Before They Were Hollywood Stars, They Were Models First

There are plenty of celebrities that we know best for their acting chops and prestigious awards. However, the truth is that a lot of them actually started out as a model. This is not all that surprising since both lines of work share certain requirements. For starters, it is very common for Hollywood stars to be good-looking and graceful. As a matter of fact, you can say that this is the natural progression of things. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see how they managed to make it to the top of the TV and film industry. Some of them started out acting first before dabbling in modeling, while others did it the other way around. Others took on both modeling and acting gigs at the same time. Let us find out which celebrities took which paths. JENNIFER LAWRENCE Before she got her big break in Hollywood, Jennifer Lawrence first did a little modeling. We doubt that she has to do this anymore now that she is a certified star in the industry. It is impressive to see how far she has since come. By 2019, she had already appeared in movies that have grossed over $6 billion across the globe. In 2015 and 2016, she was also the highest-paid actress in the world. Did you know that she is a supporter of Planned Parenthood? In 2015, she launched her own foundation to support the Special Olympics, as well as the Boys and Girls Clubs of America. She has dabbled in business as well. In 2018, the actress launched a production company of her own. It is called Excellent Cadaver. JOSH DUHAMEL While it was brief, Josh Duhamel did have a successful modeling career. Did you know that his original plan was to be a dentist? In the end, he left college and “followed a former girlfriend to northern California.” Upon arrival, he launched his modeling career and even bagged an international talent and modeling competition. It is interesting to note that Ashton Kutcher was the runner-up. At any rate, Duhamel got his start as an actor in the music videos of “Genie in a Bottle” by Christina Aguilera and “I Will Go With You” by Donna Summer. After some acting training, he landed the part of Leo du Pres in All My Children. In 2002, he brought home a Daytime Emmy Award for this role. KATHERINE HEIGL Can you believe that Katherine Heigl kicked off her modeling career with a Cheerios ad? At the age of nine, her aunt sent photos of her to Wilhelmina Models and effectively launched her career as a model. She went on to appear in commercials, catalogs, and ads. In high school, she would sometimes skip as many as three months to work. On holidays and weekends, she would juggle her modeling and acting work. In the early ‘90s, she became known for working on King of the Hill and Wish Upon a Star. The noughties had been busy for her after she snagged the part of Dr. Isobel Stevens in Grey’s Anatomy. Thanks to the medical drama, she shot even further into stardom. KIRSTEN DUNST After playing Mary Jane in Spider-Man, Kirsten Dunst had every right to be picky with the projects that she took on. The superhero flick grossed $114 million during the first three days at the box office and set a record for the best opening weekend at the time. This was not her first time in the spotlight as she launched a modeling career when she was three years old. By the time she was 12 years old, she had appeared in more than a hundred ads already. As a child actress, she was in Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles, Little Women, Jumanji, and Small Soldiers. She also received acclaim for her work in The Virgin Suicides by the end of the millennia. Bring It On made her even more popular than she already was. LEIGHTON MEESTER When we talk about Leighton Meester, most people think of Blair Waldorf from Gossip Girl. She continues to act to this day and even snagged a role in Single Parents. Her acting career started when she worked on a local production of Wizard of Oz when she was still young. She also did some modeling work for companies like Ralph Lauren, Jimmy Choo, and Vera Wang. Her transition to Hollywood had been a success. She has appeared in Law & Order, Monte Carlo, Killer Movie, and Country Strong in the past. Aside from that, you might have seen her perform with various musical acts like Cobra Starship. She returned to her roots by appearing in a Broadway production of John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men. LINDSAY LOHAN While she was by no means a newbie by then, Lindsay Lohan became a household name when she starred in Mean Girls in 2004. The hilarious high school flick made her the teen queen of that era after it grossed $67 million. The actress has been working in the industry since she was three years old and has since appeared in more than 60 commercials for Wendy’s, Ford, The Gap, and more. She edged out Scarlett Johansson to play the twins we all know and love from The Parent Trap. In 2003, she was also in Freaky Friday with Jamie Lee Curtis. She went on to star in Herbie: Fully Loaded and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen. The actress worked on Project Runway and Ugly Betty as well. Did you know that she launched a line of jeans called 6126? Sadly, the actress has been dealing with many personal problems. MICHELLE TRACHTENBERG Not many people can say that they became a celebrity when they were only three years old. This is the case for Michelle Trachtenberg, who has gone on to be a familiar face. The actress made a name for herself by starring in Harriet the Spy, Meego, EuroTrip, and All My Children. She landed her first TV appearance for an ad for Wisk detergent when she was still just a toddler. A lot of people will also remember her performances in TV shows such as Gossip Girl, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and The Adventures of Pete & Pete. While you do not often see her in recent projects, we bet that this is nothing but a temporary hiatus. MISCHA BARTON When you were nine years old, you probably did not know what you wanted to do with your life just yet. Despite this, Mischa Anne Marsden Barton already launched an acting career to great success. She has since earned a long resume thanks to her beauty and acting skills. She made her debut on the Broadway stage in Slavs! The actress ended up transitioning to screen work in the hopes of advancing her career. In 1997, she made her big screen debut in Lawn Dogs. She had been working for Ford Modeling Agency at the time and was in campaigns for Vogue, Gitano, and Calvin Klein. She went on to appear in more TV and movie projects while going to Manhattan’s Professional Children’s School. RAVEN-SYMONE When she was still a child, Raven-Symoné played Olivia in The Cosby Show. This did not mark the end but the beginning of her career. The talented actress actually started out as a child model when she was ten years old. She is a talented singer with four best-selling albums to her name as well. Of course, her true claim to fame is her portrayal of Raven Baxter in a Disney show called That’s So Raven. It was such a hit sitcom that it gave the network the best ratings it had ever seen when it was on the air for four and a half years. She also starred in The Cheetah Girls of the network. There is no doubt that she has cemented her status as one of the most famous child artists ever. TOM WELLING When he launched his acting career, Tom Welling was dubbed one of the most talented young actors. He launched his career after being discovered by a catalog shoot scout. He later took on work as an Abercrombie & Fitch print model. Once he realized that he wanted to give acting a shot, he decided to move to Los Angeles and auditioned for all the roles that he could to make ends meet. After a while, he landed a small role in Judging Amy. He eventually tried out for a nationwide search for the next person to bring Superman to life. Luckily for him, he finally got his big break when he secured the role and starred in Smallville. He did a great job of playing the superhero and earned international acclaim for his performance in the TV show despite his limited acting experience prior to it. FAMKE JANSSEN Hailing from the Netherlands, Famke Janssen is easily one of the most famous Dutch celebrities around. She has shown us that she has what it takes to be a big star in the industry. Like many other people on the list, she also transitioned from model to actress. She started modeling when she was still young. In 1984, she moved to the United States to work with Chanel. Later on, she developed an interest in acting and pursued it more seriously. She made her debut in Fathers & Sons, which was followed by appearances in The Untouchables and Melrose Place. What gave her the big break she so wanted was GoldenEye, which was a popular film franchise. She was also in X-Men, The Ten, Taken, and 100 Feet. REBECCA ROMIJN Before Rebecca Romjin became one of the biggest actresses around, she was first a top model. She has worked for brands like Victoria’s Secret and Christian Dior in the past. It is an understatement to say that she has found success in the acting industry. She is probably best known for playing Mystique in X-Men and X-Men 2. It is not a secret that the franchise is one of the most popular series in film history, so this established her as a hot commodity in Hollywood. You might have also seen her in The Librarians and King & Maxwell on the small screen. On top of that, she was the presenter of a reality TV show called Skin Wars. She has also done voice acting. ANDIE MACDOWELL How did Andie MacDowell make it big as an actress? She actually started out as a model. In 1978, she moved to New York and landed a contract with Elite Model Management. After this, she moved to Paris and found success in the modeling industry in Europe. During her time there, she modeled for Armani, Bill Blass, and Vogue. She has also graced billboards in Times Square, as well as the small screen. When it comes to acting, she got her start by appearing in Lord of the Apes and Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan. What made her a big star was her role in St. Elmo’s Fire This TV show made it clear that this actress was more than just eye candy. She hit her stride on the big screen by starring in Footloose and Green Card. MacDowell was also cast in Cedar Cove and Magic Mike XXL. MILLA JOVOVICH After appearing on the cover of a magazine at only 11 years old, Milla Jovovich has been sought-after. She was not even a teenager when she was included in Revlon’s Most Unforgettable Women in the World list. The youngest cover model in the world made $3,500 a day and graced the covers of thirteen magazines. She has also worked for brands such as Versace, Christian Dior, L’Oreal, Donna Karan, and Banana Republic in the past. Later on, she decided to try her hand at acting as well. She got her big break in a movie called The Night Train to Kathmandu and starred in a couple of other films. In 1991, her acting career finally took off with Return to the Blue Lagoon opposite Christian Slater and Kuffs. However, she is probably best known for Resident Evil and The Fifth Element. She also has a production company called Creature Entertainment. TRICIA HELFER As a model and actress, Tricia Helfer saw a good chunk of fame and success in the two industries. She worked for brands like Ralph Lauren, Gianni Versace, and Giorgio Armani. When it comes to her acting career, she is best known for playing Number Six in Battlestar Galactica. She was also in Lie to Me, Lucifer, and Dark Blue. At the age of 17, she and her friends had been passing the time at the movie theater when she was scouted. This was how she started modeling. The rest is history. In 1992, she was declared the winner of the Supermodel of The World competition. This gave her the chance to sign with Elite Model Management and work for some of the most prestigious brands and magazines in the world. While she has since retired from modeling, she continues to promote a number of products. DIANE KRUGER You might remember Diane Kruger for her performances in Troy, Inglourious Basterds, and National Treasure. The German actress first moved to Paris in pursuit of a modeling career. She represented her home country in the Elite Model Look and worked for brands such as Giorgio Armani, Christian Dior, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent. Aside from that, she has graced the covers of magazines like Cosmopolitan and Vogue Paris. When she was 22 years old, she decided to quit modeling at the height of her career in the hopes of transitioning into acting instead. After a couple of small parts in French movies, she finally got her big break by starring in Michel Vaillant. Kruger is known for her work in the fashion industry. Among others, she is the face of Beauty for Calvin Klein and the global ambassador of L’Oreal. OLGA KURYLENKO This talented star brought Nika Boronia to life in the big screen adaptation of a video game called Hitman. Aside from that, she joined the rank of Bond girls in the role of Camille Montes in Quantum of Solace. She was discovered by a female scout in Moscow when she was only 13 years old. She then signed a deal with the Parisian modeling agency Madison, a contract that changed everything for her. By the time she was 18, she had already appeared on the covers of Elle and Vogue. She has served as the face of Clarins, Helena Rubinstein, Bebe, and more. Thanks to her career as a model, it was a smooth transition into the acting industry for her. Aside from her role as a Bond girl, she has also appeared in a sci-fi flick called Oblivion opposite A-lister Tom Cruise. MONICA BELLUCCI Do you know Monica Bellucci for playing Persephone in The Matrix saga? She was great in that role but acting was not her first love. The Italian star actually kicked off her career by modeling for brands such as Dolce & Gabbana and Dior. When it comes to her filmography, she has appeared in movies such as The Passion of Christ and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Over the years, she has been dubbed one of the most gorgeous women in the world and even brought home accolades like the European Golden Globe. She also received the Silver Ribbon for Best Supporting Actress award. Even though her acting career has since slowed down, we are sure that her career is far from over. There is no doubt in our minds that we will see more of this stunning woman in the future KATE UPTON Isn’t it neat to learn that Kate Upton got offered a contract when she went to a casting call for Elite Model Management? She then relocated to New York and joined IMG models later on. A lot of people know her best for her appearance in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, although she also worked with Guess and other fashion brands. The first movie that she ever worked on is called The Other Woman. She was nominated for a Teen Choice Award for this role, which is pretty impressive for a debut! She then got cast to appear in The Layover, as well as The Disaster Artist. Even though both her acting and modeling career have slowed down since then, we are sure that she is happy where she is. She and Justin Verlander are married and have a daughter together. ELLE MACPHERSON In the hopes of saving up for law school tuition, Elle Macpherson started to model. However, she ended up changing her career path when she saw a lot of success in this industry. In the ‘80s, she was among the most in-demand supermodels around. It was common enough to spot her on the pages of Elle. Time Magazine also called her Elle “The Body” Macpherson. For five years, she graced the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Mind you, she does more than just model. She is on the list because she has also pursued an acting career. For one thing, she was a love interest of Joey in Friends. Aside from this, she was also in The Mirror Has Two Faces, Batman & Robin, and Sirens. She launched a lingerie, maternity clothing, and fitness wear line as well. It is clear that she is more than just eye candy! BROOKLYN DECKER When she was at the mall, Brooklyn Decker was spotted by a scout. In 2003, she won the Model of the Year award. She moved to New York to take her modeling career more seriously and later appeared in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition. Over the years, she has appeared in fashion magazines such as Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and Teen Vogue. Modeling aside, she has tried her hand in acting as well. You saw her in The Devil Wears Prada, although you will not find her in the credits. She earned a bigger role in Lipshitz Saves the World and made guest appearances in TV shows such as Ugly Betty, Chuck, and Royal Pains. While most people do not know her as an actress, she did gain a bunch of fans thanks to her stint in Swimsuit Illustrated. CARA DELEVINGNE This English model saw success on the catwalk before she started acting. Cara Delevingne has a sister called Poppy, who did modeling work first. While she was not an instant success, things changed for her when Christopher Bailey spotted her and offered her to work on the 2011 Burberry campaign. She had already done nine fashion shows by 2012. This was only the start of her career as she later made the transition to acting. Her first movie is none other than Anna Karenina, while she debuted on the small screen with Playhouse Presents. She was also in Paper Towns, Reincarnation, and The Face of an Angel. She dipped her toes into music as well, but she did not take it further as her handler told her that she would need to use a different name. JAIME KING Isn’t it awesome to hear that Jaime King was already a professional model when she was just 14 years old? She was scouted at a Nebraska fashion show and invited to do some modeling work in New York. This was how she started to travel back and forth. By the time she was 16 years old, she had already appeared worked with magazines like Allure, Vogue, Seventeen, and Harper’s Bazaar. She has tried her luck in acting as well. Her first job was to co-host House of Style for MTV. When it comes to films, she worked on Pearl Harbor, Sin City, The Spirit, Pearl Harbor, and Happy Campres. You probably saw her in The O.C. and The Class as well. After a little while in the industry, she could now afford to be picky with the projects that she works on. TYRA BANKS Even though Tyra Banks first made a name for herself as a model, she now rakes in more from her successful TV career. She was a high school student when she kicked off her modeling career. When she was 16 years old, she signed with Elite Model Management and then relocate to Milan. In 1991, she walked the runway at Paris Fashion Week and booked 25 shows in her first season. It was clear that she has what it takes to be a supermodel. She has since walked for brands such as Oscar de la Renta, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, and Chanel. The first time that she appeared on the small screen was for The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, while she made her debut in film in Higher Learning. She was also in Coyote Ugly and Love Stinks. She made her stake in the industry by launching Ty Ty Baby Productions, although it is now called Bankable Productions. CLAUDIA SCHIFFER This gorgeous German model took the world by storm with her good looks and grace. People said that Claudia Schiffer looks like Brigitte Bardot, which must have helped her shoot to stardom in the industry. She became even more famous when she appeared on the cover of Elle and Vogue. Aside from that, she also served as the face of Chanel and worked with Guess Jeans. When it comes to acting, she made her debut in the Richie Rich movie. She also had roles in Zoolander and Love, Actually. While she no longer models as much as she used to, it is clear that things have worked out for her very well. She does not have to worry about finances due to her investment planning.