Self Made, Baby!
In Hollywood, it’s clear to see how far connections will get you. In fact, for some people, acting is something they can buy into if their parents are already famous. While many up-and-comers choose to do this, others work hard and go through the ringer like everyone else – making their success even more admirable.
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1. Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo is a prime example of the typical actor’s experience, having to go through hundreds of auditions to try and land one job. He almost stopped pursuing acting before getting his breakthrough in This Boy’s Life. It is worth noting that his older stepbrother did help him with early opportunities, but Leonardo is still relatively self-made.
2. Selena Gomez
Both a singer and an actress, Selena is known for her work with Disney and her lucrative musical career. But when she started out, Selena’s mother Mandy had to work three jobs and dig through their car for quarters to pay for gas.
3. Harrison Ford
Harrison Ford, best known for his work in Indiana Jones and Star Wars, had a very humble start. He was a self-taught carpenter who even installed a door for Francis Ford Coppola. He managed to land some film work, notably in American Graffiti in 1973.
4. Demi Moore
Demi left home at the young age of 16 to pursue acting, and even fell into substance abuse as she tried to make a name for herself. At the age of 19, she got work in the soap opera General Hospital and continued to work hard to improve herself and her career.
5. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise started out as a busboy in New York, and finally made his way to LA to give his acting career a whirl. He found his break in Endless Love in 1981, and would be signed onto CAA to continue acting in films.
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6. Viola Davis
Despite her renown and fame today, Viola started out living in relative poverty. She describes her apartment as rat-infested, and how she even had a short stint in jail as a child when her mother was sent away for protesting.
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7. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold famously says that no one should call him self-made as he had plenty of family and friend support to help him through his life. Despite his mentors and friendships, Arnold was born into a poor family in an Austrian village before working his way to the top.
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8. Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is best known for her fantastic work in Sex and the City, but she got her first breakthrough as Annie on Broadway at 14 years old. She grew up in a big family, with several siblings that led to her parents barely having enough money for basic bills.
9. Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks did have some initial support and opportunities, but he was never the product of wealth. He got his big break when people noticed his comedic abilities in Bosom Buddies, and would go on to cement his talents in big movies like Cast Away and Forrest Gump.
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10. Halle Berry
Halle Berry is best known for her work in X-Men and Gothika, and she recalls being inspired by Diahann Carroll when it came to acting. This led her to move to New York City, where she would run out of money in three months. Due to the lack of support from her parents, she struggled to maintain familiar relationships for a bit.
Now that we have talked about actors that did it all on their own, here are 10 that had mom and dad pave the way.
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1. Lily-Rose Depp
Lily’s parents are the famous Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis. While Johnny is best known for his work in Pirates of the Caribbean and Edward Scissorhands, Lily has received a stellar reception for her work in Nosferatu and The Idol.
2. Colin Hanks
Colin Hanks has a striking resemblance to his father, and it’s unclear if that’s the reason for his success. Either way, Colin has received acclaim for his work in Orange County, and is a clear example of nepotism at work.
3. Bryce Dallas Howard
Best known for her work in Jurassic World and The Help, Bryce is the daughter of Ron Howard, who starred in shows like Happy Days and movies like American Graffiti. Known for her striking beauty and decent talent chops, Bryce is certainly putting her best foot forward.
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4. Scott Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is a famous actor and director who starred in Dirty Harry and Unforgiven. His son, Scott Eastwood, has been trying to follow in his father’s footsteps but has chosen shaky movies to start, including the flopped Pacific Rim: Uprising.
5. Lily Collins
Best known for her breakout role in Emily in Paris, Lily Collins is on everyone’s mind. Her father is actually Phil Collins, best known for his work as a musician. He also has movie connections, and did music for Disney films.
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6. Jack Quaid
Jack Quaid has been gaining acclaim for his role in TV shows like The Boys and movies like Oppenheimer. His parents are both actors, including Dennis Quaid, who was in The Parent Trap, and Meg Ryan, who was in When Harry Met Sally.
7. Zoë Kravitz
Zoë Kravitz certainly got her big break in The Batman with her stellar work as Catwoman. Her parents are musician Lenny Kravitz and actress Lisa Bonet, who was in The Cosby Show and Angel Heart, to name a few.
8. Bill Skarsgård
Bill is one of the many children of Stellan Skarsgård who made it big. For reference, Stellan has starred in movies like Good Will Hunting and Mamma Mia. His son Bill is best known for his work in horror and delivered resounding acclaim for his work as Pennywise in It and as the main villain in Nosferatu.
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9. Dakota Johnson
While Dakota Johnson’s acting chops are debatable, she’s certainly been in a few movies now, including the Fifty Shades of Grey series. She is the daughter of Don Johnson of Miami Vice, and Melanie Griffith of Working Girl.
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10. Alexander Skarsgård
Another son of Stellan Skarsgård who’s adored for his acting work is Alexander Skarsgård. Alexander has played titular characters in True Blood and The Northman, to name a few. Maybe it’s in the genes, but either way, the family connections certainly do help.
