Models, instructors, actresses, and musicians are just a few examples of the many backgrounds of celebrities. Some well-known people started as cast members before breaking into Hollywood stardom. And still, others achieved fame by getting parts on popular television shows or in well-regarded movies.
Many people who work in the entertainment sector launch their careers without having affluent parents or Hollywood connections. They might have attended college and studied music but ultimately decided to get into the show business because they loved it.
Others are consumed with a life-affirming enthusiasm for acting. Whatever their background, there’s no disputing that these people are skilled actors and singers who can add real character to any part they choose, proving that anyone, no matter who you are or where you came from, can make it big in the Hollywood industry.
Here is a list of some renowned celebrities who made it big in Hollywood without connections or from wealthy families.
#10 Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton was born into a low-income family in a little house on the Little Pigeon River’s banks not far from Pittman Center, Tennessee. Robert Lee Parton Sr., her father, didn’t even have money to pay the doctor who delivered her; instead, he handed him a sack of cornmeal as payment.
Dolly was the fourth of eleven siblings. Initially working as a sharecropper in the East Tennessee highlands, her father later took care of a small tobacco plantation and some surrounding land. He also had construction jobs to supplement the minimal revenue from the land. On the other hand, her mother took care of their large family.
As a matter of fact, the Parton family is made up of talented people, with two of her siblings, Randy and Rachel, also creating a name for themselves in the entertainment and music industries.
For Dolly’s part, when she was five years old, she wrote “Little Tiny Tasseltop,” her first song, in collaboration with her mother. She later performed the song in front of her first audience, the churchgoers in her grandfather’s congregation, when she was six.
Dolly then made her Opry debut at age ten and continued to pursue her love of music, becoming one of the most well-known figures in country music.
She has won or been nominated for 50 Grammy Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. She is one of only seven female artists who won the Entertainer of the Year Award from the Country Music Association. She has also received nominations for 10 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.
Additionally, Donny has garnered three American Music Awards, four People’s Choice Awards, and three Academy of Country Music Awards, including Entertainer of the Year.
#9 Rihanna
Rihanna is a prominent figure in both the music and business industry, marking her as one of the greatest musicians of all time, as well as being the youngest self-made billionaire. However, Rihanna’s triumph is a childhood marked by suffering, abuse, drug addiction, poverty, and sickness.
Rihanna had seen her father become aggressive on numerous occasions, sometimes even resorting to hitting both her and her mother, resulting in deep trauma. It even reached a point where her father would resort to buying drugs and alcohol instead of providing food for their family.
Even though the singer’s father occasionally attempts to make up for it, the trauma is already embedded and cannot be erased. She would cling to music during those times to comfort herself.
As a high school student, Rihanna formed a musical group with two other students after showing an early interest in music. Later, she met music producer Evan Rogers in New York City, and their encounter was a significant turning point in her life.
After that, Rogers gave her the opportunity to record several tracks in New York, where they also co-wrote over a dozen songs alongside Carl Sturken. Later in her career, Rihanna met Shawn Carter, better known by his stage name Jay-Z, who was running Def Jam Recordings and serving as its president and CEO.
She received a deal from the rapper right once, and in 2005, she released her debut single, “Pon De Replay.” Now, Rihanna’s career continues to flourish, making her one of the sought-artists of all time, and she is now starting to build her empire in the business industry with her makeup line, Fenty.
#8 Leighton Meester
Leighton Meester may be most known for her role as the privileged girl in the American drama series “Gossip Girl,” but she was nothing like that when she was younger. Leighton’s mother actually gave birth to her while she was in prison, which is why her grandma raised her at Mango Island, Florida.
After her mother was released from prison, the two relocated to New York for fresh starts. Leighton began her modeling career there, and when they subsequently moved to Los Angeles in 2008, it helped her gain a big break in the movie and music industries.
Now, Leighton has since been in a number of movies and television shows, and this generation is still captivated by her iconic portrayal of Blair Waldorf in “Gossip Girl” on The C.W.
#7 Charlize Theron
Before becoming well-known in Hollywood, Charlize Theron also had a difficult life. Her mother shot and killed Charlize’s alcoholic and violent father when he once tried to harm both of them. In a subsequent trial, her mother was not charged because the court determined that her mother had acted in self-defense.
However, her suffering didn’t end there. She occasionally worked as a model and dancer until suffering a knee injury that forced her to give up her dancing career. She resided in her friend’s basement because she was similarly poor.
A teller once refused Charlize’s attempt to cash the rent check her mother had given her, so the actress lost her composure and began yelling at the woman. Although this scenario seems terrible, it ended up being a blessing in disguise when talent agent John Crosby, who was just behind her and witnessed the entire episode, gave her his business card.
From that point on, Charlize’s career never ceased thriving as she was granted multiple projects, becoming one of the highest-paid actresses in the world and winning numerous honors, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
#6 Madonna
Madonna is known as the “Queen of Pop,” but before earning this enormous title, she had to deal with the pain of losing her mother to breast cancer when she was just five years old. She stated in numerous interviews that this is another reason why she lacks some inhibitions.
Madonna, who had graduated from high school in Michigan, made the bold decision to travel to New York with just USD 35 in her pocket. Given the money she possesses, it was inevitable that she would face challenges along the way to success, but these obstacles did not cause her to give up.
She found work as a crew at Dunkin Donuts and later became a backup dancer. From then on, Madonna had a chance to perform as a drummer, guitarist, and vocalist in the rock bands Breakfast Club and Emmy. She eventually rose to solo stardom with her debut studio album, “Madonna,” in 1983.
In addition to being known as the “Queen of Pop,” Madonna has sold more records than any other female recording artist in history, making her a cultural icon and an inspiration to millions.
#5 Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is one of the most successful American actresses and producers. However, she was an immigrant before finding success in the entertainment world because her family had to leave the Soviet Union when she was just seven years old and come to America.
Mila didn’t speak a word of English when she moved to Los Angeles, but she nonetheless enrolled in an elementary school. Even though her classmates could tell she struggled to communicate with them, which caused her enough stress, she didn’t let it discourage her from trying to learn the language.
When she was nine years old, her father enrolled her in after-school acting classes, and on her very first audition, she was cast in a Barbie commercial. Mila later played her first television role, followed by a few other supporting appearances, before joining the cast of the Fox comedy “That ’70s Show,” for which she won numerous awards.
Since then, Mila has starred in numerous films and tv series, even winning some of the notable awards in the industry; one of them is winning a Golden Globe for her performance in the movie “Black Swan.”
#4 Tom Cruise
It’s impossible to know someone who doesn’t know Tom Cruise, and that’s how famous he is in the entertainment industry, making his name a household name. But before he became well-known, Tom had to work four jobs to make ends meet.
The actor grew up poor. His parents divorced when he was 11, and his mother had to work. When he was 16 and had participated in the school’s production of the musical “Guys and Dolls,” that’s when his career started to flourish.
Tom received his first acting break in the 1981 Brooke Shields film “Endless Love,” but it wasn’t until the 1986 movie “Top Gun” that he made a name for himself in Hollywood and began to star in a number of films, making him one of the most sought-after actors to this day.
#3 Jim Carrey
Though Jim Carrey is most known for his comedic work, his early years are not amusing in the least. After his dad’s job was lost and his family was forced to move into a van due to the loss of their home, Jim’s life began to spiral downward.
In order to support his family, he tried different types of work, including being a security guard and janitor. At that time, his mother was also terminally ill, and what he’d do to make her mother laugh was to perform small skits.
When he landed notable comedic hits like “The Mask,” “Cable Guy,” and “Dumb and Dumber,” he discovered he had a talent for such things. Fortunately for them, their suffering did not continue, and he’s now earning millions in just one movie.
#2 Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio may have appeared to come from an affluent family when he first entered the Hollywood industry, but in reality, he was raised in an impoverished neighborhood on the outskirts of Los Angeles and witnessed a variety of negative things, including drug use, poverty, prostitution, and violence.
His journey out of poverty got underway when he obtained a scholarship to University Elementary School. In an effort to improve his family’s financial circumstances and create a life for himself, he decided to explore acting.
He actually drew inspiration from his upbringing in the Los Angeles suburbs to accurately represent his character in the contentious movie “The Wolf of Wall Street.” However, Leonardo’s part in the 1997 motion picture “Titanic” is what has made him famous even among younger people today.
#1 Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is a well-known musician in the music business for his versatility as a songwriter, willingness to share his own compositions for other singers to perform, and history of working with other prominent figures.
However, he also experienced a difficult beginning, just like every other singer who tried their luck in the competitive music industry. When Ed stopped attending school, he frequently spent the nights camped out on top of heating ducts or in London Underground train stations.
His encounter with a drug addict and prostitute named Angel during a performance at a nearby homeless shelter inspired him to compose the song “The A-Team,” which also appeared on his debut singles. Angel’s narrative inspired him to write the song, which became a hit, and from then on, Ed’s career in music continued to flourish.