Getting your big break in Hollywood is every actor's dream – but with an industry brimming with talent and new faces emerging every day, there isn't always one easy pathway in.
It's no surprise, then, that many actors and actresses first emerged in the public eye through modelling.
A great way to build confidence in front of the camera and establish both your face and your name, modelling also offers aspiring stars the chance to network and get noticed by agents.
From George Clooney and Uma Thurman to Brad Pitt and Cameron Diaz, here are 12 celebrities' modelling shots before they established themselves on the world stage – how many can you name?
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Before appearing in Two and a Half Men and What Happens in Vegas, Ashton Kutcher modelled for brands like Calvin Klein and Versace in the 1990s, as well as appearing in fashion shows in Paris and Milan. The star took part in a local ‘Fresh Faces of Iowa’ contest and won, later signing with modelling agency Next Management in New York.
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Brooke Shields established her name in the acting world in Pretty Baby and The Blue Lagoon, but up until then, she had already enjoyed a successful career as a child model. The star began modelling at just 11 months old and became the youngest fashion model ever to appear on the cover of Vogue.
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She may be an Oscar-nominated actress now, but Demi Moore first started in modelling. After leaving school early, Demi signed with Elite Model Management before taking acting classes and landing her first movie role at the age of just 19.
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Keanu Reeves always wanted a career in acting, but worked on commercials and small projects before securing global fame in franchises such as John Wick and The Matrix.
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Before Four Weddings and a Funeral, actress Andie MacDowell was spotted by Wilhelmina Models in Los Angeles and later signed with Elite Model Management in 1978. From there, she quickly rose to fame, featuring in campaigns for Vogue, Yves Saint Laurent and Calvin Klein before becoming a L’Oréal ambassador – a title she still holds today.
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Before exhibiting his impressive dance moves in Step Up, Channing Tatum was a successful model. After signing with New York agency Major Model Management, he worked with brands including Abercrombie & Fitch, Nautica, Dolce & Gabbana and Armani before transitioning into acting in the early 2000s.
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While she’s now synonymous with Pulp Fiction and Kill Bill, Uma Thurman started as a model in 1985 at the age of 15. After signing with Click Models, she appeared on the covers of Vogue and Glamour before portraying Mia Wallace in her breakout role in Pulp Fiction almost a decade later.
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Angelina Jolie was also a teenage model, enjoying a brief stint in swimwear shoots and music videos when she was around 15 years old. She later went on to model for high-profile labels like St. John and Louis Vuitton before starring in Girl, Interrupted in 1999.
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Like many young actors trying to make ends meet before their big break, George Clooney posed for fashion shoots throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, including an appearance in the classic teen magazine Tiger Beat. His breakout role came in the mid-1990s as Dr Doug Ross on the NBC medical drama ER.
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Before moving into acting in her early 20s, Cameron Diaz enjoyed a successful modelling career and signed with Elite Model Management at the age of 16. She appeared in campaigns for Calvin Klein, Levi’s and Coca-Cola, and featured on the cover of Seventeen at just 17.
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After growing up in South Africa, Charlize Theron moved to Europe at the age of 16 to pursue a modelling career. After completing a one-year contract in Italy, Charlize relocated to New York, where she trained as a ballet dancer. Following a knee injury, she took a one-way flight to Los Angeles and later landed her breakout role in The Devil’s Advocate.
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Before stealing the screen in Thelma & Louise, Brad Pitt worked as a small-time model during the 1980s, appearing in campaigns for Levi’s and taking part in catalogue and sportswear shoots.
