Hollywood has always been known for having high standards of beauty, so models would seem a natural fit. Many models play themselves in small roles on television or in movies, often referred to as cameos. Others play dumb or vapid characters because that is what models are typically thought to be. Despite the small roles and typecasting, there are a few models who have managed to become successful actors, including an Academy Award winner.
Cameron Diaz has enjoyed an acting career spanning nearly two decades. In fact, she is so well-established as an actor that few realize that she actually started as a model. The blonde stunner was signed to a modeling contract at the tender age of 16 by Elite Model Management. It wasn’t until 1994 that she was cast opposite Jim Carrey in the hit comedy “The Mask.” She had no previous acting experience before that time. Her career took off overnight and she has never looked back.
Another young model turned big-screen-actor is Milla Jovovich. She had been modeling professionally since she was just 11 years old and has appeared on hundreds of magazine covers. Her first movies were little-seen (“The Train to Kathmandu”) or critically-maligned (“Return to the Blue Lagoon”). It wasn’t until her turn in “The Fifth Element” that her career really took off. Since then, she has been a mainstay in the “Resident Evil” movies.
Rebecca Romijn dropped out of college to move to Paris and pursue a modeling career. She turned her focus to acting in the 1990s with limited success until 2000’s “X-Men.” As Mystique, she was covered in blue paint yet still managed to attract attention. Since then, she has booked mostly television roles but occasionally pops up in movies as well.
German native Diane Kruger was a fashion designer favorite for years, taking to the catwalk for Jason Wu and Karl Lagerfeld, among others. She longed to be on the screen and soon left the runway for Hollywood. She found much success, appearing in box office hits like “Troy” and “Inglourious Basterds.
Not all of the modeling success stories in Hollywood are females. Plenty of male models have also made the transition. Channing Tatum is a prime example of a male model who went on to achieve a solid movie career. He not only modeled but also did some dancing, which led to him being cast in 2006’s “Step Up.” Since then, he has appeared in many action roles, flexing his chiseled physique. Though his acting is sometimes criticized, he continues to be cast in big roles, including a comedic turn in the movie adaptation of “21 Jump Street.”
Ashton Kutcher is arguably best-known for his television work in such shows as “That 70s Show” and “Two and a Half Men.” Somewhere in between the two, he managed to star in many movies. Most of them were comedies including “Dude, Where’s My Car,” “Cheaper by the Dozen,” “Guess Who” and “Just Married.” Before all this success, Kutcher appeared in Calvin Klein ads and walked the runways in Paris and Milan.
James Marsden has made quite a name for himself in Hollywood as a handsome leading man. Before sweeping moviegoers off their feet, he was a regular in ads for designer brands such as Versace. The Oklahoma native later dropped out of college to move to Los Angeles, intent on breaking into the movies. He has starred in such hits as the “X-Men” films, “The Notebook” and “Enchanted.”
There is no guarantee of success in Hollywood, but models may have a distinct advantage. As the fashion and entertainment industries continue to become intertwined, models get the chance to meet plenty of movie insiders. Knowing the right people can help models make a successful transition from the catwalk to the big screen.
