Modeling and acting work hand-in-hand – In Hollywood, many popular female Hollywood celebrities started their career appearing in the cover of Fashion magazines, posing for TV/print ads or walking in the runways and later on switching on to acting. However, these five stunning models turned actresses took it one step further. They have achieved what other models/actresses have missed — winning the prestigious Academy Award.
5. Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer Connelly is a 42-year old American film actress, who started her modeling career at the age of 10. She was hired by Ford Modeling Agency and did modeling for print advertisements, which proved to be her stepping stone to a bright acting career.
Miss Connelly made her film debut playing a supporting role in the 1984 crime film, Once Upon a Time in America. She starred opposite David Bowie and appeared in the in the 1986 fantasy film Labyrinth and appeared in the 1991 Career Opportunities. In 2001, Miss Connelly bagged both the Academy and the Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress for her excellent performance in the film “A Beautiful Mind.” Her later film credits include the “Hulk” (2003), “Dark Water” (2005), “Blood Diamond” (2006), “The Day the Earth Stood Still” (2008), and “He’s Just Not That Into You” (2009).
4. Geena Davis
The stunning 6-foot (1.83 m) Geena Davis (born January 21, 1956), began her modeling career after completing a degree in drama at Boston University. In 1979, she signed up with New York’s Zoli modeling agency and worked as a lingerie model. She ultimately became a model in the Victoria Secret’s Catalogue.
She was spotted by film director Sydney Pollack and cast her in the 1982 film “Tootsie.” Her other film credits include “Fletch” (1985), “The Fly” (1986), “ Beetlejuice” (1988), “Earth Girls Are Easy”(1988), “Thelma & Louise” (1991), “A League of Their Own” (1992), “The Long Kiss Goodnight”(1996), Stuart Little (1999), “A League of Their Own” (1992), and the “The Accidental Tourist” where she won the Academy (Oscar) in the Best Supporting Actress category.
3. Kim Basinger
Kimila Ann “Kim” Basinger (born December 8, 1953), got her stage baptism in school beauty pageants at the age of sixteen. She won the title “Junior Miss Georgia”. By twenty, she signed up with Ford Modeling agency and her beautiful faces graced the cover of popular fashion magazines and print advertisements–most notably as the Breck Shampoo girl.
She started her film career on “Starsky and Hutch” and “Charlie’s Angels” portraying supporting roles. Her other film credits include: the Bond girl in “Never Say Never Again” (1983), “Batman” (1989), “The Natural” (1984) she earned a Golden Globe award, “9½ Weeks” (1986), and 8 Mile (2002). She won Oscar Award in the Best Supporting Actress category for her performance in “L.A. Confidential” (1997).
2. Halle Berry
Halle Berry was a former Miss Teen All-American, Miss Ohio 1986, and then a runner-up in the Miss USA Pageant. After her pageant days, she embarked into modeling, her face appearing in many TV ads and print ads. Her modeling career did not last long as was offered TV and film roles.
She started her film career with a bit part in “Jungle Fever“ (1991). She followed it up with a starring role in “The Flintstones” (1994), “Losing Isaiah” (1995), “Race the Sun” (1996), “Bulworth” (1998), X-Men (2000) and as Bond Girl Jinx in Die Another Day (2002). In 2002, Berry won an Oscar Best Actress Award for her performance in “Monster’s Ball”. She was the first African-American actress to win such award.
1. Charlize Theron
She made an unmemorable film debut in the film via the film Following an inauspicious bit part in 1994’s “Children of the Corn III” (1994). She gained recognition with 2 Days in the Valley (1996). She won the Oscar Best Actress award in her powerful performance in the film “Monster” (2004). She was again nominated for an Academy Award in the film “North Country” (2005). Her other notable films include: “The Devil’s Advocate” (1997), “Mighty Joe Young” (1998), and “The Cider House Rules” (1999).
