The hair is big, and the script is bad, but everyone has to start somewhere. In show biz, a job is a job and young actors take what they can get. These stars might be famous today, but they weren't born on the A-list. They worked their way up through bit parts and the strange, often painfully mediocre jungle of Hollywood. Here are some of the early films of today's red-carpet royalty.

Though she'd probably like to forget it, Courtney Cox got her start in this cartoon adaptation.

1. Nicole Kidman in BMX Bandits (1983)

Before the Chanel campaign, even before Tom, there was BMX Bandits. Nicole Kidman filmed several movies in 1983, but this one stands out. Hilarity ensues when two BMX bikers and their friend (Kidman) become entangled with a group of bank robbers. The Aussie has said this is one of her favorite films from the early days, and while it's no Moulin Rouge, the reviews weren't that bad.

2. Alec Baldwin in Forever, Lulu (1987)

Forever, Lulu tried to score Deborah Harry, lead singer of Blondie, the success Madonna enjoyed when she starred in Desperately Seeking Susan. The story follows an aspiring novelist as she gets tangled up in a real-life mystery involving Harry's character, Lulu. The critics hated it, but took time to mention that Alec Baldwin, who played a cop, gave a "decent performance."

3. Madonna in A Certain Sacrifice (1985)

In 1985, when it was clear the world had a pop icon on its hands, the creators of A Certain Sacrifice released this low-budget movie, much to Madonna's chagrin. The movie, filmed in New York in the late '70s, offers Madonna as a streetwise teen who gets in over her head with some unsavory characters. Madonna may not be known as a great actor, but A Certain Sacrifice shows she had star appeal long before she ruled MTV.

On the next page, find out about more stars and their early roles, including Courtney Cox and Chris Rock.