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Sounds unreal, but some of Hollywood's most famous actors got their first roles by accident. Ever dreamt that George Lucas or Tyler Perry randomly called you up on a casting? Or wished you got spotted by a talent scout in the streets? Long shot, but it sure happens, or at least it did happen to 'sweater girl' during her heyday.
No queues and heartrending rejections at auditions. They just got spotted out of the blues and embarked on a grand journey to Oscars. With fame comes fortune, and these Hollywood stars didn't take the Golden opportunity for granted.
JENNIFER LAWRENCE
The self-educated Hollywood star dropped out of middle school at 14 to pursue her career in acting. In her early years, Jennifer Lawrence used to act in church plays and musicals as a pastime activity with ambitions of becoming a model.
She got spotted by a talent scout while on vacation in Manhattan and moved to Los Angeles to start her career. She has had a lineup of leading roles and awards, making her top the A-List severally. Her role in Hunger Games got her a Golden Globe and an Academy Award, not forgetting the Oscars.
CHARLIZE THERON
The South African actress has a number up her sleeves. She started as a model in Milan after the tragic death of her father while studying at the Joffrey Ballet school. Her dreams of becoming a dancer were shattered when she suffered a knee injury forcing her to quit ballet.
Her big break came in the oddest way ever. She was spotted by a talent agent at a bank while having a heated argument with the teller to cash her modeling wages paycheck. Her bank hall drama landed her first role in Children of the Corn III: Urban Harvest.
PAMELA ANDERSON
Growing up, Pamela Anderson has experienced her fair share of suffering. Having been a victim of sexual abuse at a tender age, she has lived to tell her impeccable success story. The Canadian beauty was discovered at a football game when the camera panned in on her wearing a Labat Beer t-shirt.
The crowd immediately went wild, and she became the talk of the century. She went to LA and started her modeling career with a playboy that led her to her first role on sitcom Home Improvement. She then starred in Red Baywatch, the show that saw her rise to fame.
MATHEW DAVID MCCONAUGHEY
The Professor of the film was initially pursuing a degree in law when he switched majors after his newly profound interest in cinema. He started acting student films and later directing short films. He met Don Phillips, a film director, at his hotel bar in Austin who introduced him to the director, Richard Linklater.
Linklater gave him his first role in Dazed and Confused after much deliberation, saying that McConaughey was just too handsome for the character. He, however, had to grow out his hair and mustache to get on board.
SARAH MICHELLE GELLAR
Sarah Gellar's was spotted by an agent while eating at a hotel in New York when she was 4-years old. Her charming personality led her to her first role in the 1983 film An Invasion of Privacy. She struggled to balance between her school work and acting to pay for her tuition.
She rose to fame after nailing the role of Kendall Hart on the ABC's All My Children and got the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Younger Actress in a Drama in 1995.
ESTELLA WARREN
The multi-talented actress is a former synchronized swimmer for Canada. Estella Warren had a very successful career in modeling, having landed ads with major brands like Gucci while in her teen years.
Her career in acting had a rather smooth take off by landing five movie roles in her first year, three of which she got in the first three weeks. Her debut on Perfume was followed by a series of offers from Hollywood producers, making her exceptional on the screen.
MARILYN MONROE
The iconic queen of Hollywood left an indelible mark on the filming industry. Originally Norma Jean Baker, she was one of the most successful models of The Blue Book Modeling Agency. Her sensual beauty and eccentricity caught the eye of Ben Lyon, a 20th century Fox executive.
There and then, she took to her screen name Marylin Monroe and went on to become one of the most famous Hollywood stars. Amidst all the fame and success, Marylin lost herself Fand succumbed to a drug overdose.
LANA TURNER
Lana Turner's story was more of a fairytale than sheer luck. Had she not skipped school that day, William Wilkerson, The Hollywood reporter, would not have discovered this utterly gorgeous star. She was sipping coke at a drug store during school hours when he asked her if she'd like to join in the fame.
Her first role in, They Won't Forget, had her in a tight skirt and tight sweater earning her the name ‘sweater girl’. The beguiling beauty died from throat cancer long after new stars had risen and taken over but she was never forgotten.
JOHN WAYNE
Born Marion Morrison, the award-winning actor never thought he could become an icon in show business. He got his golden chance in his college years working in summer at the Fox Film Corporation as a prop man and extra.
Director John Ford took great interest in him, and he got his first major role on The Big Trail, which was a big failure. He drew his fame from his role in the 1939's classic, Stagecoach earning him recognition as one of the Top Ten box office attractions of the year.
SHARLTO COPLEY
Copley was South Africa's youngest producer at the time with his own production company. Neill Blomkamp got to work at his company in exchange for using his computers in pursuit of his career in design.
Copley's innocent act of kindness translated into a significant breakthrough in his career when Blomkamp cast him in his movie 9th District. The movie was nominated for the Best Picture Oscar setting Copley 's new career in motion with major casting calls coming his way back to back.