Jump directly to the content
False Start

13 weird first jobs celebrities had – including Brad Pitt as a professional chicken and Victoria Beckham as a dancing sperm

BEING rich and famous means never having to get your hands dirty - but that doesn't mean you don't have to put the graft in to make some money on your way to the top.

Here are some of the most bizarre jobs celebs have had before hitting the big time - including one celeb who was a dancing chicken...

Megan Fox – Smoothie Shop Banana

 Megan Fox revealed her fruit past in a banana costume
13
Megan Fox revealed her fruit past in a banana costumeCredit: Getty Images

It may not sound very a-peeling but screen beauty Megan has a fruity past as a novelty banana.

She told Ellen DeGeneres she worked in the a smoothie shop in Florida when she was a teenager.

She said: “Once a week, usually on Fridays, someone had to dress up as a piece of fruit and go and stand out by the highway.

“I was a banana, a giant banana.”

Brad Pitt – Giant Chicken

 Brad Pitt dressed up a chicken to entice diners into a restaurant
13
Brad Pitt dressed up a chicken to entice diners into a restaurantCredit: AP:Associated Press

The World War Z star worked for a restaurant called El Pollo Loco (Crazy Chicken)  while trying to make it in Hollywood.

His job was to dress up as a chicken and hand out flyers to attract customers.

Glad his cluck changed.

Rod Stewart – Graveyard Shift

 Rod decided manual labour wasnt for him after his graveyard stint
13
Rod decided manual labour wasnt for him after his graveyard stintCredit: Rex Features

As a teenager, the British rocker worked in Highgate Cemetery in London, but, contrary to popular belief he didn’t actually dig the graves.

Instead he measured them out and marked them with string.

He later joked: “You learn a lot about yourself, doing physical work. And what I learned about myself was that I didn't like doing physical work.”

Victoria Beckham – Skating Sperm

 Before being a singer and a designer, Victoria played a rollerskating sperm
13
Before being a singer and a designer, Victoria played a rollerskating spermCredit: Getty Images

Before joining the most successful girl band in UK history, Victoria Spiced up a BBC sex education programme called Body Matters.

She was required to dress up as a sperm and wear rollerskates to earn her cash.

Luckily, the former Spice Girl turned designer has a much posher wardrobe now.

Calvin Harris - Fish Gutter

 Calvin Harris gutted salmon for royals to fund his DJing
13
Calvin Harris gutted salmon for royals to fund his DJingCredit: Getty Images

The Scottish DJ didn’t always live life in the fast lane.

He grew up in the Scottish town of Dumfries, where he used to work in a fish factory gutting salmon.

But at least it was posh salmon – it ended up on the table at the royal household.

Taylor Swift – Pest Exterminator

 Taylor Swift once had to remove the praying mantis pods from Christmas trees
13
Taylor Swift once had to remove the praying mantis pods from Christmas treesCredit: Getty Images - WireImage

The Blank Space star grew up a Christmas tree farm in Pennsylvania and as a little girl she had a very special job.

She had to destroy the praying mantis pods hidden in the branches.

At least she could just Shake It Off.

Meghan Markle – Wedding Scribe

 Meghan Markle used to write wedding invitations and could soon be writing her own
13
Meghan Markle used to write wedding invitations and could soon be writing her ownCredit: PA:Press Association

Prince Harry’s girlfriend once made a living out of having beautiful handwriting.

The Suits actress used her calligraphy skills to write invitations for weddings and events.

She was later 'discovered' at a house party and the rest, as they say, is history.

At least now we know if she marries her Prince, guests can expect some pretty special invites.

Ozzy Osbourne – Animal Slayer

 Hes been known ot bit the heads off bats but Ozzy Osbourne also worked in a slaughterhouse
13
Hes been known ot bit the heads off bats but Ozzy Osbourne also worked in a slaughterhouseCredit: Getty Images

The bat-biting Black Sabbath star is not known for his love of animals so a first job in an abattoir may not be a great surprise.

He once worked as a labourer in a Birmingham-based slaughterhouse, reportedly killing cows.

Sylvester Stallone – Lion Pooper Scooper

 Sylvester Stallone worked at the zoo while trying to flog the script to the 1976 movie Rocky
13
Sylvester Stallone worked at the zoo while trying to flog the script to the 1976 movie RockyCredit: Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

While trying to flog his Rocky script, Sly did many a job – even starring in a porno movie for £175.

But he also worked at Central Park Zoo in New York, and was paid under £1 an hour for scooping lion poop out of the cages.

But that’s when his career really was in the toilet.

Whoopi Goldberg – Phone Sex Operator / Brick Layer / Morgue beautician

 The actress confessed to making Whoopi on phone sex lines
13
The actress confessed to making Whoopi on phone sex linesCredit: Splash News

You can say what you want about Whoopi - but that woman is not afraid of getting her hands dirty or handling something grizzly if her work requires it.

Before making it as the mega star icon she is today, the star started working as a brick layer before taking on the unenviable job of being a beautician at the morgue.

Following that she worked as a phone sex operator, something that apparently helped her "hone her craft".

She joked with Good Morning America: "The money was great!"

Johnny Depp – Pen Salesman

 Pen and sword... Johnny Depp once sold ballpoints to unsuspecting customers
13
Pen and sword... Johnny Depp once sold ballpoints to unsuspecting customersCredit: Walt Disney Studios

The Pirates Of The Caribbean star started his career with less swash-buckling and more cold-calling as he sold ballpoint pens by the gross to strangers with the promise of a possible prize of a clock or a trip to Tahiti.

He said: ''I sold one thing, one gross of pens to one guy. And then he was asking me about the trip to Tahiti and I was riddled with guilt, so I told him, 'Hey, man, you don't want these (expletive) pens. This is a scam.

“The grandfather clock is made of pressboard. You're not going to Tahiti. I'm sorry.' So I talked him out of it.''

Channing Tatum - Stripper

 Channing was actually a stripper before becoming Magic Mike
13
Channing was actually a stripper before becoming Magic MikeCredit: AP:Associated Press

Most know this one by now that Channing Tatum write and directed the much-loved film Magic Mike.

The actual film itself was inspired by his real life experiences as a stripper, which he is proud to talk about as part of his past.

He later gave up the profession once he made it in Hollywood, and it definitely explains where he got those dance moves from...

Hugh Jackman - a PE teacher

 Hugh Jackman came to the UK as a PE teacher
13
Hugh Jackman came to the UK as a PE teacherCredit: Splash News

After moving to the UK, Hugh Jackman worked as a PE teacher at Uppingham School in London.

Years later, Hugh ran into one of the kids that he taught during his time as a teacher at Zurich Film Festival in 2013- with the person in question now working as a journalist covering the red carpet.

Recognising him instantly, the journo was left blushing as Hugh grilled him and said: "Rollo...I'm sorry mate we go way back and I want to know how your physical education is progressing! You've gone a nice shade of red there!"

Topics