We love a good rise to fame story, but the idea of an overnight success is kind of a lie…Behind every viral sensation or breakout role is usually a decade of side gigs, indie credits, and even straight-up rejection.
Many celebrities have appeared out of nowhere, but in reality? They’ve been working their way up to the top for YEARS. Here are 12 stars and their journeys to becoming “overnight successes.”
3.
He may be The Mandalorian and Joel in The Last of Us, but Pedro Pascal has been around for over two decades. Pedro spent the early 2000s appearing on basically every crime show known to man — NYPD Blue, Law & Order, and CSI to name a few. It wasn’t until his role as Oberyn Martell in Game of Thrones that he was quickly on his way to superstardom.
4.
In 2019, Lizzo went viral for “Truth Hurts,” but she had already been working in the music scene for a decade. “Truth Hurts” originally released in 2017, and only blew up two years later thanks to it’s appearance on Netflix’s Someone Great. When the song was confirmed eligible for awards that year, Lizzo celebrated online, acknowledging her hard work.
5.
Chappell Roan’s meteoric rise in 2024 might’ve felt sudden, but she’s been working towards it since 2015. After signing with Atlantic Records and launching her debut EP, she was dropped after releasing “Pink Pony Club” in 2020. She kept going and teamed up with producer Dan Nigro, eventually scoring a No. 2 album on the Billboard 200 with “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess.”
6.
After Normal People, Paul Mescal was EVERYWHERE. But, did you know that he did extensive stage work beforehand? He starred in productions like The Great Gatsby and The Plough and the Stars, before landing his breakout TV role on Normal People, which later opened the doors to Gladiator II and Aftersun!
7.
Speaking of theatre, Stephanie Hsu also took to the stage before hitting the big screen. She spent years performing on Broadway with Be More Chill and the The SpongeBob Musical before landing the part on Everything Everywhere All at Once.
8.
You may know him now as The Bear‘s Carmy, but Jeremy Allen White had a decade-long gig as Lip Gallagher in Shameless. He put in the work for years before receiving mainstream success, and has now won three consecutive Golden Globes for best actor in a television series.
9.
Before there was Lana Del Rey, there was Lizzy Grant. She began releasing music under that name in 2010, which wasn’t well received. Still, she kept writing, recording, and developing her infamous aesthetic. It wasn’t until she rebranded and released “Born to Die” where she exploded onto the music scene.
12.
Bridesmaids might’ve made Melissa McCarthy a movie star, but she already had a developed comedy resume beforehand. She starred as Sookie on Gilmore Girls and appeared in a ton of early 2000s comedies before breaking through in Hollywood.
Which celeb’s career glow up surprised you the most? I need to catch up on some of their early work now…🎬🎵
Got another “overnight success” that actually took much longer? Let us know in the comments!