Celebrities' Humble Beginnings

Everybody has to start somewhere, and early jobs don't always say much about where a career will end up. That's obvious from the lives of some top celebrities, whose first forays into the working world were, well, less than glamorous. Can you picture Madonna at Dunkin' Donuts? Neither can we. As the "Roadtrip Nation" teams learn how diverse people found their paths to success, we look at some A-list stars and how they got their starts.

Johnny Depp

OK, Johnny Depp as a young rock star is totally believable, and long before he took inspiration from Keith Richards for his "Pirates of the Caribbean" role, the actor did front a band called The Kids as a teenager. But one of his first real jobs is harder to picture: as a telemarketer trying to sell pens over the phone. (Sara De Boer / Retna Ltd.)

Jennifer Lopez

J.Lo may have gotten her first break as a scantily clad fly girl on "In Living Color," but her first job had her using a lot more brain power than booty power. Yes, the thrice-married pop star/actress got her start - and maybe some prenup tips? - as a law-office assistant. (Kevin Mazur / WireImage.com)

Madonna

Here's good news for all you folks out there working some dead-end job at a fast-food joint: You could potentially become one of the most successful and influential pop icons of all time. Long before providing the world with plenty of chart-topping hits, Madonna provided New Yorkers with plenty of deep-fried goodness at a Dunkin' Donuts in Times Square. (Suzan / PA Photos / Retna Ltd.)

Russell Crowe

The talented but temper-challenged Aussie actor worked briefly as a waiter (wonder if he ever threw cell phones at impatient customers?) and as a singer, under the name Russ Le Roc. The Oscar-winning star has continued making music through the years, but won fame from such diverse roles as a Roman "Gladiator," a mathematical genius ("A Beautiful Mind"), a boxer ("Cinderella Man") and a cop ("L.A. Confidential" and the upcoming "American Gangster"). (Jasper James / Retna Ltd.)

Teri Hatcher

Before she became "Desperate"-ly successful as an actress, Teri Hatcher got her start as a cheerleader for the San Francisco 49ers - not surprising for the girl voted "Most Likely to Become a Solid Gold Dancer" by her high-school graduating class. She later broke into acting as one the mermaids on "The Love Boat" and, most notably, as the object of Superman's desire on "Lois and Clark." (Sara De Boer / Retna Ltd.)

Brad Pitt

The Oscar-nominated actor and former "Sexiest Man Alive" wasn't an instant success. As a struggling actor, his good looks and talent were once hidden under a giant chicken suit as he stood outside a Sunset Boulevard restaurant to attract customers. (Sara De Boer / Retna)

Cate Blanchett

Long before she became film royalty (in "Elizabeth," "Lord of the Rings" and more), Cate was the original Tim-Tam girl - appearing in the first set of ads to promote the Australian chocolate biscuit (that's a cookie to you). (CAMERA PRESS / Theodore Wood / Retna)

J.K. Rowling

Talk about wizardry: J.K. Rowling turned her lifelong dream of writing into the worldwide "Harry Potter" phenomenon, and became a billionaire in the process. But before she got published, she worked at the London office of Amnesty International, researching human-rights abuses in Africa. She has continued to support the organization with her new-found wealth. (Phil Loftus / Capital Pictures / Retna Ltd.)

Evangeline Lilly

For the actress who gained fame as an air-crash survivor on "Lost," it seems ironic that one of her early jobs was as a flight attendant (for Air Canada, not Oceanic Air). She also worked briefly as a waitress and modeled to earn money for her university studies. (Sara De Boer / Retna)

Chris Rock

Chris Rock turned his early job, as a busboy at a Red Lobster, into comic fodder. "The thing about Red Lobster is that if you work there, you can't afford to eat there. You're making minimum wage. A shrimp costs minimum wage," he told Jay Leno in a "Tonight Show" interview. But a later bussing job - at a comedy club -- brought him a chance to try his jokes on stage. (Michael Caulfield / WireImage.com)

Will Ferrell

Real-life Ron Burgundy? The actor/comedian graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in sports information and worked as a sportscaster on cable TV - good training for his future role in "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy." But he soon discovered stand-up comedy and acting, and joined the comic improv group The Groundlings, which led to a "Saturday Night Live" gig and then the big screen. (Retna Ltd.)

Jim Carrey

Jim Carrey was already a funny guy as a teen, performing in comedy clubs while still in high school. But it wasn't all laughs for the rubber-faced comic ("The Mask," "Dumb and Dumber," "Bruce Almighty"); he worked as a janitor and security guard at a factory to help his family make ends meet during tough times. (Armando Gallo / Retna Ltd.)

Sheryl Crow

Long before ruling the charts, Sheryl Crow ruled the elementary-school classroom as a music teacher in a St. Louis suburb. She later packed up and moved to L.A., where she got her first big break dueting with Michael Jackson on the BAD tour during "I Just Can't Stop Loving You." (No, we can't picture it either). (Neal Preston / Retna Ltd.)

Whoopi Goldberg

She's gone from stand-up comedian to Oscar winner to "View" mediator throughout her career, so it's only fitting that her early professions were just as varied. Among her early jobs were bank teller, brick layer and - eek! - funeral home make-up artist. (Andrew Marks / Retna Ltd.)

Mariah Carey

From the time she was 3 years old, Mariah knew she wanted to sing (and was getting tips from her mom, an opera singer and vocal coach). By the time she was in high school, she was skipping class to write songs, make demo tapes and sing backup in pursuit of her dream. No wonder she didn't last long at any of her many jobs: coat-checker, hair-salon sweeper, waitress. (Swift / Retna Ltd.)

50 Cent

You think the music business is tough? The rapper's first "job" was selling crack as a pre-teen in Queens, N.Y. He'd been arrested, shot (nine times) and stabbed before he got his big break, signing with Eminem's label. He knows firsthand about the violence most gangstas rap about, but has also lived the first part of his hit title, "Get Rich or Die Tryin'." (Paul Smith / Featureflash / Retna)

Source: MSN