If there’s one thing Hollywood lives for, it’s reinvention. Gigs come and go, but every so often, the most shocking plot turns occur when the stars themselves determine to turn the script around. Some reinvent themselves in their field, while others step out of it altogether, pursuing passions as far removed from the red carpet as can be imagined. Here are 10 of the most astonishing career reversals in Hollywood history—evidence that the best drama is not always on the screen.
10. Taylor Momsen – From Cindy Lou Who to Rock Star
Who would’ve thought that the kid from How the Grinch Stole Christmas would end up headlining rock festivals years later? After Gossip Girl, Taylor Momsen left acting behind for music and never looked back. As lead singer of her band The Pretty Reckless, she traded in bows and braids for black eyeliner and torn jeans—and forged a real career as a rock powerhouse.
9. Peter Ostrum – Charlie Bucket to Cow Doctor
Peter Ostrum struck gold as Charlie in Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory. But instead of pursuing fame, he went on his merry way after that singular golden role. His career? Veterinary school. Ostrum became a dairy vet, working with animals rather than Hollywood deals. It’s a turn that demonstrates sometimes the greatest happily ever after isn’t on camera at all.
8. Daniel Day-Lewis – Oscars to Shoemaking
The method-acting monarch didn’t just disappear into roles—he disappeared from Hollywood proper. The great actor Daniel Day-Lewis, a man feted as perhaps the greatest of all time, stepped away (and ultimately retired) to train as a shoemaker in Italy. He resurfaced to deliver a few more titanic performances, but choosing to trade movie sets for the cobbler’s bench is quintessential Day-Lewis.
7. Mary-Kate & Ashley Olsen – Sitcom Stars to Fashion Icons
After being the queens of direct-to-video comedies and teen publications, the Olsen twins disappeared from acting as suddenly as they appeared. Their second act? Haute couture. With their fashion house The Row, they moved from TV sweethearts to award-winning designers, reinventing their image and establishing power in a completely separate field.
6. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Action Hero to Governor
Bodybuilder, film star… governor? Arnold Schwarzenegger managed one of Hollywood’s most outrageous career leaps. Having dominated bodybuilding and action pictures, he astounded the world by defeating California’s 2003 recall election. For two terms, the Terminator traded explosions and catchphrases for policy and press briefings.
5. Shirley Temple – From Tap Dancing to Diplomacy
Shirley Temple was the face of Hollywood in the 1930s. But upon retiring in her early twenties, she didn’t live out the rest of her years in anonymity—she became a diplomat. As U.S. ambassador to Ghana and then Czechoslovakia, Temple swapped curls for foreign affairs and showed she could shine equally off-screen.
4. Mark Wahlberg – Marky Mark to Movie Star
Before Oscar nominations and prestige TV producing, Mark Wahlberg was more famous for rapping shirtless as “Marky Mark” and posing for Calvin Klein billboards. His transformation into a serious thespian and Hollywood heavy-hitter is among the most dramatic image makeovers in the industry.
3. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson – Wrestling Ring to Hollywood Kingpin
Dwayne Johnson was already bigger-than-life in WWE, but his Hollywood debut paid off even larger. From Fast & Furious blockbuster hits to family classics such as Moana, Johnson demonstrated his charm could pack theaters with as much ease as arenas. His ascension is still the benchmark for wrestlers-turned-stars.
2. Grace Kelly – Movie Star to Princess
Grace Kelly’s career trajectory is the epitome of a fairy tale. In the midst of her Hollywood fame, the Oscar-winning actress abandoned it all to wed Prince Rainier III of Monaco. In a single night, she exchanged movie sets for palace existence—sealing her status in history as one of Hollywood’s most glamorous turns.
1. Ronald Reagan – Leading Man to President
Ronald Reagan’s tale is the greatest of all. A dashing actor turned Screen Actors Guild president, he graduated to the Oval Office, becoming America’s 40th president. The turn from performer to international statesman may be the most surprising—and impactful—professional transformation of all.
Hollywood is replete with comebacks, but career turns are in a class of their own. From shoemaking to politics, stethoscopes to runways, these celebrities show us that sometimes the most courageous role is the one no one could anticipate.