Aussie celebrities look unrecognisable in forgotten TV commercial

Daily Mail​

11-05-2025

They are among some of Australia's most famous stars.
But before fame came calling, these A-list actors were busy cutting their teeth selling products on the small screen.
They have since been showered with accolades and plaudits and, looking at some of these stars' earliest work, it's not hard to see why.
From spruiking soft drinks to swooning over snack foods, these future famous faces are proof that even the biggest stars had to start somewhere.
While their first forays in front of the camera may be relegated to the dustier corners of the internet, thankfully they still live on.
Here are a few Australian celebs looking almost unrecognisable in their earliest small screen appearances.
Before exploding internationally after her turn in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, Naomi Watts was a commercial veteran
Back in 1988, when Naomi was around 20 years old, she appeared in a very colourful ad for Cadbury's popular chocolate bar Crunchie
Naomi Watts
Before exploding internationally after her turn in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive, Naomi Watts was a commercial veteran.
Back in 1988, when Naomi was around 20 years old, she appeared in a very colourful ad for Cadbury's popular chocolate bar Crunchie.
Looking almost unrecognisable, Naomi can be seen hanging out with pals in front of a milk bar before one exits with Crunchies for the gang.
As Naomi bites into the honeycomb confection, her outfit miraculously turns into a screen showing the future star showing off her moves at the disco.
The King Kong star also appeared in a commercial for tampon brand Tampax in the early '80s.
The King Kong star also appeared in a commercial for tampon brand Tampax in the early '80s
The future star also appeared in a very well known ad for lamb, in which she turns down a date with Tom Cruise in favour of a Sunday roast
She awkwardly deals with an array of puberty difficulties - her bothersome younger brother, her irritated complexion, but according to the advert, one thing that doesn't bother her is her 'time of month'.
Naomi would have been about 16 at the time that this advert came out.
The future star also appeared in a very well known ad for lamb, in which she turns down a date with Tom Cruise in favour of a Sunday roast.
Russell Crowe
Russell's face may be instantly recognisable these days, but that wasn't always the case.
Prior to his breakout role in 1992's Romper Stomper, the future Oscar winner was happy spruiking Coca-Cola.
Back in 1987, Russell starred alongside pro surfer Larry Blair in the ad, which was also promoting the Coca-Cola Surf Classic in Manly.
Russell played a gruff mechanic, and while he may have only had a few lines his acting prowess was evident.
Russell's face may be instantly recognisable these days, but that wasn't always the case
Prior to his breakout role in 1992's Romper Stomper, the future Oscar winner was happy spruiking Coca-Cola
Russell played a gruff mechanic, and while he may have only had a few lines his acting prowess was evident
As his scene partner explained the promotion, Russell grabs the can and says: 'Find the secret words in the bottom of specially marked cans and win the surf action pack, including a Nissan Navara.
He then comically looks into the can before announcing: 'Hey we've got a free Coke!'
Russell also starred in an ad that was part of a 1980s AIDS awareness campaign and featured the star playing Russian roulette with a very young Rebecca Rigg.
The Australian actress went on to marry and subsequently divorce fellow Aussie and The Mentalist star Simon Baker.
Cate Blanchett
She may have been the first Australian actress to be awarded two Oscars, but before fame beckoned Cate Blanchett was extoling the virtues of the iconic Aussie biscuits Tim Tams.
While looking almost unrecognisable in the ad, which first aired in 1994, there's no mistaking the star's high cheekbones and enviable complexion as she delivers her lines.
'Hey, look at this,' the earnest young actress says to her male co-star, her talent evident even as her career is in its infancy. '[It's] an old lamp, I think.'
Russell also starred in an ad that was part of a 1980s AIDS awareness campaign and featured the star playing Russian roulette with a very young Rebecca Rigg
She may have been the first Australian actress to be awarded two Oscars, but before fame beckoned Cate Blanchett was extoling the virtues of the iconic Aussie biscuits Tim Tams
While looking almost unrecognisable in the ad, which first aired in 1994, there's no mistaking the star's high cheekbones and enviable complexion as she delivers her lines
Suddenly a genie appears offering to grant her three wishes.
After requesting 'a packet of Tim Tams that never runs out' the pretty blonde looks to be in ecstasy as she takes a bite of the treat.
The punchline of the 30-second commercial is her co-stars idiotic response when the genie offers two more wishes: 'Then we'll have two more of those'.
The ad lifted the profile of the now internationally renowned star and the striking blonde soon landing roles in Oscar And Lucinda and Elizabeth, for which she earned a string of awards and nominations.
Natalie Imbruglia
Before she was Torn, pop star and actress Natalie Imbruglia was busy convincing Aussies to tear into packets of the iconic snack Twisties.
The hitmaker, who left school at 16 to pursue her acting career, got her start in an ad that aired in 1992.
The commercial came on the cusp of fame for Natalie, airing the same year she began her initial two year run on iconic Aussie soap Neighbours.
Before she was Torn, pop star and actress Natalie Imbruglia was busy convincing Aussies to tear into packets of the iconic snack Twisties
Playing a waitress in a busy beachside café setting, a barely recognisable Natalie takes a much-needed break with a packet of cheese Twisties
Playing a waitress in a busy beachside café setting, a barely recognisable Natalie takes a much-needed break with a packet of cheese Twisties.
A skywriter, miles above, notices Natalie on the back and proceeds to write: 'are they Twisties?' in the vapor trail.
The dapper pilot then parachutes down to enjoy the treat with the future star, before the duo drive off into the sunset.
Following her departure from Neighbours in 1994, Natalie moved to London and in 2014 Natalie admitted that her mother regularly sent her packets of Twisties in the post.
They stood her in good stead too, with the actress forging a successful music career with her breakout international single Torn.
The track peaked at number one on the singles charts in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Iceland, Spain, and Sweden, as well as on three US charts, while hitting number 2 on the Australian ARIA charts.