7 Celebrities You Never Knew Came From Poverty

Shania Twain

Born into a struggling family in Ontario, Canada, Shania lost her mother and stepfather in a car accident when she was only 21. As the oldest of five children, it was up to her to support the family. She began singing at local resorts to get by, and once her siblings were old enough to care for themselves, she set her sights on Nashville.

Hilary Swank

Did you know Hilary Swank is a high school dropout? It’s true. Hilary grew up in a trailer park in Washington after her father abandoned the family. When Swank was 15, her mother lost her job and the pair decided to move to Los Angeles to attempt to launch Hilary’s acting career. For months, they lived out of their car and relied on pay phones to make calls to casting directors and agents. Their hard work eventually paid off.