Straight from the vault! Before Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emma Stone, and Scarlett Johansson grew to worldwide fame, these stars were once little-known aspiring actors and actresses who had to audition for film roles like their peers.
A new video montage of celebrities’ audition tapes for their breakout performances has gone viral after it hit YouTube last Thursday, Aug. 7.
The clip first features Brad Pitt auditioning for Ron Howard‘s Backdraft in 1991, along with an 8-year-old DiCaprio trying out for a role in the 1990 TV series, The Outsiders. Other stellar auditions which landed actors their breakout roles include Robert De Niro for The Godfather, Jimmy Fallon for Saturday Night Live, and Cruise for Risky Business.
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Former Disney darlings Lindsay Lohan, Selena Gomez, and Miley Cyrus would not be the superstars they are today had they not starred in The Parent Trap, Wizards of Waverly Place, and Hannah Montana, respectively.
At age 11, Hollywood vixen Scarlett Johansson also tried out for the starring role of Judy Shepherd in Jumanji, although another up-and-coming blonde actress, Kirsten Dunst, ultimately nabbed the character.
Other gems in the roundup include Sophie Turner and Maisie Williams for Game of Thrones, Alyson Hannigan for American Pie (“One time, at band camp….”), Emma Stone for Easy A, James Franco for Freaks and Geeks, Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad, Hugh Laurie for House, and Lea Michele for Glee.
The most chill-inducing footage, however, arguably comes from Henry Thomas‘ audition for the role of Elliott in 1982 classic, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Watch above and tell Us: Which audition was the most noteworthy?
