Stars Reveal What They Were Really Like in High School

Ever wondered what Brad Pitt was like as a teenager or how Blake Lively spent her high school years? Several stars have opened up about what they were like before they became famous, so we're taking a look at what celebrities like Jennifer Aniston, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pratt have said about their high school days. From tales of being a teacher's pet to bad-boy memories, find out what some of your favorite stars were like as teens, then get an extra nostalgia fix with a look at celebrities' first red carpet appearances!

01
Jennifer Aniston
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Jennifer Aniston

In Jennifer Aniston's 1997 interview with People, the actress said, "[I rocked] a mini-Mohawk just above my ears, and lots of liquid eyeliner. I did liquid eyeliner better than anyone in history." It sounds like America's sweetheart won just as many hearts back then, though, too, as her friend recalled, "No matter how she looked, the boys loved her."

02
Ben Affleck
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Ben Affleck

In Ben Affleck's interview with The New York Times in 2000, the actor said of his teen years, "I spent $200 a week on pizza, beer, and video games." In another interview, Ben opened up about his friendship with Matt Damon, saying, "I did really well my first two years in high school and then when Matt [Damon] left, I would cut class and . . . get into all kinds of trouble."

03
Blake Lively
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Blake Lively

Blake Lively — class clown? Yep, the blond bombshell earned the title in high school. Blake told Cosmopolitan in 2008 what she was like as a teen, saying, "I was class president, on the cheerleading squad, in a competitive show choir, and in, like, six different clubs." (Psst: here are some pictures of Blake in high school!)

04
Angelina Jolie
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Angelina Jolie

In Angelina Jolie's 2010 interview with Parade, she talked about her rebellious past, saying, "I was the punk outsider nobody messed with. I was fearless. At 16, I graduated and moved out."

05
Mindy Kaling
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Mindy Kaling

Mindy Kaling told NPR in 2010, "I was obsessed with being popular in high school and never achieved it. There's photos from our high school musicals, and I'm comically in the deep background, wearing a beggar's costume."

06
Brad Pitt
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Brad Pitt

Surprise, surprise: one of Brad Pitt's classmates said the handsome star was named best dressed in high school, adding that he "always had a lot of dates." Meanwhile, Brad told Sports Illustrated about his jock days, saying, "Baseball and I didn't get along that well. I wrestled one year [in high school]. I dove one year. Everything but baseball."

07
Rashida Jones
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Rashida Jones

In 2012, Rashida Jones told Vanity Fair that she was "like a teacher's pet." She said, "I was social, I was overachieving, I was a cheerleader, I was in the math club, I was in the National Honor Society. I was in every club."

08
Anna Kendrick
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Anna Kendrick

Actress Anna Kendrick talked about her high school days with Marc Maron for his WTF podcast in 2014. "I had a totally normal high school experience . . . boys really liked flat-chested theater nerds, let me tell you," she said. "I wasn't, like, socially comfortable, that's for sure. I mean, I don't want to say I'm nerdy for cred."

09
Cameron Diaz
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Cameron Diaz

Cameron Diaz talked about high school during a 2011 appearance on Lopez Tonight, dishing on her tough-girl past: "I used to get in fights with boys more than girls. For some reason boys liked to fight me." Meanwhile, her high school classmate Snoop Dogg said of Cameron, "She ran with my homegirls, all my little cheerleading homegirls. She was fly and she was hip."

10
Seth Rogen
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Seth Rogen

Seth Rogen talked about his unique high school experience in 2013, saying, "It's not like I dropped out of high school and just did nothing. I dropped out of high school and went and worked on a TV show. We were writing a script all throughout high school. I probably worked harder than most people who were just doing high school stuff, honestly. I did stand-up comedy all throughout high school."

11
Lena Dunham
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Lena Dunham

In 2014, Lena Dunham joked with Jimmy Kimmel about what her high school classmates might think of her success. Lena said, "They're like, 'Oh she's the person who wore a tube top as a skirt for four years. She should not have been allowed to go to college.'" As for why she skipped her high school reunion, Lena explained, "I'm avoiding who I was. I'm avoiding past incarnations of myself."

12
Will Ferrell
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Will Ferrell

Sounds like Will Ferrell hasn't changed much since high school — Will was voted "best personality" his senior year, and in 2012, he said he was a bit of a class clown, adding, "I ran in my senior year in high school for senior-class council, gave an arousing speech, easily won my council seat, and then I don't think I showed up for any of the council meetings."

13
Taylor Swift
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Taylor Swift

Over the years, Taylor Swift has been open about being bullied in junior high, and in 2009, Taylor told Teen Vogue that by the time high school came around, the "mean girls" were showing up at her concerts wearing t-shirts with her face on them. The singer said, "Really, if I hadn't come home from school miserable every day, maybe I wouldn't have been so motivated to write songs. I should probably thank them!"

14
Matt Damon
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Matt Damon

Back in 2013, Matt Damon talked about his high school theater days with Ben Affleck, saying he was once cast to play Ben's dad in a play. Opening up about their inspiring theater director, he said, "Ben and Casey Affleck and I, as well as a number of other people from that program, just came out with a real love of theater and acting."

15
Chris Pratt
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Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt's high school pictures surfaced in 2014, with a former classmate saying the actor was "popular with everyone." In an interview with The New York Times that year, Pratt explained that he was a high school football player who was regularly named class clown. He also talked about living a simple life, saying, "I definitely benefited from growing up in a household that lacked any critical-thinking skills. Really."