People Confess What Celebs Were Like Before Fame
Fame can be a dangerous thing, much like money it can change a person for the worst. We’ve all heard of people who did a complete 180 after becoming famous. What’s really interesting is comparing celebrities before and after entering the spotlight. Sometimes you’ll see them turn into insufferable individuals who are only interested in money and fame.
Other times you’ll see people who still appreciate their old life. Whether it’s keeping their friends from before, or still welcoming new ones in. The people of the internet are coming forward and sharing what these stars were like before they made it big.
We’re shocked by how much some of these stars have changed, and how many are exactly the same.
Norah Jones
People might not know this about Norah Jones, but her affinity for singing started when she was a little girl. She was in her church’s choir and took voice, as well as piano lessons. Very quickly she “climbed the ranks” and received a solo. But the church wasn’t the only place she was performing. She also participated in her school band, playing the alto saxophone.
Many celebrities change once they reach a certain level of fame. They become more self-centered and sever ties with past relationships. But not Jones, one of her old schoolmates said that she stayed the same fun and sincere person she always was.
Steve Harvey
Everybody knows Steve Harvey as the goofy and lovable personality from Family Feud, always cracking jokes with participants and never failing to put a smile on our faces. But what if we told you that even he had some skeletons in his closet? Some of you might know that he’s currently married to his third wife.
But did you know why he divorced his first wife? Apparently, she was very supportive of him and helped him get his career on track. But as soon as he became famous he did what a lot of celebrities do, he started dating younger women. Eventually, he got engaged to someone new, meaning he had to say goodbye to his first wife.
Mel B
Mel B is a talented singer and songwriter. You definitely recognize her as Scary Spice, aka, one of the most iconic Spice Girls. Much like many other great celebrities, she has been preparing for the big stage since childhood, studying performing arts and dancing in high school. But being a young prodigy isn’t easy, especially when you have to balance it with school.
This is why Brown did what a lot of kids do, copied other people’s homework. Although it’s frowned upon by teachers, it’s generally a victimless crime. But doing it in show business, on the other hand, can put you in a lot of trouble.
Johnny Knoxville
Johnny Knoxville and the Jackass crew were probably the first people who managed to make serious money out of getting hurt on camera. They tend to pull hardcore pranks on one another and force each other to do very unpleasant stunts. We have to wonder how these people act when they’re off camera.
If you’ll ever have the chance to meet Knoxville in person you’ll find out that he’s a pretty nice guy. According to this user apparently, he was like that for most of his life. This person says they knew him because he became famous and said he was always your average, funny guy.
Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah is an exceptional artist. She’s a successful rapper and songwriter with multiple Grammy awards. On top of that, she’s also a great actress that manages to really capture every character she plays. So much talent and fame can go to some people’s heads and make them obnoxious and egotistical.
But not Queen Latifah! She stayed true to herself and her roots throughout her entire career. One time she found out someone she grew up with was about to lose his home. What did she do? She paid off all their debts for the house, essentially buying it for them. That’s something you can’t say about many celebrities.
Drake
Some people might forget this, but Drake started out his career in acting. His first ever gig was in a teen drama show called Degrassi: The Next Generation. His father was a musician which explains his affinity for music and why in 2006 he switched from acting to singing.
We all know the Canadian stereotype of being overly nice, though it seems Drake doesn’t fit into that box. According to this source, he was a nice kid before he stepped into the limelight. Like many celebrities, it sounds like the fame got to him and made it unpleasant to hang around him.
Paul Rudd
Paul Rudd really stepped up his game from playing in half-decent rom coms to becoming one of Marvel’s greatest superheroes. That’s not to say he wasn’t a great actor before, Anchorman and 40-Year-Old Virgin were some of his funniest works. But let’s face it, being Ant-Man suits him a lot better.
Much like Michael Cera, whenever we see Rudd acting it feels like he’s playing himself. Maybe it’s the fact that he never played a bad guy or maybe it’s because he’s just a genuinely nice person. Unlike other actors, he doesn’t need to pretend to be kind and friendly. Based on this account, he’s a great guy whether or not the camera is on him.
Taika Waititi
There aren’t too many internationally famous stars from New Zealand, but the ones we do know are extremely talented and creative. We don’t know if it’s something in the water or their education, but someone is certainly doing something right. Taika Waititi is an incredible actor and director, best known for his Oscar-winning film Jojo Rabbit.
But there’s not much we know about his personality outside of his work in Hollywood. Some people who knew Waititi before he became famous said that he was a very friendly person. But making movies wasn’t his only talent. Apparently, he was also good with a paintbrush! Maybe he’ll incorporate that into some of his future films.
Daisy Ridley
Most of us probably only know her as Rey from Star Wars. Which, let’s face it, is a pretty big achievement. The franchise is ridiculously popular and she’s cemented herself in that universe. But before she became a superstar, she was cast in a plethora of films. From action to drama and even voice-over, she’s truly a jack of all trades and no stranger to show biz.
Sometimes it’s hard for us to imagine what celebrities were like before they became famous. We just assume they were born into the Hollywood spotlight. But that’s not the case here. Before Ridley became famous she liked backpacking. People who met her at that time said that she was “an absolutely lovely individual.”
Dolly Parton
Can you believe Dolly Parton was in show business for well over half a century? She started singing on local radio and television shows when she was young. Her family was very poor so she knew early on how difficult poverty was. In a way, it shaped her personality and made her into who she is today.
Everybody who lived in the community she grew up in boasted about her kind heart and generosity. Parton financially supported several families whose homes burned down. She owns a lot of businesses in that same town which means a lot of people there have jobs thanks to her. She really gives everything she has to the community she was raised in.
Mike Portnoy
For a very long time, people thought that all metalheads were drunk, violent, and angry individuals who did drugs and trashed hotels. Although that might apply to a very small percentage of the group, most of them are genuinely nice people. Sometimes fame can go to your head, but not in Mike Portnoy’s case.
Mike Portnoy, the former drummer of Dream Theater seems like a very nice person. One of the people who played drums with him in high school said he didn’t change much from those days. It’s nice to see that fame doesn’t get to everybody and people can stay friends even after fame hits.
Tom Holland
Who doesn’t love Tom Holland? Every talk show and interview he’s in just ends up highlighting his funny and charming personality. What’s more surprising is that he never let the fame from being cast as Spider-Man get to his head. If anything it made him friendlier and nicer to his fans and the people he works with.
People who worked with him before he rose to real fame say he didn’t change much. He stayed the same funny and friendly guy he always was. We think this is one of the reasons got as far as he did, Hollywood definitely has a fair share of mean-spirited people who aren’t fun to work with. When you find someone like Holland you hold on to him.
Rupert Grint
There are two types of people in Hollywood, those who do it for the money and those who do it for their passion. They’re pretty easy to distinguish from one another. Those who do it for the money always treat people like stepping stones or a way to get their next big paycheck. But those who do it out of love for the art will always be friendly and kind.
Rupert Grint is no different. Despite being a key member of one of cinema’s greatest fantasy franchises, he never acted like he was better than anyone else. People who went to school with him said that he would always talk to his classmates about his on-set experiences. He never boasted about his achievements and treated everybody with respect.
George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley
There’s no doubt that the 1980s band Wham! was phenomenally popular. Even if you don’t know who they are, you’ve definitely heard at least one of their hit songs. This iconic duo took the world by storm with their incredible music and cool style. They were the original boy band before it was even a thing.
With so much fame and fans, one has to wonder if they were really cool guys in real life. One person shared that their mother and grandmother knew the duo and were always invited as special guests to their concerts. One day Andrew Ridgeley even invited their family to his guest house where he was nothing but kind to them.
Cillian Murphy
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past decade, you probably heard of Cillian Murphy. More precisely you’ve probably watched Peaky Blinders and were amazed by his sheer talent. The show itself is incredible and it undoubtedly raised the actor’s status. But what we want to know is who he was before he became a household name.
Murphy found his love for the arts during his middle school years. He described his first performance onstage as a “huge high”. People who knew him from that time said that he was a very quiet kid but friendly nonetheless. He spent most of his early career performing in theater which may explain his impeccable acting skills.
Dacre Montgomery
If you’ve watched the second season of Stranger Things you probably know the name Dacre Montgomery. He played the main antagonist Billy who was possessed by The Mind Flayer. Throughout the show, Billy was a real jerk and he often mistreated those around him. Funny enough it seems like Montgomery and Billy have that in common.
Some say that even before he became famous he wasn’t the nicest person to hang around with. His ego was massive and he’d act like he was better than everybody else. After filming Stranger Things he came back to his home town and it seems like nothing changed. We hope it was only a few negative encounters!
Madonna
Madonna discovered her love for music at a very early age. When she was in middle school she convinced her father to sign her up for ballet lessons. From that moment on she was destined for the spotlight, she even received a dance scholarship. But college wasn’t right for her and instead, she dropped everything and moved to New York.
Those who studied at Rochester Adams High School with Madonna would probably tell you that she was a very energetic and nice person to be around. But since her rise to fame, people from her past say she changed completely. We can see how that level of fame could change a person.
Tyler the Creator
Tyler the Creator is the physical embodiment of an underdog. From early childhood, he did everything by himself. He was never accepted into any extracurricular activities because he was too hyper and couldn’t read music. He worked in a Starbucks for two years before he finally co-founded Odd Future.
Success didn’t come easy for Tyler, which is why you can’t really say it changed him. Although he changed schools frequently, those who remember him say that his personality was unaltered by fame. He’s still the same bubbly and quirky person he was all those years ago. You can see it clearly in his live performances when he interacts with the crowd.
Sandra Oh
Long before she starred in Grey’s Anatomy and Arliss, Sandra Oh knew her passion was acting. At age ten she was already performing in school plays and that love for the stage carried her all the way to the National Theater School of Canada in Montreal. Although she started off pretty slowly performing in theater for locals, she rose to prominence in the movie Double Happiness.
Despite all the fame and success she had over the years, it seems like she didn’t forget the people she met along the way. She goes as far as to invite some of her old friends to award shows. Usually, people bring their family or cast members, but Oh is different. Her dedication to her friends is truly admirable.
Jeff Bezos
We don’t really get to see much of Bezos’ personality. We read articles about him and occasionally see his shiny head pop in a crowd of rich oligarchs, but that’s about it. Judging by the way he treats his employees at the warehouses we can assume he’s not the most considerate person on the planet.
You certainly won’t see him donating to the Red Cross. But we can figure out what he was before he became ridiculously rich. Based on this person’s account, it seems like back in high school he already had a bad reputation and a God complex. Sounds like the perfect personality to run a company like Amazon, though we’re not sure that’s a compliment.
Tom Cruise
Growing up Cruise had a knack for acting. He might not have been as passionate about it as a child, but when he was playing a part he would do it perfectly. When he was 18 he decided that he wanted to pursue an acting career and headed off to Los Angeles. That’s when he started slowly building his career and climbing the ladder of fame.
People who used to know him before he got famous said that he was a pretty great guy. But like most celebrities, as soon as he had a taste of fame he changed completely. According to this user, he became an arrogant man who was blindly chasing after more time in the spotlight.
Bill Nye
Bill Nye rose to prominence as the host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, an educational children’s show. He reminds us of Mr. Rogers if he ever got a degree in chemistry. His jolly and uplifting personality made many kids interested in science. You can only imagine our surprise when we read this person’s account.
This user’s teacher had to end things because he didn’t actually like kids! We’re surprised he was able to take such a huge role in a children’s program. Maybe all that kid-friendly stuff made him resent the little tykes. We can only assume he’s changed since then as he’s now a father.
Megan Fox
Most of us probably recognize Megan Fox from movies like Transformers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. She’s a great actor but did you know that before acting she was a model? It seems obvious when you think about it, but it’s surprising to hear that she was already famous as a teenager.
Being a model at that age probably meant a lot of boys were fighting over her. And it’s evident from one of her old schoolmate’s testimonies. She said that although Fox was a quiet girl who kept to herself, boys would constantly fight over who would sit next to her on the bus.
Justin Bieber
We all remember Bieber during his rebellious phase. After he’d been in the spotlight for a few years we kept hearing more and more scandalous stories. From cursing at fans to peeing in a mop bucket, he was a gold mine for bad publicity. Honestly, we haven’t seen the press go after someone like that since Britney Spears.
It seems like his behavior was something he picked up from middle school. Though it could’ve also been from all the scrutiny he got as a young boy. Fame isn’t easy for kids to handle. Though his bad boy streak seems to have passed, over the years he seems to have changed for the better.
Ed Sheeran
Would you believe us if we told you that Ed Sheeran published his first collection of work at just thirteen years old? Throughout his early career, he was pretty independent and did everything his own way. He learned how to play guitar at the age of eleven and ever since then he has been writing his own music.
We guess he wasn’t all that interested in formal music education. Those who knew him at the Academy of Contemporary Music said he would often skip classes. That’s probably why he left less than a year later. It just shows that not everything can be taught in school, sometimes you need to take your own path.
Steve Irwin
Born to a family of wildlife experts, Irwin was destined to be one as well. His parents opened a small Queensland Reptile and Fauna Park where he spent most of his childhood. His father taught him everything he knew about reptiles. This allowed Irwin to be extremely involved in the park, from feeding the animals to taking care of them.
Not much has changed since then. In 1991 when he took over the only thing that changed was the name. Irwin was still as passionate about reptiles as ever and would welcome everybody who came to visit with a smile. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge and you could tell that he remembered every person who returned.
Robert Pattinson
This actor has come a long way since he starred as a pale blood-sucking love interest. We’ve gotten to see Robert Pattinson’s real acting talent over the years in films like The Lighthouse, Good Time, and The Batman. But before all of that fame he was an aspiring actor, just like everyone who starts out in the biz.
A user who claims to have known him back then said that Pattinson liked the idea of “the starving artist”, living in a tiny one-bed apartment in the center of London. According to him, he never took the role in Twilight seriously and only saw it as something to boost his career and cash a paycheck.
Tom Hanks
Whoever thinks chivalry is dead obviously never heard of Tom Hanks. Who, funny enough, has a French Legion of Honor medal which makes him an actual knight. But all jokes aside, if you’ve ever met Hanks you’d only have positive things to say. Despite his overwhelmingly successful career, he stayed a kind and happy person.
But most importantly, he never forgot the people he knew before he became famous. This user shares an adorable story straight from his prom date. Although they’re no longer together he never fails to send her a personalized birthday card. Isn’t that thoughtful?
Seth Rogan
This comedy legend made his mark in classic films of the 2000s. Even if you’re not a fan you’ve seen his smiling face in one movie or another. Like most comedic actors, it seems like Seth Rogan’s knack for humor came naturally. Though having a good sense of humor can be hard for a kid to contain sometimes.
This former classmate claims that Rogan needed to have his comedy reigned in during school. We can see how stand-up monologues wouldn’t be conducive to a learning environment. The solution this teacher came up with is beyond brilliant. This just shows how Rogan was always good at making his peers laugh!
Emma Chamberlain
Much like a lot of suburban girls, Emma Chamberlain was obsessed with fashion and makeup as a teen. Before she became the Youtube sensation she is now, her very first videos were centered around makeup tutorials and video blogs. Her career boomed after she moved to LA and became part of the Sister Squad with James Charles and The Dolan Twins.
Funny enough, both of them had faced multiple controversies over the years so we’re not surprised that Chamberlain was no different. According to this testimony, she used to bully kids and complain a lot about her economic status. But to be fair, many of us weren’t all that great as high schoolers.
Jack Black
It’s no secret that fame and money can change people for better or for worse, we see it all the time. Some act like they’re better than everybody else while others decide to use the money and power they have to try and make the world a better place. But what if we told you there’s a third kind of person?
No matter how much fame and money this person accumulates, they’ll stay true to themselves and who they are. That’s the kind of person Jack Black is. We all know him as the goofy actor with an amazing voice who always jokes around and has fun. Well, it turns out he’s been doing it long before he got into show business. He’s making the world a better place one laugh at a time.
Jack Nicholson
There’s a trend on TikTok where people talk about celebrities they went to school with. More often than not, it’ll be some internet celebrity or influencer. Of course this trend isn’t exclusive to TikTok, and once blue moon we get some interesting gossip about a real Hollywood legend. Jack Nicholson is without a doubt one of the most talented actors in industry.
Being good at what you do requires a lot of effort and concentration, that’s why we’re surprised to hear that he was a rebellious kid in school. Although, maybe that’s what gave him the edge and allowed him to perform such a wide variety of characters.
Pete Davidson
Most people these days know Pete Davidson from his relationship with Kim Kardashian. The famous reality star left her husband Kanye West and began dating Davidson a few months before things were officially over. But the comedian was around the block long before this drama began. He joined SNL’s writing crew in 2014 and even made a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama called The King of Staten Island.
Growing up we all had trouble making friends, some more than others. And hearing something like “no one really liked him” makes us hurt for the guy. Whether it’s his personality or ability to play basketball, not being accepted can be tough. But maybe that’s what drove him to become the successful comedian he is today.
Bill Gates
Much like most American success stories, Bill Gates’s journey began in his parent’s garage. We know him now as the multi-millionaire philanthropist that founded the most popular operating system every person on the planet uses. He wrote several books and was invited to numerous speaking events. He seems like a very sociable, interesting, and smart person. But was he that way when he was in school?
The answer is no, according to this user whose dad went to the same school as Gates. Turns out he was your typical quiet kid who didn’t stand out much. But if there’s one thing we know it’s still waters runs deep. It’s always the kids who keep to themselves that tend to change the world.
Kid Rock
It’s no secret that almost every musician and artist loves to party. You can’t really get into the business without some kind of love for the scene. But star power is something you’re either born with or you’re not. And Kid Rock definitely had that rock star quality. On top of being a talented singer and songwriter, he’s also quite the party animal.
Before he was famous, he liked to dabble in some angel dust according to this user. But we all know only real rock stars can do that without facing any consequences. Which is why it’s not surprising that he was kicked out of a club for doing lines in the bathroom.
Jesse Eisenberg
There are two types of actors in Hollywood. Some work very hard from a young age, and others have a unique personality they can adapt to every role they play. It feels like Jesse Eisenberg is the latter. No matter what role he plays, he’s playing the same guy. That’s not to say he isn’t talented, we loved him in The Social Network and Zombieland.
It’s nice to know that even when Eisenberg was a kid he retained the same characteristics we know and love him for today. It’s not something you can say about many actors in Hollywood these days. While he’s a bit one-note, he’s clearly always been a likable, neurotic guy.
Chris Farley
This comedic legend sadly passed away at the young age of 33, but he left a big legacy behind him with classics like Tommy Boy. Not to mention he was a prominent member of the Saturday Night Live crew for a long time, creating some of the most memorable characters in the show’s history.
We don’t know how exactly he became such a comedy powerhouse, but we’re suspecting it has something to do with his wild college life. Everybody knows that crazy party guys are some the funniest, most sociable people there are, entertaining people probably was a walk in the park for him.
Katy Perry
It’s crazy to think that someone like Katy Perry came from a religious household. We all know how strict some people are about anything even remotely secular. But when you think about it, many music genres are all about rebellion and going against the system. So it kind of makes sense that Perry thrived in this kind of environment.
She managed to release an entire gospel album when she was only sixteen. But touring and being exposed to people from all walks of life was bound to change the way she saw the world, and that’s probably where things started to change for her. We guess every teenager has to go through a rebellious stage at some point in their life.
Amber Heard
These days a lot of people have very strong opinions about Amber Heard, especially after the defamation trial with Johnny Depp. Regardless of where you stand on the matter, remember that people change. Heard wasn’t always the famous actress she is now, back when she was high school things were different.
One person shared their account of how modest she was even after her modeling and acting careers took off. Not every teenager has the mental strength and maturity to pull that off. A lot of kids change for the worst as soon as they get their moment in the spotlight. Some of them become arrogant and self-centered, but that doesn’t seem to be the case here.
David Bowie
David Bowie was a rock and roll legend in his time. He was best known for constantly changing his musical style and appearance as well as his personality. If you’ve ever watched the movie Labyrinth, you know how much of a “character” he is. This level of creativity isn’t something you learn, it’s something you’re born with.
This user shares a story that paints the famous musician as a troublemaker. But it seems like he took it further than some of the other kids, so much so that teachers found it hard to believe he will ever be able to amount to anything. Little did they know that the most disruptive kids make the best rock stars.