Welcome to “Before They Were Famous“, where we take a look at some of the past exploits of today's biggest stars, be it from movies, television, broadway, competitions, etc.! The more embarrassing, the better. Our memories are long, but the internet's memory is forever, so jump back in time with us to witness some of our favorite stars before they were marquee names.
Brad Pitt (FURY)
Before he was Tyler Durden, before he was Benjamin Button, Brad Pitt was basketball player “Chris” in a two episode stint on the long-running soap opera, ANOTHER WORLD in 1987. This was Brad’s first speaking role and earned him his first credit on IMDB. Look at those short shorts. Look at that magnificent 80s hair. Look at that slow-motion dribbling technique. I’m not really sure what is going on in this clip, besides an older man creepily using a teen to relive his past “glory days” on the basketball court, but I do know that Brad’s adolescent experience on the Cherokee Rejects must have really helped him prepare for this role. I wonder if any of this ever came up in the tank during the filming of FURY?
Emma Stone (BIRDMAN)
Since Emma Stone is taking over the role of Sally Bowles in Broadway’s CABARET this month, it’s only natural that I pulled a musical memento from her past. No, not the incredible lip-sync performance she gave on The Tonight Show this year. Believe it or not, Emma, or “Emily” (Emma changed her name because another actress went by Emily Stone), was a contestant on IN SEARCH OF THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY in 2005, a VH1 competition show used to cast a remake of THE PARTRIDGE FAMILY. Emma battled it out with six other contestants to eventually win the part of “Laurie”, though unfortunately THE NEW PARTRIDGE FAMILY never made it to air.
Regardless, even at sixteen years old, it’s easy to tell Emma is a triple threat. In the above clip, Emma and her competitor, Alexis Mero, perform Pat Benatar’s “We Belong Together”. Can we take a moment to appreciate Emma’s stage management, harmonization, and most importantly, her dramatic gesticulations? Also, why are two competitors singing lyrics like “we belong together”? Emma described her experience on the show, “I realized why the people on THE BACHELOR go so crazy. You go in there rolling your eyes, thinking, this is just a reality search competition, but then you’re there for seven weeks, and you just really, really want to win.”
Jessica Chastain (INTERSTELLAR)
Two-time Oscar nominee, Jessica Chastain’s first experience in front of the camera was on an episode of the hit medical drama E.R. (“Forgive and Forget”) in 2004. In the episode, Chastain’s character, Dahlia Taslitz, is taking care of her father after he experienced severe brain-damage from a work accident years ago. Due to an infection, Dahlia brings her father into the hospital for medical attention. Although Dahlia says her father cannot speak, doctors begin to wonder whether he is as unaware as his daughter alleges. Does he want the doctors to go to extreme measures to save his life or is it his daughter that wants him to live in this state? SPOILER ALERT: As it turns out, Dahlia’s father sexually abused her, so it seems she is keeping him alive, in such a painful state, so he can "get what he deserves." Yikes, heavy stuff!
This performance was the only thing Chastain had on her reel when she first met director Ned Benson, who would go on to write/direct THE DISAPPEARANCE OF ELEANOR RIGBY (out now in theaters). As she describes, “I went up to him and said, ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to bother you, but I’m an actress and that was such a moving, beautiful short. Can I please have my manager send you my reel because I’d really love to work with you someday.’ I’d like done a guest spot on ER. That’s all I had on my reel! [Laughs] And from that moment [Ned and I] became friends. He came to see me in plays off Broadway.”
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