Article: Annel Malan from women24

Many celebrities' lives were not always perfect, filled with glamour, riches and fame. Check out the lousy jobs these famous celebrities started out with…

Before Brad Pitt finished his Journalism studies at the University of Missouri, he dropped out and moved to California. Here Pitt had a difficult life before becoming an actor. To support himself he drove strippers around in limos, moved refrigerators and – our personal favourite – dressed as a giant chicken while working for "el Pollo Loco."

Hollywood's other famous hottie, Johnny Depp had a troubled childhood and left school at age 15 to become a rockstar. He moved to Los Angeles with his band, "Kids" without much success.

Depp married Lori Anne Allison, the sister of the drummer of the band, in 1983. During their short two year marriage he worked a variety of odd jobs, he was even a telemarketer for ink pens.

Depp's big break came when his wife introduced him to Nicolas Cage. Depp divorced his wife in that same year.

Madonna was one of six children and grew up with very little money. Even in high school she had to work to support herself and her family.

Madonna, asked to describe her worst high-school job, once said: "I had to clean houses – it was gross. I also had to clean the toilet bowls of boys I went to school with. No, there's nothing more degrading than being someone's housekeeper. I mean, God bless my housekeeper and... well... all my housekeepers!"

When Madonna first arrived in New York after school, she had no money, and for some time lived in squalor. She worked a series of low-paying jobs in order to survive, including working behind the counter at Dunkin' Donuts. She also worked as a nude model on occasion.

Sean Connery's first job was as a milkman. He later joined the navy, was a truck driver, a labourer, an artists' model, a weight lifter and even a life guard.

In 1953 Connery competed in the Mr. Universe Competition. It was here that a fellow contestant suggested he audition for the stage production of South Pacific, and how his stage, TV and film career started.

Jennifer Aniston's desire to be an actress developed in high school. When she left school she tried to establish a career in Off Broadway. During this time acting work was scarce and she had to support herself with several part time jobs, including working as a telemarketer, waitress and bike messenger.

Harrison Ford was a carpenter and established a successful business before he became a famous actor. While working as a carpenter, he was also a stagehand for the popular rock band, The Doors.

Many of today's older celebrities had it really tough when they started out. According to CNN: Bill Murray sold chestnuts outside a grocery store; Robin Williams performed as a street mime; and when no stores were interested in carrying his jeans, designer Tommy Hilfiger sold them to buyers from the trunk of his car.

CNN also reports that early in their careers these celebrities did what they could to pay the bills: Jerry Seinfeld sold light bulbs by phone; Demi Moore worked for a debt collection agency; Van Halen's David Lee Roth fluffed pillows and emptied bedpans as a hospital orderly; and just months before setting world records in country music, Garth Brooks was a salesman in a boot store. But that's not all. Not only did these celebs have crappy jobs... but so did their parents! Click here to feel even better about yourself.

Image: US singer Madonna performs during the first concert of her German tour, 20 August 2006 at the LTU-Arena in Duesseldorf, where she presented her new record "Confessions on a Dancefloor".
AFP PHOTO DDP/MICHAEL GOTTSCHALK