These Celebrities Were Discovered By Accident

At this point, we’re all familiar with the expression “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” It’s a saying that can be applied to just about everything, including a celebrity’s journey to stardom. Some stars began their careers early, though more than a few have also established their place in the industry at a later point in life. Nonetheless, they all end up under the bright lights of Hollywood. While hard work and determination are undoubtedly a must, one thing many of these stars also have in common is an immense degree of luck, giving them the chance to somehow be in the right place at the right time.

With that said, here are some celebrities who were discovered unintentionally.

Mel Gibson

In the 1980s, Mel Gibson was internationally renowned for his starring roles in the Lethal Weapon series. Along with acting, he also takes credit for being the director of the Academy Award-winning film Braveheart. Early on in his career, though, Gibson struggled to land a job in the industry. Fortunately, the actor got his big break when he auditioned for the titular character of 1979’s Mad Max. The night before the big audition, however, he got into a bar fight that left him all bruised up. Gibson thought it would ruin his chances, but as it turns out, the filmmakers thought his rugged look fits the part.

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp is often known among audiences and colleagues for his portrayal of eccentric characters in films such as Sleepy Hollow, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Pirates of the Caribbean, among many others. However, his career began out of pure happenstance. This was when Depp tagged along with his friend Earle Haley, who went to audition for the film A Nightmare on Elm Street. Although he had no plans of auditioning, the director asked Depp if he’d like to try – so he did. Well, who would’ve thought a decision like that would become the first investment the actor made for his career?

Jennifer Lawrence

A versatile actress widely known for her roles in Winter’s Bone, X-Men, and The Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence also received a high degree of praise for her Oscar-winning performance in Silver Linings Playbook. Like all things, though, this journey to stardom had to start somewhere. At age 14, the actress got an opportunity of a lifetime when she was discovered while having a vacation in New York City with her family. Thanks to this chance encounter, she quickly landed a part in The Bill Engvall Show, followed by roles in films like The Burning Plain, among others.

Charlize Theron

Best recognized for her acting credit in films such as Monster and Mad Max: Fury Road, Charlize Theron is an actress who has received many awards through the years, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar. Even so, that wasn’t always the case. Back when she was younger, Theron wanted to become either a model or a ballerina. Due to an injury, however, she ultimately set her sights to modeling. After a couple of stints here and there, Theron met her now-manager, John Crosby. Well, from that point forward, the rest is history.

Natalie Portman

Throughout the years, Natalie Portman has starred in several films such as Black Swan, Thor, Jackie, and Star Wars. The funny thing is, she initially didn’t aspire to be a famous actress. At 11, while eating at a local pizza parlor, a representative of Revlon cosmetics approached her to become a child model. Although Portman turned down the offer, she grabbed the opportunity to get an acting agent. Subsequently, she auditioned for the 1992 Broadway musical Ruthless!  Since then, Portman has achieved even greater degrees of success, and that doesn’t seem to be stopping just yet.