagan. After Choice went on a hiatus, Pink pursued a solo career and signed a contract with LaFace Records. Thanks to her successful debut, she garnered Billboard’s Female New Artist of the Year in 2000. Since then, she has been noted for challenging the norms of the music industry and breaking boundaries, always finding ways to create her own sound.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore’s acting career started even earlier in her life, at only 11 months old. While auditioning for a dog food commercial, she was nipped by a dog. However, the young Barrymore laughed instead of crying, a surprising response that earned her the job. She debuted in the film Altered States a few years later, but her role in E.T. as Gertie propelled her to worldwide stardom.
After E.T., the young actress made further investments in the film industry when she was cast in Stephen King’s movie adaptation of Firestarter. She continued to work through the ’80s, and today, she is one of the most influential figures in the movie industry. Barrymore continues to work on the silver and television screens as well as her business endeavors, including a clothing brand, cosmetics line, and her own signature wine.
Steven Spielberg
Director and screenwriter Steven Spielberg is currently the second richest celebrity in the world, having a high credit score and a staggering fortune of $7.5 billion. He’s only a little behind his good buddy and fellow director, George Lucas, who is worth $10 billion. Throughout his career of over four decades, Spielberg has worked on etching his name in the film, and with him succeeding; he has been considered a legend.
Some of his notable works include Jaw, Indiana Jones, and Close Encounters. His list of hit movies is, to be honest, too long to mention! Anyway, the renowned director actually had humble beginnings. He was just a little boy with a vast imagination. As a teenager, he created short films. He even charged 25 cents for his friends to come and watch his movies! Right from childhood we can appreciate his love for the cinema and aptitude for business.
Ed Sheeran
English singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran is given credit as one of the world’s most successful singer-songwriters. Whenever he goes on world tours, Sheeran can easily make $70 to $100 million in a given year. For instance, he amassed $65 million between 2019 and 2020 from his many endeavors.
Sheeran started singing as a child in a local choir and then moved on to learning the guitar. He then wrote his own songs while in high school and was accepted to the National Youth Theatre. He began recording music in 2004 after releasing Spinning Man independently. Over the next three years, Sheeran started to gain a small following while performing at venues around London. Thanks to Jamie Foxx, who offered him a place to stay while in the US, he was able to release two more EPs and gradually reached success with his songs The A-Team and I See Fire.
Kate Moss
British supermodel Kate Moss became a household name during the 1990s. She began her modeling career at age 14, in 1988, when she was discovered by Sarah Doukas, the founder of Storm Management. At 16, Moss gained prominence when she posed for a series of black-and-white photos, and critics equated her presence with the grunge movement. Her major break came when she took part in the Levis for Girls campaign.
Outside of her engagements as a model, Moss has become a constant contributor to the fashion world, creating her own clothing and perfume lines, earning investment money in the process. In the mid-2010s, she also designed a second clothing line for the Topshop company and set a long-running partnership with them. The model also starred in a range of music videos and has also taken various acting roles, including Zoolander 2 and Red Nose Day Actually.
Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves discovered his love of performance in high school after playing a part in a Romeo and Juliet school production. Starting with minor roles on Canadian television, stage productions, and commercials, he first appeared on the silver screen in Youngblood, in 1986. He then won various co-starring parts, including the critically-acclaimed River’s Edge. He achieved box office success with the 1989 hit Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and went on to star in both major and independent movies.
Reeves entered the A-list club with the achievement of the 1994 action flick Speed, which garnered two Academy Awards and total gross revenue of over $350 million worldwide. He experienced further success after winning the lead role in The Matrix franchise. His work as Neo was well-received by the critics and audience, and his subsequent acting credit in John Wick solidified his status as a lead actor.
Hugh Grant
British actor Hugh Grant is hailed as one of the most popular movie stars in the 1990s. He has also continued to enjoy a flourishing career even to this day. As of late, his movies have generated over $3 billion worldwide. He is perhaps best known for his versatile performances in many films, in which he portrays either a hopeless romantic or a charming heartbreaker.
Grant earned his English literature degree from New College in Oxford, where he discovered his passion for acting. At first, he never thought of having an entertainment career. However, he started participating in the university’s drama club after performing in a Twelfth Night production and that got him hooked. Before becoming a household name, Grant tried his hand at various jobs, such as writing radio commercials, book reviews, and even tutoring. Eventually, he returned to acting and performed in many plays in England until he booked a series of movie roles.
Winona Ryder
The gorgeous actress Winona Ryder is well-known for starring in movies like Heathers, Beetlejuice, and the now-popular Netflix series Stranger Things. She debuted in acting when she appeared in the comedy Lucas in 1986, opposite Charlie Sheen and Corey Haim. Her next role was in the 1987 movie, Square Dance, a performance that was highly praised by the Los Angeles Times. However, it was her role in Tim Burton’s Beetlejuice that garnered both commercial and critical recognition. Ryder was still in high school when the movie made its way to the cinemas.
During the ’90s, the actress collaborated once again with Tim Burton when she starred opposite Johnny Depp in the fantasy movie Edward Scissorhands. Ryder then took a five-year acting hiatus in 2001 and made her comeback in Richard Linklater’s A Scanner Darkly. Since then, she has won various credits and accolades for playing diverse roles.
Michiel Huisman
Michiel Huisman’s face is likely familiar to you, even if you don’t know his name. Chances are you’ve already fallen in love with the actor after watching him in one of his minor parts.
Huisman has been in the entertainment business since he was 10 years old, alternating between acting and music. He was a part of the band Fontane during the early years of his career. He landed his first significant American role as tortured busker Sonny on HBO’s Treme in 2010. The actor then went on to star opposite three of Hollywood’s most beloved leading ladies in quick succession after that. In 2014, Huisman appeared on BBC America’s Orphan Black as Cal Morrison, and in the same year, he took over as Daario Naharis on HBO’s Game of Thrones. He continued making headway in moviemaking and appeared on World War Z and continues to rack up acting credits. The Age of Adaline is his Hollywood debut.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields has been a fixture in Hollywood since the 1970s. We’ve watched her rise to stardom as a child actor, star in significant modeling campaigns, and even graduate from an Ivy League university throughout the years. Shields was bound for the spotlight as the daughter of a New York City actress and socialite, and she made her modeling debut at the age of 11 months. Her breakout performance in 1978’s Pretty Baby, on the other hand, skyrocketed her to prominence and critical acclaim.
Shields was the youngest person to appear on the cover of Vogue magazine and star in a controversial Calvin Klein campaign. She also acted in The Blue Lagoon and Endless Love during the 1980s. Still, she took a break from working in 1983 to finish her bachelor’s degree in Romance Languages at Princeton University. The actress then returned to show business, this time on television. She went on to have a recurring part on Law & Order: SVU later in her career, and she has continued to shine in modeling campaigns.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer has been a mainstay of Hollywood for decades. While younger audiences may recognize her from films such as Hairspray or Murder on the Orient Express, she has a long and illustrious career dating back to the 1980s. She has not only starred in scores of successful films over the previous few decades but has also garnered numerous awards under her belt.
Born in 1958, Pfeiffer is known for her striking appearance and versatility as a film actor. After briefly training to be a court reporter, she won several beauty pageants as a teenager but opted to pursue an acting profession. She landed a role on television, appearing in shows such as Fantasy Island. Pfeiffer starred as Catwoman in Tim Burton’s superhero thriller Batman Returns, and who could forget her star-making turn in Scarface? Given her current net worth and investment money, Michelle has established herself as one of Hollywood’s most prominent A-list actors.
Justin Bieber
We’ve seen Justin Bieber mature from a bowl-cut, little sweetie pie into a man and musician in his own right. With the help of Scooter Braun, the Canadian crooner was discovered and propelled into the spotlight while filming song covers for YouTube. He became one of Hollywood’s most well-known artists, having released nearly five albums, two films, a YouTube docuseries, and a clothing line under his credit.
Hailey Baldwin’s husband didn’t have to wait long to start building a name for himself. In 2010, he published his debut studio album, My World, which sold over a million copies in just two months! The album has received five platinum certifications to date. Predictably, he did not stop there. Bieber has been a strong force in the music industry for the past decade. While the artist does not always make news for the best reasons, he has maintained his domination on the Billboard charts, and thanks to millions of recordings sold around the world, he has acquired an enormous net worth.
Al Pacino
The Godfather has become more of an emblem than a film – an everlasting Platonic ideal of cinematic grandeur anchored in a canon.
When Al Pacino was a teenager, he developed a passion for performing and eventually moved from the theater to the big screen. Pacino is most recognized for his roles as Michael Corleone in The Godfather and Tony Montana in Scarface. There’s no denying he’s built a niche for himself in brutal mafia roles, with significant time investments. Pacino’s performance in The Godfather catapulted him to stardom, launching a succession of critically lauded performances, including his return as Michael in The Godfather Part II. After decades, Pacino has had a spectacular career, including another role in The Godfather Part III. Pacino enjoys a career revival, with lauded parts in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Hunters in 2020. He has earned an Academy Award, two Tony Awards, and two Primetime Emmy Awards over his five-decade career.
Reese Witherspoon
You’ve probably seen a lot of Reese Witherspoon lately if you’ve been watching Big Little Lies. But can you recall what she looked like in the past? Witherspoon had dreamed and hoped for something to come her way since she was a little girl from Louisiana, and when she was in her late twenties, everything seemed to happen so quickly that she was already a well-known figure throughout the world.
The actress began acting as a teenager in the mid-1990s, but her big break came when she was in her early twenties and landed a significant role in the 1999 thriller Cruel Intentions. Her popularity skyrocketed in 2001 when she played soon-to-be lawyer Elle Woods in the film Legally Blonde! The Academy Award-winning actress became associated with the beloved comedy, and she returned in 2003 to reprise her part. Witherspoon cemented her place in history two years after the triumph of Legally Blonde 2 and has done a lot in her career, but we have a feeling she’s just starting to gas her pedal.
Ellen DeGeneres
Over the years, Ellen DeGeneres has been putting a smile on our faces and making us laugh. Since she began hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the comedian has established herself as one of the most well-known daytime TV hosts and has solidified her place in our collective cultural fabric. DeGeneres has had lucrative career credits for her enormous talent as a stand-up comedian, TV host, actor, writer, and producer. DeGeneres got her big break in the early 1980s, and she’s been in the spotlight ever since.
DeGeneres’ parents separated when she was 13 years old, and she realized the power of comedy during those years. She tried everything she could to lift her mother’s spirits as she suffered. She made her debut in television and performed on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson in 1986. Ellen made history that night by being the first woman to act on the show. Although The Ellen DeGeneres Show ceased after its 19th season, the television host is still the highest-paid comic in the profession.
Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster has been a Hollywood presence for so long that it’s difficult to fathom a world without her. The actress, who seems to have been born to be a performer, has been entertaining admirers all over the world since she was just six years old. Foster has shone her skills in cinema to varying degrees. From Taxi Driver to Freaky Friday and Contact, she has demonstrated a breadth that few actors can match.
Foster graced television commercials when she was three years old and had already appeared on television by the age of six in the sitcom Mayberry R.F.D. She would later appear in over 50 television series and advertisements as a youngster, and she was the family’s primary source of income. Fortunately, the Freaky Friday star remained dedicated to the task, and her hard work paid off. She landed a role in Martin Scorsese’s classic Taxi Driver when she was just 12 years old. As a child prodigy who became an acting legend, Foster has had one of Hollywood’s most exciting and gratifying careers.
Daniel Radcliffe
As the kid wizard tasked with protecting the entire Wizarding World, we watched Harry Potter — and Daniel Radcliffe — grow up before our eyes. When Sorcerer’s Stone was released, the actor was 11 years old, and he continued to play Rowling’s youthful wizard for a decade.
The boy who played Potter is eternally thankful for the job that opened all the doors for him, but he’s also been working hard to erase any child-star blemishes from his acting resume. He began with his raw Broadway debut in Equus, and he’s been alternating between theater and film for years. In recent years, he’s made a concerted effort to experiment with a wide range of genres. He’s acted in the gritty drama Imperium, returned to fantasy as Igor in Victor Frankenstein, and gone indie with Swiss Army Man. Despite being embarrassed by several things, he doesn’t regret his time with the franchise because it has opened numerous opportunities and provided him with a substantial sum of investment money.
Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio is one of the most well-known actors in Hollywood and has had a long and illustrious career in Hollywood. He began acting at 14 and has maintained a successful career for more than 30 years.
DiCaprio, like many actors, had a modest start and worked his way up the Hollywood ladder. In 1991, the future Titanic lead character received his first semi-regular part in the television sitcom Growing Pains and his first cinematic appearance in the horror flick Critters 3. The decade of the 1990s would prove vital in DiCaprio’s career. He began the decade as a clumsy adolescent, getting minor credits in low-budget films. He was one of Hollywood’s hottest young performers and an American heartthrob by the end of the decade, and he didn’t stop there. Though DiCaprio began his career in modest roles, he swiftly progressed to more prominent cinematic roles that cemented his legacy as one of Hollywood staples.
Patrick Dempsey
While we know him as Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, Patrick Dempsey has gone a long way in his life and work. Dempsey led a relatively everyday life before being famous for his great hair and one of Hollywood’s best guy smiles. Nonetheless, Dempsey’s McDreamy glow has always been present, and it was only a matter of time before he made a significant statement on both the big and small screens.
Dempsey took his abilities to the screen, and in 1987, he acted in Can’t Buy Me, Love and starred in In the Mood. The actor starred as Andrew Hennings in Sweet Home Alabama, and while he didn’t wind up with the girl, the film marked a new beginning for him. In both his career and appearance, he’s matured like a fine wine and continues to enchant our television screens with his presence. So gas up and prepare for an extra dose of McDreamy, for he is not slowing anytime soon.
Bryan Cranston
Breaking Bad grew in popularity, and fans swooned over Walter White throughout its six seasons. Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of White on the show may be his most prominent part to date, but the actor’s career shows no signs of slowing down. Cranston had dozens upon dozens of roles under his belt before landing the role of Heisenberg on the AMC series in 2008.
Cranston began his acting career in the 1980s, appearing in shows such as CHiPs and Baywatch. He also starred in various films, including Dead Space and Little Miss Sunshine. After kissing goodbye to Breaking Bad, he played Vince in the Amazon criminal drama, Sneaky Pete. Bryan continued to pile up his film investments with roles in Godzilla, Kung Fu Panda 3, and Why Him? In addition to his already excellent resume, the 65-year-old has worked as a director, writer, and producer behind the scenes.
Robert De Niro
Robert De Niro had an intense and menacing presence in a succession of popular films, making him one of the most accomplished and recognized performers of the twentieth century and beyond.
Through visits to local movie theaters with his father, he developed a passion for acting and soon appeared in school shows. De Niro used his mother’s money for his college tuition to fund his acting career and began auditioning after a brief study with Lee Strasberg at the Actor’s Studio in New York City. He made his breakthrough in a pair of critically acclaimed 1973 films: Bang the Drum Slowly and Mean Streets. In 1974, De Niro established himself as one of the country’s finest actors with his Award-winning Academy performance as Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II. He has acted in various genres of flicks throughout his career, gaining praise and credits for many of these movies.
Haley Joel Osment
With his breakthrough film The Sixth Sense in 1999, M. Night Shyamalan introduced his characteristic plot twists to the big screen for the first time. Haley Joel Osment played the troubled Cole Sear in the film at the age of 11. Cole was just a regular youngster trying to make sense of his strange abilities, which he summarized with the phrase “I see dead people.”
After delivering the memorable line that would become the punch line of many jokes and parodies, Osment maintained his acting projects with roles in Pay It Forward and The Country Bears. Osment rose to stardom as the voice of Sora in the Disney computer game Kingdom Hearts. Osment went on to star in several comedic films, being given credits for The Spoils of Babylon and Silicon Valley. He also appeared in the Ted Bundy film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile.
Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty rose to prominence in film and television during the 1990s, becoming a household name. Her career has taken her from navigating one of television’s most iconic love triangles to casting spells and resurrecting some of her most beloved performances decades later.
Doherty made her acting debut in 1982, with a guest appearance on Voyagers! and landed her first significant film role as Heather Duke in the cult classic 1988 film Heathers. Doherty catapulted to international stardom after landing the role of a lifetime on the hit Aaron Spelling series Beverly Hills: 90210. She later joined the cast of Charmed, portraying Prue Halliwell. The actress is well-known for her TV appearances and, of course, her long-running cancer struggle which has gotten her in frequent contact with her health insurance company. In terms of her personal life, she is an outspoken animal rights activist who has taken part in several campaigns to raise awareness against animal abuse. The actress has proven her strength repeatedly, and she continues to do so after more than 30 years in the spotlight.
Gil Gerard
Gil Gerard started acting by doing more than 400 commercials at the start of the 1970s. He later transitioned to taking smaller roles in various films and later became part of the regular cast of The Doctors. Nabbing the role of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was one of the reasons why he rose to stardom. Though the actor became a household name at the time, he wasn’t impressed with how the story was going. He was even open about supporting the idea that the show should not be renewed. He did get his wish as it was canceled later after 30 plus episodes.
Though the actor did appear in other futuristic shows, he did not receive as much as accolades as he did with Buck Rogers. He added more to his investment money by appearing in various TV shows and films but it is clear that his time as Buck Rogers was one of the highlights of his career.
Miley Cyrus
Miley Cyrus has certainly changed from her time in Disney’s Hannah Montana to being a pop star today. The TV show launched her to stardom which she co-starred with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. It was here that Miley got to hone her acting and singing skills that, to her credit, led to a concert tour that she headlined. After her time in the said Disney’s show, she moved on to take on film acting such as in LOL and So Undercover.
While the young Cyrus is still doing her acting projects, she also released three music albums that were huge successes. Over the years, she continued to make music and get embroiled in controversies, but she managed to overcome them all. She tied the knot with her The Last Song co-star, Liam Hemsworth, but their marriage did not last long. Cyrus is still quite busy with her music career and it seems that she is not slowing down any time soon.
John Mayer
Singer-songwriter, John Mayer, emerged in the 90s to be one of the best and talented solo artists of the time. He has released multiple songs in various genres that made him commercial success. Being inspired by Michael J. Fox’s character in Back to the Future, the young Mayer rented an electric guitar and got coaching lessons too. His passion for playing the guitar went on to shape his career in the industry.
Among his more notable songs were Your Body is a Wonderland, Daughters, and Gravity. He has received several music awards that helped define his career as a musician. However, because of vocal problems, the multi-awarded singer took a break to recuperate. He did get back to his love of creating music and, to his credit, released his sixth and seventh album which he put a lot of effort into stating that were personal for him. The singer has recently stated that he wants to settle down and have kids since he has already done so much in his career.
Kim Kardashian
Kim Kardashian has gone a long way from being a friend of Hilton heiress and socialite, Paris Hilton. Thanks to her mother, Kris Jenner, the Kardashian-Jenner family became an overnight sensation. The reality star was already 27 years old when she started acting. This led her to become one of the most sought-after celebrities. But aside from just banking on her time in Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Kim went on to create a business empire that helped her earn an impressive net worth.
The celebrity star and business mogul has put her investment money in all the right places such as games, websites, product endorsements, even Kimoji emojis just to name a few. She has also established her own beauty line called KKW Beauty. Her biggest role yet is being a mother to four children with her now ex-husband, singer, and rapper, Kanye West.
Jennifer Aniston
Playing Rachel Green in the hit TV show F.R.I.E.N.D.S. has certainly cemented Jennifer Aniston’s name in Hollywood. Before she even stepped on the role of Rachel, her fresh face appeared in The Edge. Her career certainly took off when she became one of the cast members of the hit TV show that has gained a huge following across the globe. While working on the set of her successful show, she got engaged and later married to one of Hollywood’s hunks, Brad Pitt. Though they had to get their lawyers involved to undo their marriage, the two are still in touch recently, which has fueled rumors of the two gettings back together.
In her career, Aniston has also dabbled in films such as Derailed, Along Came Polly, The Good Girl, and Bruce Almighty just to name a few. She has also earned a significant sum when she took on larger roles on the big screen. Today, she is still busy acting, but with the ongoing pandemic, she is doing other projects to ease her boredom.
Elijah Wood
Elijah Wood had started acting at a young age when he was doing commercials in his hometown in Iowa. Seeing that he has a knack for being an actor, his parents contacted the moving company and move to LA, where he got a part in the making of the music video, Forever Your Girl, by Paula Abdul. He later appeared in various films like The Good Son, Flipper, and North before taking on more teen roles like Deep Impact and The Ice Storm.
But it was in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, that the actor became known for. He took on the role of Frodo Baggins who went on a quest to destroy The One Ring. And it seems that the power of Sauron’s One Ring has rubbed off on the actor since he hasn’t aged a day. Currently, Wood is enjoying being a dad with his partner Mette-Marie Kongsved, a Danish producer. For sure, with his current net worth, he knows where to put his investments for his growing family.
Taye Diggs
Taye Diggs is one of those celebrities who is multi-talented. His degree in Musical Theater helped him make a name for himself as a stage actor. He was quite active in performing on stage while he was in New Hampshire. His debut in Broadway was for the musical, Carousel, which won several Tony Awards. It was in Rent that Diggs sealed the deal and established himself as a talented stage actor. This is also where he found his first love, Idina Menzel.
With the kind of talent that Diggs has, it wasn’t difficult to transition to acting on both TV and on film. He appeared in Guiding Light then worked on his film debut with How Stella Got Her Groove Back. His talent in acting was called for as a mentor to America’s Next Top Model hopefuls. Though Diggs and Menzel parted ways after a decade of being married, theirs was an amicable split, and are co-parenting their only son.
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner has risen to become a sought out actor with his string of action movies, including his time in the MCU franchise as Hawkeye. Before that, he appeared in the comedy, National Lampoon’s Senior Trip. Though this was the first time that he got a taste for acting, Renner did not rest on his laurels. He even worked as a makeup artist to meet his needs. He did take on more roles in the early 2000s, both on TV and on film. His portrayal as Jeffrey Dahmer earned him nominations.
To his credit, Renner kept on honing his acting skills and even got good roles such as in The Hurt Locker, The Town, and The Bourne Legacy. His first time to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hawkeye was in Avengers which led to more reprisals. Today, the actor is busy being a dad and working on some music tracks in his studio. Will there be an album to be released soon?
Adele
British singer, Adele, has graced the world with her powerful voice back in the 2000s. Her debut album, 19, was a smashing success that caught the eyes of the world. Not only did her album become certified gold, but she sold millions of copies too. Adele also brought home the Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Best New Artist in 2009. By the time her second album rolled out, she sold more than 3 million copies in the UK alone. This is not surprising given that her songs, Rolling in the Deep and Someone Like You was included in the track.
She did take a break for a while, but she kept on working on her third album. Her investments in her voice and in making her new album helped sell more than 17 million copies across the globe. It is not surprising that she has risen to become one of the best-selling artists today. Aside from her music, Adele is making waves too with her new svelte figure. She has become fond of following a healthy lifestyle ever since she had her son.
Mary J. Blige
The Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige, did not get to become successful without putting in a lot of hard work. Starting out in a poor family and being raised by a single mom was not easy. She experienced plenty of low points in her life, but her raw talent helped her make a name for herself in the music industry. She decided to record herself in the mall when she was 17 with the demo tape reaching Uptown Records who signed her up immediately.
The credit, however, goes to Sean Combs, or Puff Daddy as he is more commonly known. He was the one who pushed Blige to become better and so she did. She dropped two albums which were both successful hits that also changed the hip hop scene. Though she did have some ups and downs in her career, Blige has cemented her name in the hip-hop industry. Today, the singer is focusing her energy on caring for herself as she is in need of time to heal herself from all her wounds.
Sean Astin
Sean Astin may have a celebrity parent, but he did not bank on it while starting out as a child actor. His film debut was in The Goonies, where he took on the role of Mikey. With one success under his belt, the child star went on to more films like Toy Soldiers and Rudy. He did lead a fairly successful time as an actor from the 80s to the 90s, but it was in The Lord of the Rings that made him a household name.
Astin, together with his co-stars, spent a few years in New Zealand where they shot the trilogy. His performance as Samwise Gamgee earned him a Saturn Award for being the Best Supporting Actor. Despite that, the actor stayed grounded even with all the fame. He still worked in various TV shows like 24, Law & Order, NCIS, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. He is currently married and has three daughters to spend his investment money on.
Sofia Coppola
Sofia Coppola’s appearance in the Godfather III as Michael Corleone’s daughter may have affected her career as an actress, but it did not stop her from being recognized as a rising director. She may have been living under her father’s shadow, but her directing debut impressed even her worst critics. She followed this up with another hit, Lost in Translation, which garnered her an Oscar for original screenplay.
Before she even became a famous director, Coppola worked as a model for teen magazines. She did some commercials and later directed her first-ever stage production. The director was married twice and is now living a low profile for the sake of her two children with musician Thomas Mars. Her investments in her work have helped establish her own identity, distinct from that of her father.
Cara Buono
Cara Buono may be known for giving life to Mrs. Wheeler in the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, but she has been acting way before this. Her acting debut happened when she was only 12 years old for the Spookhouse play. She went on to get a double degree in political science and English which she completed in three years. Buono’s career included starring in Waterland, The Sopranos, Mad, and Hulk.
The actress wanted to be part of Stranger Things when she first read the script, believing that they could squeeze at least two seasons out of it. She was happily surprised that they are now on the fourth installment! Buono will reprise her role in the show as Mrs. Wheeler and many of her fans are dying to see what she would bring to the table. When not on set, the actress is with her husband and daughter in New York City.
Mark Wahlberg
Mark Wahlberg had a tough time growing up. He was into stealing, substance use, and more. He was jailed for assault but was released a month later because of his age. This was where his older brother, Donnie, helped him build a career in music. Donnie was already part of the boy band, New Kids on the Block. This was when he established himself and his band called Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch.
Thanks to his incredible physique, Wahlberg found himself modeling for Calvin Klein. His bad-boy persona helped him translate his skills into acting where he found that he was quite good at. What’s great about Wahlberg is that he took on roles in various genres. He can do comedy, romance, drama—you name it. He is currently putting on weight for a movie about a former boxer turned priest in Father Stu. To his credit, he has come a long way from being a bad boy to one of Hollywood’s A-listers.
Jada Pinkett-Smith
Hollywood star, Jada Pinkett-Smith had a troubled childhood, but her passion for acting helped her get out of poverty and into the hearts of millions of viewers across the globe. After getting her degree in acting and dancing, she did try out her luck by auditioning for Fresh Prince of Bel-Air where she first met her now-husband, Will Smith. However, it was in A Different World where her career saw significant growth.
Among her, more popular works are Menace II Society, Jason’s Lyric, The Inkwell as well as Set It Off. She was even in The Matrix franchise too! Smith certainly made an impression with the directors as she got plenty of work from the 1990s to the 2000s. Today, she is happily married with two kids. She currently hosts the web series Red Table Talk with her mother and her daughter.
Brad Pitt
Being an icon of Hollywood, it’s not a surprise many have followed Brad Pitt’s life closely over the years and he has changed considerably since his career began in 1987. He first rose to fame with his appearance in Interview with the Vampire back in 1994. Thanks to his charismatic and elegant looks, in addition to his talent, he experienced a meteoric rise during the early 2000s. He was so famous that his marriage to another high-profile actor, Jennifer Aniston, in 2000 was dubbed ‘the wedding of the new millennium’.
Today, Pitt has become a juggernaut in the industry. In recent times, he became known for his high-profile relationship with Angelina Jolie, dubbed Brangelina, until 2019. Over the years, Pitt has been given due credit for his talent through numerous awards, including an Oscars and two Golden Globes. In addition, he has devoted a lot of his time toward humanitarian work, primarily through the Jolie-Pitt Foundation.
Chris Rock
Chris Rock has been one of the most successful comedians and actors around. He first made his start in comedy clubs before being discovered by Eddie Murphy. This led to him being cast in Murphy’s movie Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987. The rock struck gold in 1990 when he became a cast member on Saturday Night Live. While he was not among the show’s best members, his time there can be given credit for launching his stand-up career, which was successful.
His stand-up success saw him being cast as a leading man in many movies such as Beverly Hills Ninja, Lethal Weapon 4, and Sgt. Bilko. In addition, Rock has ventured into working behind the camera. Among the films he helped produced over the years include Down to Earth, Pootie Tang, and Head of State. Today, Rock has diversified his career, venturing into hosting award shows and performing in stage plays.
Pierce Brosnan
Pierce Brosnan has been one of the most well-known actors today. He first rose to prominence with his appearance as the titular character in Remington Steele during the 1980s and early 1990s. However, it was his role as James Bond, starting with GoldenEye in 1995, that catapulted him to international stardom. He continued to play the British secret agent in three more movies until 2002, with his last film as Bond being Die Another Day.
In addition to mainstream success, Brosnan has taken roles in critically-acclaimed films and TV series such as The Matador, The Ghost Writer, The Thomas Crown Affair, and Nancy Astor. He has received recognition thanks to his acting, including two Golden Globes. Today, he has devoted his time with his wife of two decades, Keely Shaye Smith, and to humanitarian work. A part of his investment money has always been allocated for charity since the 1990s.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of Portugal’s greatest exports in football. Over the year, he has changed from a poor aspiring player to being a football legend. His time with Manchester United from 2003 to 2009 saw him becoming one of its most successful players, with the team bagging three Premier League titles and a UEFA Champions League. His transfer to Real Madrid in 2009 was the most expensive transfer of a football player at the time, with an estimated $110 million spent to make it happen.
Certainly, that large investment was worth it as his time with Real Madrid saw the team winning 15 trophies. In addition, he became the team’s top goalscorer of all time. Aside from football clubs, Ronaldo has also been playing for his country’s national team since 2003, becoming its most prolific player ever. Thanks to these, he has emerged as one of football’s juggernauts, being one of the most marketable and highest-paid athletes in the world.
Amy Winehouse
Amy Winehouse was certainly one of Britain’s biggest stars during the 2000s. She began her career during her teenage years in the 1990s. She first rose into the spotlight thanks to her membership with the National Youth Jazz Orchestra, becoming its featured female vocalist in 2000. She started her career in 2002, albeit being kept out of the limelight for years. In 2006, she became famous with her album Back to Black putting her on the map. This was when her signature aesthetic started to emerge.
Concurrent to her ever-rising fame during her career were the multitude of issues and setbacks she faced. Her problems have often made headlines in several newspapers, with many even questioning whether or not she was deserving of the praises she received. Her record sales, to a degree, overshadowed the struggles the singer was facing, until one day she passed away.
Daniel Craig
While Daniel Craig has certainly embodied masculinity in recent years, that was not the case in the past. He started to rise to stardom back in 1996 with his appearance in Our Friends in the North. He then gained momentum in Hollywood through his appearances in Road to Perdition, I Dreamed of Africa, and Lara Croft: Tomb Raider. In 2006, he struck gold when he played the role of secret agent James Bond in Casino Royale.
While he has certainly been associated with Bond today, his casting was quite controversial at the time. Apparently, critics said that he did not embody the ideal physique of the secret agent. Today, said critics have been proven wrong, as Craig has become one of the most successful actors to ever portray Bond, with his latest being No Time to Die, set to release in October 2021. He has been given due credit for revitalizing the James Bond franchise.
Liv Tyler
Liv Tyler has remained ever-more prominent in the industry. She first emerged as a sort of girl-next-door during the 1990s. Already, she had been associated with a well-known celebrity, father Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. Among her most well-known roles at the time include Armageddon, That Thing You Do!, and Stealing Beauty. However, her role as Arwen in The Lord of The Rings trilogy is the reason she rose to international fame Her excellent portrayal of the Elven maiden, flooring it, has won critics, with some calling her portrayal ‘lovely and earnest’.
Despite her close association with The Lord of The Rings, Tyler still managed to have a very successful career with other films. Among her well-known roles since the trilogy includes The Incredible Hulk, Ad Astra, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and The Leftovers. The latter, in particular, was well-received by critics and is considered to be a cult classic.
Kate Beckinsale
Kate Beckinsale has been well-known for her diverse acting career. After leaving her studies for a degree in Modern Languages at Oxford, she started her acting career by appearing in British TV shows and, eventually, American TV shows. She became widely known when she starred in Pearl Harbor in 2001. After Pearl Harbor, her other notable films include The Aviator, Serendipity, and Click. She then became an action star by starring in the Underworld series as the lead character Selene. She continued to play the role until 2015.
She returned to drama in 2016 with her casting in Love & Friendship, which received great reviews. Three years later, she made a return to acting on TV after two decades with her appearance in The Widow. Besides acting, Beckinsale pursued a modeling career. Media outlets have labeled her as an ‘English rose’ due to her natural beauty. The actress also became active in various charitable causes by participating in many charity drives over the years.
Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani is quite well-known for her works with the rock band No Doubt and her solo career. However, her career beginnings in 1986 are quite the stark contrast to her status today. At the time, she and her brother Eric worked at a Dairy Queen. From there, they helped co-founded No Doubt. While the band initially had a lackluster debut in 1992, it managed to become highly successful throughout the 1990s. However, issues within the band had put it under hiatus. This prompted Stefani to pursue a solo career. Her debut album, Love. Angel. Music. Baby became a hit.
Today, Stefani has been one of the most successful female artists. She has since performed for No Doubt again, replicating the band’s 1990s success. The singer has been branded as a ‘Pop Princess’ by many in the music industry. A Grammy Award serves as a reminder of her greatness. In addition, she has ventured into business, with investments in her own clothing line.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria has certainly achieved prominence today. She began her career shortly after graduating with a kinesiology degree at Texas A&M. While she has been known for her over-the-top roles, her early career included her becoming a headhunter for acting talents. She first gained prominence as Isabella Braña in The Young and the Restless. The crazed-filled character was apparently a challenge to portray, according to her. She found even greater prominence with her role as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives.
Today, Longoria is known as one of Hollywood’s most beautiful women. She has since ventured into other areas, including making investments in restaurants, clothing, and sportswear. In addition, she has allocated her time to various philanthropic causes, including cancer awareness. She has also been politically active, often raising issues relating to Hispanic and Latino communities in the United States like immigration and workers’ rights.
Penélope Cruz
Penélope Cruz has certainly been one of Spain’s most recognizable actresses. While she started her career in acting, she was trained as a ballerina early on. She gives credit to this training for instilling discipline in her. She first achieved prominence in the early 2000s through her appearances in Blow, Vanilla Sky, and All the Pretty Horses. She then established herself as a highly versatile actress, with her diverse roles in a wide range of genres, from action-adventure films such as Sahara to mystery films such as Murder on the Orient Express. She has been given praised for her performances via numerous nominations, including Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Emmy nominations.
Aside from acting, she has done a lot of modeling work for various brands such as Ralph Lauren, L’Oreal, and Chanel. She has also designed clothes for the fashion brand Mango with her sister Monica.
Jennifer Lopez
While Jennifer Lopez has become one of the most legendary pop singers of all time, she did not start out as one. She began her career as a dancer in 1989. Her most high-profile appearance at the time was as a Fly Girl in the comedy series In Living Color. She made her acting debut five years later, but only got her big break in 1997 when she portrayed the legendary Latin singer Selena in Selena. She used her success in that movie as a springboard to start her music career just two years later.
Through this, she found success as a pop star, with her albums J.Lo and This Is Me…Then achieving both commercial and critical success in the early 2000s. Despite experiencing a slump from 2006 to 2009, Lopez made a career comeback in the 2010s. Today, Lopez has become a juggernaut in the industry and has been given lauded, to a great degree, for becoming a beacon of sorts for many Hispanic voices in the United States.
Angelina Jolie
One of the most prominent actresses of the 21st century, Angelina Jolie has never lived a day without avoiding the spotlight. While she became committed to her career in 1991, the spotlight proved to be quite elusive for her. Some of her first acting credits were in five films produced by her brother, James Haven. Despite her early difficulty, she eventually made her way up the notability ladder. By 2001, she had become a prominent star, thanks in no small part to her role as Lara Croft in the film adaptation of the Tomb Raider video game series.
Today, Jolie has become one of Hollywood’s most recognizable names. Many became familiar with her thanks to her relationship with Brad Pitt, dubbed Brangelina. While they have called it quits since 2019, their relationship was once one for the ages. Aside from acting, Jolie has devoted her time to various humanitarian causes, with her being a goodwill ambassador for UNHCR being one of them.
Hilary Duff
Hilary Duff has certainly changed over the years. During her younger years, she made a name for herself with her role as the titular character in Lizzie McGuire from 2001 to 2004. This made her into a teen idol. During her adult years, she appeared in more dramatic and serious films such as According to Greta, The Haunting of Sharon Tate, and War, Inc. She has also starred a Kelsey Peters in Younger, where she won two People’s Choice Awards. Throughout this, she has taken a swing behind the camera, sometimes producing many of her projects.
Aside from her acting career, she has established successful music and business careers. On the music front, she became well-known for her album Metamorphosis in 2003, which was certified triple platinum. On the business front, she has various investments in fashion and cosmetics brands such as DKNY and GlassesUSA.
Blake Lively
Born into an acting family, it seems that Blake Lively was meant for the big screen. She became first familiar to many for her role as Bridget Vreeland in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. Her carefree and daring character has made Lively very beloved by many and thrust her into the spotlight. She further increased her fame through her appearances in Accepted in 2006 and, most notably, Gossip Girl as Serena van der Woodsen from 2007 to 2012.
While she has been known for her early films, she has since changed, taking on more dramatic roles. Among them include All I See Is You, The Shallows, and The Rhythm Section. She has also appeared in mainstream films, with Green Lantern in 2011 being the most notable. While it was a flop, the movie can be given credit for sparking the love between Lively and her co-star Ryan Reynolds. Today, both are married and have three children together.
Kate Hudson
American actress Kate Hudson got her first taste of the spotlight at such a young age. She is the daughter of Hollywood superstars Bill Hudson and Goldie Hawn, so the actress was never a stranger to the cameras. Growing up, she would often accompany her mother to red carpet events, and when her time came to shine, she knew exactly how to work it!
However, before setting her sights on acting, Hudson tried to pursue obtaining a degree first. After graduating from high school, the actress went to New York University but decided to drop out and follow in her parent’s footsteps. Today, she is one of the most sought-after talents in Hollywood, with a net worth valued at around $80 million. She has certainly come a long way from being just a celebrity child, and she’s still striving to up her game in the industry.
Ariana Grande
From being a cookie-cutter child star to being the biggest female musical act of her generation, Ariana Grande has definitely had one of the most magnificent transformations in Hollywood.
As a child, Grande focused more on theater, starring in local stage adaptions of Annie, The Wizard of Oz, and Beauty and the Beast. In 2009, alongside theater pal Elizabeth Gillies, Grande scored a supporting role in Nickelodeon’s Victorious. Although Grande was cast as a supporting character, it became instrumental in catapulting her into the limelight. After wrapping up with Victorious, Grande was given her own spin-off series, Sam & Cat, where she starred with fellow Nickelodeon alum Jennette McCurdy. These projects also paved the way for Grande to start her music career. She broke out as a bonafide singer in 2013 and hasn’t stopped since. Today, she is one of the biggest performers on the planet, with a massive credit score and a $180 million net worth to boot.
Matthew McConaughey
Academy Award-winner Matthew McConaughey has been in the industry for three decades. Throughout those years, he’s had a number of milestones and breakthroughs that transformed his career into what it is today.
Initially, the American actor was a commercial model and music video talent, appealing in Trisha Yearwood’s Walkaway Joe. He also started getting minor acting credits during this time before scoring his breakthrough role in the 1993 film Dazed and Confused. From 2001 until 2013, McConaughey became more of a household name after starring in a slew of romantic comedy films. However, seeking further recognition as a versatile actor, McConaughey sought out more serious roles. He eventually earned the lead part in the film Dallas Buyers Club, which later earned him an Oscars for Best Actor. Today, McConaughey is one of the most influential people in the world with his own star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman may be one of Hollywood’s most brilliant actresses today, but she surely did not expect to go down this career in the beginning. The actress was first offered a modeling contract after a Revlon agent spotted her at a pizza parlor. However, instead of taking the modeling offer, Portman chose to use the opportunity to get an acting gig. Then, in 1994, Portman landed an enormous acting project when she was cast to play a major role in the movie Léon: The Professional.
Further success followed Portman in the years that followed. She ultimately became an established Hollywood star when she appeared as Padmé Amidala in the science fiction franchise Star Wars. Although critics weren’t too fond of the adaptation, to a degree, it helped cement her status as a star. Since then, the actress has starred in countless films and earned several prestigious recognitions, including an Academy Award.
Halle Berry
American actress Halle Berry has come a long way since her early pageant days. The actress first made waves as a contestant in the 1986 Miss USA pageant. After winning first runner-up, Berry set out to New York to pursue an acting career. Sadly, the journey towards success was not all that easy for the actress. During her stay in the Big Apple, Berry ran out of money and relied on homeless shelters for accommodation. Later that year, Berry was cast to play Emily Franklin in Living Dolls. She then brought her journey to Los Angeles and started auditioning for more roles.
Berry finally became a legitimate Hollywood star when the Academy Awards nominated her for her role in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. She inched closer to the top of the Hollywood hierarchy playing Storm in the X-Men franchise and Jinx Johnson in the James Bond franchise. Despite being in the industry for more than 30 years, Halle Berry still has her foot on the pedal and is yet to run out of gas.
Christina Aguilera
Former Mickey Mouse Club member Christina Aguilera went from darling child star to power belter to pop culture icon in a span of 29 years. As a ten-year-old child, Aguilera tried out her luck in the singing competition Star Reach. Unfortunately, she did not win the grand prize, but it surely strengthened her desire to pursue a music career. Then in 1991, eleven-year-old Christina Aguilera auditioned for Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club, where she later starred with Ryan Gosling, Justin Timberlake, and Britney Spears.
During her stay with Disney, Aguilera was given a chance to sing the lead soundtrack for the animated film Mulan titled Reflection. The song broke through the Billboard charts and shot Aguilera to further fame. From that point on, she continued hitting one milestone after another. So far, she has 19 Grammy Awards to her name and that could keep growing given that she is still active in the industry. She’s made some wise investments that allowed her to have a net worth of around $160 million.
Jamie Lee Curtis
American actress Jamie Lee Curtis is a well-respected figure in Hollywood today. She ventured into a few fields within the industry throughout her career and is now a multi-faceted professional in the entertainment industry. However, before she became all she is today, she had to climb up the ladder too!
The actress was introduced to the acting world through her parents, Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She later decided to follow in her parents’ footsteps and landed a part in the movie Halloween. The film put her name on the map, and before anyone knew it, she was booking projects left and right. However, after enjoying a successful career as an actress, Lee Curtis decided to venture out and put her investment money in other fields. She started writing children’s books for HarperCollins starting in 1993 and continued until 2018. She also dipped her toes into inventing products and blogging. Nowadays, the actress is busy expanding her career while advocating for certain causes.
Jason Momoa
Jason Momoa rose to international prominence when he was cast to play the role of Khal Drogo in the blockbuster HBO series Game of Thrones. However, this six-foot-three actor has already been in the industry before the show’s premiere.
Momoa, who grew up in Hawaii, was first offered a modeling job by Eric Chandler and Takeo Kobayashi after discovering him in 1998. Then, when he was 19 years old, Momoa began starring in the series Baywatch Hawaii. He starred in a few other titles before becoming the “Arakh” wielding king in Game of Thrones. After bidding farewell to the series, Momoa earned another blockbuster acting credit with DC Studios. Nowadays, the actor is known for his portrayal of Aquaman in the DC film of the same title. He’s also starred with other DC actors in the Justice League series and is set to appear in more superhero films in the years to come.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton has been in the music industry for over sixty years now, but it doesn’t seem like the country music legend is still going at it. Before her fame blew up, Parton endured tremendous poverty, perhaps to the point of taking out personal loans. According to the singer herself, her family’s living conditions were so poor that her father had to pay the doctor with cornmeal the day that she was born. However, they were also devout Christians and her father made the young Parton participate in the church choir.
After learning to play the guitar, Parton and her parents set their sights on broadcasted performances. Right after finishing her high school education, she moved to Nashville and started working as a songwriter. Then in 1967, Parton finally broke through the country music charts with her single The Last Thing on my Mind. She’s only had success since then. Today, she is considered a living legend with a big heart for philanthropy.
George Clooney
American actor George Clooney has done almost everything since entering the industry in 1978. He’s had countless projects as an actor and is also a producer, a director, and a philanthropist. Before that, though, Clooney had to jump through hoops to get to where he is now. Nonetheless, all his efforts eventually paid up.
The actor started as an extra and worked in shows like Centennial, The Facts of Life, and The Golden Girls. Then, in 1994, Clooney began his ascent to Hollywood superstardom after being cast to play the role of Dr. Doug Ross in the series ER. He continued bagging roles during and after the series, mostly TV roles. It was his role in the film Ocean’s Eleven that really fast-tracked his career to success and catapulted him to international recognition. Clooney is also a busy father and a husband to his lawyer wife, Amal.
Elliot Page
Elliot Page, formerly known as Ellen Page, is a Canadian actor and producer best known for his performances in Juno, Inception, and X-Men: The Last Stand. He started his career as a child, starring in Pit Pony, Marion Bridge, and Trailer Park Boys. He earned further recognition in 2005 for his portrayal of Hayley Stark in the film Hard Candy. However, it wasn’t until he got the titular role for the movie Juno that Page became a bonafide Hollywood celebrity.
The actor followed up his initial success with a string of successful independent and commercial films. Then in December of 2020, the actor formally came out as transgender and changed his name from Ellen to Elliot Page. Several celebrities came to his support and gave him credit for setting a good example to people in the same situation as him.