if chasing your dreams were easy
everyone would do it
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
famous entertainers who are told they
had no talent we got some special I
think y’all pass it on
before we begin we publish new content
every day so be sure to subscribe to our
channel and ring the bell to get
notified about our latest videos for
this list we’re looking at talented and
well-known individuals who had naysayers
telling them to give up their dreams and
get a real job we’re basing our picks on
the success of the person or group and
are excluding any stories anecdotes and
other claims that don’t have reliable
sources to confirm them like Walt Disney
reportedly being fired from the Kansas
City Star for lacking imagination and
having no good ideas you don’t say I do
say number 10
Sidney Poitier and I was not what I was
required to be in Florida I was not that
I couldn’t be that after holding several
dishwashing jobs as a teen the Miami
born Bahamian tried to audition for the
American Negro theater in the mid 1940s
the key word here is tried as Poitier
would be turned away by the director
with words that essentially told him to
stop wasting his time and to get a job
as a dishwasher you can’t tell me when
or where I’m out of line
or try to get me to live my life
according to your rules while he’d
eventually successfully joined the
theater his Caribbean accent lack of
acting experience and inability to sing
would lead to an initial rejection by
audiences mistake but with lessons in
hard work
he soon earned a lead on Broadway and
the rest is history
nobody has spurred you while it’s been
reported that modeling agencies
suggested she become a secretary instead
it’s the stories about her acting
abilities or lack thereof that place her
here when she came in to read for the
asphalt jungle albert band director John
Huston’s then assistant would describe
her as someone who didn’t seem to have
any talent what I said yesterday was it
wasn’t exactly I mean it wasn’t really
good was it the truth a few years later
on the set of river of no return
director Otto Preminger would tell her
to abandon the craft and go back to her
quote original profession at least
according to actress Shelley Winters
of course Monroe would sure show them as
she’d go on to become Hollywood’s most
famous blonde bombshell
[Music]
number eight Brad Pitt Oh God before he became an a-list actor and
before he became an a-list actor and producer William Bradley Pitt was a
producer William Bradley Pitt was a student in the Midwest with big dreams
student in the Midwest with big dreams of Hollywood Pitt drove to LA and
of Hollywood Pitt drove to LA and started working odd jobs while attending
started working odd jobs while attending acting classes by the late 80s his agent
acting classes by the late 80s his agent had gotten him an audition for a role in
had gotten him an audition for a role in the accused starring Jodie Foster Pitt
the accused starring Jodie Foster Pitt recounted the experience for W Magazine
recounted the experience for W Magazine in 2012 stating that after calling up
in 2012 stating that after calling up for feedback quote there were three
for feedback quote there were three seconds of silence and then have you
seconds of silence and then have you ever thought about acting classes not
ever thought about acting classes not one to be deterred he kept at it and
one to be deterred he kept at it and found stardom in a breakout role in
found stardom in a breakout role in 1991’s hit Thelma and Louise take that
1991’s hit Thelma and Louise take that cash you put in that bag right there you
cash you put in that bag right there you got an amazing story tell your friends
got an amazing story tell your friends if not you got a tag on your toe
if not you got a tag on your toe number seven Gary Oldman this actor is
number seven Gary Oldman this actor is so good at accents that most don’t
so good at accents that most don’t realize he’s actually English and not
realize he’s actually English and not the American he’s so often portrays
the American he’s so often portrays because it’s the hero class I’m just
because it’s the hero class I’m just but not the one it needs right now
but not the one it needs right now Oldman grew up inspired by music boxing
Oldman grew up inspired by music boxing and the theater listing people like
and the theater listing people like Liberace and Muhammad Ali as
Liberace and Muhammad Ali as inspirations
inspirations no wonder he’s known for his ability to
no wonder he’s known for his ability to play diverse characters is easy stuff
play diverse characters is easy stuff but when it came time to attend school
but when it came time to attend school Oldman was turned away after auditioning
Oldman was turned away after auditioning for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts
for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts he was told that he had no acting talent
he was told that he had no acting talent and should seek another career Oldman
and should seek another career Oldman attended Britain’s Rose Bruford college
attended Britain’s Rose Bruford college instead eventually going on to win both
instead eventually going on to win both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award six
a Golden Globe and an Academy Award six Arnold Schwarzenegger I’ll be back
Arnold Schwarzenegger I’ll be back Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a big
Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a big and bodybuilding transforming the sport
and bodybuilding transforming the sport and becoming the most influential
and becoming the most influential bodybuilder of all time but when he
bodybuilder of all time but when he expressed an interest in moving into
expressed an interest in moving into acting no one took him seriously
his Austrian accent was too thick to understand and his name was also too
understand and his name was also too hard to pronounce not to mention his
hard to pronounce not to mention his over developed body wasn’t the ideal for
over developed body wasn’t the ideal for a leading man one of his first film
a leading man one of his first film roles dubbed out his accent I don’t
roles dubbed out his accent I don’t understand
understand while another had him playing a
while another had him playing a deaf-mute both avoiding the accent issue
deaf-mute both avoiding the accent issue but with a part in 1976 is stay hungry
but with a part in 1976 is stay hungry Schwarzenegger found an audience and a
Schwarzenegger found an audience and a Golden Globe a decade later and he was a
Golden Globe a decade later and he was a box-office superstar hasta la vista baby
number 5 Fred Astaire Gene Kelly has been quoted as saying the history of
been quoted as saying the history of dance on film begins with a stare this
dance on film begins with a stare this dancing singing acting cultural icon
dancing singing acting cultural icon started his 76 year career as part of a
started his 76 year career as part of a brother-sister dancing act he would go
brother-sister dancing act he would go on to make 31 movie musicals often with
on to make 31 movie musicals often with Ginger Rogers his partner but when he
Ginger Rogers his partner but when he did one of his first screen tests the
did one of his first screen tests the evaluation was reportedly quite harsh
evaluation was reportedly quite harsh the man who’d go on to define an entire
the man who’d go on to define an entire style of musical performance was
style of musical performance was initially deemed someone who quote can’t
initially deemed someone who quote can’t act was balding and could dance quote a
act was balding and could dance quote a little soldiering on this triple threat
little soldiering on this triple threat went on to win two Emmy Awards and is
went on to win two Emmy Awards and is credited with revolutionizing cinematic
credited with revolutionizing cinematic dance
number four JK rowling it is impossible to live without failing at something
to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you
unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all in
might as well not have lived at all in which case you fail by default after
which case you fail by default after completing a BA
completing a BA Rowling moved to London to work as a
Rowling moved to London to work as a researcher and secretary at Amnesty
researcher and secretary at Amnesty International the job didn’t last too
International the job didn’t last too long so she decided to move to
long so she decided to move to Manchester and it was during this train
Manchester and it was during this train trip that Rowling was hit with
trip that Rowling was hit with inspiration to write about a young boy
inspiration to write about a young boy in wizardry school after quickly
in wizardry school after quickly marrying and then separating from her
marrying and then separating from her husband had about a dozen rejection
husband had about a dozen rejection letters she felt like a failure because
letters she felt like a failure because my greatest fear had been realised and I
my greatest fear had been realised and I was still alive and I still had a
was still alive and I still had a daughter whom I adored and I had an old
daughter whom I adored and I had an old typewriter and a big idea and so rock
typewriter and a big idea and so rock bottom became the solid foundation on
bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life one publisher
which I rebuilt my life one publisher would tell Rowling that a writers group
would tell Rowling that a writers group or writing course may help her but with
or writing course may help her but with three chapters of Harry Potter in her
three chapters of Harry Potter in her suitcase she persevered creating what
suitcase she persevered creating what became a literary phenomenon still even
became a literary phenomenon still even her eventual editor would warn her it
her eventual editor would warn her it would be unlikely she’d earn a living as
would be unlikely she’d earn a living as a writer of children’s books took the
a writer of children’s books took the view that my overactive imagination was
view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would
an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension
never pay a mortgage or secure a pension I know the irony strikes with the force
I know the irony strikes with the force of a cartoon anvil now but number three
of a cartoon anvil now but number three Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley [Music]
the king of rock-and-roll was not always seen as such a shining star in eighth
seen as such a shining star in eighth grade Presley was making below average
grade Presley was making below average grades in music class his teacher
grades in music class his teacher believed that he had quote no aptitude
believed that he had quote no aptitude for singing and this was just the
for singing and this was just the beginning at the audition for local
beginning at the audition for local groups and talent shows Bale said he’d
groups and talent shows Bale said he’d quote just couldn’t sing the advice he
quote just couldn’t sing the advice he received after one audition was to keep
received after one audition was to keep his job as a truck driver because quote
his job as a truck driver because quote he would never make it as a singer it
he would never make it as a singer it was only after Presley was overheard
was only after Presley was overheard singing by Sun Records execs Sam
singing by Sun Records execs Sam Phillips in the mid-1950s
Phillips in the mid-1950s that things started to change by age 30
that things started to change by age 30 he became the highest-paid performer at
he became the highest-paid performer at the time
number two the Beatles [Music]
won’t you [Music]
[Music] the Beatles were looking for a record
the Beatles were looking for a record deal in the early 1960s when their
deal in the early 1960s when their manager Brian Epstein got them an
manager Brian Epstein got them an audition with Decca Records in London
audition with Decca Records in London but Decca reportedly rejected the band
but Decca reportedly rejected the band not only stating that quote guitar
not only stating that quote guitar groups are on their way out but also
groups are on their way out but also that the Fab Four quote have no future
that the Fab Four quote have no future in show business they opted instead to
in show business they opted instead to take on a local band and it’s considered
take on a local band and it’s considered one of the biggest mistakes in music
one of the biggest mistakes in music history by the following year the world
history by the following year the world would be in the throes of Beatle mania
would be in the throes of Beatle mania leaving some asking what Decca was
leaving some asking what Decca was thinking when they passed them over many
thinking when they passed them over many years later in 2012 a Japanese collector
years later in 2012 a Japanese collector paid thirty-five thousand pounds for the
paid thirty-five thousand pounds for the original audition of the Beatles for
original audition of the Beatles for Decca Records in 1962
number one Oprah Winfrey the queen of all media didn’t always know that she
all media didn’t always know that she would end up so successful her Oprah
would end up so successful her Oprah Winfrey talk show has broken records and
Winfrey talk show has broken records and changed television forever but when
changed television forever but when Oprah was first starting out in media
Oprah was first starting out in media things weren’t so promising after
things weren’t so promising after working her way up to anchorwoman in
working her way up to anchorwoman in Baltimore she was supposedly considered
Baltimore she was supposedly considered dull and stiff and demoted since she was
dull and stiff and demoted since she was still under contract the news station
still under contract the news station moved her to a sleepy afternoon talk
moved her to a sleepy afternoon talk show Oprah had finally found a place she
show Oprah had finally found a place she felt comfortable this is how this is
felt comfortable this is how this is what I now know with age and perspective
what I now know with age and perspective that many times getting demoted is an
that many times getting demoted is an opportunity for something else to show
opportunity for something else to show up from there she progressed to a
up from there she progressed to a Chicago morning talk show that
Chicago morning talk show that eventually went national and took on her
eventually went national and took on her own name The Oprah Winfrey Show welcome
own name The Oprah Winfrey Show welcome to the very first do you agree with our
to the very first do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips
picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for new
from WatchMojo and subscribe for new videos every day
everyone would do it
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
famous entertainers who are told they
had no talent we got some special I
think y’all pass it on
before we begin we publish new content
every day so be sure to subscribe to our
channel and ring the bell to get
notified about our latest videos for
this list we’re looking at talented and
well-known individuals who had naysayers
telling them to give up their dreams and
get a real job we’re basing our picks on
the success of the person or group and
are excluding any stories anecdotes and
other claims that don’t have reliable
sources to confirm them like Walt Disney
reportedly being fired from the Kansas
City Star for lacking imagination and
having no good ideas you don’t say I do
say number 10
Sidney Poitier and I was not what I was
required to be in Florida I was not that
I couldn’t be that after holding several
dishwashing jobs as a teen the Miami
born Bahamian tried to audition for the
American Negro theater in the mid 1940s
the key word here is tried as Poitier
would be turned away by the director
with words that essentially told him to
stop wasting his time and to get a job
as a dishwasher you can’t tell me when
or where I’m out of line
or try to get me to live my life
according to your rules while he’d
eventually successfully joined the
theater his Caribbean accent lack of
acting experience and inability to sing
would lead to an initial rejection by
audiences mistake but with lessons in
hard work
he soon earned a lead on Broadway and
the rest is history
nobody has spurred you while it’s been
reported that modeling agencies
suggested she become a secretary instead
it’s the stories about her acting
abilities or lack thereof that place her
here when she came in to read for the
asphalt jungle albert band director John
Huston’s then assistant would describe
her as someone who didn’t seem to have
any talent what I said yesterday was it
wasn’t exactly I mean it wasn’t really
good was it the truth a few years later
on the set of river of no return
director Otto Preminger would tell her
to abandon the craft and go back to her
quote original profession at least
according to actress Shelley Winters
of course Monroe would sure show them as
she’d go on to become Hollywood’s most
famous blonde bombshell
[Music]
number eight Brad Pitt Oh God before he became an a-list actor and
before he became an a-list actor and producer William Bradley Pitt was a
producer William Bradley Pitt was a student in the Midwest with big dreams
student in the Midwest with big dreams of Hollywood Pitt drove to LA and
of Hollywood Pitt drove to LA and started working odd jobs while attending
started working odd jobs while attending acting classes by the late 80s his agent
acting classes by the late 80s his agent had gotten him an audition for a role in
had gotten him an audition for a role in the accused starring Jodie Foster Pitt
the accused starring Jodie Foster Pitt recounted the experience for W Magazine
recounted the experience for W Magazine in 2012 stating that after calling up
in 2012 stating that after calling up for feedback quote there were three
for feedback quote there were three seconds of silence and then have you
seconds of silence and then have you ever thought about acting classes not
ever thought about acting classes not one to be deterred he kept at it and
one to be deterred he kept at it and found stardom in a breakout role in
found stardom in a breakout role in 1991’s hit Thelma and Louise take that
1991’s hit Thelma and Louise take that cash you put in that bag right there you
cash you put in that bag right there you got an amazing story tell your friends
got an amazing story tell your friends if not you got a tag on your toe
if not you got a tag on your toe number seven Gary Oldman this actor is
number seven Gary Oldman this actor is so good at accents that most don’t
so good at accents that most don’t realize he’s actually English and not
realize he’s actually English and not the American he’s so often portrays
the American he’s so often portrays because it’s the hero class I’m just
because it’s the hero class I’m just but not the one it needs right now
but not the one it needs right now Oldman grew up inspired by music boxing
Oldman grew up inspired by music boxing and the theater listing people like
and the theater listing people like Liberace and Muhammad Ali as
Liberace and Muhammad Ali as inspirations
inspirations no wonder he’s known for his ability to
no wonder he’s known for his ability to play diverse characters is easy stuff
play diverse characters is easy stuff but when it came time to attend school
but when it came time to attend school Oldman was turned away after auditioning
Oldman was turned away after auditioning for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts
for the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts he was told that he had no acting talent
he was told that he had no acting talent and should seek another career Oldman
and should seek another career Oldman attended Britain’s Rose Bruford college
attended Britain’s Rose Bruford college instead eventually going on to win both
instead eventually going on to win both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award six
a Golden Globe and an Academy Award six Arnold Schwarzenegger I’ll be back
Arnold Schwarzenegger I’ll be back Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a big
Arnold Schwarzenegger first made a big and bodybuilding transforming the sport
and bodybuilding transforming the sport and becoming the most influential
and becoming the most influential bodybuilder of all time but when he
bodybuilder of all time but when he expressed an interest in moving into
expressed an interest in moving into acting no one took him seriously
his Austrian accent was too thick to understand and his name was also too
understand and his name was also too hard to pronounce not to mention his
hard to pronounce not to mention his over developed body wasn’t the ideal for
over developed body wasn’t the ideal for a leading man one of his first film
a leading man one of his first film roles dubbed out his accent I don’t
roles dubbed out his accent I don’t understand
understand while another had him playing a
while another had him playing a deaf-mute both avoiding the accent issue
deaf-mute both avoiding the accent issue but with a part in 1976 is stay hungry
but with a part in 1976 is stay hungry Schwarzenegger found an audience and a
Schwarzenegger found an audience and a Golden Globe a decade later and he was a
Golden Globe a decade later and he was a box-office superstar hasta la vista baby
number 5 Fred Astaire Gene Kelly has been quoted as saying the history of
been quoted as saying the history of dance on film begins with a stare this
dance on film begins with a stare this dancing singing acting cultural icon
dancing singing acting cultural icon started his 76 year career as part of a
started his 76 year career as part of a brother-sister dancing act he would go
brother-sister dancing act he would go on to make 31 movie musicals often with
on to make 31 movie musicals often with Ginger Rogers his partner but when he
Ginger Rogers his partner but when he did one of his first screen tests the
did one of his first screen tests the evaluation was reportedly quite harsh
evaluation was reportedly quite harsh the man who’d go on to define an entire
the man who’d go on to define an entire style of musical performance was
style of musical performance was initially deemed someone who quote can’t
initially deemed someone who quote can’t act was balding and could dance quote a
act was balding and could dance quote a little soldiering on this triple threat
little soldiering on this triple threat went on to win two Emmy Awards and is
went on to win two Emmy Awards and is credited with revolutionizing cinematic
credited with revolutionizing cinematic dance
number four JK rowling it is impossible to live without failing at something
to live without failing at something unless you live so cautiously that you
unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all in
might as well not have lived at all in which case you fail by default after
which case you fail by default after completing a BA
completing a BA Rowling moved to London to work as a
Rowling moved to London to work as a researcher and secretary at Amnesty
researcher and secretary at Amnesty International the job didn’t last too
International the job didn’t last too long so she decided to move to
long so she decided to move to Manchester and it was during this train
Manchester and it was during this train trip that Rowling was hit with
trip that Rowling was hit with inspiration to write about a young boy
inspiration to write about a young boy in wizardry school after quickly
in wizardry school after quickly marrying and then separating from her
marrying and then separating from her husband had about a dozen rejection
husband had about a dozen rejection letters she felt like a failure because
letters she felt like a failure because my greatest fear had been realised and I
my greatest fear had been realised and I was still alive and I still had a
was still alive and I still had a daughter whom I adored and I had an old
daughter whom I adored and I had an old typewriter and a big idea and so rock
typewriter and a big idea and so rock bottom became the solid foundation on
bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life one publisher
which I rebuilt my life one publisher would tell Rowling that a writers group
would tell Rowling that a writers group or writing course may help her but with
or writing course may help her but with three chapters of Harry Potter in her
three chapters of Harry Potter in her suitcase she persevered creating what
suitcase she persevered creating what became a literary phenomenon still even
became a literary phenomenon still even her eventual editor would warn her it
her eventual editor would warn her it would be unlikely she’d earn a living as
would be unlikely she’d earn a living as a writer of children’s books took the
a writer of children’s books took the view that my overactive imagination was
view that my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would
an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage or secure a pension
never pay a mortgage or secure a pension I know the irony strikes with the force
I know the irony strikes with the force of a cartoon anvil now but number three
of a cartoon anvil now but number three Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley [Music]
the king of rock-and-roll was not always seen as such a shining star in eighth
seen as such a shining star in eighth grade Presley was making below average
grade Presley was making below average grades in music class his teacher
grades in music class his teacher believed that he had quote no aptitude
believed that he had quote no aptitude for singing and this was just the
for singing and this was just the beginning at the audition for local
beginning at the audition for local groups and talent shows Bale said he’d
groups and talent shows Bale said he’d quote just couldn’t sing the advice he
quote just couldn’t sing the advice he received after one audition was to keep
received after one audition was to keep his job as a truck driver because quote
his job as a truck driver because quote he would never make it as a singer it
he would never make it as a singer it was only after Presley was overheard
was only after Presley was overheard singing by Sun Records execs Sam
singing by Sun Records execs Sam Phillips in the mid-1950s
Phillips in the mid-1950s that things started to change by age 30
that things started to change by age 30 he became the highest-paid performer at
he became the highest-paid performer at the time
number two the Beatles [Music]
won’t you [Music]
[Music] the Beatles were looking for a record
the Beatles were looking for a record deal in the early 1960s when their
deal in the early 1960s when their manager Brian Epstein got them an
manager Brian Epstein got them an audition with Decca Records in London
audition with Decca Records in London but Decca reportedly rejected the band
but Decca reportedly rejected the band not only stating that quote guitar
not only stating that quote guitar groups are on their way out but also
groups are on their way out but also that the Fab Four quote have no future
that the Fab Four quote have no future in show business they opted instead to
in show business they opted instead to take on a local band and it’s considered
take on a local band and it’s considered one of the biggest mistakes in music
one of the biggest mistakes in music history by the following year the world
history by the following year the world would be in the throes of Beatle mania
would be in the throes of Beatle mania leaving some asking what Decca was
leaving some asking what Decca was thinking when they passed them over many
thinking when they passed them over many years later in 2012 a Japanese collector
years later in 2012 a Japanese collector paid thirty-five thousand pounds for the
paid thirty-five thousand pounds for the original audition of the Beatles for
original audition of the Beatles for Decca Records in 1962
number one Oprah Winfrey the queen of all media didn’t always know that she
all media didn’t always know that she would end up so successful her Oprah
would end up so successful her Oprah Winfrey talk show has broken records and
Winfrey talk show has broken records and changed television forever but when
changed television forever but when Oprah was first starting out in media
Oprah was first starting out in media things weren’t so promising after
things weren’t so promising after working her way up to anchorwoman in
working her way up to anchorwoman in Baltimore she was supposedly considered
Baltimore she was supposedly considered dull and stiff and demoted since she was
dull and stiff and demoted since she was still under contract the news station
still under contract the news station moved her to a sleepy afternoon talk
moved her to a sleepy afternoon talk show Oprah had finally found a place she
show Oprah had finally found a place she felt comfortable this is how this is
felt comfortable this is how this is what I now know with age and perspective
what I now know with age and perspective that many times getting demoted is an
that many times getting demoted is an opportunity for something else to show
opportunity for something else to show up from there she progressed to a
up from there she progressed to a Chicago morning talk show that
Chicago morning talk show that eventually went national and took on her
eventually went national and took on her own name The Oprah Winfrey Show welcome
own name The Oprah Winfrey Show welcome to the very first do you agree with our
to the very first do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips
picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for new
from WatchMojo and subscribe for new videos every day
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