Stunning Transformations Of Beautiful Stars From The '90s
By | June 4, 2021
Alicia Silverstone on the set of ‘Clueless,' 1995
Take a close look at the following celebrities from the 1990s. Do you remember their faces and films? Do you remember where you were when you first became aware of them? Seeing how much they've changed (and stayed the same) in the decades since they first became known entities will make you feel like you're catching up with a long lost friend.
These rare photos show that even when people change they become more of themselves. While there's plenty of stories about these celebrities out in the world, you won't find these untold anecdotes anywhere else.
It's thrilling to see that so many of our most beloved stars are still making things happen. Here, you'll read their true stories for the first time. Look deeper into the stories of these celebrities form the '90s and see just how much they've changed.
Alicia Silverstone was only 19 years old when she starred as Cher Horowitz in Clueless, a film that created the rubric for every teen movie that followed from the '90s and beyond. When Clueless was being filmed no one expected it to become a cultural touchstone. It was just a teen movie starring real teens.
Alicia Silverstone at the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar party
While speaking with The Guardian about how she's changed since her time as a teen star she explained that she missed out on normal development while becoming a star.
Arnold Schwarzenegger spent hundreds of hours in the makeup chair for 'Terminator 2'
While speaking with Empire Magazine, make-up artist Jeff Dawn explained that the makeup process for this sequel was so arduous because he wanted audiences to get a huge bang for their buck.
Arnold remains pumped up
Schwarzenegger explained that his routine starts first thing in the morning and lasts until he goes to bed.
Blue but not sad, Gwen Stefani on the red carpet at the MTV Music Video Awards, 1998
Thanks to Stefani wild hair colors, bindis, and black bracelets became the norm.
While speaking with Stereogum about how much has changed since the '90s, she noted that the relationship that her kids have with music is so much different than the one she had when she was their age.
Danny DeVito gets a touch up for a scene in 'Batman Returns,' 1992
DeVito told the Hollywood Reporter that when it came to his time in the makeup chair, he preferred to just stay in the pounds of special effects rather than get in and out of it throughout the day.
Danny DeVito flashes the peace sign on the red carpet
While speaking with the Independent, DeVito explained that to survive in Hollywood he's just kept his head down and stayed on his path.
Danny Trejo and Antonio Banderas on the set of 'Desperado' 1994
Banderas says that he has nothing but good memories of making Desperado. As this photo shows everyone was clearly having a good time on set.
The thinking man's hunk
While speaking about acting as he gets older Banderas told NPR that even though he's still onscreen his priorities have changed greatly.
Even though they were easily the greatest team that the NBA has ever seen, that doesn't mean that the Bulls were best buddies.
Rodman remains on his own wavelength
When Rodman popped up in the Last Dance documentary he shed a lot of light on the subject of the '90s Bulls run, but he initially he nearly pulled out of the project.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and Mankind relax with some Nintendo 64
These two were the number one reason to tune in every Monday night, but it's clear that they need a little break sometimes.
The Rock n Sock Connection rides again
Before the 20 year anniversary of WWE's RAW Foley spoke about his relationship with Johnson and how it's their children that actually keep in touch.
Fresh face Courteney Cox before her days on 'Friends'
Initially, Cox was offered the role of Rachel Green, which eventually went to Jennifer Aniston.
Can you look at Courteney Cox without hearing the 'Friends' theme
While chatting on Instagram live in 2020, Cox explained that she feels close to her most famous character because they're kind of the same person.
Gal Gadot visits the U.S. for the first time as a teenager in New York, 1999
When she was 18-years-old Gadot rolled the dice on the Miss Israel contest, something that proved to be fortuitous.
It looks like she hasn't aged a day
Today, Gadot is less worried about how she appears to the outside world and more concerned about stay grounded.
Long before he was a megastar thanks to One Direction, Styles was the kind of kid who began recording himself through his family's karaoke machine.
Once a ham, always a ham
While speaking with NPR, Styles noted that he just tries to be himself but admits that who he is is always changing.
Jennifer Lopez 1997. A year later she told an interviewer, "I feel I can do anything–any kind of role. I’m fearless."
With just the single role in Selena Lopez showed that she wasn't just an amazing on camera presence but that she could keep an audience in rapture.
Jennifer Lopez says 2020 taught her what 'matters most'
Lopez explained that in the 2010s she finally figured out that she (and all of us) are always moving through different phases in our life.
Joaquin Phoenix grew uncomfortable with his photoshoot so he started doing dishes, 1996
Even with his Roman features and camera ready looks, Phoenix was so put off by being an "it" guy that he supposedly started doing dishes during this photoshoot just so he would have something to do.
Phoenix has grown into his larger than life persona, even if it makes him uncomfortable
It makes sense that he would be put off by all the trappings of fame that have nothing to do with getting in front of the camera and performing.
Keanu Reeves kicks up his feet in Paris, "I try not to do anything I don’t want to do."
The first Bill & Ted may have come out in the late '80s, but watching that film with hindsight you can actually see the decades blending into one another.
Keanu is still doing whatever he wants to and audiences love him for it
The truth of the matter is that Reeve's films will always be there waiting for you like a good friend and that's why everyone loves Keanu Reeves so much.
Leonardo DiCaprio on set of Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo and Juliet' (1996)
As odd as it may be to see actors living in the modern world speaking like they're from 16th century England, DiCaprio said that the language aspect of the role helped him stay grounded.
All grown up...
Today, DiCaprio pretty much does whatever he wants, like starring in huge moves like Once Upon A Time in Hollywood and The Revanent.
Michael Jordan on the set of 'Space Jam' in the Jordan Dome, an inflatable dome on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, 1996
Jordan's personal physician says that initially Warner Brothers was going to set up a makeshift basketball court in a parking lot, but Jordan insisted that needed a state of the art training area where he could life weights and play basketball against any and all comers.
No longer in the dome...
However, while speaking with Good Morning America about his trip to the big time he said that the most important person in his life before making it to the Bulls was his brother.
With "Ready To Die," the Notorious B.I.G. ascended from a guy rapping on the street to being one of the most preeminent artists of the era.
Diddy has grown into an elder statesman of hip hop
At the time, all of Diddy's different focuses served to turn him into an incredibly wealthy entrepaneur.
Pamela Anderson in 1996
Even though Anderson was never considered a prestige actress when she was working all the time, she was beloved as a cult star in dorm rooms across the world.
Today, Anderson is an open book
Removed from the stigma of Baywatch, Anderson is an excellent reminder that someone isn't always what we think.
Reese Withershpoon backstage at a Counting Crows concert in 1996
As popular as Witherspoon was, she says that her early roles nearly typecast her out of Hollywood.
Today, Witherspoon runs her own company, something she says she was inspired to do when she found that no one in Hollywood had faith in her.
This behind the scenes shot from Jawbreaker shows exactly how charismatic McGowan was during her heyday.
This blonde has more fun
Even though she's no longer working in Hollywood, it's best that she's happy and healthy and living her best life.
Sarah Jessica Parker is stunning post work out
Not only did SJP star in this series about four single women in New York City, but she was the executive producer, a role that allowed her to actually craft the series how she saw fit.
While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Parker explained that she's so excited about fashion because she can do it all and not just have to one thing one way forever.
Sheryl Lee... the iconic actor who played Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks ⛰️⛰️
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly about the strange nature of Twin Peaks and working with David Lynch, Lee said that she doesn't worry about not knowing where her long-running role is going.
She returned... 25 years later
When Lee did the interview circuit for Twin Peaks: The Return she was fully committed to the ambigious nature of the series.
The cast of Friends on a trip to Las Vegas in 1994 before the show premiered
In an interview with Ellen, Aniston explained that the series director, Jim Burrows, told the group on the way to Vegas that it would be the last time they would be able to go anywhere like regular people.
They'll be there for you
It's not clear when this photo was snapped, but it likely had something to do with the planning stages of the Friends reunion that premiered on HBO in 2021, or maybe the Friends cast just really likes to hang out together.
The face that launched a thousand ships... Julia Roberts, early 90s
Roberts spoke with The Guardian and noted that there was no way that anyone would touch the Pretty Woman script today.
Is Julia Roberts the last epic star of her era?
Roberts says that she doesn't like to look back on her heyday in the '90s with rose tinted glasses, mostly because she's still moving forward.
The poster and VHS box image for Home Alone of Kevin with his hands on his face and screaming is based on the famous painting "The Scream" by Edvard Munch
Culkin's two Home Alone films made him a household name for the rest of his life.
All grown up...
While speaking with the Guardian he noted that he's not really into the careerist thing like the rest of his famous friends.
They could be twins... Kim and Kourtney Kardashian, 1994
After years of watching the Kardashians on television and reading about their exploits in tabloids it's hard not to have an idea of who they are and what they're all about.
The twin vibes are still off the charts
In a conversation with Interview Magazine, Kim Kardashian explained that the early seasons of their show are an exercise in information overload and that they only learned to pull back as their fame grew.
Throwback picture of Adele in front of Spice Girls posters in 1998
It's incredibly cool to see such a no chill photo of one of the most composed stars of all time, it's enough to make you feel alright about your own childhood photos.
So much has changed...
Adele's trainer Peter Geracimo explained that working with Adele wasn't about helping her lose weight, that was just a biproduct of their routine.
Will Smith smeared with cake at the 'Fresh Prince Of Bel Air' wrap party
The similarities between Will the actor and Will the character go straight back to when Smith was in school, he explained that he got the nickname "Fresh Prince" when he was still a teen.
Will Smith brings it all to the table
Today, Smith has settled into an elder statesman role within Hollywood, something that he's uniquely suited to.
While speaking with Harper's Bazaar, Ryder noted that as cool as '90s fashon could be not everything deserves a comeback.
Winona Forever ♥♥♥
Ryder spoke about her dwindling t-shirt collection to Harper's Bazaar and explained that she's finally getting to a stage where they have to be retired.
Young Ashton Kutcher lost the title of Male Model of the Year in 1998
Kutcher says that even though the modeling thing wasn't that important to him, what was important was making sure that he had multiple streams of income to keep from him being high and dry at an early age.
Even though audiences will likely keep seeing Kutcher onscreen for years to come, at the moment he's attempting to make sure that the tech industry is able to sleep at night with his Tech for Good initiative.
A very young Matthew McConaughey
In 1999, McConaughey was able to live in Los Angeles and Texas without anyone knowing who he was, which feels crazy but that's the truth.
Matthew McConaughey is doing alright, alright, alright
In 2020, McConaughey spoke with The Cut about his life as an elder statesmen in Hollywood and how he still gets nervous before a big scene.
