This article originally appeared on eightieskids.com
Mark Ruffalo – Clearasil
Today, Mark Ruffalo is best known for playing that big guy with green skin, the Hulk. Years earlier, an early acting job for Ruffalo involved an altogether different skin issue, as he appeared in TV commercials for the anti-acne product Clearasil Double Clear. The 1989 ad sees the future star ‘zapping’ away zits on his face using the cleanser.
Elisabeth Moss – Excedrin migraine relief
Today, Elisabeth Moss is a hugely respected actress in film (Us, The Invisible Man) and TV (Mad Men, The Handmaid’s Tale). One of her earliest jobs included a 2002 TV commercial for Excedrin, the migraine relief medicine. Her talent truly does shine through in the advert – you’d be forgiven for thinking Moss was a legitimate migraine sufferer.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt – Pop-Tarts
Before landing sitcom Third Rock from the Sun in his teens then successfully moving into movies, Joseph Gordon-Levitt landed his first acting work as a child appearing in commercials. His first job was on a Pop-Tarts commercial in 1991, which saw him make his on-screen father Pop-Tarts for breakfast.
Morgan Freeman – Listerine
“The taste people hate” is a truly bizarre choice for a tagline – but then, the esteemed Morgan Freeman has the ability to make anything sound good. This 70s ad sees Freeman explain that the powerful Listerine taste gives him confidence, explaining to his colleague, “if it didn’t taste so strong, it wouldn’t be working.” Such is Freeman’s charisma, he could convince us of anything.
Matt LeBlanc – Heinz Ketchup
A pre-Friends Matt LeBlanc made one of his earliest TV appearances in a 1989 commercial for Heinz Tomato Ketchup. LeBlanc portrayed a hip youngster who sets up a bottle on the roof of a building, then casually making his way downstairs as the ketchup slowly oozed out of the bottle, just in time to catch the falling sauce on his freshly purchased hot dog.
Ben Affleck – Burger King
Ben Affleck may be an Oscar-winning screenwriter, prominent leading man and acclaimed director, but he too comes from humble beginnings. Affleck got his start in acting by playing a ‘delivery boy’ in an old Burger King commercial, a position he attempts to wrangle to make a move on a girl. Even in this earliest appearance, that distinctive, somewhat smug Affleck smile is already in evidence.
Leonardo DiCaprio – Bubble Yum
Leonardo DiCaprio is undoubtedly one of the best actors of modern times – whether he’s portraying a Wall Street stockbroker or loved-up Romeo, he always dazzles on screen. Before he was catapulted into the limelight, DiCaprio appeared in a number of low-key commercials. At 14, DiCaprio appeared in a Bubble Yum commercial in the late 80s, sporting his trademark floppy blonde hair.
Dakota Fanning – Tide
Dakota Fanning has been modelling and acting for most of her life, having landed her first job aged just just five, in a Tide commercial. It was the first of many acting jobs for the young talent, who went on to become one of the most in-demand child actors of her generation, and has continued to work extensively as an adult.
Tobey Maguire – Atari Lynx
Long before he scaled skyscrapers as Spider-Man, a young Tobey Maguire took one of his earliest roles in a 1990 commercial for early handheld games console, the Atari Lynx. A proper little rebel, Maguire takes a ‘bathroom break/ at school in order to play games. Sadly for Atari, this didn’t do much to boost sales and the Lynx was soon discontinued.
Farrah Fawcett – Schick dryers
Farrah Fawcett was one of the most renowned beauties of the 1970s, earning particular fame for her distinctive and widely imitated hair style. Small wonder, then, that Fawcett got one of her big breaks appearing in commercials and marketing for a line of hair dryers, Schick, which promised customers similar follicular miracles.
Lindsay Lohan – Duncan Hines
Lindsay Lohan’s career may have slowed down in recent years, but back in the 90s she was in high demand. Her first TV appearance was on a Duncan Hines cake commercial in 1993 when she was just seven. Lohan was so determined, she told her mother she would quit acting for good if she didn’t get the job. Thank goodness that didn’t happen!
Jennifer Lawrence – My Super Sweet Sixteen
Jennifer Lawrence’s first paid job was a 2005 promotional video for MTV’s series My Super Sweet Sixteen. The video casts Lawrence as a birthday girl whose cake gets destroyed. Naturally this prompts a tantrum, as Lawrence screams and shouts like a true spoiled 16-year-old diva. It’s hard to imagine anyone on set that day thought they were in the company of a future Oscar winner!
Robert De Niro – The AMC Ambassador
Before his Oscars for The Godfather Part II and Raging Bull, Robert De Niro took a very different, far gentler role to pay the bills, in an early 70s car commercial. The ad for AMC’s Ambassador sees a kindly Bob drive to his family home to show off his flash new wheels, reassuring his mother that it was surprisingly affordable.
Jodie Foster – Crest
Long before her two Best Actress Oscars for The Accused and The Silence of the Lambs, Jodie Foster began acting as a child in TV commercials. She was only three years old when she made her first ever commercial for suntan lotion brand Coppertone in 1965, but she’s more recognizable in this later 1968 commercial for Crest toothpaste.
John Travolta – US Army
Like many others, John Travolta’s first major role was in a TV commercial – in his case, for the US Army. Produced in 1973 (when the Vietnam War was still raging), the commercial cast Travolta as a young solider, encouraging other youngsters to join and promoting the salary of $288 per month as a particular incentive.
Paul Rudd – Super Nintendo
Those who believe Paul Rudd to be a vampire are given compelling evidence by the 1991 Super Nintendo commercial, in which actor (officially 21 at the time) looks basically the same as he does today. Rudd’s character stands transfixed as he plays SNES games F-Zero, Sim City and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past at an abandoned drive-in movie theatre.
Meg Ryan – Burger King
Meg Ryan, who achieved massive success in the 80s and 90s thanks to When Harry Met Sally and Sleepless in Seattle, started out in acting with a 1982 Burger King commercial. Starring alone, she advertises a Burger King giveaway of cash prizes while flashing a beaming smile.
Steve Carell – Brown’s Chicken
Nowadays, Steve Carell is best known for his portrayal of Michael Scott on NBC’s hit show The Office, but before he landed any big acting roles, Carell starred in an ad for fast food joint Brown’s Chicken. The ad sees Carell fix up a sign reading ‘Cholesterol Free Cooking’ outside the restaurant – only for the wind to blow away everything but the word “free.”
Keanu Reeves – Coca-Cola
In the early 1980s, Keanu Reeves had just dropped out of high school with no film credits to his name. Among his earliest roles was a Coca-Cola commercial, in which Reeves plays a keen young cyclist. The ad sees Reeves compete in a cycling competition where his father encourages him to keep going with the help of a glass of Coke.
Tina Fey – Mutual Savings Bank
Before she became a critically-acclaimed comedian and writer of cult classic Mean Girls, Tina Fey was a 1995 commercial for Mutual Savings Bank. The gauche ad sees the actress and writer promote the Mutual Savings Bank’s high interest rates. It’s a good job Fey’s known for being funny, as you’d need a sense of humor to have this rather embarrassing clip on your resume.
Mila Kunis – Glitter Hair Barbie
Best known for her roles in Black Swan, Bad Moms and TV’s Family Guy, Mila Kunis comes from a Ukrainian family that relocated to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. Only two years later, having learned English from scratch, Kunis was successful in her very first audition – for a Glitter Hair Barbie commercial.
Kirsten Dunst – Trouble
Before her breakout appearance in Interview with a Vampire, Kirsten Dunst began racking up acting credits when she was just three years old, starting with a slew of commercials. Many of those early appearances are now impossible to find, but her commercial for the board game Trouble has survived, complete with her adorable blonde ringlets. Isn’t she cute?
Ryan Reynolds – Push Pop
Ryan Reynolds has had a rich and varied career. He also has the questionable honour of starring in the most 90s commercial ever made. As a kid, Reynolds was tasked with hawking Push Pops, in an advert filled with hip-hop music, backwards caps and baggy waistcoats. Most bemusingly, there’s also a shot of him wearing a bunch of Push Pops like Freddy Krueger’s finger knives.
Heath Ledger – Chicken Treat
The sadly-missed Heath Ledger was among the most revered actors of his generation – so it’s hard to fathom that he first came to prominence in a commercial for Australian fast food brand Chicken Treat. The strangely intense ad casts Ledger as an employee whose manager explains that Chicken Treat chicken must be barbequed for exactly an hour and a half to be perfect.
Hilary Duff – Subway
Thanks to Lizzie Maguire and A Cinderella Story, Hilary Duff was basically the face of the early 2000s. However, she started out doing numerous 90s commercials with her sister Haylie. In this 1999 Subway commercial, Duff plays a news reporter promoting the Subway Kids Pak, a kind of knock-off Happy Meal that comes with an even smaller and cheaper-looking toy, plus a cookie!
Elijah Wood – Cheese
Long before he went trudging off to Mordor, Elijah Wood was a prolific child actor who appeared in his fair share of commercials. In one of the many ads he appeared in, Wood was sponsored by the National Dairy Board and tasked with promoting cheddar, which he did by pouring a mountain of boiling hot cheese over a plate of just broccoli. Healthy!
Amanda Bynes – Buncha Crunch
Today, Amanda Bynes has faded from the limelight and is sadly best known for her mental health struggles, but in her younger years she enjoyed great early success as an actress. Her very first job was a commercial Buncha Crunch, appearing for just a few seconds in an ad that spoofs The Addams Family parody.
Channing Tatum – Pepsi
Unlike many others in the entertainment world, Channing Tatum didn’t begin acting professionally as a child, instead taking his first steps towards fame as a young man via commercials. As well as booking modelling jobs with Abercrombie and Fitch, Tatum also starred in this national ad campaign for Pepsi, rocking an extremely early 2000s look similar to his appearance in breakthrough movie Step Up.
Drew Barrymore – Pilsbury
By four years old, Drew Barrymore had already been acting for three years, and was ready to take on a demanding cookie dough ad for Pilsbury. Why demanding? Well, she had to resist eating the prop cookie dough between takes, which would be a tough task for most four-year-olds! Two years later she starred in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and the rest is Hollywood history.
Britney Spears – Maull’s
Before she had a smash hit debut album at the age of 17, Britney Spears was picked up by a talent scout, who got her placed in several high-profile commercials. The most famous of these was a summer BBQ-themed advert, which sets out to promote Maull’s barbecue sauce.
Courteney Cox – Tampax
In 1994, Courteney Cox attained global superstardom with her role as Monica Geller in the hit sitcom Friends. The actress’ screen debut came almost a decade before that, however, in the form of a 1985 Tampax advert, and – thanks to the commercial – Cox holds the distinction of being the first actress to directly mention periods by name on TV.
Bryan Cranston – Preparation H
Long before he was The One Who Knocks, Bryan Cranston was onscreen pushing a slightly different chemical product: the hemorrhoid cream Preparation H. During the early 80s, before he got his break with a role on ABC’s Loving, Cranston appeared in a string of ads in which he extolled Preparation H’s soothing effects.
Geena Davis – WMet
Although she is now a critically acclaimed actress with a slew of prestigious awards to her name, Geena Davis had humble beginnings. In 1983, while still trying to crack Hollywood, Davis appeared in TV commercials as the face of WMet, a small, local radio station.
Sarah Michelle Gellar – Burger King
Before she was the world’s favorite vampire slayer, Sarah Michelle Gellar was instructing viewers on why Burger King is a superior fast food outlet to McDonald’s in a 1981 advert. The commercial – which featured a stern-faced, four-year-old Gellar – is widely considered the first attack ad in the fast food industry.
Mark Hamill – Kodak
Given that he’s now famous for playing arguably the most famous character in sci-fi history, there’s something surreal about watching Mark Hamill’s first TV appearance, which came in the form of a Kodak commercial. In the ad, a young Hamill uses a bizarrely-thin camera to take snaps of his sweetheart on her balcony, in a scene obviously inspired by Romeo and Juliet.
Jordan Peele – Anti-smoking PSA
Jordan Peele became a household name as part of the comedy sketch show Key & Peele, before pivoting to directing some of the most thought provoking and critically acclaimed horror movies of modern times. Peele’s earliest onscreen appearance, however, came in the rather unexpected form of a PSA warning against the dangers of smoking.
Brad Pitt – Pringles
At the tail end of the 80s, Brad Pitt was on the cusp of superstardom, and by the mid-90s the actor was one of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. Before he made it big, however, Pitt lent his swag to this somewhat unhinged Pringles ad, which features a blindingly-bright color palette and some incredibly disorienting editing.
Megan Mullally – McDonald’s
These days, Megan Mullally is best known for her portraying Karen Walker on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, a role which saw the actress nominated eight times for a Primetime Emmy (she won twice). Back in 1983, however, Mullally was cheerfully peddling McMuffins in a cringe-inducing McDonald’s ad that also featured a brief of shot of John Goodman.
Tony Hale – Herbal Essences
Before he landed the role of Buster in Arrested Development, Tony Hale was playing the confused partner of a woman having a sensual reaction to her shampoo in a Herbal Essences ad. In fact, it wouldn’t be surprising if his character in the commercial inspired the character he would later become known for, because the similarities are striking.
Bruce Willis – Seagram’s
Just one short year before landing the starring role in Die Hard, Bruce Willis appeared in two adverts for Seagram’s wine that, to put it mildly, did nothing for the tough-guy image he would later cultivate. One of the ads features Willis crooning into an empty wine bottle, while the other has him playing the harmonica while rocking a sleeveless T-shirt.
Jason Alexander – McDonald’s
In 1985, just before his film career properly took off, Jason Alexander ably demonstrated the musical theater talents that would eventually land him a Tony in a McDonald’s ad for the McDLT. The commercial consists of Alexander – flanked by an ensemble of dancers – delivering a musical number about the then-new burger in the style of Footloose.
Aaron Paul – Kellogg’s Corn Pops
Aaron Paul, another star of Breaking Bad, also got his start in commercials, in this case a 1999 ad for Kellogg’s Corn Pops. The deadbeat teen the actor plays in the advert, who just wants to eat his cereal in peace but first has to endure a lecture from his parents about responsibility, bears a lot of similarities to both Jesse and Todd, the Bojack Horseman character voiced by Paul.
Amy Adams – Commercial Federal Bank
Amy Adams is one of the highest-paid actresses in the world, a fact that no one who saw her in this 90s ad for Commercial Federal Bank would have predicted. In the commercial – which attempts to parody Summer Nights from Grease – Adams portrays the ad’s version of Sandy, singing along to the unbearably corny lyrics with a soulless grin never leaving her face.
Rob McElhenney – Anti smoking PSA
Another legend of comedic television who rather improbably starred in an anti-smoking PSA, in 1999 Rob McElhenney portrayed a standoffish college student explaining why he both started and quit smoking. When viewed now, it’s hard not to feel like the ad is a flashback sequence from an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Jason Bateman – Golden Grahams
Many years before he was washing money for the mob in Ozark, Jason Bateman appeared in a commercial for Golden Grahams that is as nauseatingly saccharine as the cereal itself. The ad shows a young Bateman winning a race in his homemade go-kart before rushing to a table with his friends to eat cereal, turning to the camera and announcing “It’s the delicious Honey Grahams taste.”
Charlie Day – Cascade
Rob McElhenney isn’t the only It’s Always Sunny star to have appeared in a commercial early in his career essentially playing the character he would later become famous for. This hilarious ad for Cascade laundry detergent stars Charlie Day as a college student on graduation day, exuberantly explaining his plans for retirement to his evidently disappointed parents.
Anne Hathaway – Better Homes and Gardens
An Academy Award winner and bona fide Hollywood bombshell, Anne Hathaway has starred in some of the most celebrated films of the last 20 years. Before she started racking up Oscars, Hathaway appeared in an admittedly hilarious advert for Better Homes and Gardens that featured two young sweethearts whose time together is cut short by the speed of the company’s realtor services.
Jane Lynch – Frosted Flakes
Shortly before her career took off in earnest, Jane Lynch starred alongside Michael Hitchcock in a rather offbeat commercial for Frosted Flakes. Directed by Christopher Guest, the ad sees Lynch and Hitchcock loitering outside Kellogg’s HQ in an attempt to lay eyes on Tony the Tiger, with whom they clearly have an unhealthy obsession.
James Corden – Tango
Considering the fact that James Corden would eventually find himself at the centre of a controversy after allegations emerged that he treated his staff terribly, it’s fitting that the 1998 Tango commercials he appeared in were eventually pulled for encouraging bullying. The string of ads revolve around Corden being relentless mocked by a group of balding, overweight men for not enjoying the taste of Tango Orange.
Kristen Stewart – Porsche
Kristen Stewart is renowned for her seeming inability to display happiness, but her first onscreen appearance proved that the actress is, in fact, capable of smiling. In a 1999 commercial for Porsche, a young Stewart deliberately misses the school bus so that her dad will give her a lift in his flash 911, with the actress smiling wistfully out the window throughout the journey.
Haley Joel Osment – Kraft Cheese
Shortly after getting signed by a talent agent, Haley Joel Osment landed this commercial for Kraft Cheese. Even though he’s only four in the ad, Osment’s acting talent is on full display and he delivers his lines with adorable excitement. It’s not that surprising that his big break came just seven years later, in 1999’s The Sixth Sense.
Naomi Watts – Libra Fleur Tampons
British-Australian superstar Naomi Watts is known for convincingly portraying the suffering of her characters, a talent which casting directors might have spotted when they cast her in a 1980 commercial for Libra Fleur. The ad consists of a 22-year-old Watts discussing the trials women endure, including wearing makeup, worrying about their figure and – of course – periods.
Seth Green – Nerf
The 90s were good for Seth Green, with the actor landing his first starring roles in the period. Right at the start of the decade, however, Green appeared in an ad for a Nerf Slingshot in which he lurks around in a mall, shooting foam balls at girls and sporting an almost inexcusably terrible haircut. There’s also a weird tangent involving a mime artist, for some reason.
David Tennant – Boots
David Tennant became a household name with his portrayal of Doctor Who, and he has gone on to become one of Britain’s most celebrated actors. Before all that, however, Tennant was displaying his trademark sarcasm as a disinterested boyfriend in a string of Christmas commercials for drugstore chain Boots.
Nick Swardson – Barq’s Root Beer
Nick Swardson’s capacity for facial comedy was clearly there from the start, as this 90s ad for Barq’s Root Beer proves. In the commercial, Swardson is hawking cans of Barq’s, which he pours while demonstrating some incredibly strange tongue contortions you’ll never be able to unsee.
Corey Feldman – McDonald’s
Corey Feldman became a genuine superstar in his teen years, but his first onscreen performance came at the tender age of three in a 1975 McDonald’s Christmas ad. In the commercial, Feldman sneaks out of his bedroom to leave a McDonald’s gift certificate as an offering for Santa, although his motives aren’t entirely pure, as he then steals the cookie his parents left out.
Stanley Tucci – Levi’s
Veteran actor Stanley Tucci is known for his vast range when it comes to the kinds of characters he’s able to convincingly portray. In this 1986 ad for Levi’s, that character is ‘smiling man in a vest’. While all the other actors in the commercial display some kind of talent – such as dancing or magic tricks – Tucci just struts around, occasionally directing a vacant grin towards the camera.
Olivia Colman – AA
Before she was a stalwart of British television and an Oscar winner, Olivia Colman was starring alongside Mark Bundis in one of the most irritating commercials of all time. The 2oo4 ad – which was for breakdown recovery service AA – consists of Colman and Bundis playing two couples, both called Bev and Kev, who pull up next to each other at a set of traffic lights and keep repeating each others’ names.
Holly Willoughby – Pretty Polly
It’s probably safe to say that this 1998 commercial for Pretty Polly bras wouldn’t make it to TV if it was made today. The ad – which stars British TV presenter Holly Willoughby and a few other models – is set in a laboratory where a male scientist is designing “sex goddesses,” and it even includes a control panel complete with two giant buttons that look like a pair of exposed breasts.
Kate Winslet – Sugar Puffs
In this wild commercial from 1986, an 11-year-old Kate Winslet wins a box of Sugar Puffs at a carnival, only to turn into the Honey Monster and go on a rampage. Since then, Winslet has become one of the most celebrated actresses in Hollywood, and Sugar Puffs have rebranded after parents realized that a product containing the word ‘sugar’ might not be the ideal breakfast choice for kids.
Leslie Mann – Coca Cola
Way before her comedic brilliance took center stage, Leslie Mann starred in a pretty eccentric 1995 Coca Cola commercial. Picture this: Mann, a gorilla, and the coveted bottle of cola. In a quirky showdown of attraction, it’s the cola that emerges as the true heartthrob. A must-watch, if only for the sheer weirdness of it!
Phil Hartman – Philips
Early in his career, the SNL legend and an unmistakable voice in countless characters took on, well, countless characters for Philips. In a bizarre yet brilliant 1994 ad for the Philips CD-i, Hartman played every role, turning the commercial into a one-man Hartman show. Quirky, offbeat, and pure Phil – it’s the sort of unexpected genius we came to love from him.
Alyson Hannigan – Mylanta
In 1994, a young Alyson Hannigan appeared in a touching Mylanta commercial. Sharing her fears about her dad’s stomach woes, she delivers the line, “The doctor said Mylanta, it’s just indigestion”. Little did we know, this ad would birth the catchphrase ‘Oh Mylanta!’ – now a popular exclamation of surprise.
Meghan Markle – Tostitos
In 2009, years before becoming a Duchess, Meghan Markle faced a royal decision of a different kind in a Tostitos commercial. Markle plays a shopper at a grocery store trying to pick a bag of chips. With a pout, she scans for a healthy choice, finally settling on the three ingredient Tostitos.
Lindsay Lohan – Jell-o
In 1994, a bubbly and young Lindsay Lohan showed her early star potential in a lively Jell-o commercial. Alongside a group of energetic kids, Lohan dances and raps to the catchy tune, “Kids go ape for the Jell-o grape”. The fun commercial showcases a young Lohan in her element, years before her big-screen debuts.
Zendaya – Sears
A glimpse into the early days of the now superstar, Zendaya was merely a background dancer in a 2009 Sears commercial. While the ad spotlighted a budding Selena Gomez, eagle-eyed viewers can spot a young Zendaya dancing in the backdrop.
Abigail Breslin – Toys “R” Us
Years prior to shining as in Little Miss Sunshine, Abigail Breslin appeared on the screen in a heartwarming 1999 Toys “R” Us advert. Being carried around the store by her mom, she proudly tells everyone her achievement of using the potty, and the trip to the toy store serves as her well-deserved reward. A truly adorable watch!
Jack Black – Pitfall!
One of Jack Black’s first gigs involved him dashing through virtual jungles in a 1982 commercial for Pitfall!, an Activision video game. At 13 years of age, young Jack enthusiastically tackled the digital challenges, giving us a glimpse of the high-energy performances he would later be known for.
Jodie Foster – Coppertone
A star was born in an unexpected twist of fate when a 3-year-old Jodie Foster accompanied her older brother to an audition for Coppertone in 1965. Originally not in the running, Jodie caught the casting agents’ eyes, and just like that, her first acting gig materialized.
Lea Thompson – Burger King
Great Scott! Before she hopped in the DeLorean as Lorraine in Back to the Future, Lea Thompson was serving up flame-grilled burgers in a 1982 Burger King commercial. Turns out that even before mastering time travel, she knew a thing or two about fast food!
Charlize Theron – Martini
Now an Oscar-winning actress and Hollywood A-lister, Charlize Theron initially showcased her elegance and charm in a 1995 Martini commercial. The black and white ad features Theron living a glamorous life and choosing Martini as her sophisticated drink of choice. Much like Theron – the commercial is both stylish and timeless.
John Cena – Gold’s Gym
In 2009, before the whole world knew him, John Cena flexed his comedic muscles in a Gold’s Gym commercial. The ad portrays Cena confidently posing before a mirror. Feeling bold, he attempts to flirt with two women. However, as he walks away, the women have a laugh behind his back and label him as a “poser”.
Kevin Costner – Apple
Before he started dancing with wolves, Kevin Costner donned the suit of an everyday businessman for Apple in 1983. Selling the Apple Lisa, this ad teased a future split between mere computer users and the elite Apple enthusiasts with the memorable line, “Soon, there will be just two kinds of people”.
Sharon Stone – Diet Sprite
In the 1990s Sharon Stone lit up the screen in an iconic Diet Sprite advert. In the advert, Stone is sat with her partner on a train. Just as she’s about to sip a Diet Pepsi, she exclaims, “I’ve changed my mind” and dashes off, leaving her partner baffled. To his surprise, she’s only switched her drink of choice – to a Diet Sprite of course!
Michael J. Fox – McDonald’s
Way before he ventured ‘back to the future’, Michael J. Fox was promoting another beloved icon – McDonald’s. In the 1980 commercial he played a lovestruck teen and gave us an adorable scene to remember. From sharing fries to a surprise kiss, and that blush of first love, all wrapped up with the message: ‘Nobody does it like McDonald’s’.
Dua Lipa – The X Factor
Today, she is belting out chart-topping hits and making waves in the global music scene. But did you know Dua Lipa started out in a 2013 advert for The X Factor? It’s a funny twist that she would start her career in an advert for a show that uncovers new talent. Maybe the producers had a feeling then that Lipa would soon be a household name?
Sofia Vergara – Pepsi
We know her as the Gloria in Modern Family, but back in 1989 Sofia Vergara was the face of Pepsi. A young Vergara is seen navigating a hot beach, playfully shedding her layers to use to step across the hot sand. She then confidently strides to grab a Pepsi, capturing the attention of everyone around. It’s vintage Sofia, making a simple soda run utterly unforgettable.
Michelle Pfeiffer – Lux Soap
Before she took the world by storm with her impeccable acting skills and undeniable beauty, Michelle Pfeiffer had a stint as the face of Lux soap. Glowing in the 1979 advert, she embodied the freshness and allure of the brand. Who would have thought that this soap siren would become one of Hollywood’s A-list actresses?
John Goodman – Foot Locker
In 1981, John Goodman made a pitstop at Foot Locker. Hunting for shoes, he reeled off brand after brand, showing us not just his impeccable taste, but Foot Locker’s unbeatable range. Goodman might’ve been on a quest for the perfect shoe, but Foot Locker showed us they had the perfect fit for everyone.
Rodney Dangerfield – Miller Lite
Before “I don’t get no respect” was the catchphrase on everyone’s lips, in 1979 Rodney Dangerfield was busy hustling pool and looking for respect in a crowded bar for Miller Lite. As he kept winning, the message was clear: just as Rodney wanted more wins with less effort, fitting with the beer’s motto “everything you’ve ever wanted in a beer. And less”.
Rachel Bilson – Subway
Rachel Bilson is now known for capturing our hearts in The O.C., but in 2003 a young Bilson was spicing things up in Subway. Playing a server at the chair, she described their new sub’s spice level in terms to a customer – with a cheeky “Oo-ee that is nice and spicy!”. A clip that will no doubt make her cringe if she gives it a rewatch today!
Catherine Zeta-Jones – Deutsche Bahn
The valleys of Wales weren’t the only backdrop to Catherine Zeta-Jones’s early talent. In an evocative 1990 Deutsche Bahn advert, she ditches a boring dinner with her husband and runs off with her lover on a passionate escape via train. Soon after, she soared to stardom as Mariette in The Darling Buds of May.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Clairol Nice ‘n Easy Hair Color
In 1993 Julia Louis-Dreyfus flaunted her curly hair for Clairol’s Nice ‘n Easy Hair Color. Showcasing the product’s natural blending with individual hair tones and highlights, she asks, “How did Clairol do this?”. When informed, “It’s Nice ‘n Easy,” she cheekily comes back with, “No, it’s probably very difficult.”
Sharon Stone – Seagram’s Golden Wine Cooler
In her second feature on this list, back in 1987 Sharon Stone teamed up with Bruce Willis for a Seagram’s ad that’s now the stuff of legend. Willis introduces Stone to the world of wine coolers, highlighting the wet, dry, and smooth tastes. Both on the cusp of super-stardom, they gave us a sneak peek into their electrifying chemistry.
Ted Danson – Colt 45
A young Ted Danson, way before he became a household name, starred in a 1978 Colt 45 beer ad that’s pure retro gold. In a dimly lit bar, Danson passionately equates the ‘Dynamite’ taste of the beer to clinching a league championship in double overtime. Bold comparison, but with Danson’s conviction, we’re buying it.
Julianne Moore – Time Life Mysteries of the Unknown
In her very first TV appearance, Julianne Moore had a brief stint in a commercial for the Time Life book series, Mysteries of the Unknown. Aired in 1990 on a local Dallas’s channel, Moore narrates a supernatural event, offering a fleeting yet unmistakable preview of the talent that would eventually earn her an Oscar.
Aidan Turner – Fruice
Back in 2004, long before his heartthrob days as Poldark, Aidan Turner stirred things up in a cheeky Irish advert for the drink brand, Fruice. Playing on the idea of nudity, Turner cheekily remarks to his mates, “I see you’ve got yours out too”. The reveal? They’re all simply holding Fruice drinks.
Demi Moore – Diet Coke
A 1980s ad features young and daring Demi Moore taking a daring leap for a Diet Coke. Scaling the edge of a building for a can, Moore is startled and takes a dramatic tumble. Thankfully, she bounces back — both to safety, and into a new relationship.
Teddy Quinn – Bayer Aspirin
Capturing audiences on Bonanza was just one of Teddy Quinn’s accolades. He first melted hearts in a 1963 Bayer Aspirin commercial. With just one line, this advertisement became iconic for its portrayal of motherly love, showcasing a young Teddy whose charm was unmistakable.
Shailene Woodley – LeapFrog Learning Toys
While Shailene Woodley would later dominate screens in The Secret Life of an American Teenager, she once played a grumpy pre-teen in a LeapFrog commercial. The ad promotes the Quantum Pad, something that might seem outdated now but was a ground-breaking learning toy back then!
