8 Huge Movie Actors Who Started Out As Extras

The only three-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor has mesmerised audiences for his astounding portrayals of Irish writer and painter, Christy Brown in My Left Foot and the 16th President of the United States in Lincoln.

So transformational is the knighted actor that he is unrecognisable in his first film role in the 1971 British drama, Sunday Bloody Sunday, written by Penelope Gilliatt, as an uncredited Vandal. This is mainly due to the fact his face was covered by his long hair and he was only fourteen years old.

It was a part he particularly enjoyed, recounting how "heavenly" it was, despite only being paid the measly sum of £2 (just over six quid as of writing). At least he got to scratch up some expensive, parked motors, and it's slightly better than 'working for free' at the start of an actor's career.

Before landing speaking roles in television and film, Day-Lewis featured in productions such as Troilus and Cressida and The Recruiting Officer at the Theatre Royal, Funny Peculiar at the Little Theatre and Old King Cole at the Old Vic, all in Bristol.