Top 10 First Interviews of Famous Celebrities
#10: Chris Pratt
Chris Evans VS Chris Hemsworth VS Chris Pratt VS Chris Pine
Before he was Star-Lord, Mario, or even Andy Dwyer, Chris Pratt was Bright Abbott on “Everwood.” The star’s first ever “Entertainment Tonight” interview took place on the set of the WB show, where he discussed his character and the audition process. Ironically, he claimed “Everwood” was an audition he wasn’t exactly prepared for, but his fumble actually worked out in his favor! It meant he couldn’t overanalyze his performance, and thus overact, seemingly allowing the casting directors to see his true potential. It just goes to show that sometimes it’s better to cut your losses and go with your gut, rather than get stuck in a spiral of self-doubt.
#9: Elijah Wood
We all have big dreams when we’re small. It’s not uncommon to hear kids say they want to be an astronaut, a pop star, or even a superhero. Elijah Wood apparently wanted to study the sea. In an incredibly charming early interview with “Entertainment Tonight”, the actor talked about his love for special effects and the challenge of memorizing lines. He also talked about his future, acknowledging acting as a viable choice, but seeming equally interested in learning more about sharks. About six years later, he would go on to star in “Flipper,” which not only saw Wood up close and personal with a dolphin, but also featured a hammerhead shark! Maybe it was then he realized that acting isn’t so bad.
#8: Zendaya
Top 20 Memorable Zendaya Outfits
It’s always fun to see celebrities fangirl about their peers. That’s especially true when the video was made before they were famous. Such is the case with Zendaya, who gushed about the potential of working with Selena Gomez in this adorable video for Sears. At the time, the young star was participating in a contest held by the store to be a part of the “air band” for Gomez in a promotional video/commercial. Little did she know, just about one year later she’d be starring in a Disney Channel original series, and have plenty of adoring fans of her own! It’s safe to say that that hereditary love for music came in handy.
#7: Natalie Portman
Top 10 Greatest Natalie Portman Performances
At the age of thirteen, Natalie Portman was just like any other eighth grader - following a curfew, learning algebra, and happy to take any opportunity to get out of class early. The only difference was when she cut class, she was leaving to be interviewed by David Letterman. The teen’s first appearance on the show was to promote the film “Léon: The Professional,” which she co-starred in with Jean Reno. Ironically, one of the stories she tells relating to the film is about falling asleep during its French premiere. Apparently it was her fifth time seeing it, and we’d imagine the jet lag and schoolwork didn’t help. Director Luc Besson ended up having to wake her before the credits rolled.
#6: Chris Evans
Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Chris Evans
In “Not Another Teen Movie,” Chris Evans plays a football star whose lack of preparation causes his team to lose the big game. We’re not sure about Evans’ real life football skills, but his bowling could definitely use some work. In 2001, the star was interviewed by a few different outlets at a bowling alley, where he talked about his then-recent parody film. He compared the filming experience to summer camp, stressing that the cast never distracted each other from the work but always had fun. This seemed to be especially true of his time with co-star Chyler Leigh, a fellow newcomer to the film scene who helped Evans navigate the challenges of playing a lead role.
#5: Reese Witherspoon
“The Man in the Moon” may not be Reese Witherspoon’s most famous project, but it did help put her on the map. She played teen Dani Trant, who spends the movie listening to Elvis, skinny dipping, and falling in love. When “Entertainment Tonight” spoke to Witherspoon about the film in 1991, she reminisced about her own first kiss in a roller skating rink, which she claimed was “pretty good.” She also looked to the future, saying she’d love to rent “The Man in the Moon” on laserdisc in 30 years and show her kids. We’re not sure Ava, Deacon, and Tennessee know what a laserdisc is, but we still hope she’s following through with showing them this blast from the past.
#4: Keanu Reeves
Top 10 Most Heartwarming Keanu Reeves Interview Moments
In 1986, Keanu Reeves made one of his first major on-screen appearances stateside on Disney’s “The Wonderful World of Disney” anthology show, known then as “The Disney Sunday Movie.” The made-for-TV flick, titled “Young Again,” filmed in Reeves’ home country of Canada, and told the story of a forty year old who wished to go back to high school and redo his life. Reeves, of course, played the protagonist’s younger self. In an interview with CBC, he discussed how American films made in Canada often cast Canadian actors in side roles, making his leading role a bit of a lucky break. The actor was still young, but it was clear even from this early clip that he had the charisma to be a star.
#3: Taylor Swift
Top 10 Hilarious Taylor Swift Moments
Have you ever wondered what Taylor Swift was like in high school? Well, wonder no longer, because this local news story filmed in 2005 shows just that. WSMV 4 in Nashville caught up with the singer before the release of her debut album, and she notably sang snippets of soon-to-be hits “Teardrops on My Guitar” and “Picture to Burn.” Toby Keith is also named as a major figure in Swift’s life, playing a big part in signing her, a fact which Swift seems to find surreal. Nowadays, we’re sure several young artists would feel similarly about sharing a room with her!
#2: Ryan Gosling
Top 10 Funniest Ryan Gosling Interview Moments
Following the release of “Barbie,” Ryan Gosling was praised by critics and audiences alike for his triple threat performance. But the film was far from being Gosling’s first time on the dance floor. And we aren’t talking about “La La Land.” In 1993, a young Gosling joined the cast of “The All New Mickey Mouse Club” alongside stars like Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. It was at this time that CBC interviewed the Canadian star and his mother, asking about his new role for Disney. They even shared some endearing footage of the up-and-coming talent performing in Ottawa!
#1: Beyoncé
Top 10 Moments That Made Us Love Beyoncé
Everyone had to start somewhere - even living legends like Beyoncé. As a tween, the now world-renowned singer was interviewed alongside her father about her band Girl's Tyme – which would go on to become Destiny’s Child. Apparently every time the girls performed they elicited a standing ovation from the audience. That isn’t too hard to imagine, given the modern day Beyoncé has sold out concerts across the nation. The singer herself was asked about how she overcomes stage fright, to which she says the more she performs the less she feels it. With this answer in mind, we’d imagine she hasn’t had stage fright in a long time. Did we miss any of your fave’s fun early interviews? Let us know in the comments.
