Many public figures have started their careers through reality TV shows before their final breakthrough.
Emma Stone appeared in a reality TV show before her acting career. AOP
There are many different paths to a breakthrough in Hollywood. While some actors directly land roles in successful films or popular series, others initially build their career through, for example, reality TV shows.
One of them is Emma Stone, who competed in the television show under the name Emily Stone in the early 2000s In Search of the New Partridge Family. As the name suggests, the program was looking for actors for a modern version of the series The Partridge Family.
Stone even won the competition and landed one of the lead roles, but the series ultimately didn’t go beyond the pilot episode.
The actor has said that he considers his reality TV experience his breakthrough.
– I found lifelong friends there. I also got my manager who has been with me for 20 years. It was a turning point in my life, even though the competition was really intense on reality TV, Stone said for Entertainment Tonight in October 2025.
Stone has since had a successful career as an actor in films such as Easy A, La La Land, Poor Things and The Help. For many, his breakthrough was the 2007 comedy Super badbut Stone had already done small television roles before this.
La La Land is one of the most successful movies in which Emma Stone has appeared. AOP
Glen Powell
Glenn Powell has appeared in the hit movie Top Gun: Maverick. AOP
Glen Powell also appeared on reality TV before his Hollywood career. At the age of 13, he competed on Discovery Kids Endurancewhich resembled one aimed at teenagers Survivors.
He recalled his experience on the program in July 2024 when he appeared The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in the program.
– I really wanted to join the program, but I was voted out in the first episode, he said.
Although her time in the competition was short lived, she has since become a regular face in Hollywood. He has appeared in a blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick together with Tom Cruise and starred in the 2023 romantic comedy Anyone But You along with Sydney Sweeney.
Jamie Chung
Jamie Chung has starred in the television series Once Upon a Time. AOP
Jamie Chung started her career on a reality TV show The Real World: San Diego in 2004. The following year, he appeared in a spin-off of the show Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Inferno II.
The series follows a group of previously unknown people who live together for several months in different cities seasonally, while the cameras film their everyday life and the development of their relationships.
– I have nothing to be ashamed of from the early stages of my career. They launched my career. They gave me the opportunity to live with six strangers in the same house. And they were formative experiences, he said People– magazine in October 2021.
Chung’s early career highlights include appearing in a miniseries Samurai Girlone of the central roles in the 2011 film Sucker Punch and the role of Mulan in the television series Once Upon a Time.
In addition, he is also remembered for his leading role in the 2012 crime film I’m going.
Lucy Hale
Lucy Hale is best known for Pretty Little Liars. AOP
Before Lucy Hale made her breakthrough in the series Pretty Little Liarshe had already appeared on reality TV.
In 2003, Hale finished in the top five on the reality TV show American Juniorswhich was a one-off competition looking for the next big teen pop singers.
Pretty Little Liars In addition to the series, he has also acted in romantic comedies such as The Hating Game (2021) and Which Brings Me to You (2023).
Source: People.
In 2015, Lucy Hale shared a photo from the set of American Junior. AOP