Posted on Feb 28, 2021

25 Famous Actors In The Beginning Of Their Careers Vs. What They Look Like Now

Young Sandra Oh was adorable!!!

Kayla Yandoli

by Kayla Yandoli

BuzzFeed Staff

1. What Jennifer Aniston looked like in the beginning of her career in 1990:

Jennifer Aniston wearing high-waisted jeans and an oversize shirt at an NBC premiere in 1990

What Jennifer Aniston looks like now:

Instagram

2. What Regina King looked like in the beginning of her career in the mid-1980s:

Regina King posing for a portrait in a sweater and collared shirt, late 1980s

What Regina King looks like now:

Regina King sitting in a chair at the 72nd Emmy Awards, wearing a "Say Her Name" Breonna Taylor shirt

3. What Sandra Oh looked like in the beginning of her career in the early 1990s:

Sandra Oh Best Actress in 1994 Genie Awards

What Sandra Oh looks like now:

Sandra Oh attends the Tibet House 33rd Annual Benefit Gala 2020

4. What Tom Hanks looked like in the beginning of his career in 1980:

Tom Hanks posing for a portrait on the set of "Bosom Buddies" pilot

What Tom Hanks looks like now:

Tom Hanks at Joe Biden's Inauguration, 2021

5. What Will Smith looked like in the beginning of his career in 1990:

Will Smith on the set of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" Season 1

What Will Smith looks like now:

Instagram

6. What Viola Davis looked like in the beginning of her career in 1996:

Viola Davis as an extra on "NYPD Blue"

What Viola Davis looks like now:

Instagram

7. What Steve Carell looked like in the beginning of his career in 1991:

Steve Carell in the "Life As We Know It!" TV pilot

What Steve Carell looks like now:

Steve Carell wearing glasses and a sweater at his home as a guest on "Late Night with Stephen Colbert"

8. What Oscar Isaac looked like in the beginning of his career in the early 2000s:

Oscar Isaac in "All About the Benjamins"

What Oscar Isaac looks like now:

Oscar Isaac at the 92nd Academy Awards 2020

9. What Michael B. Jordan looked like in the beginning of his career in the early 2000s:

Michael B. Jordan in "Hardball"

What Michael B. Jordan looks like now:

Michael B. Jordan on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in 2020

10. What Reese Witherspoon looked like in the beginning of her career in 1991:

Reese Witherspoon at "The Man in the Moon" West Hollywood Premiere 1991

What Reese Witherspoon looks like now:

Instagram

11. What Salma Hayek looked like in the beginning of her career in the late 1980s:

Salma Hayek in the late '80s TV show "Teresa"

What Salma Hayek looks like now:

Instagram

12. What Denzel Washington looked like in the beginning of his career in the early 1980s:

Denzel Washington as Doctor Philip Chandler, "St. Elsewhere"

What Denzel Washington looks like now:

Denzel Washington sitting court side at a Lakers game, 2020

13. What Kate Winslet looked like in the beginning of her career in the early 1990s:

Kate Winslet press photo, 1992

What Kate Winslet looks like now:

Kate Winslet as a guest on "The View" being interviewed from her home

14. What Joaquin Phoenix looked like in the beginning of his career in the early 1980s:

Joaquin Phoenix on "Hill Street Blues" in the early 1980s

What Joaquin Phoenix looks like now:

Joaquin Phoenix at the Golden Globe awards, 2020

15. What Octavia Spencer looked like in the beginning of her career in the late 1990s:

Octavia Spencer as a guest star on "Moesha"

What Octavia Spencer looks like now:

Octavia Spencer at the "Self Made: Inspired By The Life Of CJ Walker" Press Conference

16. What Sarah Paulson looked like in the beginning of her career in the early 1990s:

Sarah Paulson as a guest star on "Law &amp; Order"

What Sarah Paulson looks like now:

Sarah Paulson on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" livestreaming from her house

17. What Donald Glover looked like in the beginning of his career in the mid-2000s:

Donald Glover wearing glasses and a buttoned-down shirt in a YouTube sketch comedy show

What Donald Glover looks like now:

Donald Glover at the LACMA Art + Film Gala, 2019

18. What Zendaya looked like in the beginning of her career in 2011:

Zendaya at the "Gnomeo and Juliet" premiere, 2011

What Zendaya looks like now:

Instagram

19. What Kristen Bell looked like in the beginning of her career in the early 2000s:

Kristen Bell wearing a polka dot dress at a premiere in the early 2000s

What Kristen Bell looks like now:

Instagram

20. What Chris Evans looked like in the beginning of his career in 2000:

Chris Evans posing for a portrait for "Opposite Sex" pilot episode

What Chris Evans looks like now:

Chris Evans filming a selfie video for his Instagram account in a sweater and a beard

21. What Amy Adams looked like in the beginning of her career in 1999:

Amy Adams wearing a long dress at the "Drop Dead Gorgeous" movie premiere

What Amy Adams looks like now:

Amy Adams as a guest on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" in 2020

22. What Aubrey Plaza looked like in the beginning of her career in 2006:

Aubrey Plaza as as guest star on "30 Rock" in 2006

What Aubrey Plaza looks like now:

Instagram

23. What Jada Pinkett Smith looked like in the beginning of her career in the early 1990s:

Jada Pinkett Smith at the "A Different World" 100th episode premiere

What Jada Pinkett Smith looks like now:

Instagram

24. What Daniel Radcliffe looked like in the beginning of his career in 2001:

Daniel Radcliffe attends the world premiere of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"

What Daniel Radcliffe looks like now:

Daniel Radcliffe on "Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen" 2020

25. And what Brad Pitt looked like in the beginning of his career in the late 1980s:

Brad Pitt in 1988 in London, wearing a hat, leather jacket, and earring

What Brad Pitt looks like now:

Brad Pitt at the Golden Globe awards in 2020

Share This Article

BuzzFeed Daily

Keep up with the latest daily buzz with the BuzzFeed Daily newsletter!