Every major star has to start somewhere, and it’s rarely glamorous. Before they were walking red carpets and winning awards, they were taking whatever roles they could get, be them bit parts, B-movies, and guest spots on shows you totally forgot about. It’s a rite of passage for almost every actor, paying their dues long before anyone knew their name.
Looking back at these early roles is a wild ride, and we’ve gathered some of the best here. It’s a serious blast from the past, and while you already have seen most of these movies and shows, you might’ve not noticed the familñiar faces on them.
1. Kristen Stewart, The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas
Before she was Bella Swan, she was the “ring toss girl” in this 2000 Flintstones prequel. An early, non-speaking role for the future superstar, whose career had begun just a few years earlier at age 8.
2. Angelina Jolie, Hackers
Her first lead role in a major movie was as hacker Acid Burn in this 1995 cyber-thriller. Though not a box office hit at the time, Hackers later became a beloved cult classic from the early internet era.
3. Brad Pitt, Dallas
Long before he was a movie star, Brad had a 4-episode run on the primetime soap Dallas between 1987 and 1988. He played Randy, the high school boyfriend of another character, already showing off his signature charm.
4. Mila Kunis, Baywatch
She was just 11 years old when she made her first of two appearances on the iconic show Baywatch in 1994. It was one of her very first television roles, years before she’d become a household name.
5. Chris Pratt, Everwood
Before he was Star-Lord, Chris Pratt’s first regular gig was on the WB drama Everwood from 2002 to 2006. He played Bright Abbott, the son of the town doctor, in all four seasons of the show.
6. Jennifer Lawrence, The Bill Engvall Show
Her first big role was playing the rebellious teen daughter, Lauren Pearson, on The Bill Engvall Show. The sitcom ran for three seasons on TBS from 2007 to 2009, just before her film career exploded.
7. George Clooney, The Facts of Life
We all knew him as Dr. Doug Ross on ER, but his earlier resume includes a recurring role as a handyman on The Facts of Life. He appeared in 17 episodes of the popular sitcom between 1985 and 1987.
8. Sandra Bullock, Hangmen
Everyone starts somewhere, and for Sandra Bullock, that start was the 1987 B-action movie Hangmen. The film marked her official acting debut, kicking off a career that would make her one of Hollywood‘s most beloved stars.
9. Ryan Reynolds, Hillside
After attending an open casting call at age 13, Ryan Reynolds landed a role on the Canadian teen soap opera Hillside. It was the first step in a long career for the future superhero and master of sarcasm.
10. Chris Hemsworth, Home and Away
The man who would be Thor first broke through on the popular Australian soap opera Home and Away. He played Kim Hyde for a whopping 171 episodes between 2004 and 2007 before heading to Hollywood.
11. Emma Stone, In Search of the New Partridge Family
In 2004, Emma won the VH1 reality competition In Search of the New Partridge Family. Unfortunately, the resulting reboot show ended up as an unsold pilot, but her film debut in Superbad followed soon after in 2007.
12. Zac Efron, Firefly
Eagle-eyed fans of the cult sci-fi series Firefly might remember a very young Zac Efron. He had a small guest role in one episode, appearing in a flashback as a younger version of the character Simon Tam.
13. Megan Fox, Holiday in the Sun
Her acting career officially kicked off with a role in the 2001 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen movie Holiday in the Sun. The direct-to-video film featured Fox as the spoiled rival, a classic teen movie trope.
14. Kerry Washington, Our Song
The future Scandal star made her film debut in the 2000 independent drama Our Song. She played Lanisha Brown, one of three best friends navigating high school life and growing up in Brooklyn, New York.
15. Ben Affleck, Voyage of the Mimi
One of his earliest roles was on the 1984 educational series The Voyage of the Mimi. He played a kid named C.T. Granville on a boat crew that was exploring the ocean and studying humpback whales.
