15 Actors And Actresses Who Became Famous By Accident

Margot Nolan
Jul 01, 2022
Jul 01, 2022

Do you think an unexpected encounter can change your entire life? It really did happen to our idols, turning them from anonymous individuals into global celebrities.
It's hard to imagine Pamela Anderson working out at the gym instead of posing for advertisements or Brad Pitt wearing a chicken costume rather than appearing in Hollywood movies. However, if these celebrities and some others hadn't been fortunate enough to be at the right time at the right place, these scenarios might never occur.
The extraordinary stories of famous people who discovered their fame by accident left us in awe. Some of them can be compared with the Cinderella fairy tale.

#1 Bill Cosby

Source: © Leonard Part 6 / Columbia Pictures and co-producers

Bill Cosby worked as a bartender and warmed up the crowd in a New York café when he was a student. The customers love his sense of humor, and soon Bill started performing around the US. After the comedian gained attention on television, he appeared on The Tonight Show in 1965. His relationship with Warner Brothers began soon after his on-screen debut. They collaborated on several successful comedic productions.

#2 Brad Pitt

Source: © Meet Joe Black / Universal Pictures

Brad Pitt attended college, majoring in journalism, but dropped out 2 weeks before his graduation. To be able to pay the bills, he had to take any job. He drove female dancers to bachelor parties when working as a mascot in a chicken costume at a café.
Pitt says that these jobs offered him the opportunity to create connections and led him to acting teacher Roy London, who help him discover his ability and land his first movie roles.

#3 Chloë Sevigny

Source: © Those Who Kill / Fox 21 and co-producers

When she was 17, Chloë Sevigny met an i-D photographer by chance while skateboarding with her friends in the East Village of New York. He offered Chloë a photo shoot. The well-known actress and model now considers this photoshoot as her best-published work.

#4 David Boreanaz

Source: © Bones / Far Field Productions and co-producers

David Boreanaz tried for years to get on the big screen by participating in many auditions. However, his dream came true thanks to an unplanned encounter. The famous TV series Buffy The Vampire Slayer's casting director, Marcia Shulman, was searching for an attractive male to play the part of Angel. Then, at that point, her friend saw Boreanaz while walking her dog and t The actor received approval for the part. Finally, he starred in the TV show for the following 25 years.

#5 Ellen Pompeo

Source: © Grey's Anatomy / Shondaland and co-producers

Ellen Pompeo became well-known for her role as Meredith Grey in the 17-year-running television series Grey's Anatomy. The future actress worked in a café in Soho, New York, before getting that outstanding role. Everything changed when a talent agent had dinner there and took notice of Pompeo. Then, She began appearing in TV commercials in Do You Have the Time, which marked her acting debut.

#6 Eva Mendes

Source: © Ghost Rider / Columbia Pictures and co-producers

Eva Mendes' career began when she offered help to a neighbor. She was invited to model for his portfolio's photos. After seeing the pictures, an agent was astounded by Eva's attractiveness and started looking for a contract. The recruiter immediately signed a deal with Mendes for several supporting roles after having contact with her. The actress's promising on-screen future began at that point.

#7 Gisele Bündchen

Source: © Gilbert Flores / Broadimage / Broad Image / East News

Gisele Bündchen was born in Horizontina. The future runway star enrolled in modeling classes at the age of 13. However, it is not because she wanted to become a model but more for the promised vacation to So Paulo when her studies were complete.
Gisele went to McDonald's for the first time when she reached the state's capital. A modeling agency approached her there and asked if she was interested in the industry. Gisele agreed after talking to her mother, and that decision gave her the best chance to better future.

#8 Jennifer Aniston

Source: © Love Happens / Universal Pictures and co-producers

Jennifer Aniston tried herself in many roles in unsuccessful films before becoming a well-known actress. The actress once met Warren Littlefield, the former CEO of NBC Entertainment, at a gas station on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood. Aniston asked him whether success will ever happen to her. Soon after, she received an invitation to join an audition for the Friends television series, where she was cast as Rachel Green, a timeless favorite.

#9 John Wayne

Source: © The Searchers / С.V. Whitney Pictures

John Wayne was a forward at the University of Southern California by the name Marion Morrison before he was famous. He was forced to seek employment elsewhere after losing his sports scholarship as a result of a catastrophic injury. Wayne began his career as a big-screen actor by playing football players in a few films, including The Drop Kick. He then completely moved to roles with more memorable characters and even won an Oscar in 1970.

#10 Justin Bieber

Source: © Justin Bieber / agefotostock / East News

Justin Bieber has loved music since he was a child. He participated in a talent contest in a Canadian city when he was 12 years old, winning second place. To make it easier for other members of their family and friends to view, his mother uploaded several videos of Justin doing rhythm and blues-style covers of well-known songs on Youtube. The audience was gradually growing. Music producer Scott Brown was one of the people who listened to his songs. And, he persuaded the 13-year-old vocalist to record his first demo in an Atlanta studio.

#11 Kate Moss

Kate Moss would never have imagined that she would end up being one of the iconic supermodels of the 1990s and 2000s. She admitted that she was self-conscious about her height and smile.When Moss encountered Sarah Doukas' brother at a New York airport, everything changed. He approached the 14-year-old girl as she was strolling around while waiting to board and inquired, "Have you ever thought about being a model?" Later, at the age of 16, Kate had already participated in her first picture session for The Face's cover.

#12 Lana Turner

William R. Wilkerson, the creator of The Hollywood Reporter, the leading American publication on the film industry, is credited for Lana Turner's career.The businessman first noticed the iconic figure of the 1940s and 1950s in a cafe and knew right away that he was staring at the future star. Then he introduced Turner to Zeppo Marx, a talent agent. Marx supported her in landing a small part in the film They Won't Forget. Soon after, she began a successful career on the big screen.

#13 Oprah Winfrey

When Oprah Winfrey was 17 years old, a small Nashville radio station invited her to compete in a beauty pageant. Oprah appeared to have little chance of winning because the competitors were all red-headed girls.
But then she overheard the query, "How would you spend $1,000,000?" Winfrey candidly responded, "If I had a million dollars, I would be a spending idiot," She won the prize because the jury was won over by her honesty and sense of humor. Additionally, Oprah received a job offer from that radio station, launching her great media career.

#14 Pamela Anderson

Up until she was "discovered" at a Canadian football stadium, Pamela Anderson worked as a fitness teacher. She attended the game wearing a form-fitting t-shirt with a logo that was shown on the stadium's big screen. The company's representatives were happy with the unexpected advertisement, and Anderson was given a job offer. Soon after, she began participating in magazine photo shoots before landing the memorable role of Baywatch.

#15 Sharlto Copley

At the age of 19, Sharlto Copley co-founded the media company Channel 69 Studios. At the same time, he employed computer graphic designer Neill Blomkamp, who would later become his mentor for the big screen.
Many years later, Blomkamp displayed his potential as a filmmaker and requested his former employer to work on District 9. Following his acting debut, Sharlto appeared with A-listers like Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, and Angelina Jolie in a number of additional notable parts.

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