Where They Began: Stars as Extras

Where They Began: Stars as Extras

Before they became the big stars we know them as today, many of our modern film stars began their early careers by playing extras.

Let’s go through an impressive list of accomplished actors and actresses that did extra work on other sets before hitting their big break.

Matt Damon

A very memorable star from the big screen had a few notable extras roles earlier on in his career.

Matt Damon is most recognizable in scenes for the movies Mystic Pizza in 1988 and Field of Dreams in 1989. In the latter, he is even seen alongside his future partner in the business, Ben Affleck.

So before the awards and the fame, Matt Damon put in his time as a background actor.

Kristen Stewart

Just like Matt Damon, Kristen Stewart had a history of extras work before landing her major breakthrough role.

For instance, she is first seen in the film The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas when she was just ten years old playing as the “Ring Toss Girl”. 

Later on, you can also catch her in the background of the Disney Channel movie, The Thirteenth Year. In the film, she plays an annoyed girl in the back of the line for the school water fountain.

Channing Tatum

One of the big stars today who had an interesting rise to fame is Channing Tatum.

Among the other steps he took to get where he’s at today, he played a role as an extra in the background of the 2005 film, War of the Worlds. He can briefly be seen as one of the people running in the background during the church scene, behind lead actor Tom Cruise.  

He even had a speaking role during this scene, but it was later cut during the final edit.

Renee Zellweger

The beloved star Renee Zellweger had a few gigs as an extra before she became the well-known star that she is today.

In Dazed and Confused, the cult classic movie, she was a background actor in a few of the scenes. So before the Oscars awards and becoming Bridget Jones, some of her first exposure on set was as a background actor.

Megan Fox

Megan Fox is a household name today, but many people may not know that she also played roles as a background actress before the fame.

Most notably, she can be seen as a club dancer in Bad Boys II in 2003, directed by Michael Bay, when she was just 15. Later on, the pair reunited on the set of Transformers, which he also directed and she had a starring role.

–Bailey Schramm is a writer in partnership with stethoscope distributor