12 Hollywood Celebs That Worked in Fast Food

Everybody has to start somewhere! Our favorite movie stars and celebrities from Hollywood all began with a dream, a hustle, and even a job working in fast food!

Before they walked the red carpet, many of them were just like us, trying to make ends meet (yes, it’s meet, not meat.. I looked it up haha).

Let's take a look at the top 12 Hollywood celebrities who started their journey working at fast food restaurants before making it big as movie stars.

12. Julia Roberts- Baskin-Robbins

Before she became famous with her breakout role in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts had a sweet start to her working life at a Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop. Just imagine, the same hands that would later hold Oscars scooped ice cream! Working at Baskin-Robbins, Julia learned the value of hard work and probably mastered the art of making the perfect ice cream cone.

11. Brad Pitt- El Pollo Loco

“Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken,” Tyler Durden (played by Brad Pitt) explains to his Fight Club group. That line resonates well with Brad Pitt, considering he had to dress up as a chicken to make a living when he was just starting out in Hollywood. Yes, the Brad Pitt we all love and adore used to work at El Pollo Loco dressed up a chicken.

“Man’s gotta eat. No shame” was what he once told someone in an interview about his job clucking around. We agree.

10. Mark Hamill- Jack in the Box

Mark Hamill, the actor who played Luke Skywalker in Star Wars, had his first job as a teenager at Jack in the Box. But he wasn't just a regular fry cook. Mark loved to make people laugh, and he would often joke around with customers and even do funny voices.

One time, a customer told Mark to stop acting silly and go home. But Mark knew he was funny, and he told the customer, "Just wait, someday I'll be a famous movie star!" And guess what? He was right!

Even though Mark Hamill is a big star now, he still remembers his time working at Jack in the Box. It taught him the importance of hard work and being yourself, no matter what others say. As Mark himself said in a recent interview, "It was a twice-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and I am glad I took it."

9. Jennifer Aniston- Jackson Hole

Before she became everyone's favorite friend Rachel Green, Jennifer Aniston was slingin' burgers and shakin' cocktails at a restaurant called Jackson Hole in New York City!

"There was never any resentment," Aniston said about the job, reflecting on her hustle in an interview. "I couldn't wait to get to work and make my own money." She even admitted to surprising her old boss on a talk show, saying, "It was just amazing to reconnect with him after all these years."

Who knows, maybe you'll bump into your favorite celeb doing a regular job someday, just like Rachel serving at Central Perk!

8. Amy Adams- Hooters

Here's one we bet you didn't expect!

Amy Adams worked at Hooters as a teenager to save up for a car. She started as a hostess and then became a waitress. She said it was a great job because they paid more than minimum wage at the time. She also learned that there was a difference between dance class and Hooters!

"Well, I was like 18, so everybody has the body at 18," she explained to ET. "But it was a great job out of high school and I was a hostess at first, and then I waited tables for a while, and it was great. It was a great way for me to earn money for college."

Source: ET

7. Eva Longoria- Wendy’s

Forget just a summer job! Forget flipping burgers for fun! Eva Longoria, yes, the famous actress, did WAY more than that. At just 14, she started working at Wendy's, not for a few weeks, but for whole six years! Why? At first it was to have the most amazing party ever - a quinceañera! 

Instead of chilling with friends, Eva chose work with a big smile. "I couldn't wait to earn my own money!" she said. Why? Because she saw how hard her mom worked, especially taking care of her sister. "Helping out wasn't a drag, it's just what we did," she explained. It wasn't just Eva, it was her whole family working together.

So next time you grab a burger, remember, even big stars like Eva used to sling fries with pride!

Source: Redbook

6. Kate Walsh- Burger King

Remember Dr. Addison from Grey's Anatomy? Super cool, right?

Well, she once totally bombed at Burger King! Yep, the actress, Kate Walsh, flipped burgers in her teens, but was fired.

Why? Kate says it's all because her manager was grumpy and was just finding a reason to get rid of her. Burger King loves to say "have it your way," but apparently, that didn't apply to their employees back then! No worries though, Kate bounced over to Dairy Queen and had a much smoother ride there.

So next time you're chowing down at Burger King, remember: even famous folks can have some funny job flops!

5. Rachel McAdams- McDonald’s

Luckily, things worked out on the acting front for Rachel McAdams, who worked in a Canadian McDonald's for three years—despite admitting to the Huffington Post that she wasn't the best employee.

"I'm not sure why they kept me: I am something of a daydreamer and a dawdler, so they would only let me be the 'friendly voice' that greeted you when you entered the restaurant. I was slow; I would be organizing the sweet-and-sour packets in the customer's takeout bag while the line snaked out the door. Even at a fast food restaurant, I wanted everything just so."

4. Sharon Stone- McDonald’s

Before Sharon Stone became a famous actress with her breakout role in Basic Instinct, she worked at McDonald's at 19 years old.

Sharon talks about her fast food experiences in her book, "The Beauty of Living Twice," where she shares stories from her life, including her time at McDonald's.

She believes that everyone starts somewhere and that with hard work, anyone can achieve their dreams. This story shows that even celebrities like Sharon Stone had to start with small jobs before they made it big.

3. Jenna Fischer- Long John Silvers

Jenna Fischer, who you might know as Pam from "The Office," once worked at Long John Silver's when she was a teenager.

She wanted to earn more money, so she asked to be a fry cook because it paid better than working the cash register. But after three weeks and a couple of bad burns from hush puppies, she called it quits. She's shared her experiences and the lessons she learned along the way, showing that everyone starts somewhere and that hard work and determination can lead to achieving your dreams​.

2. Eva Mendes- Hot Dog on a Stick

Eva Mendes was really eager to start working as soon as she turned 15 because that's when you can get a job permit in California. She told The Wall Street Journal that her first job was at a pizza and pasta shop in the mall called 'Ciao,' and she really liked it there. After that, she worked at 'Hot Dog on a Stick,' another fast food spot in the food court.

Fans might be surprised to hear that she was super excited to work in fast food when she was young. She loved working at the pizza place a lot. Then, she switched to working at Hot Dog on a Stick, but she didn't enjoy it as much as the pizza place. However, she still loved the experience of working, and has no regrets for her start.

1. Barack Obama- Baskin-Robbins

Believe it or not, before President Barack Obama was shaking hands with world leaders, he was slinging scoops of Rocky Road and Mint Chocolate Chip! That's right, our 44th president's first summer job was at Baskin-Robbins in Honolulu, Hawaii. While he may not be a huge ice cream fan himself, Obama has said this experience was more than just sprinkles and smiles.

"[It] wasn't exactly glamorous, but it taught me some valuable lessons," he wrote, reflecting on his teenage job. "Responsibility. Hard work. Balancing a job with friends, family, and school." Talk about scooping up wisdom alongside ice cream!