Modeling: A Gateway To Acting?
The model-to-actress pipeline is a popular one in the entertainment industry. In fact, your favorite actress may have started on the runway, not the stage. It seems that walking with attitude and a great posture turns out to be an excellent transferable skill—and these actresses are proof.
Brooke Shields, The Model
With her classic, blue-eyed elegance, Brooke Shields is one of the best known models-turned-actresses. She started her career early, modeling for Ivory Snow Soap at just 11 months old. She later signed with Eileen Ford and famously said she couldn’t be separated from her Calvin Klein jeans.
Brooke Shields, The Actress
Brooke Shields’ early career was mired in controversy because she was so young. A 12-year-old Shields played a courtesan in Pretty Baby (1978), but she is perhaps best known for her teenage role in The Blue Lagoon (1980). She even appeared on Friends in 1994 and was so impressive that NBC gave her a sitcom of her own, Suddenly Susan (1996).
Demi Moore, The Model
From sculpting clay in Ghost (1990) to defying age in The Substance (2024), Demi Moore is widely considered a household name. But before all the accolades for her movies, she signed with Elite Modeling Agency, which was founded by John Casablancas, the originator of the supermodel concept.
Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock
Demi Moore, The Actress
Demi Moore’s screen highlights include General Hospital (1963), St. Elmo’s Fire (1985), Ghost (1990), Indecent Proposal (1993), and Disclosure (1994). According to IMDB, she was the first actress to break $10 million in salary.
Halle Berry, The Model
Halle Berry’s career was kickstarted by her first-place win at the Miss Teen All-American Pageant at age 17. She was later runner-up at the Miss USA pageant. Berry became a model after that, and in 1989, landed a role in Living Dolls.
SPC James Gordon, Wikimedia Commons
Halle Berry, The Actress
Halle Berry has had an illustrious career, appearing in films like Boomerang (1992) with Eddie Murphy and Losing Isaiah (1995) with Jessica Lange. She then made history by becoming the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. It recognized her role in Monster’s Ball (2001).
Everett Collection, Shutterstock
Famke Janssen, The Model
Known for her roles in X-Men (2000), X-Men 3: The Last Stand (2006), and GoldenEye (1995), Famke Janssen was born in Amstelveen, Netherlands. She moved to the United States in the 1980s and became a model for Chanel. But she soon took a break and went to Columbia University, declaring literature as her major.
Famke Janssen, The Actress
Famke Janssen is best known for her action-packed roles as Xenia Onatopp in GoldenEye (1995) and Jean Grey in the X-Men series. She has also acted in television, appearing in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992), How to Get Away With Murder (2015-2020), and The Blacklist (2016-2018).
Ali MacGraw, The Model
Love Story star Ali MacGraw grew up with an artistic family in Pound Ridge, New York. She signed with agent Eileen Ford as a model but tried to make it in New York City as a fashion journalist. MacGraw also worked as a part-time model and photo stylist under Melvin Sokolsky. Fun fact: Salvador Dali once sucked her toes.
National General Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
Ali MacGraw, The Actress
Ali MacGraw landed a starring role in Goodbye, Columbus (1969) with minimal training in theater. She was then cast in the 1970 classic Love Story and subsequently earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Ali MacGraw’s other film and television credits include The Getaway (1972), The Winds of War (1983), and Dynasty (1985).
Julia Roberts, The Model
There’s not much information on Julia Roberts’ modeling career, but she signed with an agency when she first moved to New York City to pursue acting. As a child, Roberts had originally wanted to be a veterinarian.
Julia Roberts, The Actress
Julia Roberts became interested in acting after her brother Eric achieved some success. Today, she’s one of Hollywood’s best-known actresses, famous for hits like Pretty Woman (1990) and Notting Hill (1999). Her role in Pretty Woman earned her an Academy Award nomination.
TriStar, My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Uma Thurman, The Model
The daughter of a fashion model and a Buddhist academic, Uma Thurman initially had trouble fitting in with her peers. Her 6-foot frame (complete with size 11 shoes) made her a successful model in New York City, however, and she soon scored a layout in Glamour magazine.
Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons
Uma Thurman, The Actress
Thurman is perhaps best known for her roles in Quentin Tarantino films: Pulp Fiction (1994), Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003), and Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004). Other credits include The Avengers (1998), Sweet and Lowdown (1999), and Tape (2001).
Miramax, Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)
Jennifer Connelly, The Model
Jennifer Connelly was born in the Catskill Mountains of New York and grew up in Brooklyn. When she was 10 years old, a family friend suggested she audition as a model. She then landed advertisements in newspapers and magazines, including Seventeen.
Jennifer Connelly, The Actress
An established actress, Jennifer Connelly is best known for her roles in Requiem for a Dream (2000), A Beautiful Mind (2001), and He’s Just Not That Into You (2009). Connelly won a plethora of awards for her portrayal of John Nash’s wife in A Beautiful Mind, including an AFI, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Award.
Cameron Diaz, The Model
Another model-turned-actress, Cameron Diaz made it to the front cover of Seventeen when she was, well, 17. Young Diaz told the magazine she prefers black army boots over heels, much to her father’s dismay. The teenager also said she wanted to be a zoologist and study lions in Africa.
Cameron Diaz, The Actress
Cameron Diaz’s most iconic character was probably Natalie in Charlie’s Angels (2000). She also had memorable roles in My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), There’s Something About Mary (1998), Bad Teacher (2001), and voiced Fiona in the Shrek franchise.
Tyra Banks, The Model
One of today’s most well-known models, Tyra Banks originally wanted to go to film school. Her goal was to become a producer or writer, but a classmate told her that she looked like she could be a model. Banks later caught the eye of a French talent scout and spent the year after high school landing gigs in Paris.
Tyra Banks, The Actress
Tyra Banks is best known for hosting America’s Next Top Model. The show ran from 2003 to 2018 and aired over 300 episodes. Other film credits include Coyote Ugly (2000) and Tropic Thunder (2008).
Tricia Helfer, The Model
Canadian model-turned-actress Tricia Helfer got her big break at 17 when she won the Ford Models’ Supermodel of the World contest. Since then, she’s modeled for brands like Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Giorgio Armani. She’s also been on the cover of ELLE, Cosmopolitan, and Vogue.
Tricia Helfer, The Actress
Helfer is best known for her portrayal of a Cylon (android) known as “Number Six” on Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009). Other notable appearances include Two and a Half Men (2009-2011), Lucifer (2016-2021), and Suits (2015-2016). She has also done extensive voiceover work for video games.
Milla Jovovich, The Model
Ukrainian-born Milla Jovovich got her first big break when she was discovered by photographer Richard Avedon. By 12, she was signed as a model and later appeared in magazines like Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and High Times. Jovovich became the world’s highest-paid supermodel in 2004 with $10.4 million in earnings.
Milla Jovovich, The Actress
Milla Jovovich’s major film roles include the stoner classic Dazed and Confused (1993) and sci-fi adventure The Fifth Element (1997). She also played Alice in all the Resident Evil movies between 2002 and 2016. She speaks Russian, English, and Ukrainian.
Charlize Theron, The Model
Born in South Africa, Charlize Theron was originally trained as a ballet dancer. She moved to New York and landed a gig at Joffrey Ballet, along with some photo modeling. A knee injury soon put a stop to her dancing career, but as luck would have it, she ran into her future talent agent while complaining at a bank.
Charlize Theron, The Actress
Charlize Theron is perhaps most recognizable for her portrayal of tough-as-nails Furiosa in Mad Max: Fury Road (2015). Other notable appearances include action-packed hits like Prometheus (2012), Snow White and the Huntsman (2012), and The Old Guard (2020).
Village Roadshow, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Angelina Jolie, The Model
One of Hollywood’s most famous women, Angelina Jolie began modeling at 16 years old. She’d later win a Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, and Emmy nomination for portraying supermodel Gia Carangi in Gia (1998). Makes sense for a model playing a model!
Angelina Jolie, The Actress
The daughter of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie was surrounded by theater from an early age. She has studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, New York University, and the Met Theatre Group. Her accolades include winning an Academy Award, SAG Award, and Golden Globe for Girl, Interrupted (1999). Other major films include The Bone Collector (1999), Salt (2010), and Maleficent (2014).
Columbia, Girl, Interrupted (1999)
Jaime King, The Model
Jaime King started modeling in her early teens. She landed pages in major fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, and Vogue. She’s also been a runway model for brands like Chanel, Christian Dior, and Alexander McQueen. In an interview with Photobook, King states that modeling taught her “discipline and professionalism,” skills she would use in her film career.
Jaime King, The Actress
King is known for roles in White Chicks (2004), Sin City (2005), and My Bloody Valentine (2009). True to her dedication to the grind, King was six months pregnant when she finished filming the third season of Hart of Dixie (2011). She also returned to filming Barely Lethal (2015) just one month after giving birth.
Kate Upton, The Model
Kate Upton has had an extensive modeling career. She signed with IMG Models in 2010 and then famously appeared in Sports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. She’s also been on the cover of top magazines like Cosmopolitan, Esquire, and The Daily. In 2012, she was included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibition.
Kate Upton, The Actress
Upton has been modeling since she was 15 years old, but she’s also made splashes in acting. Most notably, she starred in The Other Woman (2014). She has also appeared in commercials for Mercedes-Benz and Carl’s Junior. Known for her social media presence, she’s also made it to the front page of The New York Times.
Sienna Miller, The Model
Can modeling run in the family? Sienna Miller’s mother was a model as well (and she also worked for David Bowie). Miller herself modeled and acted in minor roles after her time at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She also played a model in the BBC sitcom Bedtime (2001).
Sienna Miller, The Actress
Sienna Miller’s film roles include Layer Cake (2004), Alfie (2004), Casanova (2005), and The Edge of Love (2008). She was nominated for a British Independent Film Award for Best Supporting Actress, and she also earned a BAFTA Orange Rising Star nomination. Her appearance in Interview (2007) also earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.
Abbey Lee, The Model
Abbey Lee has modeled for top brands like Calvin Klein, Chanel, Gucci, and more. She’s also modeled for Gap, H&M, and Ralph Lauren. Lee has appeared multiple times on the cover of Australian Vogue.
Abbey Lee, The Actress
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) is perhaps Abbey Lee’s most well-known movie. She’s also appeared in The Neon Demon (2016), Office Christmas Party (2016), and Old (2021). In 2021, she shared a Screen Actors Guild Award with her castmates in Lovecraft Country.
Cara Delevingne, The Model
One of today’s most popular models-turned-actresses, Cara Delevigne has represented high-end brands like Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, H&M, Zara, and Chanel. In 2012, she won Model of the Year and walked in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Her magazine covers include i-D, Vogue UK, and Vogue Korea.
Cara Delevingne, The Actress
Cara Delevingne’s extensive film credits include Anna Karenina (2012), Paper Towns (2015), and Suicide Squad (2016), for which she won a second Teen Choice Award. She has also been a series regular on Carnival Row (2019, 2023) and season 12 of American Horror Story (2023-2024).
Emily Ratajkowski, The Model
Known for her controversial role in the 2013 music video for Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” Ratajkowski has been modeling since she was 14 years old. According to an interview with Into the Gloss, Ratajkowski’s agency initially turned down the offer to participate in “Blurred Lines”. The video was widely criticized for being misogynistic, and in 2021, Ratajkowski accused Thicke of groping her on set in her book My Body.
Emily Ratajkowski, The Actress
Ratajkowski has since moved on to acting in films such as Gone Girl (2015), for which she was recommended by Ben Affleck. Other appearances include Entourage (2015) and We Are Your Friends (2015).
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Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37
