15 Truly Inspiring Celebrities That Are Self-Made

In the world of celebrities, the term “self-made” can be elusive, but there are stars who have genuinely climbed the ladder of success without a silver spoon. Today, we explore the question: “Which celebrities are ACTUALLY self-made?” Join us as we celebrate the inspiring stories of those who defied the odds and carved their path to stardom through sheer determination. From rising stars to seasoned veterans, these luminaries prove that true success often comes from within. Are you ready to be inspired by the authentic journeys of these self-made icons? Let’s shine a spotlight on their remarkable achievements!

Angela Bassett

To start, a user replied, “Angela Bassett – came from the projects and was raised by a single mother who made sure she and her sister knew from the age of 4 they absolutely needed to go to college. They were public school kids with a single mother who worked hard to finish school and get a job raising her family. She didn’t want them to realize too late, like she did, how important finishing their education was. Angela set her eyes on Howard University, but a previous drama teacher wrote to her mother saying to encourage Angela to apply to Yale, Harvard, Berkeley, and a few other universities. She got accepted into Yale and studied there while on scholarship and went on to get her masters at Yale Drama.”

Viola Davis

A person commented, “Viola Davis. Her memoir tells the ultimate “rags to riches” story and shows the importance of having teachers and mentors who believe in you. And she still finds room in her memoir to talk about how lucky and privileged she is, something most nepo babies who came from an entirely different world than her can’t even admit.”

Dolly Parton

One popular comment was, “Dolly Parton was born in a single-room shack, and her father paid the doctor with a bag of cornmeal for delivering her.”

Another comment was, “If you’ve ever seen the house she grew up in, you’d be amazed. Dolly Parton is 100% self-made and a woman who stands up for what she believes in. She deserves every ounce of recognition she gets.”

Kevin Smith

One user commented, “Kevin Smith. When he made “Clerks,” he maxed out his credit cards, he shot in black and white because it was less expensive (at the time), and the Mini Stop that he shot the movie in was actually a place that he had worked at. He also shot at night while the place was closed, with permission from the owner. That’s why there’s a cover over the front. Pretty much everyone in the movie was a personal friend too, which helped out.”

Jessica Chastain

Someone said, “Jessica Chastain – mom was a single parent, grew up poor, got accepted into Julliard on a scholarship funded by Robin Williams.”

A second, someone added, “Chastain, much like Keanu, is one of the nicest human beings on the planet, will stop and talk to anyone, and this story makes me love her all the more.”

Eminem

A user wrote, “Nobody mentioned Eminem, so I will say it.”

Another user added, “Growing up in poverty in Detroit to the success he has had is amazing.”

Matt LeBlanc

A comment was, “Matt LeBlanc, he was so poor before he landed the role of Joey on friends that he almost starved and he did his own dental work. He had $11 to his name, and by the time the 9th season rolled around, he was making $1,000,000 per episode. Talk about rags to riches.”

Mila Kunis

One person said, “Mila Kunis. Her parents refuse to take a dime from her. Won’t even let her pay for dinner if they go out… and send over food to her house to make sure they eat. She says she owes them everything, and they absolutely refuse to allow her to take care of them.”

A second person replied, “She also frequently speaks out about being an immigrant and displaced family after The Cold War.”

Adam Driver

A popular comment was, “Adam Driver- was a marine, had an accident, and had to quit. Auditioned for Julliard, where he also met his wife. Did theatre, auditioned for girls, and got in. Instant fame, cast in star wars- catapulted into mega-stardom.”

Leighton Meester

A user replied, “Leighton Meester; she was born while her mother was in jail.”

Another user added, “Leighton Meester was sent to a halfway house at literally 2 days old while her mother finished her prison sentence for being a part of a drug ring and then went to live with her grandparents.” 

Christina Aguilera

One response was, “Christina Aguilera grew up in a (relatively) poor and very abusive household. She desperately wanted to be a singer, and her mom took her around everywhere to sing, including an audition for Mickey Mouse Club. Then, years later, she got a record deal. She said she was pretty much providing for her family at that point. Her talent essentially got her out of her awful living situation.”

Justin Bieber

A popular comment was, “Everyone hates him, but Justin Bieber. He was posting videos on YouTube and got discovered by Usher. Blew up instantly afterward.”

Another comment was, “Also grew up poor, with a super religious mom who had him as a teenager and a deadbeat dad who only got involved in his life when he got famous.”

The Weeknd

A user said, “The Weeknd came from nothing and was literally homeless. When he was making his first album, he could not even afford the graphics, so his best friend Lamar broke into an Arts College and used their graphics computer. Now they founded HXOUSE, which is an incubator for talent for people without the nepo connections or money to realize their dreams.”

Elvis Presley

Someone shared, “Elvis Presley is the biggest example. Born in extreme poverty, and went on to become one of the biggest music stars ever.”

Jeannette McCurdy 

One reply was, “Jeannette McCurdy grew up sleeping on the floor in a hoarder’s house, and when her mom pushed her into acting, her family relied on that financially.”

Another reply said, “If you haven’t read her autobiography, then you need to. She literally hated acting and sucked at it but knew she needed to support her family.” 

Mariah Carey 

Finally, someone said, “Mariah Carey – a very troubled home life as a kid, constantly moving around and no money. Moved to Manhattan straight after school and hustled her way to a record deal, and the rest is history.” Source: Reddit

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