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30 Well-Known Actors And Actresses Who Played Minor Roles In Major Films And Shows Before Becoming World-Famous

Growing up with these actors is part of the magic that extends beyond enjoying movies.

30 Well-Known Actors And Actresses Who Played Minor Roles In Major Films And Shows Before Becoming World-Famous

Following the career trajectory of your favorite artists is part of the fun of being a movie connoisseur. You can observe and bet on actors in the same way that sports fans do for athletes.

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Some child artists, such as Natalie Portman and Anna Kendrick, seemed destined for the limelight from the start. Others, such as Philip Seymour Hoffman, were simply great supporting actors for years before becoming lead actors.

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Growing up with these actors is part of the magic that extends far beyond simply enjoying movies. The funnier part is discovering famous actors in movies you may have seen years earlier.

Nobody could have predicted Jake Gyllenhaal would become one of the best actors of his generation when he was a 10-year-old kid in City Slickers, rolling his eyes at Billy Crystal. However, after seeing him in it, the film takes on a new meaning.

Throughout film history, there are numerous examples of these artists. We're interested in those examples, and we'll show you flashbacks from the past, of films you've possibly watched and of stars you didn't spot in those iconic films because of the bit parts they played.

This could be a good time to rewatch! We want you to identify now-famous actors in your favorite old movies, and we think we've got a good list for you.

Check them out!

1. You may know Paul Dano from his most role as the Riddler in The Batman

1. You may know Paul Dano from his most role as the Riddler in The BatmanCindy Ord / WireImage / Getty Images
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But his first role was acting as Nicholas in an episode of Smart Guy

But his first role was acting as Nicholas in an episode of Smart GuyDisney
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2. We have Joey King here from The Kissing Booth movies or The Act

2. We have Joey King here from The Kissing Booth movies or The ActFrazer Harrison / WireImage / Getty Images
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This is the young Joey playing Emily from an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & Cody

This is the young Joey playing Emily from an episode of The Suite Life of Zack & CodyDisney
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3. Here is Kat Dennings from 2 Broke Girls, Dollface, Wandavision, or all three

3. Here is Kat Dennings from 2 Broke Girls, Dollface, Wandavision, or all threeDavid Livingston / Getty Images
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She played a 13-year-old who hired Samantha to plan her bat mitzvah in Sex and the City

She played a 13-year-old who hired Samantha to plan her bat mitzvah in Sex and the CityHBO
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4. Dylan Minnette is best known for his lead role in 13 Reasons Why

4. Dylan Minnette is best known for his lead role in 13 Reasons WhySteve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images
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But he starred in an episode of Grey's Anatomy

But he starred in an episode of Grey's AnatomyABC
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5. Here's Rachel McAdams from Mean Girls, The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, and a lot more

5. Here's Rachel McAdams from Mean Girls, The Notebook, The Time Traveler's Wife, and a lot moreTaylor Hill / Getty Images
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She featured in an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson as Riley's sister

She featured in an episode of The Famous Jett Jackson as Riley's sisterDisney
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6. You probably know Kristen Stewart from Twilight and her Princess Diana role in Spencer

6. You probably know Kristen Stewart from Twilight and her Princess Diana role in SpencerKarwai Tang / Getty Images
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But her first role was as "Girl in Fountain Line" in The Thirteenth Year

But her first role was as Disney

7. Here's Emma Stone from Easy A, The Help, and The Amazing Spider-Man movies

7. Here's Emma Stone from Easy A, The Help, and The Amazing Spider-Man moviesPascal Le Segretain / Getty Images For Louis Vuitton

She played the leader of a group of popular girls in Malcolm in the Middle

She played the leader of a group of popular girls in Malcolm in the Middle20th Century

8. Here's Jennifer Lawrence and she starred in The Hunger Games and Silver Linings Playbook

8. Here's Jennifer Lawrence and she starred in The Hunger Games and Silver Linings PlaybookJames Devaney / GC Images / Getty Images

Jennifer acted as a mascot at a school in the movie, Monk

Jennifer acted as a mascot at a school in the movie, MonkUSA Network

9. Here's Steven Yeun and he played roles in Minari, The Walking Dead, and Sorry to Bother You

9. Here's Steven Yeun and he played roles in Minari, The Walking Dead, and Sorry to Bother YouAbc / ABC via Getty Images

He featured in an episode of The Big Bang Theory playing Sheldon's old roommate

He featured in an episode of The Big Bang Theory playing Sheldon's old roommateCBS

10. Dianna Agron is famously known for her role as Quinn Fabray on Glee

10. Dianna Agron is famously known for her role as Quinn Fabray on GleeAmanda Edwards / Getty Images

She played the role of the the girl who went on a date with Drake in Drake & Josh

She played the role of the the girl who went on a date with Drake in Drake & JoshNickelodeon

11. You probably know Mila Kunis from That '70s Show

11. You probably know Mila Kunis from That '70s ShowMomodu Mansaray / Getty Images

She played a schoolgirl named Annie in Baywatch

She played a schoolgirl named Annie in BaywatchNBC

Here is Mila again in 7th Heaven as Lucy's frenemy, Ashley

Here is Mila again in 7th Heaven as Lucy's frenemy, AshleyThe WB / The CW

12. You probably know Seth Rogen from Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, or many of his other comedy films

12. You probably know Seth Rogen from Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, or many of his other comedy filmsPhillip Faraone / Getty Images

He acted in Dawson's Creek where he played a stoner who went with Joey, Audrey, and Eddie to Los Angeles

He acted in Dawson's Creek where he played a stoner who went with Joey, Audrey, and Eddie to Los AngelesThe WB

13. Here is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who starred in 500 Days of Summer or 50/50

13. Here is Joseph Gordon-Levitt who starred in 500 Days of Summer or 50/50David Livingston / Getty Images

He acted as DJ's friend in the movie, Roseanne

He acted as DJ's friend in the movie, RoseanneABC

14. Ryan Gosling starred in so many movies like The Notebook, Crazy, Stupid, Love and La La Land

14. Ryan Gosling starred in so many movies like The Notebook, Crazy, Stupid, Love and La La LandRodin Eckenroth / Getty Images

He played a character who was obsessed with death in Are You Afraid of the Dark?

He played a character who was obsessed with death in Are You Afraid of the Dark?Nickelodeon

15. Here's Dakota Fanning and she played major roles in Uptown Girls, The Cat in the Hat, and Charlotte's Web

15. Here's Dakota Fanning and she played major roles in Uptown Girls, The Cat in the Hat, and Charlotte's WebSteve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

She played the girl who lived in the house Chandler and Monica bought in Friends

She played the girl who lived in the house Chandler and Monica bought in FriendsNBC

16. Here's Jessica Chastain from The Help or Take Shelter

16. Here's Jessica Chastain from The Help or Take ShelterLionel Hahn / Getty Images

She played an abuse survivor in Veronica Mars

She played an abuse survivor in Veronica MarsUPN

17. Here's Lin-Manuel Miranda and he's the writer of the musical plays Hamilton and In the Heights

17. Here's Lin-Manuel Miranda and he's the writer of the musical plays Hamilton and In the HeightsKevin Winter / Getty Images

He acted in an episode of How I Met Your Mother

He acted in an episode of How I Met Your MotherCBS

18. You may know Simon Helberg from Howard on The Big Bang Theory

18. You may know Simon Helberg from Howard on The Big Bang TheoryEmma Mcintyre / Getty Images

He portrayed a nerd in A Cinderella Story

He portrayed a nerd in A Cinderella StoryWarner Bros. Pictures

19. Here's Jane Lynch who played Coach Sue Sylvester on Glee

19. Here's Jane Lynch who played Coach Sue Sylvester on GleeMichael Loccisano / Getty Images

She acted as Greta on Married... with Children

She acted as Greta on Married... with ChildrenFox

20. You may know Ashley Tisdale from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the High School Musical movies

20. You may know Ashley Tisdale from The Suite Life of Zack & Cody and the High School Musical moviesPhillip Faraone / Getty Images

She acted as a student in Donnie Darko

She acted as a student in Donnie DarkoPandora Cinema

21. Here's Octavia Spencer and she played major roles in The Help and Ma

21. Here's Octavia Spencer and she played major roles in The Help and MaKevin Winter / Getty Images

She played a woman who tried to talk Peter out of joining a professional wrestling event in Spider-Man

She played a woman who tried to talk Peter out of joining a professional wrestling event in Spider-ManSony Pictures Releasing

22. Here's Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation

22. Here's Adam Scott from Parks and RecreationJc Olivera / WireImage / Getty Images

He had a recurring role as a bully in Boy Meets World

He had a recurring role as a bully in Boy Meets WorldABC

23. Scarlett Johansson is popularly known for playing Black Widow in the MCU films

23. Scarlett Johansson is popularly known for playing Black Widow in the MCU filmsGregg Deguire / FilmMagic / Getty Images

She acted as the sister in Home Alone 3

She acted as the sister in Home Alone 3Hughes Entertainment

24. Ben Affleck from his numerous major roles in Good Will Hunting, Pearl Harbor, and Gone Girl

24. Ben Affleck from his numerous major roles in Good Will Hunting, Pearl Harbor, and Gone GirlSteve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images

He acted as a basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie

He acted as a basketball player in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie20 Century Fox

25. John Cho who played Harold in the Harold & Kumar movies

25. John Cho who played Harold in the Harold & Kumar moviesAlbert L. Ortega / Getty Images

He played a parking valet in The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas

He played a parking valet in The Flintstones in Viva Rock VegasUniversal Pictures

26. Here's Johnny Galecki who acted as Leonard on The Big Bang Theory

26. Here's Johnny Galecki who acted as Leonard on The Big Bang TheoryEmma Mcintyre / NBCU Photo Bank / NBCUniversal via Getty Images

He played Rusty in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

He played Rusty in National Lampoon's Christmas VacationJohn Hughes Entertainment

27. Jessica Alba starred in many box office hits like Fantastic Four, Valentine's Day, and Good Luck Chuck

27. Jessica Alba starred in many box office hits like Fantastic Four, Valentine's Day, and Good Luck ChuckLionel Hahn / Getty Images

She acted a small role in Camp Nowhere

She acted a small role in Camp NowhereBuena Vista Pictures

28. Brie Larson who played roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Short Term 12, or in the MCU films as Captain Marvel

28. Brie Larson who played roles in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Short Term 12, or in the MCU films as Captain MarvelSteve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

She is one of the Six Chicks in 13 Going on 30

She is one of the Six Chicks in 13 Going on 30Sony Pictures Releasing

29. Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine, My Sister's Keeper, and Definitely, Maybe

29. Abigail Breslin from Little Miss Sunshine, My Sister's Keeper, and Definitely, MaybeSteve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

She plays one of the orphans in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

She plays one of the orphans in The Princess Diaries 2: Royal EngagementDisney

30. Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

30. Kiernan Shipka from Mad Men and Chilling Adventures of SabrinaJohn Shearer / Getty Images

She acted as a kid customer in an episode of Monk

She acted as a kid customer in an episode of MonkUSA

It's inspiring to learn that some superstars struggled in minor roles before rising to stardom. They worked hard before you knew who they were, and as you'll see, they sometimes had awkward childhoods that were fully documented on screen.

So keep in mind that everyone, including superstars, goes through stages of drilling before becoming dexterous in their careers. Please let us know what you think.