10 Celebrities Who Were Surprisingly in Ads Before They Were Famous
These stars were once just fresh faces trying to make it in commercials before Hollywood called.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Before the red carpets and blockbuster roles, these celebrities were just trying to land any gig they could. That journey included some hilariously unexpected commercial appearances—some you may have even seen without realizing it. You’ll never look at some of these ads the same way again.
1. Leonardo DiCaprio’s Soda Ad Days
Thore Siebrands on Wikimedia Commons
Long before Titanic, DiCaprio smiled his way through a 1980s Japanese soda commercial. It was pure charisma bottled up and fizzing with future star power. Watching it now, you can see flashes of the charm that would later make him a household name.
2. Jennifer Lawrence’s Energy Boost
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Before *The Hunger Games, *Jennifer Lawrence appeared in a hilarious ad for a kids’ energy drink. She was spunky, loud, and already radiating leading-lady energy. Even covered in neon colors, her natural charm stole the spotlight.
3. Jessica Alba’s Acne Ad Moment
TechCrunch on Wikimedia Commons
Jessica Alba once battled breakouts on screen for a Clearasil commercial in the early 2000s. The ad was complete with dramatic before-and-after shots. The ad may have faded, but her glow-up is forever.
4. Brad Pitt Was the Burger Boy
Harald Krichel (1969–) on Wikimedia Commons
Brad Pitt once rocked a fast-food uniform in a Pringles ad, flipping burgers and flashing that grin. It was a quick role, but he made those few seconds unforgettable. Who knew the guy serving chips would one day win an Oscar?
5. Ben Affleck and the Drive-Thru Dash
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Ben Affleck charmed in a cheesy 1989 Burger King ad where he flirted through a drive-thru window. The boy-next-door act totally worked. It’s the kind of cute you’d rewind on VHS.
6. Steve Carell’s Chicken Suit
Montclair Film Festival on Wikimedia Commons
Before becoming everyone’s favorite boss, Steve Carell danced around in a fried chicken outfit. It was for Brown’s Chicken—and yes, it was as awkward as it sounds. His comedic timing was already spot on, even beneath a feathered costume.
7. Mila Kunis and the Barbie World
Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
Mila Kunis played with Barbies on-screen before she voiced Meg or starred in rom-coms. In a 1990s toy commercial, she was every kid’s playtime best friend. Who knew that little girl would grow into a Hollywood powerhouse?
8. Aaron Paul’s “Got Milk?” Gig
gdcgraphics on Wikimedia Commons
Before shouting “Yeah, science!” on *Breaking Bad, Aaron Paul sported a milk mustache for the iconic ad campaign. *It was innocent and wide-eyed, which is the total opposite of Jesse Pinkman. However, it proves he always had that on-camera spark.
9. Courteney Cox in a Tampax First
Felicia C. Sullivan at http://feliciasullivan.com/ on Wikimedia Commons
Courteney Cox made history as the first person to say “period” on TV—in a 1985 Tampax ad. It was bold for the time and showed her fearless side early on. Just like Monica, she owned every line.
10. Naomi Watts Sold Jeans Before Prestige
Joella Marano on Wikimedia Commons
Naomi Watts once modeled denim in a retro ad that screamed ’90s catalog. She smiled, twirled, and sold the look. Now, she’s in prestige dramas, but once, she was just trying to sell jeans.