Charlize Theron was discovered through a modeling contest. The South African actress wound up traveling to Milan to model at just 16-years-old. After winning the International New Model Today competition, her career expanded into dance. Unfortunately, a knee injury ended her dream of becoming a dancer and she fell into acting.
Theron was approached by talent agent John Crosby after he overheard a theatrical argument between her and a bank teller. Crosby got her into acting school. From there, her career took off and she went on to appear in films including “Monster,” “North Country,” and “Mad Max: Thunder Road.”
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly’s face was just about everywhere in the ‘90s. In addition to appearing on the cover of Seventeen Magazine a couple of times, she also recorded two Japanese pop songs for a Japanese record label.
By the time Connelly was 12 years old, she had already managed to start her acting career. She was cast in her first movie to play Elizabeth McGovern’s role as a child in “Once Upon a Time in America.” She has since gone on to become a household name in Hollywood.
Brigitte Bardot
Parisian Brigitte Bardot was interested in ballet before she started modeling. She was hired by the director of "Elle" and "Le Jardin des Modes" magazines as a junior fashion model, and her career quickly took off. After several runway shows and fashion magazines, Bardot was sent to Hollywood by French director, Roger Vadim.
Despite her parent’s disapproval, Bardot started acting. She fell in love with Vadim and married him after she turned 18. She starred in films like “And God Created Woman” and “The Truth.” Several decades (and husbands) later, Bardot quit acting and became an animal rights activist.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields started her modeling career when she was still in diapers. Over the years she appeared in Got Milk? ads as well as spreads for Calvin Klein, Colgate, and Ivory Soap. At 14 years old, Shields became the youngest model to be featured on the cover of Vogue. As she got older, she became one of the most recognized faces in the modeling industry.
Shields was only 12 years old during her first film role in the controversial “Pretty Baby.” In fact, she was often cast to portray sensual, older characters, and raise further debates and controversies.
Kim Basinger
After getting her start in pageantry, Kim Basinger snagged a modeling contract and appeared in hundreds of ads. Despite making an average of $1,000 a day, Basinger didn't enjoy modeling. She was exhausted by the constant focus on her appearance and quit after just five years. It was then that she moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting.
After making small appearances in shows like “McMillan & Wife” and “Charlie's Angels,” Basinger got roles in “Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold,” “9 ½ Weeks,” “Batman" and even became a Bond Girl in “Never Say Never Again.”