Welcome to “Before They Were Famous“, where we take a look at some of the past exploits of today's biggest stars, be it from movies, television, Broadway, competitions, etc.! The more embarrassing, the better. Our memories are long, but the internet's memory is forever, so jump back in time with us to witness some of our favorite stars before they were marquee names.
Kristen Stewart (CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA)
Kristen Stewart may have gotten her big break as Bella in the TWILIGHT films, but she has been acting since she was a kid. I remember first seeing her in PANIC ROOM (2002). However, even before that film, Kristen starred in a commercial for Porsche (1999). Wearing the 90s staple, a puka shell necklace, Kristin “accidentally” misses the bus, which means her dad has to take her to school in his awesome Porsche 911! By the end of the commercial, it’s obvious that Kristen has been missing the bus on purpose so she could show up to school in style. After all, who wants to ride that big yellow bus when you can be riding in a Porsche?!
Paul Walker (FURIOUS 7)
With FURIOUS 7 smashing box-office records, Paul Walker’s legacy has been weighing heavily on my mind. So, I was especially excited when I re-discovered this adorable clip of a young Paul participating in a Newlywed-style game for siblings called “I’m Telling!” (1987). Competing with his real sister Ashlie, the siblings squared off against other brother/sister pairs to see how well they knew each other. Thanks to Paul and Ashlie’s answers, we found out Paul had an appetite for milk, thought junk food wasn’t FOOD food, and called the host out on his ridiculous questions. But even when he made that silly face, this clip proves that Paul never had any awkward adolescent years!
Jon Hamm (MAD MEN)
Speaking of TV game shows, pre-MAD MEN Jon Hamm was a contestant on the dating game show “The Big Date” (1996) hosted by Mark L. Walberg. No, not that Mark Wahlberg. Our bachelorette, Mary Carter, was tasked with choosing a date from three eligible bachelors. The first contestant, Marc, was a stuntman, who said he would “take her home later and show her my flexibility.” Ew. The second guy, Marcus, was even creepier and not just because of his Justin Timberlake-esque frosted tips. He said he wanted to “squeeze her like a little teddy bear”. What?! I’m getting a serious OF MICE AND MEN vibe from him.
The third bachelor was Don Draper himself, 25-year-old Jon Hamm, who said his perfect date would “start off with some fabulous food, some fabulous conversation, and end with a fabulous foot massage for an evening of total fabulosity.” But even with that cringe-worthy line, Mary was not wooed by Jon’s luscious locks, or his use of the word “fabulous”. Instead, she chose Mark… because he said hi to her when he walked in. Looks like Jon needed to perfect his Draper swagger.
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