Remember Freedom! ‘90? Well, if you haven’t heard the song, then you might at least heard of the music video. George Michael’s iconic video feature 5 of the greatest supermodels of the 90s. While they are already pretty big back then, Freedom! ‘90 solidifies Linda Evangeline, Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington,
Cindy Crawford and Tatjana Patitz as the top supermodel crops.
And this is not the only success story. Music videos have long been a platform that launches many to superstardom. Not all of them might have rhythm, mind you, but sometimes that makes them much more charming in the videos.
Yes! Before they were famous actors, singers, or TV personalities, they all have to start out from somewhere. So, which celebrities start in music videos? Here’s a list of 24 celebrities that have their career kickstarted in music videos. Take a look at them right here.
#1. P!nk's "Trouble"- Jeremy Renner
Source: Theo Wargo / Getty Images for Disney
Jeremy Renner is an A-lister nowadays, appearing in multiple blockbusters as Marvel‘s Hawkeye, or the award-winning The Hurtlocker. But back in 2003, he started as a very dashing cowboy in P!nk!’s Trouble. We don’t blame you for not recognizing him - who would have thought this guy would become so famous?
Source: LaFace Records
#2. Alanis Morissette's "Walk Away" - Matt LeBlanc
Source: Margaret Norton / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images
Yes, he will forever be known as Joey from Friends, and to a lesser extent, Adam Burns from Man with a Plan. But before he has his big break, Matt LeBlanc started as one of the protagonists in Alanis Morissette's super hit - "Walk Away".
Source: MCA Records
#3 Pac's "Temptations" - Taye Diggs
Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images for Critics Choice Association
You might know Taye Diggs from the movie adaptation of Rent, or as the dashing doctor from Private Practice, or a football coach from All American. But his first role as an actor was a poker player from 2Pac's "Temptations."
Source: MCA Records
#4. The Chemical Brothers' "Out of Control" - Rosario Dawson
Source: Karwai Tang / Getty Images
Another Rent alumni, Rosario Dawson has a long career in acting - at the moment she is filming the reboot of Disney's famous Haunted Mansion. But her first role? A dazed-out chick in the post-apocalypse music video "Out of Control" by The Chemical Brothers.
Source: Virgin Records Ltd
#5. Hayden Panettiere's “Wake Up Call” - Sebastian Stan
Source: Kevin Mazur / Getty Images
Another Disney/Marvel’s darling. Many of us remember Sebastian Stan even during his pre-Bucky Barnes day as Gossip Girl’s scheming heartthrob Carter Baizen, but does anyone remember his starring in Hayden Panettiere's “Wake Up Call”? Neither do we, but be fair, no one really remembers Hayden Panettiere's short-lived music career.
Source: Hollywood Records
#6. Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing in the Dark" - Courteney Cox
Source: Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty Images
Courteney Cox makes uptight Monica so endearing to us all, but before she was a chef in Friends, Courteney Cox started in many music videos… in the 80s. That’s like 10 years before Friends! Her most famous appearance back then was in Bruce Springsteen's super hit "Dancing in the Dark."
Source: Columbia Records
#7. Lady Gaga’s "Paparazzi"- Alexander Skarsgård
Source: Mike Marsland / Mike Marsland / WireImage via Getty Images
Ok, before he was making us scramble for a bucket and a mob with his abs in Tarzan’s live-action, or with his abs as the mesmerizing vampire Eric in True Blood, Alexander Skarsgård kickstarted his career in a very strange music video. Lady Gaga’s "Paparazzi." How strange? It was 2009’s Lady Gaga. Does that answer your question?
Source: Interscope Records
#8. Elton John's "I Want Love." - Robert Downey Jr.
Source: Chris Unger/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images
OK, Robert Downey Jr. has always been big. But before he was our Iron Man, way back when he started out as an actor, he started in Elton John's "I Want Love." It’s Elton John! Talk about having a good start!
Source: The Rocket Record Company / Mercury Records
#9. The Offspring's "She's Got Issues" - Zooey Deschanel
Source: Karwai Tang / Getty Images
We will forever remember Zooey Deschanel as either the darling Jessica Day in New Girl or quirky Summer in 500 Days of Summer. But before she was an indie darling, Zooey Deschanel appears in quite a good deal of music video. Her most famous billing was her third, in The Offspring's "She's Got Issues" music video.
Source: Round Hill Records
#10. Selena Gomez's "Love You Like a Love Song" - Timothy Granaderos Jr.
Source: Gregg Deguire / WireImage via Getty Images
Not that big of a star, but if you watch the controversial 13 Reasons Why, you’d recognize him as the violent and sociopathic Monty. Which is a surprise considering one of the first roles he plays was one of the space mariachi band members in Selena Gomez's "Love You Like a Love Song."
Source: Hollywood Records
#11. Fall Out Boy's "Thnks fr th Mmrs." - Kim Kardashian
Source: Karwai Tang / Getty Images
Arguably, Kim first got famous from her “tape”, which we shall not discuss here because decency you guys! Well, way back when her reality show has just started, Kim started in Fall Out Boy's "Thnks fr th Mmrs" as a blink-and-miss-it cameo. Well, it counts.
Source: The Island Def Jam Music Group
#12. Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me." - Lucas Till
Source: Francois G. Durand / Getty Images
Despite his age, Lucas Till is a very prolific actor. You probably recognize his face, as his biggest credits to date include X-Men’s Havok and Hannah Montana’s childhood friend-turn-boyfriend. Or from Taylor Swift's "You Belong with Me" music video as her love interest. What a lucky guy!
Source: Big Machine Records
#13. Pharrell’s "Number One” ft. Kanye West - Miranda Kerr
Source: Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic via Getty Images
Miranda Kerr has risen to mega-fame as a supermodel when she was cast as a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2007. But just one year before her big break, Miranda Kerr started as the lead actress in "Number One" by Pharrell ft. Kanye West.
Source: Virgin, Star Trak, Interscope
#14. Duran Duran's "Union of the Snake." - Jennifer Connelly
Source: Victor Boyko / Getty Images
Before she was adventuring in the fantastical world of cult-classic Labyrinth, she was getting roles left and right. Her first role as a child actress is in Duran Duran's "Union of the Snake" music video. Jennifer Connelly was around 12 at the time.
Source: Sony ATV Publishing
#15. John Legend's "Stereo"- Chrissy Teigen
Source: Amy Sussman / Getty Images
Chrissy Teigen is everywhere now - even during her Twitter hiatus - but the supermodel was once just another pretty face in the model crowd. She was successful, sure. But not as much as she is now. It was not until she started in her future husband John Legend's "Stereo" music video. The couple later got married and raised a beautiful family.
Source: Columbia Records
#16. Aerosmith's "Cryin'” - Alicia Silverstone
Source: CBS via Getty Images
Alicia Silverstone is Aerosmith's music video muse, appearing in 4 videos. And this was before her breakthrough role in Clueless! Her first-ever appearance was in their Cryin’ music video, back in ’93.
Source: UMG Recordings, Inc.
#17. Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends." - Evan Rachel Wood
Source: Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic for HBO via Getty Images
Evan Rachel Wood is the actress that keeps us glued to Westworld. And that is just one of the many other roles on her résumé. But before she was a TV darling, she started on Green Day's "Wake Me Up When September Ends."
Source: Reprise Records
#18. Sidecars' "Mundo Fragil."- Ana de Armas
Source: Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images For Louis Vuitton
A respected actress, Ana de Armas has tarted in many blockbusters, including Deep Water, No Time to Die, Blade Runner 2049, and Knives Out. But before she was so big, she also starts in the music video for the Sidecars' 2009 song "Mundo Fragil." Don’t know about you guys, but we did not recognize her at all.
Source: Allison Music, S.L./SBME España, S.L.
19. Antonello Venditti's "Alta marea." - Angelina Jolie
Source: Alex Wong / Getty Images
Hmm, who doesn’t recognize Angelina Jolie, you might ask? Well, before Girl, Interrupted propelled her to superstardom, Angelina Jolie was just another stunning face. A very stunning face, mind you, but still! Before she was big, Angelina Jolie’s second role is starting Antonello Venditti's "Alta marea." Yeah, we haven’t heard of this video either.
Source: Heinz Music Srl
#20. Aerosmith's "Hole in My Soul" - Eva Mendes
Source: Alexander Tamargo / FilmMagic via Getty Images
OK, if you watch as much TV as we do, you’d recognize her, and not just as Ryan Gosling’s wife. But she is also started in multiple music videos. Her biggest appearance was in Aerosmith's "Hole in My Soul." The American bikini top really says it all, doesn’t it?
Source: Columbia Records
#21. Britney Spears' "(You Drive Me) Crazy" - Adrian Grenier
Source: Eugene Gologursky / Getty Images for CoinGeek
Another familiar face. Adrian Grenier has started in quite a number of pop culture phenomena, including as the annoying boyfriend from The Devil Wears Prada, or as a main cast member on Entourage. But his first credit belongs to Britney Spears’ classic "(You Drive Me) Crazy." Truly a familiar face in pop culture, no?
Source: Jive Records
#22. Brandy and Monica's "The Boy Is Mine" - Mekhi Phifer
Source: Leon Bennett / FilmMagic via Getty Images
Yup, it is likely that the first time you watch either ER, Love, Victor, or Divergent, you’ll find Mekhi Phifer seem familiar. That was because he was the cheating boyfriend in the smash hit "The Boy Is Mine" in 1998, by Brandy and Monica. To this day, it is still one of the most-watched R’n’B music video duets of all time, y’all!
Source: Atlantic Records
#23. Colbie Caillat's "Fallin' for You." - Bobby Moynihan
Source: Jesse Grant / Getty Images for Disney
Most of us will recognize Bobby Moynihan as one of the main cast members of SNL for almost a decade. Yet one of his first acting roles was Colbie Caillat's love-struck boyfriend in her music video "Fallin' for You." No wonder Colbie looks so happy here - she has her own comedian to keep her entertained!
Source: Universal Records
#24. Fiona Apple's "Not About Love" - Zach Galifianakis
Source: Jon Kopaloff / FilmMagic via Getty Images
We might forever remember Zack as the goofy-but-well-meaning Alan from the Hangover, but before his acting career skyrocketed, he was in Fiona Apple's "Not About Love" music video as the lead actor. Not too shabby, Zach.
Source: Epic Records