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Sydney Sweeney -

Sydney Sweeney is young, gorgeous, and stars in major hit series like 'Euphoria,' 'The White Lotus,' and 'The Handmaid's Tale,' but even she was told she'd never make it. Speaking to GQ, the actress recalled a moment when she felt underestimated: "A casting director told me once that I will never be on a TV show,” she revealed, adding that they believed she didn’t have the "right look." Thankfully she didn't give up. “Now, I'm on some of the biggest TV shows in the world," she reportedly said with a smirk. 

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Salma Hayek -

If you examine Salma Hayek's list of movies today, it might be surprising to think that she was once told she wouldn't be successful as an actress because of her age and nationality. “They told me my career would die mid-30s. First of all, they told me a Mexican is never going to make it, because at the time, the new generations, it was impossible for a Mexican to have a leading role in Hollywood,” Hayek told the PA news agency during press for her film 'Bliss.' 

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Salma Hayek -

She continued, “And I think it’s great, I’m proud of it, I want to shout it to the world, because I was told so many times it couldn’t happen and I almost believed them but I fought it and I won." The actress expressed her desire for women to understand that societal pressure doesn't disappear in your 30s or 40s, and that it's never too late to achieve success. She emphasized the importance of embracing late blooming, stating that there is no age where you become irrelevant.

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Kate Winslet -

According to reports, when the actress was 14 years old, her drama teacher commented that she could potentially find success taking "fat girl parts" if she would settle for that. 

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The Spice Girls -

Simon Cowell made a significant mistake when he declined to sign Britain's largest girl group during the early 1990s. Victoria Beckham reportedly takes great pleasure in reminding him of this. Cowell's belief that they would never succeed proved to be so, so wrong.

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Winona Ryder -

Winona Ryder was once interrupted mid-sentence by a casting director who stated that she should not pursue acting since she lacked sufficient beauty and suggested that she go back to where she came from. 

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Sally Field -

Field's agent informed her that she couldn't transition from TV to film due to her alleged lack of beauty and talent. Unfazed, she swiftly dismissed her agent with the words: "You're fired."

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Reese Witherspoon -

Prior to 'Legally Blonde,' Witherspoon was rejected time and time again, being told she wasn't tall enough, pretty enough, or smart enough. 

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Sidney Poitier -

Poitier, the first African-American actor to receive the Academy Award for Best Actor, faced blatant discrimination at his first audition. The director bluntly remarked, "Why don't you stop wasting people's time and go out and become a dishwasher or something?”

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Nia Vardalos -

An agent informed the actress that she did not meet the physical requirements to play a character actress, nor did she possess the required beauty to be a leading lady. Furthermore, the agent stated that there were no available roles for Greek-American actresses. In response, Vardalos proceeded to write and star in the film 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding.'

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Arnold Schwarzenegger -

Many Hollywood insiders doubted his ability to venture into acting due to his accent, muscular physique, and challenging name.

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Fred Astaire -

Fred Astaire's first screen test received a rather critical evaluation. The review was famously blunt: "Can't act. Can't sing. Balding. Can dance a little." However, Astaire defied these criticisms and went on to captivate audiences with his exceptional dancing, singing, and acting abilities in countless beloved American musicals.

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Shakira -

Shakira's music teacher once compared her voice to a goat, but now she is one of the most famous singers in the world!

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Lea Michele -

Lea Michele began her Broadway career as a young theater actor and faced a pivotal moment when she was 15. She was given a choice to either get a nose job or leave Hollywood. Fortunately, her mother convinced her otherwise, drawing inspiration from Barbra Streisand.

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Boy George -

When a young Boy George told his career counselor that he wanted to be a musician, the adviser laughed and told him to consider working in a factory instead. For five weeks, he toiled in an apple packing factory, but he knew it wasn't for him. He was reportedly always late, and admitted, "I am pretty much unemployable." Thank goodness for that!

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Meryl Streep -

The prolific actress was asked to audition for 'King Kong' with producer Dino de Laurentis by his son. Upon meeting, Laurentis asked his son in Italian, "Why do you bring me this ugly thing?” Streep responded in Italian, "I’m sorry I’m not beautiful enough to be in 'King Kong!'"

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Jay-Z -

Despite being rejected by record labels for not meeting their standards, he has become the top-earning artist in America. Undeterred, he has even established his own music and recording label.

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Maggie Gyllenhaal -

Like other women in the entertainment field, she faced criticism despite being Jake Gyllenhaal's sister, being deemed insufficiently attractive for major film roles.

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Stephen King -

A publisher once informed the author that science fiction books centered on negative utopias are not marketable, reading of 'Carrie.' The book faced rejection 30 more times. Discouraged, King discarded it, until his wife recovered it and implored him to submit it again.

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Jennifer Lawrence -

Lawrence was initially informed that her appearance didn't meet Hollywood standards, as some believed her body was "too womanly," whatever that means. Regardless, she earned her first Academy Award nomination at the age of 20 and triumphed at 22 by winning her first Oscar.

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P!nk -

The singer received frequent criticisms about her appearance at the beginning of her career, being told she lacked the necessary beauty to be part of the entertainment industry. However, she used this experience as motivation to become a representative for women's empowerment and wrote impactful songs that denounced superficiality.

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Walt Disney -

A 22-year-old Walt Disney reportedly lost his job at a Missouri newspaper for "not being creative enough."

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Gary Oldman -

Despite his successful career playing various iconic characters such as Sid Vicious and Sirius Black, Gary Oldman faced criticism early on in his journey. When auditioning for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, he was discouraged, being told that he lacked acting abilities and should consider pursuing a different profession.

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Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood -

Reynolds and Eastwood were dismissed from an acting job at the same time in the 1960s. Reynolds due to criticism of his acting abilities, while Eastwood's protruding Adam's apple, slow speech, and chipped tooth were cited as reasons for his termination.

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Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood -

The actors went back to Eastwood's truck where Reynolds allegedly told Eastwood that he was in trouble, stating, "I'll eventually learn to act. You'll never get rid of that Adam's apple!”

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Jessica Chastain -

Chastain revealed that prior to her achievements in Hollywood, she encountered difficulty securing roles due to comments regarding her appearance. Critics suggested she alter her iconic red hair to a blonde shade in order to improve her chances.

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Oprah Winfrey -

After being dismissed from her job as a news anchor for displaying "excessive emotional involvement" in her stories, Winfrey was criticized as "unsuitable for television" by her superior. However, she ultimately went on to achieve great financial success and made a major cultural impact through her highly emotive TV program.

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Steven Spielberg -

Steven Spielberg was denied admission to the University of Southern California on three occasions due to his unsatisfactory academic performance. Nonetheless, he later received an honorary degree and was appointed as a trustee at the university.

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Keira Knightley -

During her audition for 'The Jacket,' Knightley faced skepticism from director John Maybury, who doubted her abilities and expressed his lack of interest in casting her. Despite this, Knightley insisted on proving herself by auditioning and managed to change Maybury's mind with her performance.

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Benedict Cumberbatch -

Despite being acclaimed as Sherlock Holmes, Cumberbatch encountered obstacles on his journey to embody the detective. Initially, he was deemed not "sexy" enough for the role, a statement fervently contested by his devoted fanbase.

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Elvis Presley -

According to his manager, the King was advised to abandon his musical aspirations and return to his previous job as a truck driver after his debut performance.

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Lady Gaga -

Gaga mentioned in a New York Daily News article that she faced continuous criticism regarding her looks, particularly her nose and, her first record label let her go within a few months.

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Harrison Ford -

In 1966's 'Dead Heat On A Merry Go Round,' Ford played a bell boy with just two lines. A studio boss told him he'd never make it in the business because when Tony Curtis was in his first movie as a delivery boy, people instantly knew he would be a movie star.

We'd like to direct that boss to Ford's extensive filmography.

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