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From nerdy muso...
Enrolling at Denison University to study chemistry, she switched to a drama course when she realised she enjoyed stage acting more than studying.
And one of the big clues to part of her future career? She was labelled a natural in fight choreogrpahy.
But who is she?
...to screen goddess
Jennifer Garner!
Garner's first proper acting job paid her $300 a week as an understudy. She's since done a little better, earning an estimated $14 million in 2005.
While that might seem like small change to some Hollywood types, we certainly wouldn't turn it down.
In terms of accolades, she was named West Virginian Of The Year for "her dedication, work ethic and unique role as role model and ambassador for West Virginia." We might turn that one down.
Her acting life might be taking second place to marriage and motherhood with Ben Affleck at the moment, but Garner is sticking with performing.
From tennis amateur...
Tracksuits you, sir! Ah, the nerdy glasses bely the fact that this man has appeared on many a magazine front cover and regular makes lists of most attractive actors.
A native of Oklahoma, but raised in Springfield, Missouri, this is the son of a high school counselor and a truck company owner.
Sporty from the start, he attended Kickapoo High School (we're not making that name up) and swam, played golf and tennis.
But it wasn't all physical - he was a keen debator and also took part in school musicals.
Who is he?
...to professional megastar
Brad Pitt!
One of he most famous men in the world moved from school musicals to college frat shows and to the life of a struggling actor in LA.
One of his early jobs was dressing in a chicken suit to advertise the fast food chain El Pollo Loco and finally kick-started his career with uncredited work in the likes of No Way Out And Less Than Zero. We know where it went from there...
Despite his lauded looks, he recently had W magazine photograph him in such a way that shows every line and countour of his face because, as he says, "I didn’t want to be “the guy coming out of the ocean water with his T-shirt wet, even though I've done that, too, but have always walked away feeling a little crap about it."
From bad hair decade...
The '80s were not, on the whole, the best time to get your picture taken.
Just ask this young lady, born in Katy, Texas to a Swiss mechanical engineer and a Norwegian Nurse (something she could use in a later acting role).
Despite the hair, she was voted "Best Looking" in her graduating class in 1987 and was always a fan of sports- be it football, basketball, baseball or gynmastics.
Add to that cheerleading and drama club, and you've got a solid start for a working - and award-winning actress.
Who is it?
...to stylish acrtress
Renee Zellweger!
Swotty Zellweger was a respected student who had no intention of getting into serious acting. In fact, it wasn't until she needed a fine arts credit to complete her degree that she dabbled again in drama.
And she didn't run off to Hollywood after she decided to become an actress - nope, she moved back to Texas and got her first gig in a beef advert.
But it proved to be a smart move - her locale netted her several movies, including A Taste For Killing and TV miniseries Murder In The Heartland.
Oh, and thanks to her Norwegian mother, she's addicted to Melkesjokolade (or milk chocolate as we call in in Blighty).
From smiley teenager...
This floppy-fringed young woman got her start in Miami, but moved to Los Angeles at a young age and lived with her mother after her parents' divorce.
Born and raised Catholic, one of her earliest aspirations was to become a nun, which would have denied the world one of the sexiest starlets around who is busy forging an interesting career.
Early childhood taunts about her "buck teeth" meant she focused more on academics than acting and after high school, she studied marketing at California State Northride University until she was spotted by an agent who convinced her to give acting a real try.
Who is she? The beauty spot might be a clue...
...To sexy lady
Eva Mendes!
Turns out, she's been fond of dressing up all her life. "A lot of people think of me as maybe a tomboy or a tomboy growing up, but I'm the girliest girl around.
"I know I look tough at times, but I'm extremely girly. I use that on the red carpet and what I feel comfortable in.
"I love wearing dresses and I love, you know, taking advantage of being a girl." And we can all be thankful for that.
Mendes got her start predictably in ads, before moving on to music videos and movies. Coincidentally, one of her earliest video shoots was for Will Smith's Miami - where she danced alongside her future Hitch co-star.
From cheeky chap...
The smirk might suggest a young Bill Gates, but if there's a point furthest from a nerd, this guy is it.
Born in New York City, he moved with his family to California for his father's job and became a student at Santa Monica high school, quickly becoming a star baseball player.
But his educational interest quickly waned - he was expelled a few weeks before graduation for bad grades and poor attendance.
That didn't stop him from pursuing an early love of acting, which first got its expression in Super-8 films he shot with a collection of mates who would go on to become famous with him.
And who is it?
...To wild man
Charlie Sheen!
Yes, it's not really surprising that a bad student became the man behaving badly.
Sheen got his start in acting early, appearing at the tender age of nine in TV movie The Execution Of Private Slovik alongside his father, Martin.
His current starring role on critically-loathed but high-rated sitcom Two And A Half Men was written for him.
Oh, and those school friends he made home movies with? Those would be Chad Lowe, Rob Lowe and their mate Chris Penn.
