▲

Everyone has to start somewhere, and that goes for the biggest stars in the world too.

While some of them took years to rise through the ranks of small TV and film roles, others were given a starring role right off the bat.

Here are the first credits of all your favorite actors before they made it big.

▲The legendary actor with over 116 movies under his belt, including some of the all-time greatest films, began acting in European cinema. In 1965 De Niro landed his first ever role in ‘Trois chambres à Manhattan.’ His second credit was in the 1968 Danish film ‘Greetings,’ a satire about free love.

▲

The world-famous actor who left us too soon got his start on a family comedy called 'Ship to Shore' in 1993. He then played the character Snowy Bowles on the Australian TV show 'Sweat' in 1996. The year 1999 was a breakthrough one for Ledger, when he starred in '10 Things I Hate About You' and 'Two Hands,' his first movies.

▲

Natalie Portman was 13 when she acted and starred in her first film, 'Léon: The Professional' (1994), as a girl adopted by an assassin.

▲Legendary funny man Zach Galifianakis played Bobby on ‘Boston Common’ for five episodes in 1996 for his first-ever on-screen role. In 1999, his first movie role was as Pathetic Guy in a film that only took place in bathrooms called 'Flushed.'

▲This Hollywood star's career is now in its third decade. Kidman's first film was 'Bush Christmas' in 1983. The movie followed a family in the Australian outback, attempting to save their farm from foreclosure.

▲

Possibly the most consistently celebrated actor in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio (left) was 5 years old when he got his first TV credit in the children's show ‘Romper Room and Friends’ in 1979. Following a few appearances on TV, DiCaprio landed a small role on ‘Critters 3’ (1991), about fur-ball aliens in Los Angeles.

▲Once the biggest actress in Hollywood, Cameron Diaz's first-ever role was as the main love interest in 1994's 'The Mask.'

▲This acting great got his first role in one episode of the firefighter TV show 'Emergency!' in 1972. His first movie credit was as a side character in ‘The Devil's Rain,' (1975) about a satanic cult leader returning from the dead.

▲

A defining Hollywood star since the late 90s, Denzel Washington first appeared in a flashback during the TV movie 'Wilma' (1977) about the track star Wilma Rudolph. Washington's first film role was starring as the illegitimate son of a white man in ‘Carbon Copy' (1981).

▲Tommy Lee Jones' career has aged like fine wine, starring in 'No Country for Old Men' nearly four decades into his career. His first role was in 'Love Story' (1970), where he played Oliver's roommate, the male protagonist in the romantic plot. His major breakout role was as a police investigator helping a woman who could see through the eyes of a killer in 1978's 'Eyes of Laura Mars.'

▲

The legendary actor—with over 1290 credits to his name—got his start in 1969 on one episode of ‘New York Television Theatre.' His first film was in a small role about the last farm in Manhattan called ‘Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!’ (1971).

▲Master of madness Jack Nicholson had his first TV credit as a musician's son on ‘Matinee Theatre’ in 1956. In 1958 he starred in his debut film, ‘The Cry Baby Killer,’ as a young man who takes people hostage because he thinks he's accidentally murdered someone.

▲Now best known for 'X-Men' and 'Les Misérables,' Hugh Jackman was a TV actor in the 1990s. Jackman's first film role was starring as Jack Willis in the 1999 movie, 'Paperback Hero.' Jackman played a truck driver navigating Australia's outback, who just made it big as a paperback romance novelist.

▲

The charismatic crime actor first appeared in an episode of 'Shell Game' in 1987 about a conning couple. After voicing a dog-faced boy in a Pee-Wee Herman movie, Del Toro played a minor James Bond villain in ‘Licence to Kill’ (1989).

▲Dan Aykroyd starred in his first-ever on-screen appearance in 1975, in the Canadian TV show 'Coming up Rosie.' His first film role was starring as a blind man who falls in love, called 'Love at First Sight' (1977). Three years later he would break out into stardom with ‘Blues Brothers.'

▲

Back in 1984, a 21-year-old Johnny Depp starred as Glen Lantz in the original ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street.’ It was the first screen appearance for Depp, who would become wildly famous just six years later for his role in 'Cry-baby.'

▲Among the most storied actors of all time, Meryl Streep has been in nearly 90 films. Her first was a small part in 'Julia' (1977), about a playwright smuggling money into Nazi Germany.

▲

One of the biggest stars of the past 20 years (in the picture, hugging her father) got her first role in a movie back in 1982, with her dad, Jon Voight. The film is about two gamblers escaping New York.

▲Following an appearance in a TV documentary series in 1992 and Guy #2 in 'My Boyfriend's Back' in 1993, McConaughey famously played bad boy Wooderson in the generation-defining 'Dazed and Confused.'

▲The 'Gladiator' got his start when he was 8 years old in 1972 as an uncredited orphan in the TV show 'Spyforce,' about Australian WWII spies. Crowe also starred in four episodes of the Australian 'Neighbours' TV show, before he landed his first American movie alongside George Takei in 'Blood Oath' (1990).

▲The comedian-turned-acting-legend Jim Carrey got his start doing voice acting on the Canadian 1980 series called 'The All-Night Show,' which aired at 6 am. His first film appearance was in the Canadian movie 'All in Good Taste,' about a hijacked script in 1983. Carrey made his Hollywood debut in 1985, as a man who falls in love with a vampire in ‘Once Bitten.’

▲The master of drama, Don Cheadle had his first role in a movie about a remedial drivers' course, playing a fast food employee.

▲The Hollywood star, known for his unique roles in magnificent films, got his start in a movie about an altar boy killing a priest.

▲

Forever the femme fatale, Penélope Cruz's first appearance was in an episode of a 1990 Spanish sci-fi children's TV show, ‘Los mundos de Yupi.’ In 1992, Cruz starred in her first feature film, Spain's ‘Jamón, Jamón.’ She played a lower-class woman dating an executive, whose family disapproved of her.

▲Now a mainstay of buddy and stoner comedies, Seth Rogen (plaid shirt) got his start on 'Freaks and Geeks' in 1999, playing Ken Miller for 18 episodes. His first film in 2001 was 'Donnie Darko,' where he played a relatively small role.

▲Now the first pick for every Hollywood blockbuster, Jennifer Lawrence's first role was as a mascot in the OCD detective TV show 'Monk' in 2006. Lawrence's first film appearance was in a movie called 'The Poker House,' about actress Lori Petty's early life.

▲Now one of the most sought after actors and rappers on the planet, Donald Glover had a number of small roles in TV movies starting in 1998, even one as Peter Pan in 'Black Peter Pan' in 2006. His first-ever appearance was as an extra in a hip-hop-themed crime movie ‘Winner Takes All.’ But his first major appearance was on 'Mystery Team' in 2009 as a child detective.

▲Awkward humor comedian Michael Cera's first-ever on-screen appearance was as a skateboarder in the 1999 Canadian show ‘Twice in a Lifetime,’ about an angel trying to earn his wings. After a few years in Canadian TV, Cera landed a small role in the American film ‘Steal This Movie,’ follows the lives of two activists.

▲If you want to be technical, Channing Tatum's first entry into the spotlight was as an uncredited backup dancer in Ricky Martin's 'She Bangs' music video (2000). He followed that up with a one episode appearance in 'CSI Miami' (2004), and playing Jason Lyle in 'Coach Carter (2005).

▲TV and movie phenom Cuba Gooding Jr.'s first-ever appearance was as a Wooly Bully on the feel good 1986 TV show 'Better Days.' His first film appearance was as a boy getting a haircut in 'Coming to America' (1988).

▲

Now best-known for starring in 'Nightcrawler', Jake Gyllenhaal got his start in 1991 playing a minor character in the Billy Crystal comedy ‘City Slickers.'

▲Now a venerated star on both British and American screens, Idris Elba's first appearance was as a parachute instructor on the BBC TV show '2point4 Children' in 1994. Following an illustrious beginning to his TV career, Elba's first film was the French movie ‘Belle maman’ in 1999.

▲Most famous for her role on 'Grey's Anatomy,' Sandra Oh's first role was on the Canadian TV show 'Denim Blues' in 1989. Her first film appearance was starring in ‘Double Happiness’ (1994), a movie about navigating dating life as a first generation Chinese Canadian.

▲

Once the king of comedy, Eddie Murphy's first film was the crime film ‘48 Hrs.’ where he stars as a criminal who teams up with a cop to find a killer. His second film was the major hit and classic comedy ‘Trading Places’ with Dan Aykroyd.

▲

Joaquin Phoenix's first on-screen appearance was in the 1982 TV show 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,’ based on the classic musical. In the midst of his lengthy TV career, he did his first movie in 1986 called 'SpaceCamp,' about children accidentally being sent to space.

▲The man who embodied Harvey Milk had his first-ever role as an uncredited "kid" at 14 years old in 'Little House on the Prairie' back in 1974. A few TV appearances later, and Penn became a star as Jeff Spicoli in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High.'

▲

The 'That '70s Show' and 'Black Swan' star Mila Kunis' first on-screen credit was in an episode of the soap opera ‘Days of Our Lives.' In 1995 she got a small role in the horror movie ‘Piranha.'

▲The 'Deadpool' star got his first role when he was 15 in the Canadian TV show 'Hillside,' about learning how to navigate life in high school. Two years later in 1993, Reynolds starred in the Canadian film an activist teen from India called 'Ordinary Magic.'

▲Now the star of 'How to Get Away with Murder' and 'Fences,' Viola Davis' first appearance was in the 1996 movie 'The Substance of Fire.'

▲

Ben Stiller's first-ever role was in the 1987 TV show 'Kate & Allie,’ about two divorced women raising kids. Stiller then got a regularly recurring role on 'Saturday Night Live.' His first film was in the John Cusack rom-com 'Hot Pursuit' (1987).

▲Before he starred in 'Hunger Games,' Hemsworth appeared in Australia's 'Home and Away,' as well as 'McLeod's Daughters' in 2007. Hemsworth also played Josh Taylor on 'Neighbours' from 2007 to 2008. His big break was his first film, 'Knowing' (2009).

▲

The star of 'Her' and 'Lost in Translation' got her start when she was just 10 years old in a movie starring Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, and Jason Alexander, about a kid traveling the world, searching for new parents.

▲

Geoffrey Rush made his appearance on screen in a 1980, one-season TV show called 'Menotti.' Rush made a number of appearances in small roles in both film and television, before landing his first film role in 'Dad and Dave: On Our Selection,' about an Australian bushman running against corrupt politicians in an election.

▲

An eight-year-old Kirsten Dunst got her first film role in the Tom Hanks and Bruce Willis film 'The Bonfire of the Vanities,' in 1990. The movie follows a Wall Street big shot as he loses his life of luxury after his mistress kills a teen in a car accident. After that, in 1994, she famously starred in 'Interview with the Vampire.' Her scene partner was none other than Brad Pitt.

▲Eric Bana starred in the TV movie 'Eric' in 1996, before appearing in a small role for the big screen in 1997's 'The Castle.' Bana starred in a number of Australian TV shows, including 'Full Frontal' and 'All Saints,' between 1993 and 2000. He made his major breakthrough in his debut movie, starring in the title role of 'Chopper.'

▲

One of the all-time greats, Anthony Hopkins got his first role as a character in two episodes of a 1960s TV show called ‘A Matter of Degree.' Hopkins' first film role was a small part in the morbid British movie 'The White Bus' (1967).

▲Matt Damon's first entry into the film industry was playing Steamer in 1988's 'Mystic Pizza.'

▲The man who came back from obscurity to be known as 'The Wrestler' had his first role in a 1979 movie about Californians who thought Japan was launching a land invasion, called '1941.' In 1980 Rourke was in 'Fade to Black,' about a film buff on a killing spree.

▲

Willem Dafoe (right) has been in over 100 movies, but his first was starring in the Swedish film 'The Loveless' (1981), about a motorcycle gang in a small town.

▲

Cate Blanchett's first film appearance was as a cheerleader in the 1990 movie 'Kaboria.' Blanchett was in a number of Australian TV shows during the 1990s, including 'Police Rescue,' 'Heartland,' and 'Bordertown.' Blanchett also starred in 'Parklands' (1996), 'Oscar and Lucinda' (1997) and 'Elizabeth' (1998), solidifying her as a Hollywood star.

▲

The former king of Hollywood's first movie was ‘Endless Love’ (1981), where he played a small role in the film about forbidden teenage love.

▲The most famous kung fu actor of his time, Jackie Chan's first appearance was as the star of a 1962 black and white Hong Kong film called ‘Big and Little Wong Tin Bar.' Chan was eight years old, and played a child learning kung fu.

▲The actress who keeps putting out hits, Naomi Watts (left) first appeared in two episodes of the single season Australian show ‘Return to Eden’ as an uncredited model. Watts' first movie role was as an unnamed girlfriend in ‘For Love Alone’ (1986) about Australia in the 1930s.

▲

"Pretty Woman" got her start in 1987, playing the role of Tracy in one episode of the Chicago TV show ‘Crime Story.’ In 1988, she got her first film credit in 'Satisfaction,' a movie about a teenage band on tour. That same year, she starred in 'Mystic Pizza' (pictured).

▲You know him as the Dark Knight, but when Bale was 13 years old he starred in this classic film about Americans in a Japanese internment camp during WWII. He'd appeared in a TV miniseries, a TV movie, and a film in 1986 and 1987.

▲The 90s heartthrob turned executive producer and star of 'Santa Clarita Diet,' Drew Barrymore starred in 'E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial' when she was just seven years old. Before that she'd had two TV movie roles and one film appearance.

▲

Known for his starring role in 'The Green Hornet,' Chou's first full-length credit was in the 2005 film 'Initial D.'

▲

You might not have guessed it, but Adam Sandler's first on-screen role was in 1987 on 'The Cosby Show' as Smitty, a role he played for four episodes. His first film was 'Going Overboard,' about a struggling comedian, but had his big breakthrough with 'Airheads' in 1994.