When you think of iconic Hollywood actors, you probably imagine it took them years of training to reach that calibre. In most cases, this is true. However, there are many actors with no training whatsoever.
In life, you can study and study until you’re considered one of the best in your chosen field. But you can also hone your skills as you go and become just as prestigious. These 8 iconic Hollywood actors did just that. We’re talking no drama school, no theatre troupes, just hard work and dedication.
8. Ricky Gervais
Many might not see Ricky Gervais as one of the world’s iconic Hollywood actors. Instead, they may simply see him as the man who roasts these megastars at the Golden Globes. However, he has starred in some high-grossing, critically acclaimed movies. But here’s the thing – he never intended on doing so. Now most renowned as a comedian, the Reading-born star has always had a creative flair brewing in him. He initially pursued a career in music before settling into an office job. However, it would be that office job that would form the meat and bones for his smash hit series, The Office.
After the massive success of this trailblazing sitcom, Gervais turned down roles in dozens of blockbuster movies like the Mission: Impossible franchise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Da Vinci Code. However, he didn’t say no to everything, and picked his projects wisely. Over the years, he has typically starred in his own projects to ensure creative control. But what’s interesting is how a comedian with zero acting training has become one of the world’s most recognisable actors and has even delved into drama with series like Derek and After Life.
7. Jennifer Lawrence
Jennifer Lawrence‘s meteoric rise truly stands as a monument to raw talent over formal education. As a youngster, Lawrence actually had no desires to act. When on vacation with her parents in New York City, the 14-year-old caught the eye of a talent scout who approached her parents. Skipping acting school entirely, Lawrence ascended rapidly and managed to captivate both audiences and critics from her very first roles. Her powerful performance in Winter’s Bone earned her an Academy Award nomination, and she later became the second-youngest Best Actress Oscar winner for Silver Linings Playbook at just 22 years old.
Lawrence’s unwavering adaptability is what makes her accomplishment all the more noteworthy. From portraying the ferocious Katniss Everdeen in the The Hunger Games series to laying out more subtle dramatic performances in movies like American Hustle and darkly humorous turns in films like Don’t Look Up, she never stops pushing herself to new limits. Without any academic training, she was able to switch between humor, indie drama, and blockbuster action seamlessly. A pure demonstration that instinct and hard work can occasionally surpass years of formal education.
6. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron is another Oscar-winning actress who stumbled into the art-form. Her early ambitions and aspirations laid with ballet dancing, however, a knee injury saw her venture into acting. Starring in minor bit parts early on, it would be her real-life temper that would land her the big roles. When getting into a heated argument in a bank, Theron caught the attention of a Hollywood manager who ultimately signed her. From here, she climbed the ranks and made her breakout role in The Cider House Rules. Four years later, she took home an Oscar for her haunting rendition in the movie Monster, transforming herself to play infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos.
5. Johnny Depp
Three-time Oscar-nominee Johnny Depp makes the list of iconic Hollywood actors with no training because he really does have zero professional training. Some actors start off on their own but eventually dabble in some form of training to hone their skills, whereas Depp has built his eclectic range all by himself. His path to superstardom was not laid out neatly and was anything but planned. In his early days in Hollywood, he had dreams of becoming a famous musician. However, this got side-tracked when he met Nicolas Cage and was subsequently introduced to his agent. Depp’s first role came in 1984 in a small but memorable part in A Nightmare on Elm Street. Shortly after, he became a teen idol thanks to his role as cocksure undercover cop Tommy Hanson in the TV series 21 Jump Street.
4. Meg Ryan
Meg Ryan broke out in 1989 with her dazzling role in When Harry Met Sally, a movie that is now considered to be one of the greatest romcoms of all time. Before that, she starred in small roles to make some extra cash. And before that, she didn’t even want to act. In fact, her initial career ambitions lay within journalism. It was when studying at the University of Connecticut and then at New York University that she ventured into acting to help her get by. Ryan quickly transcended from a background actress to a leading lady, representing one of the fastest Hollywood climbs we’ve ever seen. Today, she is considered one of the finest of her generation.
3. Christian Bale
When it comes to iconic Hollywood actors, Christian Bale ranks near the very top of that list. However, to make his career even more impressive, he also falls into the list of actors with no training. This Oscar-winning thespian is known for his deeply immersive renditions that fall into the method acting category. He has transformed his body on multiple occasions, often to dangerous levels. So, where did the extraordinary talent come from?
Firstly, it’s clear that Bale has a natural ability. Secondly, he cut his teeth with one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Steven Spielberg. At just 13 years of age, Bale led the cast of Spielberg’s epic war-drama Empire of the Sun, released in 1987. The film was nominated for six Oscars, and while Bale was snubbed, people took notice and his career has never slowed down ever since.
2. Brad Pitt
While he may be one of the most iconic Hollywood actors today, Brad Pitt started from the very bottom. No nepotism, no handouts, and no formal training. If you trace back through some of the most popular movies of the late 80s, you’ll see Pitt pop up in a few in the background – films like No Man’s Land, and No Way Out. He is a shining example of an actor who built his career slowly but surely, confined to supporting actor roles for a good chunk of his journey until he exploded and became a fully-fledged movie star.
What’s wild is the fact that Pitt never planned for any of this, it was more a crazy last-minute swerve. After leaving the University of Missouri just shy of graduating, he moved to Los Angeles and took on various odd jobs to make ends meet while auditioning for acting gigs. These jobs included working as a limo driver and dressing as a chicken for a fast-food chain.
1. Tom Cruise
It’s rather strange to think that possibly the biggest movie star of all time has no professional training. But it’s true, Tom Cruise is self taught. From his early role in Taps, Cruise relied entirely on instinct, charisma, and an unmatched work ethic to build his craft. When Top Gun launched him into the stratosphere in 1986, he cemented his status as Hollywood’s quintessential leading man – all without a single acting class.
What followed has been nothing short of extraordinary: decades of box office dominance, multiple Oscar nominations, and a reputation for performing death-defying stunts that most trained actors wouldn’t dare attempt. Cruise’s dedication to his roles borders on obsessive, yet this self-taught approach has made him one of cinema’s most bankable and enduring stars. His career proves that raw talent, combined with relentless commitment, can eclipse any formal education. Today, his movies have grossed over $12 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time.
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