Contrary to popular belief, the majority of actors and actresses who make it big in Hollywood weren’t born into fame. Sure, there are the rare actors’ children who dive into the family business continue to do well, but most of the people whose names you know worked their butts off on small stages or small screens before getting that big break.

So, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that – like all people who toil at a profession that doesn’t pay squat while honing their craft and climbing the ladder (says the writer) – most actors needed jobs that weren’t acting in order to pay the bills. It might surprise you, however, to hear that they weren’t all waiting tables and/or slinging coffee. Read on!

#10. Pierce Brosnan

Photo Credit: MGM

One of a couple of circus performers on our list, Pierce Brosnan performed as a fire-eater when he was a teen.

…there was a workshop and one night I looked in and some guy was teaching people to fire-eat. There was a big group of people in there but I noticed that there were women and they had their tops off. So I thought I’d join in. So I went to the workshop and I learnt how to fire-eat.

This might be the best “how I got the job” story ever.