Most people consider their favorite actors and musicians the epitome of cool. Sure, they might be famous and ridiculously good looking now, but some of these celebrities were the nerds the cool kids shunned—or even worse: didn’t even know existed—in high school. It’s not surprising to learn many former geeks-turned-A-list stars took refuge in their schools’ bands and drama club, but you’ll also find teacher’s pets and straight-A students who used the same dedication and drive to land on the honor roll to make it after graduation in Hollywood.
We all know high school can be just awful, but these 15 stars are proof that being asked to sit at the popular table during lunch pales in comparison to having a hit film or winning an Oscar or a Grammy. And for more proof that celebs are real people, too, don’t miss 30 Wildly Entertaining Photos of Celebrities Using Public Transportation.
1 Taylor Swift
Turns out it was teen angst, not bad boyfriends, that first inspired the Grammy winner. “I remember when I was in school, the whole reason I started writing songs was because I was alone a lot of the time,” Swift has said. “I’d sit there in school and I’d be hearing people like, ‘Oh my god, this party that we’re going to is gonna be so awesome on Friday. Everyone’s invited except for [Taylor].'” We’re pretty sure Swift’s penchant for showing up to surprise her fans has never happened at her high school reunion.
2 Adam Levine
The Maroon 5 singer and The Voice judge has said that his love of music wasn’t exactly a ticket to hang with the cool kids in high school. As he once told Access Hollywood, “When I was 14, 15, I think it was a little less cool to be in a band.”
Levine describes his teenage self as “very uncool” because he had “disgusting long hair and shorts down to [to my knees], cutoff shorts—I desperately wanted to be Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam really badly, and I was just a nerdy, awkward kid and I was obsessed with music.” And for more amazing A-lister trivia, check out 20 Celebrities Who Look Like Their Pets.
3 Jessica Alba
The actress and Honest Company founder has said she felt the sting of the mean girl clique when she was a teenager. “I’d eat my lunch in the nurses’ office so I didn’t have to sit with the other girls,” she has said. “Apart from my being mixed race, my parents didn’t have money so I never had the cute clothes or the cool back pack.”
