Incredible Actresses Who Started Out As Models (2025)

Modeling: A Gateway To Acting?

The model-to-actress pipeline is a popular one in the entertainment industry. In fact, your favorite actress may have started on the runway, not the stage. It seems that walking with attitude and a great posture turns out to be an excellent transferable skill—and these actresses are proof.

Brooke Shields, The Model

With her classic, blue-eyed elegance, Brooke Shields is one of the best known models-turned-actresses. She started her career early, modeling for Ivory Snow Soap at just11 months old. She later signed with Eileen Ford and famously said she couldn’t be separated from her Calvin Klein jeans.

PH1 Doty, Wikimedia Commons

Brooke Shields, The Actress

Brooke Shields’ early career was mired in controversy because she was so young. A 12-year-old Shields played a courtesan inPretty Baby(1978), but she is perhaps best known for her teenage role inThe Blue Lagoon(1980). She even appeared onFriendsin 1994 and was so impressive that NBC gave her a sitcom of her own,Suddenly Susan(1996).

Vicki L. Miller, Shutterstock

Demi Moore, The Model

From sculpting clay inGhost(1990) to defying age inThe Substance(2024),Demi Mooreis widely considered a household name. But before all the accolades for her movies, she signed with Elite Modeling Agency, which was founded by John Casablancas, the originator of the supermodel concept.

Featureflash Photo Agency, Shutterstock

Demi Moore, The Actress

Demi Moore’s screen highlights includeGeneral Hospital(1963),St. Elmo’s Fire(1985),Ghost(1990),Indecent Proposal(1993), andDisclosure(1994). According to IMDB, she was the first actress to break$10 millionin salary.

Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

Halle Berry, The Model

Halle Berry’s career was kickstarted by her first-place win at the Miss Teen All-American Pageant at age 17. She was laterrunner-up at the Miss USA pageant. Berry became a model after that, and in 1989, landed a role inLiving Dolls.

SPC James Gordon, Wikimedia Commons

Halle Berry, The Actress

Halle Berry has had an illustrious career, appearing in films likeBoomerang(1992) with Eddie Murphy andLosing Isaiah(1995) with Jessica Lange. She then made history by becoming the first Black woman to win an Academy Award for Best Actress. It recognized her role inMonster’s Ball(2001).

Everett Collection, Shutterstock

Famke Janssen, The Model

Known for her roles inX-Men(2000), X-Men 3: The Last Stand(2006),andGoldenEye(1995),Famke Janssen was born in Amstelveen, Netherlands. She moved to the United States in the 1980s and becamea model for Chanel. But she soon took a break and went to Columbia University, declaring literature as her major.

Euan Cherry, Shutterstock

Famke Janssen, The Actress

Famke Janssen is best known for her action-packed roles as Xenia Onatopp inGoldenEye(1995) and Jean Grey in theX-Menseries. She has also acted in television, appearing inStar Trek: The Next Generation(1992),How to Get Away With Murder(2015-2020), andThe Blacklist(2016-2018).

Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

Ali MacGraw, The Model

Love Storystar Ali MacGraw grew up with an artistic family in Pound Ridge, New York. She signed with agent Eileen Ford as a model but tried to make it in New York City as afashion journalist. MacGraw also worked as a part-time model and photo stylist under Melvin Sokolsky. Fun fact: Salvador Dali once sucked her toes.

National General Pictures, Wikimedia Commons

Ali MacGraw, The Actress

Ali MacGraw landed a starring role inGoodbye, Columbus(1969) with minimal training in theater. She was then cast in the 1970 classicLove Storyand subsequently earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. Ali MacGraw’s other film and television credits includeThe Getaway(1972),The Winds of War(1983), andDynasty(1985).

Bart Sherkow, Shutterstock

Julia Roberts, The Model

There’s not much information on Julia Roberts’ modeling career, but she signed with an agency when she first moved to New York City to pursue acting. As a child, Roberts had originally wanted to be a veterinarian.

Denis Makarenko, Shutterstock

Julia Roberts, The Actress

Julia Roberts became interested in acting after her brother Eric achieved some success. Today, she’s one of Hollywood’s best-known actresses, famous for hits likePretty Woman(1990) andNotting Hill(1999). Her role inPretty Womanearned her an Academy Award nomination.

TriStar, My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)

Uma Thurman, The Model

The daughter of a fashion model and a Buddhist academic, Uma Thurman initially had trouble fitting in with her peers. Her6-foot frame(complete with size 11 shoes) made her a successful model in New York City, however, and she soon scored a layout inGlamourmagazine.

Gorup de Besanez, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Uma Thurman, The Actress

Thurman is perhaps best known for her roles in Quentin Tarantino films:Pulp Fiction(1994),Kill Bill: Vol. 1(2003), andKill Bill: Vol. 2(2004). Other credits includeThe Avengers(1998),Sweet and Lowdown(1999), andTape(2001).

Miramax, Kill Bill: Volume 1 (2003)

Jennifer Connelly, The Model

Jennifer Connelly was born in the Catskill Mountains of New York and grew up in Brooklyn. When she was 10 years old, a family friend suggested she audition as a model. She then landed advertisements in newspapers and magazines, includingSeventeen.

Jemal Countess, Getty Images

Jennifer Connelly, The Actress

An established actress, Jennifer Connelly is best known for her roles inRequiem for a Dream(2000),A Beautiful Mind(2001), andHe’s Just Not That Into You(2009). Connelly won a plethora of awards for her portrayal of John Nash’s wife inA Beautiful Mind, including an AFI, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Academy Award.

lev radin, Shutterstock

Cameron Diaz, The Model

Another model-turned-actress, Cameron Diaz made it to the front cover ofSeventeenwhen she was, well, 17. Young Diaz told the magazine she prefers black army boots over heels, much to her father’s dismay. The teenager also said she wanted to be a zoologist andstudy lions in Africa.

Debby Wong, Shutterstock

Cameron Diaz, The Actress

Cameron Diaz’s most iconic character was probably Natalie inCharlie’s Angels(2000). She also had memorable roles inMy Best Friend’s Wedding(1997),There’s Something About Mary(1998),Bad Teacher(2001), and voiced Fiona in theShrekfranchise.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

Tyra Banks, The Model

One of today’s most well-known models, Tyra Banks originally wanted to go to film school. Her goal was to become a producer or writer, but a classmate told her that she looked like she could be a model. Banks later caught the eye of a French talent scout and spent the year after high school landing gigs in Paris.

Tinseltown, Shutterstock

Tyra Banks, The Actress

Tyra Banks is best known for hostingAmerica’s Next Top Model.The show ran from 2003 to 2018 and aired over 300 episodes. Other film credits includeCoyote Ugly(2000) andTropic Thunder(2008).

Tinseltown, Shutterstock

Tricia Helfer, The Model

Canadian model-turned-actress Tricia Helfer got her big break at 17 when she won the Ford Models’Supermodel of the Worldcontest. Since then, she’s modeled for brands like Ralph Lauren, Versace, and Giorgio Armani. She’s also been on the cover ofELLE,Cosmopolitan, andVogue.

s_bukley, Shutterstock

Tricia Helfer, The Actress

Helfer is best known for her portrayal of a Cylon (android) known as “Number Six” onBattlestar Galactica(2004-2009).Other notable appearances includeTwo and a Half Men(2009-2011),Lucifer(2016-2021), andSuits(2015-2016). She has also done extensive voiceover work for video games.

Markus Wissmann, Shutterstock

Milla Jovovich, The Model

Ukrainian-born Milla Jovovich got her first big break when she was discovered by photographer Richard Avedon. By 12, she was signed as a model and later appeared in magazines likeVogue,Cosmopolitan, andHigh Times. Jovovich becamethe world’s highest-paid supermodelin 2004 with $10.4 million in earnings.

Vahan Stepanyan, Shutterstock

Milla Jovovich, The Actress

Milla Jovovich’s major film roles include the stoner classicDazed and Confused(1993) and sci-fi adventureThe Fifth Element(1997). She also played Alice in all theResident Evilmovies between 2002 and 2016. She speaks Russian, English, and Ukrainian.

Pathé, Resident Evil (2002)

Charlize Theron, The Model

Born in South Africa, Charlize Theron was originallytrained as a ballet dancer. She moved to New York and landed a gig at Joffrey Ballet, along with some photo modeling. A knee injury soon put a stop to her dancing career, but as luck would have it, she ran into her future talent agent while complaining at a bank.

Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

Charlize Theron, The Actress

Charlize Theron is perhaps most recognizable for her portrayal of tough-as-nails Furiosa inMad Max: Fury Road(2015). Other notable appearances include action-packed hits likePrometheus(2012),Snow White and the Huntsman(2012), andThe Old Guard(2020).

Village Roadshow, Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Angelina Jolie, The Model

One of Hollywood’s most famous women, Angelina Jolie began modeling at 16 years old. She’d later win a Golden Globe Award, SAG Award, and Emmy nomination for portraying supermodel Gia Carangi inGia(1998). Makes sense for a model playing a model!

Tinseltown, Shutterstock

Angelina Jolie, The Actress

The daughter of Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand, Jolie was surrounded by theater from an early age. She has studied at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, New York University, and the Met Theatre Group. Her accolades include winning an Academy Award, SAG Award, and Golden Globe forGirl, Interrupted(1999). Other major films includeThe Bone Collector(1999),Salt(2010), andMaleficent(2014).

Columbia, Girl, Interrupted (1999)

Jaime King, The Model

Jaime King started modeling in her early teens. She landed pages in major fashion magazines likeHarper’s Bazaar,Cosmopolitan,Glamour,andVogue. She’s also been a runway model for brands like Chanel, Christian Dior, and Alexander McQueen. In an interview withPhotobook, King states that modeling taught her “discipline and professionalism,” skills she would use in her film career.

DFree, Shutterstock

Jaime King, The Actress

King is known for roles inWhite Chicks(2004), Sin City(2005), and My Bloody Valentine(2009).True to her dedication to the grind, King was six months pregnant when she finished filming the third season ofHart of Dixie(2011). She also returned to filmingBarely Lethal(2015)just one month after giving birth.

DFree, Shutterstock

Kate Upton, The Model

Kate Upton has had an extensive modeling career. She signed with IMG Models in 2010 and then famously appeared inSports Illustrated’s Swimsuit Issue. She’s also been on the cover of top magazines likeCosmopolitan,Esquire, andThe Daily.In 2012, she was included in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations” exhibition.

Kathy Hutchins, Shutterstock

Kate Upton, The Actress

Upton has been modeling since she was 15 years old, but she’s also made splashes in acting. Most notably, she starred inThe Other Woman(2014). She has also appeared in commercials for Mercedes-Benz and Carl’s Junior. Known for her social media presence, she’s also made it to the front page ofThe New York Times.

lev radin, Shutterstock

Sienna Miller, The Model

Can modeling run in the family? Sienna Miller’s mother was a model as well (and she also worked for David Bowie). Miller herself modeled and acted in minor roles after her time at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. She also played a model in the BBC sitcomBedtime(2001).

MJ Kim, Getty Images

Sienna Miller, The Actress

Sienna Miller’s film roles includeLayer Cake(2004),Alfie(2004),Casanova(2005), andThe Edge of Love(2008). She was nominated for a British Independent Film Award forBest Supporting Actress, and she also earned a BAFTA Orange Rising Star nomination. Her appearance inInterview(2007) also earned her an Independent Spirit Award nomination.

DFree, Shutterstock

Abbey Lee, The Model

Abbey Lee has modeled for top brands like Calvin Klein, Chanel, Gucci, and more. She’s also modeled for Gap, H&M, and Ralph Lauren. Lee has appeared multiple times on the cover of AustralianVogue.

lev radin, Shutterstock

Abbey Lee, The Actress

Mad Max: Fury Road(2015) is perhaps Abbey Lee’s most well-known movie. She’s also appeared in TheNeon Demon(2016),Office Christmas Party(2016), andOld(2021). In 2021, she shared a Screen Actors Guild Award with her castmates inLovecraft Country.

lev radin, Shutterstock

Cara Delevingne, The Model

One of today’s most popular models-turned-actresses, Cara Delevigne has represented high-end brands like Burberry, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi, H&M, Zara, and Chanel. In 2012, she wonModel of the Yearand walked in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show. Her magazine covers includei-D,Vogue UK, andVogue Korea.

Fred Duval, Shutterstock

Cara Delevingne, The Actress

Cara Delevingne’s extensive film credits includeAnna Karenina(2012),Paper Towns(2015), andSuicide Squad(2016), for which she won a second Teen Choice Award. She has also been a series regular onCarnival Row(2019, 2023) and season 12 ofAmerican Horror Story(2023-2024).

Tinseltown, Shutterstock

Emily Ratajkowski, The Model

Known for her controversial role in the 2013 music video for Robin Thicke’s“Blurred Lines,”Ratajkowski has been modeling since she was 14 years old. According to an interview withInto the Gloss, Ratajkowski’s agency initially turned down the offer to participate in “Blurred Lines”. The video was widely criticized for being misogynistic, and in 2021, Ratajkowski accused Thicke of groping her on set in her bookMy Body.

Michele Bartoli, Shutterstock

Emily Ratajkowski, The Actress

Ratajkowski has since moved on to acting in films such asGone Girl(2015), for which she was recommended by Ben Affleck. Other appearances includeEntourage(2015) andWe Are Your Friends(2015).