Believe it or not, the model-to-actor pipeline is not as uncommon as you might think. Several of your favorite actors started their lives as models (and many more are trying to parlay their success on the runway into success on screen). Whether you really wanted to be an actor and started modeling as a means to an end, or you started your life as a model but were scouted as a film actor, or somewhere in between, there are plenty of well-paid actresses who once appeared on runways and in the pages of your favorite magazines. From the most beloved actresses like Julia Roberts and Charlize Theron to '80s icons like Brooke Shields and Oscar winners like Halle Berry, you'd be surprised at how many actresses never realized their previous life was as a model.

Below are 32 Hollywood actresses who actually started out as models.

This Victoria's Secret Angel has been on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue three times and is probably best known for America's Next Top Model (and hosting other hit shows), but she has also appeared in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, " Coyote Ugly," and also had small roles in "Coyote Ugly.

Recall Emily Rutakowski's bit part in "Gone Girl" (and before that, a tiny role in "iCarly"). And let's not forget her modeling work, whether it be walking at New York Fashion Week, on the cover of the world-famous Vogue magazine, or as a swimsuit model for Sports Illustrated magazine.

Huntington-Whiteley's screen credits may be less well known, but she has had small roles in films such as Transformers, Dark of the Moon, Mad Max: Death Road of Rage: Dark of the Moon, Mad Max. You may not be familiar with Huntington-Whiteley on screen, such as her bit part in Death Road of Rage, but you may be familiar with her modeling career, including Victoria's Secret Angel and Harper's Bazaar Model of the Year.

Jamie King was discovered at the age of 14 and went on to have a successful modeling career in Vogue magazine, Chanel runways, and Revlon campaigns. She successfully transitioned to film and television, including "Pearl Harbor," "Sin City," and "Hart of Dixie" (while continuing her modeling career).

The actress of "Goodbye, Columbus" and "Love Story" worked as a model before appearing in films. Interestingly, she spent several years at Harper's Bazaar as a photo assistant to Diana Vreeland (who later became editor-in-chief of Vogue). She also worked on TV ads, including bikinis for International Paper Co.

Cara Delevingne, a two-time British Fashion Award winner for Model of the Year, was scouted at age 10 (...) ; her breakthrough came in 2011 when she walked the catwalk for Burberry. You may recognize her from TV and film in "Suicide Squad" (2016), "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets" and "Only Murderers in the Building."

Famke Janssen is the Phoenix of the "X-Men" movies ("How to Get Away with Murder" if you like TV), but before her screen work, she was a model doing campaigns for Victoria's Secret and Chanel until her retirement in the 1990s.

In the 1990s, she was a prominent supermodel (17 (...) covers of American Vogue ), Valletta made a successful transition to films such as What Rises Venice (2000) and Hitch (2005), and later appeared on television in Revenge and Blood and Oil.

You may know Romijn from Star Trek, X-Men, or (like me) Ugly Betty. But before that, she was a model in the 1990s, gracing many magazine covers, walking many runways, and doing many ad campaigns (including Victoria's Secret and Maybelline).

For science fiction fans, Tricia Helfer was one of the stars of "Lucifer" and, before that, was best known as number six in the "Battlestar Galactica" remake; she won the 1993 Ford Model "Supermodel of the World" contest.

Helfer worked regularly in campaigns and on the runway before retiring from acting.

If you liked Mad Max: Death Road to Fury, the short-lived Lovecraft Country, or M. Night Shyamalan's Old, you've probably seen Abby Lee. But before that, she was a very popular model, debuting at NYFW in 2008, the same year she became a Victoria's Secret model.

Sienna Miller is so acclaimed for her film appearances ("The Girl," "Factory Girl," "American Sniper") that it is easy to forget that she graced the pages of Italian Vogue magazine during her early years as a model. She also graced the cover of Marie Claire and participated in a campaign for Coke.

After an unstable and difficult childhood and difficult home life, Demi Moore worked as a model for a short time in her teens and made her acting debut in "General Hospital" before she turned 20. Believe it or not, she made her Fendi runway debut in 2021.

Cameron Diaz began modeling in high school, appearing on the cover of Seventeen and in campaigns for Coke and Calvin Klein. At the suggestion of her agent, she auditioned and was only 21 years old when she made her film debut in 1994 in "Mask."

Brooke Shields famously and controversially started working at a very young age. She modeled as a literal baby, then as a child model, and went on to have a long career as an actress from a young age, including in 1976's Alice, Sweet Alice.

Angelica Houston, the daughter of famed director John Huston (who tried to use her in his early films), became interested in modeling throughout the 1970s and became Halston's favorite.

The "Four Weddings and a Funeral" actress (and mother of Margaret Qualley) began her life as a model and has had a long and fruitful partnership with L'Oreal in particular. Believe it or not, her early work with Calvin Klein led to film roles in the 1980s.

An elite model with numerous campaigns to her credit, including a famous muse for Dolce & Gabbana, Monica Bellucci remained a model throughout her career, debuting in her early teens and making her official debut at the age of 16.

Jessica Lange was discovered while living in Paris and signed with an agency in the 1970s. However, her breakthrough role in King Kong (1976) was the catalyst for her career.

Before turning to acting in her thirties, Rene Russo moved to New York City to pursue modeling, where she was a regular on the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan during the 1970s and 1980s. She became known for her bombshell roles in two "Lethal Weapon" films and "The Thomas Crown Affair.

Like many on this list, Gal Gadot competed in pageants and was crowned Miss Israel in 2004; before her breakout role in "Wild Speed" in 2009, she appeared in numerous international campaigns and magazine covers.

The former pageant queen (Miss USA first runner-up in 1986) began to establish herself as an actress in the 1990s and became a household name in the 2000s. Later, she worked as a model, including LeBron.

Jennifer Connelly began modeling as a child before she was a teen, doing print ads, magazine covers, and television commercials. Her modeling career overlapped with her acting career, but her big break came in 1986 with "Labyrinth."

In the 1960s, no supermodel was as popular as the waffish and androgynous Twiggy. Her career spanned decades, but she also ventured into acting: the Golden Globe-nominated "Boy Friend" (1971), the Broadway play "My One and Only," and (most recently) as a judge on "America's Next Top Model."

Before playing the world's most beautiful woman (Helen of Troy) in "Troy" (2004), Krueger was a fairly prolific model (despite her relatively short stature at 5'5"). She appeared on several covers, including Marie Claire, and in runways and campaigns, but took a hiatus in the 2000s to pursue acting.

Uma Thurman began modeling as a teenager, appearing on several magazine covers in her early years, but almost immediately began appearing in films, including 1988's "Dangerous Liaisons." She had wanted to be an actress since she was a child and was scouted when she was in the third grade.

Sharon Stone entered pageant contests (she was also a contender for Miss Pennsylvania) and then moved to New York City, where she signed with an agency. It didn't last long, and Stone soon decided to shift her focus to acting and got her first speaking role a few years later.

A star of "The Fifth Element" and "Resident Evil," Stone was determined by Forbes magazine to be the highest-earning model of 2004. Milla Jovovich has done numerous campaigns and runways, and has graced the covers of many magazines, including Marie Claire.

Shepherd, who was a contestant in the 1968 "Model of the Year" contest, parlayed her success as a model into film roles and her breakthrough role in 1971's The Last Picture Show. She continued modeling in the early years of her acting career, including billboards for Kodak.

Charlize Theron became a model at the age of 16 and, after a brief dance career, moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. Theron then continued with endorsements for Dior and others, but achieved success in the 1990s and beyond.

Julia Roberts moved to New York to pursue acting, but still signed with a modeling agency in her early years; 1988's "Mystic Pizza" and 1990's "Pretty Woman" (obviously) catapulted her to stardom, but more much more is known about her.

Although her first acting jobs were strictly as a child with her father Jon Voight, Jolie had a brief modeling career as a teen. Her acting career began in the 1990s with "Hackers," but she still has some great early headshots before becoming a superstar.