For these stars, fame was pure luck. That’s why, at least once in their life, fans have probably dreamed of this perfect scenario; when they are walking down the street they are probably window shopping or browsing the busy streets when all of a sudden they are stopped by a talent agent or scout and then they have a conversation that changes their lives forever.
It may sound like fiction, but it’s a fan fantasy for a reason, because it happens all the time in real life! Some of the biggest names in entertainment today were discovered by chance in the most mundane of circumstances.
So here are some of the biggest celebrities who were discovered by chance to start their long and successful journey in Hollywood!
8/8 Natalie Portman was approached by someone from Revlon Cosmetics
The Thor: Love and Thunder Oscar-winning superstar and actress Natalie Portman was just out one day having fun and eating a slice of pizza on Long Island, and before she knew it, she had already caught the eye of a reconnaissance agent. for Revlon Cosmetics. The talented and smart young actress was approached by the scout at the ripe old age of 11 and asked if she would be interested in modeling for the company. His answer according to vogue was, “No, but I would like an agent.” Two years later, she landed her first role in The professionaland the rest was history.
7/8 Charlize Theron was screaming at the top of her voice when she was discovered
Although the mega-talented actress calls her fame a “mediocre run,” her success story and Oscar win speak for themselves. Theron had moved to Hollywood from South Africa looking for a chance to break into the entertainment world, and she struggled a lot at first. Strapped for cash and taking on all the gigs she can find, the actress was discovered yelling at a bank teller for refusing to cash her paycheck. It was then that she was approached by a talent agent and subsequently landed her first Hollywood role in Corn Children III.
6/8 Anya Taylor-Joy’s sketchy encounter with a talent agent brought her into the business
The chess queen herself and compelling actress remembers her encounter with being scouted being super “incomplete”. While walking her dog, Taylor-Joy noticed she was being followed by someone in a dodgy car. Naturally, she felt uncomfortable, but as she was approached by this individual, she discovered that he was the boss of a modeling agency and asked him to come to the agency the next day with his parents.
Reports differ as to where the model was when she was spotted, whether it was just in a mall or the mall’s own McDonald’s, but that’s when she was approached by a model recruiter! Bundchen was on a modeling class trip to Sao Paolo, and obviously she earned the fruits of her labor.
4/8 Ellen Pompeo poured a drink for the right person
Right after graduating from high school, Ellen Pompeo took a job as a bartender in Soho. The actress remembers that she always dreamed of being an actress, and her father pushed her to take this step when she was 24 years old. Fortunately, the young Pompero found himself in the service of an agent at the bar, and he asked him to come to an audition!
3/8 Jennifer Lawrence was just 14 when she was spotted on the streets of New York
Wandering the streets of Union Square with her family while on vacation, Jennifer Lawrence and her mother were approached by a man who claimed to have ties to the modeling industry. The actress’ mother eventually gave him her number, afraid he was a bastard, but the man called the next day to tell the Lawrences that modeling agencies wanted to meet Jennifer!
2/8 Nick Jonas spoke about the success of the Jonas Brothers
When he was only 6 years old, his mother took him to a hairdresser so he could have his hair cut, the most modest mother-son activity. But that all changed when young Nick Jonas showed off his singing skills at the show and wowed everyone to the point that someone else in the show gave his mom’s number to a show business executive!
1/8 Johnny Depp kinda unintentionally snubbed his best friend
As he accompanied his good friend to an audition for the Wes Craven film Nightmare in the street of Elm, it immediately caught the eye of the director himself! His friend unfortunately didn’t get the part, but Craven insisted that Depp audition, and eventually Depp came out with the role of Glen and made his official Hollywood debut.
