15 Celebs Who Defied Their Parents To Pursue A Life Of Fame

Celebrities have it made, don't they? They are admired by millions of people worldwide, earn millions of dollars, get to travel and shop at expensive boutiques, and literally get pampered on the daily by personal chefs, hairdressers, and makeup artists. They get to go home to their eight-bedroom mansions with their infinity pools, California kitchens, and dozens of luxury sedans. They also are surrounded by people who love and support them, like friends and family who have known them before they were famous. Without folks like these to keep them humble, since all that fame and privilege would surely go to their heads.

While many celebs have worked tirelessly for the career that many can only dream of, it's safe to say that it does not always come easy for these celebs. In fact, their own dreams were made even harder to work towards because they didn't have the loving support of family behind them. With parents who straight-up disapproved of their pursuits of fame, many celebs had to stand up to their families and defy their wishes for them to pursue other careers.

If it weren't for the strength of some of these celebs, we would never have been able to enjoy The Hunger Games in the same way or adopt such recognizable Halloween costumes of blonde-haired and bodacious Hollywood beauties. From the fans, we can't help but admire these celebs for standing up to their folks and stopping at nothing to chase their dreams!

15 Katy Perry Has Strict Parents Who Disapproved Of Her Pop Star Pursuits

Katy Perry has got to be one of the most successful pop artists of our generation, and is surprisingly one of the most successful women to go after her dreams without the support of her parents. Raised by two pastors, Katy lived in a household with strict rules of conduct, like not being able to attend school dances, parties, or catch up on the latest pop culture trends through magazines or movies (like most adolescents). She wasn't allowed to participate in any co-ed events, and when it came to her talent for singing, Katy was urged to only sing Christian tunes. Since Katy is a great artist no matter what she does, she dabbled in the genre that her parents approved of under the name Katy Hudson (her real name). She even released an album in 2001. When it comes to her pursuit of a pop music career, her parents say, "We strongly disagree with how she's been conducting herself [… ] and she knows how disappointed we are."

14 Jennifer Lawrence Had A Humble Upbringing That Her Parents Wanted Her To Maintain

When Jennifer talks about her humble upbringing in a small Kansas town, she refers to her home as a "Jesus house", saying that her folks were super religious with her as she grew up. She also said that being a movie star just wasn't an attainable dream for someone like her, or anyone else who lived where she did. When she confronted her parents about wanting to act, her parents said, "Well no, obviously." Without her support, Jen had to raise money on her own to move to NYC and take a stab at a career in film. At just fourteen years old, Jennifer left home and went after her dreams, but not without a fight from her family. Of course, leaving home at such a young age to go after any dream would probably be a shock to parents, but this was different. Instead of supporting her, Jen's folks straight-up wanted her to fail and come back home. Guess she showed them!

13 Heather Graham Has Been Estranged From Her Parents Ever Since Her First Major Film Role

Heather Graham is a Hollywood chick who has long been a beautiful face in dozens of movies, but this little starlet has also been without a family to discuss all her success in La La Land. Aside from growing up with super strict, Catholic parents, Heather says that her dreams would not have become reality if her parents had any say in the matter. In fact, they've had no say in any matter of her life since her first major film role back in 1997. The blonde beauty and her folks haven't spoken since Boogie Nights was released and her parents found out the hard way that she starred in a movie as an exotic film star. She was scantily clad throughout most of the R-rated film, which was a shock alongside the film's plot. This was the start of the fallout, according to Heather. However, Heather's parents have spoken up about the estrangement saying that they have no idea why their daughter won't talk to them and they're nothing but proud of her. Hmmm.

12 Shania Twain's Parents Didn't Give Her A Fighting Chance

Country music superstar, Shania Twain, almost never made it to Nashville to get her start as a country-pop crooner. Growing up in Timmins, Ontario was rough, to say the least, for this CMA legend. She grew up in an abusive home with her parents and three younger siblings and she admitted that her family went hungry a lot in the bitter-cold Northern Canadian town. But aside from the hardship that was brought on by her parents, it was their death that really paved the way for a life of struggle. When Shania was twenty-one, her folks both died in a car accident and she had to step up and raise her siblings, who were all minors. To make money to support her family, she took up a singing gig at a local resort. She also wrote songs at home, sent demos out, and hoped for the best. The best, obviously, showed up for her! She changed her name from Eileen to Shania and bada-bing, bada-boom, a star was born!

11 Tom Cruise Was Bullied By His Catholic Father

Tom Cruise may not look like a guy who had any obstacles in his path growing up, but it turns out that this Jack Reacher actor faced a lot of trouble in his adolescence. Tom grew up Catholic and in poverty with his family in Ottawa, Ontario. His father was a dictator of the household and often abused Tom. When it comes to his father, Tom has said that he is "a merchant of chaos" and if something went wrong, he'd get kicked. He called him a "coward". When it came to Tom's career, his father did not support his passion for sports and acting and instead urged him to pursue a career as a Catholic priest. After much aggression and disagreement, Tom's parents divorced and Tom moved back to the United States with his mother and three sisters. From here, he was able to go after his dreams free of his father and his reign of terror.

10 Demi Moore Moved Out Of Her Trailer Park At The Age Of Sixteen

For mega movie star, Demi Moore, it was not an upward path for this gorgeous actress and mom of three. Growing up in a literal trailer park in Roswell, New Mexico didn't scream potential in her early childhood. She was raised by an alcoholic mother and stepfather, who moved around a lot before settling down in Los Angeles. Taking it upon herself to earn money and a life for herself, Demi (born Demetria) dropped out of high school, left her family at the age of sixteen, worked as a debt collector, and eventually signed on for a few modeling gigs with Elite Modeling Agency. It wasn't long before that modeling career brought her to Europe and she worked as a pin-up girl and posed for nude photos. Her natural beauty and social energy is what first landed her a role on General Hospital, which was only the beginning of a long, successful career in film.

9 Steve Martin's Father Hated His Comedy Pursuits So Much He Wrote A Bad Review About Him

Steve Martin is one of Hollywood's most fun-loving goofballs, but that identity was almost shattered at the hands of his father. While Steve was growing up and trying to make it as a comedian, he said that his father didn't approve of his career ambitions. He said that it was nonsense and that he was embarrassed by him. Even with the negativity of his father, Steve still persisted and went after gigs and shows to debut his talent to the world. When he was just starting out and performing larger shows, Steve caught a breal and appeared on Saturday Night Live. It was after his first episode that his father went and wrote a terrible review about Steve's comedic abilities (or lack thereof) in his newsletter for the Newport Beach Association of Realtors. Steve says that he not only wanted his son to know that he didn't support his career, but also the entire public, including his colleagues.

8 Jennifer Lopez's Parents Believed That Her Race Would Hold Her Back

Jennifer Lopez is one of those big-time A-listers who has made it big in almost every area imaginable - dancing, singing, acting (on TV and in movies), as a reality television personality, fashion designer, author, and producer. She's got it made in every area of her life, including her natural beauty (and trademark booty!). But before JLo hit the stage as a Fly Girl in the show In Living Color, her parents gave her a hard time about her pursuits of stardom. They told her that what she was doing was ridiculous and that she didn't have a shot, since Latinos often faced racism and stereotypes. In their effort to "protect her", they stomped on her dreams. She went to college, like her parents wanted, but dropped out quickly after starting her academics to go after what she really wanted. Her parents kicked her out of the house and thought that she was being silly.

7 Dwayne Johnson's Dad Didn't Want Him To Have A Career In Wrestling

Born to a Canadian professional wrestler, Rocky Johnson - out of Nova Scotia - and the grandson of Peter Maivia (another pro wrestler), Dwayne Johnson very much grew up surrounded by the sport of wrestling. In his early life, Dwayne took to football and played with the Calgary Stampeders, but not for long. He was cut from the team during his first season, sent back home to Florida to live with his dad, and became depressed. With his natural build and massive muscles, Dwayne decided to take after his father and grandfather and pursue wrestling. His dad pushed back against his son's new career interest and told him not to do it. He knew exactly what kind of life was to be expected - hard work, long hours, crazy travel schedules - and Rocky didn't want Dwayne to be subjected to that tough life. Little did Rocky know, Dwayne would go on to become one of the the WWE's most successful wrestlers, leading him to his first feature film role in The Mummy Returns in 2001.

6 Mayim Bialik's Folks Preferred Her To Have An Education & Drop Her "Hobby" Of Acting

Impressionable actress and the star of shows such as the hit of the nineties, Blossom, and the modern sitcom The Big Bang Theory, Mayim Bialik almost never followed the path towards acting. Mayim grew up in a very strict, immigrant household. She lived a very "normal" - albeit rigid - life, with her family who urged her to do chores and get good grades. Mayim says that college was very important to her family and that education was a priority, not acting. Even though Mayim loved acting and performed in plays growing up, it took a backseat when it came to her education. In fact, her parents simply viewed it as a "hobby" as she successfully accomplished filming Blossom post-high school, all before earning her PhD in neuroscience at UCLA, with minors in Hebrew and Jewish studies, and acting in between her semesters.

5 Madonna Resented Her Father & Dropped Out Of College To Dance

Madonna is without a doubt one of the most influential musical artists of the past three decades. Her pop lyrics, daring fashion choices, and dance moves have all created an icon among "safe" artists who also debuted their music chops in the 80's. She's got a flavour of her own and has even created success as an actress and fashion designer, adding millions more atop of her already huge pile of assets. But as a young girl, Madonna was a little rebel full of resentment. Once her mother died at an early age, she became extremely close to her father. Eventually, her father married their housekeeper and she ended up hating him for it. Aside from the resentment she had for his choice in step-mother's, he never supported her dreams of dancing. She had to convince him to let her take ballet. He made her go to college - which she despised - and eventually dropped out of to head to NYC, without her daddy's consent, to dance out her dreams.

4 Drew Barrymore Divorced Her Parents To Be In Control Of Her Own Career

Drew Barrymore is one of Hollywood's sweetest actresses with a career that goes all the way back to her childhood, starring in films such as E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. With an entire family whose life was dedicated to the film industry - including her grandparents and having godparents such as Sophia Loren and Steven Spielberg - you'd never imagine that she was met with resistance in her youth. With a father who has been absent almost her entire life, Drew was raised by her mother who allowed her Drew to become extremely troubled. All before the age of fourteen, Drew was smoking cigarettes, marijuana, drinking heavily, snorting cocaine, attempted suicide, and ended up in rehab twice. Since her mother did little to protect her from this wild life, Drew became emancipated from her family and lived on her own at the age of fifteen.

3 Megan Fox Was Raised In A Catholic Household & Moved Out As Soon As She Could

When Megan Fox was growing up in Tennessee, she lived with her mother who divorced Megan's father at a very early age. Her mother remarried and her stepfather raised her and her sister were raised in a very strict and religious household. She was sent to Catholic school and was not allowed to have a boyfriend or even invite her friends over to their house after school. Needless to say, Megan's acting ambitions were met with objection. She loved to dance and participated in drama events throughout school. She even began modeling at the age of thirteen. However, it didn't stop her from trying to get out of her parents' grasp as soon as possible to really make a name for herself. After saving enough money, Megan left home when she was seventeen to move to California and escape her life of seclusion, bullying, and strict rules.

2 Kris Kristofferson Abandoned A Prominent Job Offer To Move To Nashville

Kris Kristofferson is an acclaimed singer and songwriter, but he could have had a completely different destiny had he followed the advice and wishes of his parents. When he was young, his father continuously urged him to do things that he didn't want to do. For one, he strongly suggested that he go after a career in the military. But after a long list of achievements throughout high school and college in sports, Kris went on to study at Oxford University, earning his masters in English literature and writing songs in his downtime. After graduating, Kris joined the military (as per his parents wishes), obtained a rank of captain, became a helicopter pilot, but then eventually decided to follow his passion for writing music, with hopes of it launching a secondary career as a novelist. His parents believed that he was throwing away his future and decided to disown him for his "poor" career choice.

1 Marilyn Monroe Left Behind Her Past To Pursue Bigger & Better Things

Marilyn Monroe may not be alive today, but this influential icon and bombshell of a beauty is one of Hollywood's most renowned personality's. Even though she stood out among a generation and industry, this blonde actress, model, and singer almost never made it to the silver screen. Growing up as Norma Jean, her former name was very hum-drum compared to the name we all recognize today. She had lived with her mom until she was seven years old, but once her mother was committed to the psych ward, Marilyn ended up in the foster system and jumped around from home to home in her youth. Without much of a home or a support system in place, she never would have found a career, let alone one with such promise and praise in Hollywood. At sixteen, Marilyn got married to stop jumping around foster homes and eventually became a pin-up girl after being introduced to a prominent photographer.

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