Before they were gracing our big and small screens, they were strutting runways and mugging for fashion ads. Where would Hollywood be without models-turned-actors? With her new role in Paper Towns, Cara Delevingne seems to be the latest model to make the transition. And from the looks of it, it seems like she’ll be successful. Here’s a list of some other pretty people who have proven they can act, too! (Jury’s still out on Kate Upton…)
1. Cara Delevingne
She first appeared in Anna Karenina starring Keira Knightley, and now she’s set to star in Paper Towns, the film based on the beloved John Green novel.
2. Caitriona Balfe
strngland.tumblr.comDid you know this Outlander actress was a former Victoria’s Secret model? Must be why she wears all of those 18th century corsets so well. (That gif is her walking the Marc Jacobs runway in 2003. Werk.)
3. Jaime King
Before she was acting in Hart of Dixie and being BFFs with Taylor Swift, Jaime King modeled for Vogue and walked the runways as “James King.”
4. Shay Mitchell
This Canadian beauty modeled all over the world before landing her Pretty Little Liars gig. But she still puts her modeling skills to good use by posting killer selfies on Instagram.
5. Ashton Kutcher
He placed first in a “Fresh Faces of Iowa” modeling competition and dropped out of college to pursue modeling in New York. His modeling career was short-lived, though. In 1998, he landed the role of Kelso in That ’70s Show.
6. Jamie Dornan
Yes, we know he’s everywhere these days, but before he was the star of Fifty Shades of Grey, Jamie was just your average smoking hot Calvin Klein model.
7. Katherine Heigl
As a teen model in the ’90s, Katherine graced the cover of Seventeen magazine and pursued acting gigs at the same time. In 1999, she got the part of Isabel Evans in Roswell, but her real acting breakout came when she landed a role on Grey’s Anatomy.
8. Josh Duhamel
Ashton Kutcher actually lost a modeling competition to Josh in 1997.
9. Emily Ratajkowski
This model got her first big break as the topless girl in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video, but quickly proved she was more than just a music video babe. She landed a key role in Gone Girl and set to star opposite Zac Efron in the upcoming flick We Are Your Friends.
10. Brooklyn Decker
Brooklyn, best known for her work as a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, made her film debut in Just Go With It and has since appeared in Battleship and What to Expect When You’re Expecting.
11. Alexis Bledel
shinyruttinreavers.tumblr.comShe was all over those Naturistics lip gloss ads (remember those?) in the late 90s before she graced our screens as Rory Gilmore in Gilmore Girls.
12. Channing Tatum
After he was a stripper but before he became an actor, Channing was a model. He posed for ads for Nautica and Abercrombie.
13. January Jones
Just like Betty Draper, January Jones used to be a model. But unlike Betty Draper, January went on to make an even better career for herself. And as we know from her Instagram #TBT pics, she wasn’t always so gorgeous and poised. There’s hope for everyone!
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