1. Lady Gaga
In an interview with Howard Stern in 2013, Lady Gaga talked about her experiences as a phone sex operator. She explained that she took the job when she struggled to make ends meet and could not pay her rent. She also talked about her experience working as a waitress, these experiences and how they influenced her work ethic and creativity how it helped her appreciate the hard work of serving food.
2. Hugh Jackman
After graduating from university with a degree in communications, Jackman pursued a career in teaching and worked as a physical education teacher for a year in England. He has also talked about how his time as a teacher taught him valuable skills such as communication and organization, which he has used throughout his career. Another job he used to have was as a party clown to earn some extra money while he pursued his dream
3. Madonna
Madonna spoke of a time when she struggled to make ends meet and took on several odd jobs to sustain herself after relocating to New York City. One of those occupations was working at a Dunkin’ Donuts in Times Square. In an interview, Madonna opened up about how she would sometimes sneak bites of the donuts while on the job and bring leftover donuts home to share with her roommates.
4. Brad Pitt
Brad Pitt used to work as a limousine driver and also dress up as a giant chicken to promote a restaurant early in his career. Fortunately, Pitt’s talent and dedication eventually led to his breakthrough role in the film Thelma & Louise, which launched him to stardom and established him as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors.
5. Jennifer Hudson
After graduating high school, Hudson worked at a Burger King restaurant in her hometown of Chicago, which included taking orders, preparing food, and cleaning up the restaurant. She has said that the job was challenging, but that it taught her important skills such as multitasking and working efficiently under pressure.
6. Sean Connery
7. Beyoncé
Tina Knowles, Beyoncé’s mother, had a hair salon in Houston, Texas, and Beyoncé would frequently assist out by sweeping the floors and running errands. She has discussed how the job gave her valuable lessons about hard work and perseverance.
8. Ellen DeGeneres
After graduating from college, DeGeneres worked various jobs as a paralegal at a law firm, and a waitress in New Orleans, Louisiana, which taught her important life lessons and helped her develop the skills she needed to succeed in the entertainment industry.
9. George Clooney
After dropping out of college, George Clooney worked as a door-to-door insurance salesman before he became a Hollywood heartthrob. He has said that the job was not a good fit for him and that he was not very successful at it. Despite struggling to make a living from an insurance salesman job, Clooney continued to pursue his dream of becoming an actor and eventually landed a breakthrough role on the television series ER.
10. Jon Hamm
Jon Hamm worked as a set designer for pornographic films, where he helped create the sets and backgrounds for various scenes before his role as Don Draper in Mad Men. Hamm has been open about his early struggles in Hollywood and has talked about how working in the adult film industry was not something he was proud of. However, he has also credited the experience with helping him develop his creativity and visual storytelling skills, which he has used to great effect in his acting career.
11. Rachel McAdams
McAdams has said that she started working at McDonald’s when she was 16 years old to save up money for a car. She worked at the fast-food chain for three years, during which time she held various positions, including working the cash register, flipping burgers, and cleaning the restaurant.
12. Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel used to work as a personal assistant for a music video director, where she assisted with chores such as scheduling and doing errands. Moreover, she also worked as a babysitter for a number of families in Los Angeles, caring for youngsters while their parents were at work. She has stated that she loves working with children and that the position helped her develop her maternal and sensitive side.
13. Steve Carell
Carell worked a series of odd jobs while trying to break into the entertainment industry. One of these jobs was working as a mail carrier for the United States Postal Service in Massachusetts. Carell has said that the job was physically demanding and sometimes challenging, he has also described it as a valuable experience that taught him the importance of hard work and perseverance
14. Oprah Winfrey
Winfrey worked a number of professions to support herself during her challenging and impoverished childhood. She began her career as a grocery store clerk in Nashville, Tennessee, where she worked while still in high school. Winfrey attended Tennessee State University after high school and began working part-time as a radio broadcaster.