“Never give up” seem to be the most popular phrase that we will hear when starting our career. While many people assume that the saying is clichés, some consider it as motivation to continue pursuing our dreams. Success just lies in the corner of life. What we need to do are just focus on our work and try our best.
The road to fame has never been smooth. Sometimes celebs have to face challenges and accept dismal failures at the beginning of their careers that make them demoralize and almost quit their dreams. While some took different paths, others went on making effort and then achieve success. Now, they become famous stars with many valuable deals and a large number of fans.
We’ve collected some stories about
celebrities who refused to give up their dreams.
#1 Carey Mulligan
Source: © Promising Young Woman / Focus Features
Carey Mulligan applied to theater school but was rejected. She continued to audition at the London Drama School and then tried as the host of a kid’s show. Now, she become a well-known actress with various accolades.
#2 Lisa Kudrow
Source: © Friends / Warner Bros. Television
Lisa Kudrow was turned down from the “Frasier” and replaced by the other actress. Although she felt sad and mad at the beginning, she went on to find new chances. After the success of “Friends”, she was recognized as one of the greatest female characters in American television.
#3 Jack Nicholson
Source: © One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest / Bryna Productions
Jack Nicholson stepped into the cinema industry by getting a job as an assistant to the animation department of MGM. He took lessons in stage speech and acting and then started acting in the movies. He is regarded as one of the greatest actors of the 20th century.
#4 Hilary Swank
Source: © Million Dollar Baby / Warner Bros.
Hilary Swank started her acting career with a minor role in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and then played a single mom in “Beverly Hills, 90210”. The character in “Beverly Hills, 90210” was eliminated, making the actress think that she was not good enough. However, she came to international recognition for her performances in “Boys Don’t Cry”.
#5 Naomi Watts
Source: © King Kong / Universal Pictures
Before becoming a famous actress, Naomi Watts had a tough time that didn’t afford to pay rent or have enough money for medical insurance. She achieved fame until she starred in the thriller Mulholland Drive in 2001.
#6 Anthony Hopkins
Source: © The Silence of the Lambs / Orion Pictures and co-producers
The Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins become famous at the age of 50 thanks to the role of Hannibal Lecter in “The Silence of the Lambs”. Before that, he moved to Hollywood but appeared on television.
#7 Kate Winslet
Source: © Titanic / Twentieth Century Fox
As being at school, Kate Winslet felt shy when her classmates call her “fat”. She was never given the main roles because of her weight. As growing up, she started to lose weight and got some main roles in movies. Her role as Rose in “Titanic” started her rise to international prominence.
#8 Keira Knightley
Source: © Atonement / Universal Pictures
Keira Knightley started her acting career at a young age. However, until “Pirates of the Caribbean” was released, she got famous. Despite her fame, she was turned down many times.
#9 Kerry Washington
Source: © Scandal / ABC
Kerry Washington was fired from two series because she disagreed to act stereotypically. She got famous when taking part in “Bombshell”. The actress was nominated several times for an Emmy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe.
#10 Robert Pattinson
Source: © Twilight / Summit Entertainment and co-producers
Robert Pattinson played some small roles before getting the main role in “Twilight”. The actor revealed that he was almost fired from the movie because he was so serious. Although he didn’t get new roles, he never gave up. In the last few years, the movies he involved become successful.
#11 Jessica Chastain
Source: © Scenes from a Marriage / Endeavor Content and co-producers
Back in time, it was hard for her to get roles. She shared that she was often rejected because of her red hair. The filmmakers didn’t know who she could play well with. In 2011, she had her breakthrough with six projects such as “Take Shelter”, “The Tree of Life” and so on, and received several prestigious awards.