We all have one life, and (as anyone with a Pinterest account will tell you), there’s always time for a personal rebrand, no matter where you’re at in your journey.
And, for celebrities, embracing a new persona can be especially useful when it comes to enhancing your career (or, in some cases, helping people forget about your past).
Some of the stars on this list had intentional and very necessary rebrands, while some of them just grew up and changed their ways. Regardless, let me remind you of these super famous celebs whose public personas have changed so drastically that their previous eras are honestly kind of wild to look back on.
NOW: A Golden Globe-nominated lead actor, writer, and a beloved pioneer of the makeup-free movement.
2.
Robert Downey Jr.
THEN: A teen heartthrob and Oscar nominee turned felon, who was arrested on multiple occasions and spent time in prison for drug-related charges throughout the late ’90s.
NOW: A happily married, sober, top-paid actor, who’s reached the pinnacle of both critical and commercial acclaim in Hollywood, having starred in some of the highest-grossing movies of all time and bagged an Oscar.
3.
Mark Wahlberg
NOW: An Oscar-nominated blockbuster star known for comedy, drama, and action roles, as well as his staunch dedication to religion and wellness.
4.
Kim Kardashian
THEN: Paris Hilton’s less-famous friend/assistant in the 2000s, who became the face of a leaked sex tape scandal.
NOW: One of the most-streamed artists in music history with 81 Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 5 Grammys, lauded as one of the hitmakers of his generation.
6.
Ariana Grande
THEN: A Nickelodeon child actor turned pop star, best known for having a high-pitched voice and bright red hair.
NOW: A Grammy-award winning vocalist with a critically acclaimed body of work and an Oscar nomination for her performance in the highest-grossing Broadway musical movie adaptation of all time.
7.
Meghan Markle
THEN: Rachel Zane from Suits and a part-time lifestyle blogger.
NOW: The literal Duchess of Sussex, wife of Prince Harry.
8.
Victoria Beckham
THEN: Spice Girls pop-star and ultimate soccer WAG.
NOW: A chic, minimalist fashion designer with her own eponymous luxury label.
9.
Dave Bautista
THEN: One of the most legendary heavyweight wrestlers, prolific for his time in WWE in the 2000s
NOW: A well-rounded movie star who’s delivered acclaimed performances in some of the highest-grossing films of the 2020s so far.
10.
Angelina Jolie
THEN: An edgy and gothic young actor with a provocative personal life.
NOW: An enigmatic and sophisticated actor, director, humanitarian, and founder who keeps her personal life incredibly private.
11.
Drew Barrymore
NOW: A beloved TV talkshow host and business owner that everyone wants to be friends with.
12.
Bradley Cooper
THEN: An actor best known for playing douchebag guys in 2000s comedy movies.
NOW: A 12-time Oscar-nominated actor, director, and writer.
OK, those are the ones I thought of, but are there any I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!
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