Tippi Degré has been named “the real-life Mowgli,” as she was raised amongst wild animals. After writing a book about her life and appearing in several documentaries, Tippi became a point of fascination for people everywhere. Her childhood pictures with dangerous wild animals will leave you speechless. So, let’s start this wild ride.
Meet The Real Life Mowgli
Tippi Degré was born in June 1990 to a Frech couple, Sylvie Robert and Alain Degré, in Namibia, a country in Africa. As her parents were a huge fan of actress Tippi Hedren, they named their daughter after her.
When Tippi was born, her parents made a huge decision that their daughter would not have a normal childhood, but she would be raised amongst wild animals in Africa.
A Big Decision
Tippi spent the next ten years of her childhood running among elephants and making friends with leopards.
When The Telegraph asked Tippi’s mother why she chose to raise her child like this, she said, “It was magical to be able to be free in nature with this child, she was a fortunate little girl – she was born and raised until the age of ten totally in the wild. It was just the three of us living in the wild with the animals and not too many humans.”
Adapting Quite Early On
Sylvie Robert told The Telegraph about how her daughter would make sure that monkeys didn’t steal her bottle. Her first instincts pointed out that she would find no trouble with a unique upbringing.
She recalls on many occasions when Tippi was a young infant and how she would point to an elephant eating from a palm tree and say, “mummy, be quiet, we’re going to frighten him.”
A Fearless Child
It became quite apparent to Tippi’s parents that their daughter was fearless. After all, she found it natural and normal to live with such enormous and wild animals.
Sylvie said, “She was in the mindset of these animals. She believed the animals were her size and her friends. She was using her imagination to live in these different conditions.” The “ferocious beasts” were best friends to her.
A Fast Learner
According to Tippi’s mother, her daughter spent a lot of time worrying that wild animals would take away her bottle. It also meant that she was running around the jungle at a very young age.
That explains why Tippi was able to walk when she was just ten months old. It is impressive because most babies are crawling on all fours at this age.
A Careful Kid
As Tippi didn’t have a normal upbringing, it meant that the dangers were a thousand times more serious for her than most children. After all, she was living in a place where ferocious beasts are always waiting for prey.
That’s why she started to learn survival techniques at a very young age. This picture doesn’t tell the entire story, and her parents were careful to not let their daughter play with knives.
Parents Were A Bit Cautious
Although Tippi’s parents didn’t intervene a lot when she was out playing with animals, they became a bit extra careful after one incident. Tippi had befriended a lion cub named Mufasa. So, a year after their first meeting, they all went to see Mufasa.
The lion cub who was all grown up now gave Tippi a friendly rub, and its tail almost knocked little Tippi. So, her parents stepped in to keep the animal away from her.
No Regret
Tippi’s parents have no regret over their decision for how they raised their child. In fact, they feel happy and proud of it.
Sylvia said, “For me, it was incredible to think you offer all of this to a child because I was at ease because I liked it and because we had lived with the Meerkats in the Kalahari desert for six years before Tippi was born, I believed it was fantastic to have that to offer to a child compared to what I would be able to offer to a child living in a city for example.”
Having a Best Friend
When Tippi was only one and a half years old, she met Abu the elephant and they instantly connected.
Tippi’s mother describes how her daughter was drawn to the elephant, and she wasn’t afraid of its size. Abu became Tippi’s best friend as she would spend hours speaking to him. The bond between them was incredible.
A Close Bond with a Leopard
Tippi was also quite close to a leopard named J&B. She told The Telegraph about how the leopard’s mother died in a trap, and it was adopted by a local farmer.
Whenever the wild animal was around Tippi, it remained calm. She recalls the moment when the leopard attacked another child, and she went to the animal and told it to stop. The leopard quickly ran away.
The Ability to Talk with Animals
It was clear from a young age that Tippi was an animal whisperer. She had a gift that she was able to connect with animals on different levels.
Her mother explained, “Tippi always said that everybody was gifted, and this was her gift.”
Lover of All Kinds of Animals
Tippi didn’t just love mammals or fluffy animals, but she also loved slimy and small ones. While most little girls would scream and freak out at the possibility of touching a tiny frog, Tippi would hug Bullfrogs.
Here, her parents caught a beautiful moment between a large African Bullfrog and their fearless and loving daughter.
Riding an Ostrich
It may look photoshopped, but Tippi was indeed riding an ostrich when this photo was taken.
Although wild ostriches run away from humans because they see them as predators, Tippi was able to ride a tamed ostrich named Linda.
Becoming Friends with Bushmen
The Degré family encountered many tribes-people during their travels. Tippi took a special liking to Bushmen and the Himba tribe in the Kalahari. The tribe people not only taught her their language but also how to use a bow and arrow and survive on roots and berries.
Her mother said, “When we filmed the San Bushmen of northern Namibia, we would let Tippi spend the day with the group without us until she would fall asleep among the kids.”
Being Accepted
One of the local tribes’ children accepted Tippi from the very start, and they considered her as one of their own. Sylvie said during an interview, “When we came to a village with African children, within two minutes, Tippi was the clown, and people found her so cute.”
She described how the local tribe children enjoyed playing with her. Unfortunately, she didn’t find that complete acceptance because she had to go back to Europe.
Feeling like a Bird
As Tippi’s parents traveled around Africa and explored different places, she enjoyed fun encounters everywhere. So, when they went to the Seabird Islands on the coast of South Africa, she became one with the flock.
Here, we can see 6-year-old Tippi completely absorbed in the moment and the surroundings.
Loving All Animals
Tippi’s connection with animals was strong from a young age. She would allow the snake to give her little kisses and feel totally comfortable around it.
While young girls and even adults would never imagine going near a snake, Tippi was a unique girl who felt completely safe and comfortable around them.
Nap Time with a Beast
As we mentioned earlier how a leopard was one of her best friends, she was also friends with big, wild cats. She didn’t just play with them, but she also enjoyed naps with them as well.
As young children like to sleep with a stuffed lion or other animals, Tippi took it to the next level by cuddling with a live lion cub. How crazy is that? Well, the photo shows how safe both of them felt around each other.
Zebra Feeding Time
When people go to the zoo, they are specifically instructed not to feed the animals. But in Tippi’s case, there were no rules.
We can see how relaxed and happy she is while feeding a zebra. Well, food is a great way to make new friends, and she made a new friend that day.
A Different Career Path
When Tippi grew up, she decided that she would study cinema in France. It seemed a bit surprising as everyone suspected she would choose a career in veterinary medicine.
Tippi went for a new career path because she had spent a lot of time working for conservations, and she needed a platform through which she could effectively spread awareness.
A Special Bond
By now, you know about her special connection with animals. Here, you can see her bond with a huge animal.
She used to ride on the elephants, and they would cradle her with their trunks. There is an excellent level of mutual love, respect, and trust.
A Part of Local Elephant Herd
The best thing about Tippi’s love for animals was that she used to get accepted quite quickly. The local elephant herd ultimately accepted her, and she would spend her time bathing or cooling them down in the local pond.
The elephants trusted her and felt safe around her. It was a surreal sight for many people because everyone knows that elephants can become aggressive.
Unconventional Lifestyle
While many young girls grow up wearing fancy clothes, Tippi had a very different lifestyle as she wore animal skins and loincloths.
While others carry purses, she used to carry suitcases made from local trees. It looks clear that she loved her unconventional lifestyle.
Monkey Playmates
Although Tippi used to play with children of local tribes, she also enjoyed playing with animals, especially monkeys.
There was a special bond of trust and understanding between Tippi and the animals.
Homeschooled and Great Learning Experiences
Tippi was homeschooled throughout her early years. Her parents taught her about the wild environment and everything else that most young children need to know. It looks as if her parents used the behavior of animals to teach her various life lessons.
For instance, she learned from turtles about determination and patience. When Tippi later started to attend a public school, her parents realized they made the best decision to home-school their daughter.
One of TheLargest Land Animals
The African elephant is one of the largest and heaviest land animals on earth. They can easily weigh up between 2-7 tons and grow up to 13 feet tall. These large animals like to live and travel in a herd.
It can be hard to believe that Tippi was indeed part of their herd. In fact, she often used to ride them and take baths with them.
Amazing Childhood Photos
If you look at the childhood photos of people, you’ll find that they are filled with happy faces in ordinary settings, but that’s not the case with Tippi.
Her childhood photos album is filled with amazing photos of her with wild animals such as lions, monkeys, elephants, and turtles. It is mainly because her parents took great pictures of her and were always coming up with different ideas for wildlife photography.
I Am The Queen of The World’
Titanic was released in 1997, and this picture reminds us of that scene with Jack and Rose “flying.”
As many circuses have come under fire for their mistreatment of animals, it was unbelievable to see how little Tippi was able to ride elephants without ever punishing or harming them. The elephants listened to her because they trusted and loved her.
Loving All Animals
One thing that made Tippi such an amazing animal lover is that she never loved animals based on their popularity. Some people can find the courage to love wild animals such as lions, elephants, or horses, but what about other animals? Tippi loved animals despite how cute, ugly, big, or small they were.
This photo shows how comfortable she is while kissing a slimy reptile. Her parents also didn’t stop her because they knew that she always had the situation under control. They knew that animals wouldn’t hurt her because she handled them with care and love.
Different Wardrobe, Of Course!
As Tippi spent most of her childhood with animals and local tribes, her wardrobe was different from other kids of her age. Just like Mowgli in the Jungle Book, Tippi also had minimal clothing.
In many of her photos, she can be seen wearing just a loincloth or lighter fabrics. It was done mainly to ensure she remains cool in the hot African climate. It must have been difficult for her to transition to wearing t-shirts and jeans once she was older.
Didn’t Like Being Photographed
When Tippi was 12, she returned to Africa with her parents to film documentaries for the Discovery Channel. Although it was a wonderful experience for everyone, there was one thing that bugged little Tippi.
She told The Telegraph, “It was great to see the elephants and the lions, but it would have been better if it hadn’t always been in front of the camera. It was hard work, it was difficult, it was hot and I was not happy all the time. I was worn out at the end of it.”
Tamed Animals
Although Tippi was photographed with many wild animals, her parents made it clear that most of those animals were tamed by local farmers.
Her mother told The Telegraph, “In the arid or semi-desert regions of Southern Africa people have farms of 10,000 to 20,000 hectares. The farmers often keep orphan animals and raise them in their house. Sometimes they are tame or used to humans, so this is how Tippi was able to be so close with them.”
A Little Daredevil
Tippi was fearless from a very young age. As she grew up with different types of animals, she was seeing all kinds of cute, dangerous, and slimy animals.
Regardless of how dangerous the animal was, little Tippi always approached the animal without any hesitation.
A Great Record
As Tippi spent her time amongst thousands of animals, one would assume that she must’ve been bitten many times. Fortunately, that’s not the case at all. She was only bitten once. As Tippi’s middle name is Okanti, which means Meerkat or mongoose, it is ironic that a Meerkat delivered her first bite.
There was another small incident in which Cindy, the baboon, pulled out a handful of Tippi’s hair. Her mother believes that it was done because the baboon was jealous of little Tippi loving other animals.
Tippi’s Life Chronicled
When the world started to learn about little Tippi, everyone became curious to know more about her. As a result of substantial public interest, multiple documentaries were made about her.
In 1997, Le Monde Selon Tippi (The World According to Tippi) was released. In 2002, Tippi en Afrique was released, and Around the World with Tippi (included six wildlife and environmental TV documentaries) was released in 2004.
Entering Mainstream Society
After spending most of her childhood in the jungle, little Tippi was ready to enter another jungle: mainstream society. She moved back to the city with her family.
Adjusting to life in the city was not easy for Tippi as she didn’t have enough room for herself or her dog in a small flat, and there was no big playground. She went from acres of free space to a confined place.
Not An Easy Transition Period
For Tippi, the first two years of moving back to city life were not easy by any means. Although her parents sent her to a local state school in Paris, she didn’t have a lot in common with other children. So, homeschool was the best option for her.
To help with the transition phase, the family bought her a budgie. Her mom said, “It would go everywhere with her, even on the train, flying right by her side, sitting on her head or falling asleep on her shoulder.”
Hoping to Become Ambassador for Namibia
When Tippi looks back on her life, she can say with confidence and happiness that she had a great childhood. She was just 10 years old when she started running her first website and she even declared on it that, “My name is Tippi. I am African and I was born 10 years ago in Namibia.”
Her mother told The Telegraph that, Tippi believes she is African and she wants to get a Namibian passport. She wanted to become an ambassador for Namibia. However, the pressures of modern life were making her slowly forget her life’s calling. She needed a wake-up call.”
Making a Big Decision
Once Tippi started to adjust to the new lifestyle, she attended public school. She made the decision to study film and attended university at La Sorbonne Nouvelle University in Paris.
Here, you can see her at the FICMAN, the international environmental film festival.
Not The Only One
Believe it or not, Tippi is not the only child who was raised by animals. There are other kids as well, such as Marina Chapman, who was believed to be kidnapped and then abandoned.
She found refuge with a group of capuchin monkeys for almost 5 years. She was taught by the monkeys how to catch rabbits and birds with her bare hands. It was not until 2001 when a Chilean boy found her in a pack of dogs. She had been living with them for over 2 years. The dogs not only protected her but also helped her scavenge for food.
A Great Outcome
Although there are cases of children growing up in the jungle, Tippi’s case is the only one in which parents made the decision to have a different upbringing of their daughter.
She loved every second of living in the jungle and the supervision of her parents made sure she grew up more than just fine.
The Love Remained In Her Heart
Even though Tippi moved to France with her parents, she never stopped loving animals. She and her parents knew that it would take some time before they would go back to Namibia.
She wanted to go back, but the world was making it difficult for her. Yet, she remained persistent.
What’s Up With Tippi Nowadays?
After Tippi featured in the documentary Around the World with Tippi, she has somewhat vanished from the public eye. Although the world wanted to see more of a girl who was raised by wild animals, she wanted to have a low profile.
She wanted to go back to where it all started, but she didn’t want to go with cameras. That’s not how things worked out in the end.
Going Back with Cameras
Like we mentioned earlier that she didn’t want to go back with cameras, she didn’t know that the cameras would become her ticket to going back.
Her attempts to go to Africa didn’t work as planned, so her film degree came to rescue. She went to Africa to do documentaries and use her cameras for social justice.
Back to Re-Living Life
With her cameras, she visited Africa several times to shoot documentaries for the Discovery Channel.
It helped her in many ways as she got to reconnect with the tribe-people and relive her life. These experiences helped her write her own book, “Tippi, My Book of Africa.”
Shaping Into A Beautiful Woman
Making documentaries was Tippi’s ticket to turning back to the wild world she adored so much. She not only got to shoot videos of animals, but she also reconnected with the tribes-people.
If you want to know more about her experiences, you can find it in her book. She has now all grown up and turned into a beautiful young woman.
Living an Adventurous Life
Tippi was able to manage more funds so that she could get an off-road vehicle that could enable her to shoot documentaries in areas that are not common.
While other girls of her age worry about their Instagram accounts, she only worries about her camera equipment not getting stolen by monkeys.
Helping People
Her visits to Africa helped her reunite with the African tribal children who grew up with her.
She believes that becoming friends with people of a different culture is a great step towards acquiring peace. She is just a peace-loving, an animal lover who wants to live in a better world for everyone.
A High Spirited Person
Tippi has always identified with the cheetah because she admires the high spirit of the animal.
She has always been a brave person and even now she loves spending time with wild animals.
Fighting for Citizenship
Tippi still believes that she is African and is fighting for her Namibian citizenship.
From her story, we can deduce that she will get it sooner or later. She deserves the Namibian passport and we hope that she acquires it soon.
A Role Model for Everyone
What we can learn from Tippi is that there is a lot to learn out there and overcoming fear enables you to stand out from the crowd.
She did those things which were labeled as “dangerous” and she learned so much out of them without getting harmed. Perhaps, children who live in cities can learn from Tippi.
Rare Photos Of A-Listers That Offer A Look At Who They Were Before Hollywood
Ashley Lez
This article was originally published on JustStarz
While we think we know celebrities inside and out, there is a good portion of their lives that we have never seen before. Here’s something you’ve probably wondered about – what were they like as kids? Did they show signs of one day becoming the world-renowned stars that they are today? What was life like for them growing up? In order to give us an idea of what these beloved Hollywood figures were like, we found these rare photos of your favorite celebs before they were famous. You will be surprised to see that they were once ordinary people just like us.
Robin Williams In His Senior Year Of High School In 1969
When Robin Williams was a senior in college, he decided to go to college and study political science. However, he quickly realized it wasn’t the field for him and dropped out to pursue acting. He studied theater for three years at the College of Marin in California.
One of his professors realized how talented Williams was and cast him in the musical Oliver!. He later attended Julliard, and during the summers he worked as a busboy. After graduating, Williams worked odd jobs until he got his big break on Mork & Mindy.
Adele Was A Huge Spice Girls Fan
In case you missed it, Adele was and probably still is the biggest Spice Girls fan in the world. The British singer grew up with their music and had their posters plastered all over her bedroom walls. As a child, Adele was already interested in singing, and she became obsessed with voices.
Adele spent much of her youth in Brockwell Park, playing the guitar and singing to friends. Years later, she drove by and started crying because she really missed the memories she made in that special place.
Keanu Reeves Circa 1984
In high school, Keanu Reeves was a successful ice hockey goalkeeper and considered going pro but decided to pursue acting when he was 15 instead. He made his debut in 1984 on an episode of the series Hangin’ In, which allowed him to get more roles on teen dramas.
Reeves was also interested in music and formed an alternative band in 1991. Surprisingly, it was moderately successful, and they were active until the early 2000s. His big break was in Point Break, and this helped him shoot to stardom.
Catherine Zeta-Jones In Her Grade School Photo
Catherine Zeta-Jones’ school uniform made her look like she belongs to the Gryffindor house. She must have been in first or second grade at the time, and she couldn’t be cuter. The actress was born in Wales, and in school, she would participate in stage shows.
At a young age, she gained local media attention when her rendition of a Shirley Bassey song won a Junior Star Trail talent competition. Zeta-Jones would take trips to London with her dance troupe, where she also auditioned for shows.
Morgan Freeman In The Air Force
When Morgan Freeman was just nine years old, he starred in his school play and later won a statewide drama competition. He performed in the radio show in high school, and it earned him a drama scholarship from Jackson State University.
However, instead of taking the scholarship, he enlisted in the Air Force and served between 1955 to 1959. After his service, Freeman worked as a transcript clerk for Los Angeles City College and studied arts there. He was also a dancer until he started getting steady acting jobs.
Anne Hathaway As A Clown Witch
It seems that Anne Hathaway was practicing for The Witches before she was even famous. Besides looking exactly the same, she seems to have confused a witch and a clown in this mashup of a costume. Surprisingly, Hathaway’s parents didn’t want her to pursue acting.
Hathaway wanted to become a nun during childhood because she was raised with really strong Roman Catholic values. However, acting was always in the back of her mind, and we’re grateful she chose to entertain us on the big screen.
Joe Biden When He Was 26
Unsurprisingly, Joe Biden was the class president in school and played on the basketball team. He also briefly played football in college but decided to focus on his studies instead. When he graduated from the University of Delaware, he worked as a clerk at a law firm.
Biden eventually took the bar exam and began practicing law. This helped propel his career, and he served in the US Senate for 36 years before serving as vice president with Barack Obama from 2009 to 2017. Say what you will about his politics but it’s undeniable that he was so handsome back in his day.
Madonna’s Childhood Close-Up
Little Madonna was bright-eyed and looking towards the stars as a child. The singer grew up in the Detroit suburbs with her five siblings, and her family would call her “Little Nonnie” because her mom was also named Madonna.
Madonna was known for rebelling at school after her mother passed away, and her dad decided to sign her up for piano lessons and ballet classes. Her dance teacher was the one who encouraged her to pursue a career in dance.
Jim Carrey In The ’80s
As teenagers, Jim Carrey’s family struggled financially. Therefore, he and his brother John took up jobs as a janitor and security guard at a tire factory. While working at the factory, Carrey dropped out of school to perform comedy in downtown Toronto.
He steadily increased his local popularity as an impressionist and stand-up comic going on tour and appearing on television. His shows made him more popular and landed him the roles in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and The Mask, which helped him become the actor he is today.
Taylor Swift Made Tie-Dye Trendy Before Everyone
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, Taylor Swift became interested in musical theater and started performing in the local youth theater. She also traveled regularly to New York for vocal and acting lessons. She was inspired by Shania Twain and shifted her focus to country music.
At age 11, Swift traveled with her mom to Nashville to pursue her music career dreams. Swift submitted demos to record labels but was rejected. However, she kept trying until someone finally took her seriously when she was a bit older.
Susan Sarandon When She Was 17
Not only was Susan Sarandon gorgeous as a teenager, but she was also very talented. In her college years, she studied drama and supported herself by cutting hair, cleaning houses, and working as a switchboard operator.
Not long after she graduated, Sarandon landed a role in the film Joe, which propelled her to get more parts in movies like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It turned into a cult classic, and people knew her name wherever she went.
Selena Gomez’s Face Has Not Changed
Selena Gomez has always been the most adorable human ever since she was a little girl. Born and raised in Texas, Gomez first became interested in entertainment when she saw her mom preparing for stage productions. Gomez then began to audition for many roles.
While auditioning for Barney and Friends, Gomez met Demi Lovato and the two both landed roles on the show. She said she learned everything about acting and stage production while working on Barney, and she was released when she got too old for the show.
Peter Dinklage In The 1980s
We could never imagine Peter Dinklage with a mullet until now. Dinklage realized he wanted to start acting when he was just a teenager after he saw the production of True West by Sam Shepard. That play ended up determining the direction of his life.
After studying drama in college, Dinklage struggled to get well-paying roles, so he worked at a data processing company to make ends meet. He wasn’t getting any parts because he refused to play characters that focused on his achondroplasia. Finally, in 2003, he got his big break in The Station Agent and was nominated for a SAG Award for it.
Little Baby Beyonce
You might not recognize her as a baby, but this tiny tot grew up to be Queen Bey herself. As a child, Beyonce enrolled in dance classes, and the teacher discovered she was also a talented singer when she heard her humming a song.
Beyonce’s interest in performing continued after she won her school talent show when she was seven. Her parents enrolled her in a music school after that to develop her talents, and Beyonce continued onto an arts high school as well.
Tom Hanks In His High School Yearbook
After reading Eugene O’Neill’s The Iceman Cometh and watching the performance, Tom Hanks decided he wanted to become an actor. He enrolled in the theater program at California State University Sacremento and would work in the theater when he wasn’t studying.
Eventually, Hanks decided to drop out and went on to audition for any small role he could find. After the success of Splash, he became a recognizable face and landed the role in Big. It was that movie that made him an established actor in Hollywood.
Jennifer Garner Hanging Out On The Swings
When Jennifer Garner was little, her mother used to call her “ragamuffin,” and we can see why now. The actress had an interesting upbringing that she joked was practically Amish because her parents were so strict about what she and her sisters did.
Initially, Garner went to college to study chemistry but quickly changed her major to theater. She would spend her summers working stock theater and found a passion for acting through this job. She also moved from South Carolina to LA once she graduated.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson Looking Ripped At 15
Is anyone really surprised that The Rock was already a muscle man by the time he was a teenager? Before starting his acting career, he was succeeding in sports and started playing professional football not long after he graduated from college.
His nickname “The Rock” came from his days in the wrestling ring, and by the late 1990s, he was already a star being offered roles in movies. The movie that really changed his career was The Mummy Returns in 2001.
Nirvana In 1990
Three years before Nirvana was formed, Kurt Cobain and Krist Novoselic met at school. They had a few drummers before being introduced to Dave Grohl in 1990. Their first album, Bleach, was released in 1989 and became a favorite for college radio stations.
Nirvana found mainstream success with their single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in 1991 from the album Nevermind. The album sold 400,000 copies in just a week and 30 million worldwide.
Sean Connery During His Time With The Royal Navy
Mr. 007 wasn’t always an action-fighting international man of mystery. Sean Connery used to be a milkman in Edinburgh before joining the Royal Navy when he was 16. After three years, he was discharged on medical grounds and returned to his hometown.
After the navy, Connery carried a few jobs like a lorry driver, a lifeguard, a laborer, and an artist’s model for Edinburgh College of Art. In the 1950s, he finally started getting roles and an extra, but it wasn’t enough to make ends meet. He had to work as a babysitter until he got more significant parts.
Angelina Jolie Has Always Been Gorgeous
When we were 16, we certainly didn’t look like this, but Angelina Jolie has always been stunning. As a child, she enjoyed watching movies with her mother, which inspired her to start acting. Jolie attended the Lee Staberg Theater Institute for two years and appeared in a few productions.
Jolie later studied drama at NYU and starred in her brother’s student films. However, her first leading role as a professional actress wasn’t until 1992 in Cyborg 2, but she didn’t like the outcome and didn’t audition for anything else for a year.
Millie Bobby Brown Looks Like She Is Up To Something
While it hasn’t been that long since Millie Bobby Brown was a child, the 17-year-old actress has blossomed into a beautiful young lady. Born in Spain to English parents, she found a love for acting early on in life and made her acting debut when she was nine in Once Upon A Time.
After just a few performances, Brown landed her breakthrough role in Stranger Things as Eleven. Her performance earned her many nominations at such a young age. Today she is a little older but just as sassy as she was in this photo.
Christoph Waltz In 1975
You might know Christopher Waltz from Inglorious Basterds or Django Unchained, but before he was a huge star, he was just a boy with a dream. Waltz was interested in theater early on since he went to the opera for the first time when he was 10. After that, he would go twice a week.
When Waltz attended University, he studied acting, but his true passion was singing and opera. Eventually, he realized his voice wasn’t meant for singing, and he started working as a stage actor and director on a German television show called Wenn Man Sich Traut before his breakthrough role in 2009.
Eminem In The ’80s Before He Was Rap God
Will the real Slim Shady please stand up. The first rap song Eminem ever heard was “Reckless” by Ice-T, Chris “The Glove” Taylor, and David Storrs in 1984. It inspired him to start rapping himself when he was 14. About ten years later, he released his first album, which was a commercial failure.
Everything in Eminem’s career changed when he adopted the name Slim Shady and released a new album in 1997, Slim Shady EP. The album caught the attention of Dr. Dre and he invited Eminem to work together to release another EP two years later.
Lady Gaga In The 2000s
Since she was a child, music has been a part of Lady Gaga’s life, when she started learning the piano at age four. Her passion only grew over the years, and she started performing at open mic nights when she was a teenager.
Gaga also studied method acting for ten years but didn’t get any significant roles in her auditions. While studying in New York, she was performing when a talent scout helped her find her way to superstardom.
Bob Marley Without His Dreadlocks
If you are like us, you have probably never seen Bob Marley without his dreadlocks, but there was a time when he didn’t have them. In 1964 when he released his song “Rude Boy,” he had a buzz cut and dressed much differently.
Marley started playing music in primary school with his friends before moving to Kingston and starting a vocal duo. However, the group didn’t rise to fame until the ’70s when they signed a contract with Island Records.
Christian Bale As A Dashing Teenager
As a teenager, Christian Bale was inspired to become an actor after he studied the work of Gary Oldman. The first time he appeared on television was in a commercial for the fabric softener Lenor in 1982. However, Bale’s first stage debut wasn’t until 1984 in The Nerd with Rowan Atkinson.
Two years later, Bale appeared in his first movie Anastasia: The Mystery of Anna. He then gained attention and more roles, which made him question his career choice. However, Kenneth Branagh talked him out of giving up on his career.
Jennifer Aniston Dressed As A Witch For Halloween In 1986
Jennifer Aniston discovered her love of acting when she was attending a Waldorf school at age 11. Her first job was in an off-Broadway production, but she had to take jobs on the side to support herself. She was a telemarketer, waitress, and bike messenger.
Anniston’s first regular TV role was on a show called Molloy in 1990 before she got her big break as Rachel Green in Friends. She was just 17 when she took this picture, and we wonder if she knew how famous she would be back then.
Tommy Lee Jones While Playing As An Offensive Guard At St. Mark’s School Of Texas
As a teenager, Tommy Lee Jones got a football scholarship that allowed him to attend a boarding school in Dallas, where he took an interest in theater and played in some student productions. He then graduated and attended Harvard University, where he continued to play football and appear in theater productions.
After graduating, Jones decided to move to New York to pursue acting, and he got his first movie role in 1970, playing a Harvard student in Love Story. It must not have been hard for him to play this role, considering he had just graduated from Harvard.
Quentin Tarantino In 1983
Quentin Tarantino started showing an interest in films when he was just a young boy. At age 15, he worked as an usher for an adult movie theater and worked in a video store for five years. By watching movies at the store, Tarantino learned a lot about movie-making.
Tarantino was later paid to watch movies (how do we get that job?) and got his first job in Hollywood in 1986 as a PA. A few years later, he wrote his first movie, launching the career of one of the most admired film directors in Hollywood today.
Clint Eastwood As A High School Senior
Clint Eastwood looks much different than we know him today with his dapper hair and babyface. After graduating from Oakland Technical High School, he held various jobs, including hay baler, logger, and truck driver, before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War.
Eastwood was stationed in California, where he served as a swimming instructor. After the army, he appeared in a few TV series before he got his big break in 1959 in Rawhide. Eastwood gained international fame and is still acting today at 90-years-old.
Vin Diesel When He Had Hair
We had no idea what color hair Vin Diesel had before seeing this picture. The famously bald actor started performing on stage when he was just seven years old in the children’s play Dinosaur Door in New York. Theater continued to be a big part of his life when he was a teenager as well.
Vin Diesel started college but dropped out to begin screenwriting. Diesel’s first role was in 1990 in an uncredited role, but Steven Spielberg later cast him in Saving Private Ryan, which helped him get his foot in the door for more parts.
Katy Perry In 2001
You might not recognize Katy Perry without her signature black locks, but her hair is naturally dirty blond. The pop star began vocal lessons at age nine while singing in church. For her 13th birthday, Perry received a guitar and started playing songs she wrote.
Perry took dance lessons to learn swing, Lindy Hop, and jitterbug, all popular dance styles in the ’50s. Also, her first album was released under the name Katy Hudson, and it had a lot of Christian music before she changed up her style.
David Harbour In 1994
David Harbour hasn’t changed much over the years besides his hairstyle. Harbour began acting in the 1990s, and his first professional job was on Broadway in the revival of The Rainmaker. He also had minor roles in Law & Order: SVU.
As he gained notoriety in Hollywood, Harbour became a more recognizable face. However, it wasn’t until he was cast in Stranger Things that a role really changed his life. This role actually helped him land other parts.
Mark Zuckerberg At Harvard Where He Created Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg looked less like a robot back in his college days, but someone should have told him to clean up his room. The Facebook founder began writing software when he was in middle school, and his father hired him a private tutor to help his son’s interests.
Zuckerberg would create video games, and his artistic friend would draw the graphics. In college, he became a programming prodigy and created a few new programs before Facebook. It’s funny that this teenager is now one of the richest men in the world.
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson In His Childhood Class Picture
Before he was a buff action star, The Rock was just a cute little buck-toothed child. He grew up in New Zealand and across the US as his family moved around often. As a child, he was always into sports and looked up to his dad, who was a former professional wrestler.
Because of his connections with the wrestling world, The Rock secured a contract with WWF for eight years before pursuing an acting career. Today he is one of the highest-grossing and highest-paid actors in Hollywood.
Rihanna Looks Exactly The Same (Sort Of)
Little baby Rihanna before she was the CEO of Fenty and Savage X Fenty. The Barbados native grew up listening to reggae music, which later inspired her own sound. However, she didn’t get into singing right away as she was an army cadet at a sub-military program.
While in the program, Rihanna met a singer-songwriter who inspired her to pursue a music career. Although we aren’t getting new music any time soon, we have to appreciate how far this baby came from a small island to worldwide fame.
Usher Was Probably Flirting With The Camera
Usher is known for his smooth RnB jams that make women everywhere swoon, and we can imagine he was a very flirty baby too. At his young age, he was already showing off his smolder for the camera.
As a child, his mother told him to join the church choir because he was so talented. Then his grandmother considered he could sing professionally once she heard him. The family decided to move to Atlanta to give him a better opportunity to become something.
Heidi Klum Collecting Easter Eggs
As a child growing up in Germany, Heidi Klum was known for her beauty. A friend convinced her to join a modeling contest, and she won out of 25,000 contestants, and she was offered a modeling contract. After graduating from high school, she accepted the contract.
She was going to try for an apprentice position at a fashion design school, but the modeling contract was more promising. Klum proved herself quickly and landed on the cover of French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish Vogue.
Julia Roberts Practicing Her Vocals
We can’t tell if Julia Roberts was in shock, singing, or yelling in this picture, but we would like to think she is singing. She looks a lot like her niece Emma Roberts here, and we can see the resemblance in their family.
As a child, she wanted to be a veterinarian, but once she made it to college, she decided to drop out, move to New York and pursue acting. Once there, she signed with a modeling agency and enrolled in acting classes.
Amanda Seyfried Was Beautiful Even As A Baby
It’s no surprise that Amanda Seyfried was a gorgeous baby because she is such a beautiful adult. As a child, she began modeling when she was ten in print ads for Limited Too with Leighton Meester. She was also featured on the cover of three Sweet Valley High novels.
At 17, Seyfried decided to stop modeling and started working as a waitress in a retirement community. During that time, she took vocal lessons, studied opera, and trained with a Broadway coach. From here, she slowly got roles on TV as she continued to audition.
Britney Spears In Her Original Diva State
Oops, she did it again! Britney Spears always had that star power, and you can see it here in her childhood photo. From a young age, she already had an interest in singing, dancing, and entertaining people with her vibrant personality.
While her adult life hasn’t been so easy, one thing is for sure; that little girl grew up to be one of the best performers. If only people would let her make her music and live her life the way she wants to, she would be so much happier.
Christina Aguilera Halloween Circa 1985
This looks nothing like the Christina Aguilera we know and love today, but she was an adorable little girl. As a child, she moved around a lot because of her father’s military service. However, when her parents divorced, she used music as a way to escape.
As a child, Aguilera was drawn to soul and blues music because of her grandmother’s records, and she would practice singing to them. She won her first talent show at age eight for her rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.”
Gigi Hadid With Her Grandma
Gigi Hadid was ready to be a model since the day she was born. As a child, she considered herself a tomboy because she was always into sports, especially basketball, but that changed as she got older, and her mom saw the potential she had as a model.
Hadid comes from a family of models, and you can see she gets her beauty from her mother’s side. She is pictured here with her late grandmother, who she would visit in Holland, where her mom grew up.
Katy Perry And The Easter Bunny
Have you ever noticed how creepy the Easter bunnies at the mall used to be (and still are)? Although it is hard to recognize her, that is a little Katy Perry posing in her pastel Sunday best with the Easter bunny.
Perry grew up in a religious household, so the holidays were very important to celebrate for her family. Her family didn’t have a lot of money, and they sometimes had to get food from the church’s food bank, but Perry enjoyed everything her parents were able to provide.
Miley Cyrus And Her Newborn Sister
When Miley Cyrus was first born, her parents named her Destiny; however, she was such a smiley baby, and they started calling her “smiley Miley” before legally changing her name. While missing one of her front teeth, she still has a huge grin on her face because she is holding her baby sister.
Miley and her younger sister Noah may have a seven-year age gap between them, but they are the closest sisters we have ever seen. Miley even said that Noah sometimes takes care of her even though she is the little sister.
Justin Timberlake Rocking Around The Christmas Tree
It seems that Justin Timberlake was always destined to be a musician. As a child growing up in Memphis, Tennessee, he was always surrounded by music. His grandpa introduced him to Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson, and Timberlake would perform the songs for his family.
When Timberlake was 11, he appeared on the show Star Search performing country music. However, it was around that time that he started to get into RnB music like Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. He was so talented that he landed a spot on The All-New Mickey Mouse Club with Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera.
Margot Robbie And Her Big Brother
Margot Robbie and her big brother were adorable as children. Robbie grew up in Dalby, Queensland, where she was raised by a single mom after her parents divorced. She lived on a farm and was always an energetic child putting on shows around her house.
In an interview, Robbie once said that she was really dramatic and loved performing. She would watch any movie she could find on TV and re-enact it for her mom. She would even make her family pay to watch her shows, especially her magic shows.
Ariana Grande’s School Photo
If anything, we can thank Ariana Grande for her consistency with her high ponytail. As a child, Grande was already a natural performer and would participate with the Fort Lauderdale Children’s Theater, playing her first title character in their version of Annie.
Grande also performed in The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast. When she was eight, she also performed on cruise ships, with South Florida Philharmonic. Everyone knew she would be a star with her vocal range, and she was just waiting to be discovered.
Sarah Jessica Parker Reading With Her Mom
As a child, Sarah Jessica Parker was one of eight children, and although her mom barely had time, she still found a moment to read to all of her children. Growing up in Nelsonville, Ohio, her parents tried to provide a lifestyle they couldn’t afford.
Parker remembers that the electricity would be shut off, or they would have to forgo Christmases and birthdays because her parents couldn’t afford the holidays. However, her mother found any free extracurricular activity to sign them up for so they would have “full, rich lives.”
Hilary Duff’s First Headshot Session
Although we know Hilary Duff as the bubbly Disney channel child, she looks pretty angry in her first headshot. When Duff posted this picture, she said she couldn’t believe how many auditions she took this picture to, and we wonder how many of those roles she actually got.
Duff wanted to be an actress from an early age, and her mom even relocated her family from Texas so her children would have more opportunities. Because of her acting career, she was homeschooled from age 8, and she got many minor roles until she landed Lizzie McGuire.