Justin Timberlake Joins Will Smith And Other Celebs Who Left Their Day Jobs Behind

Eight years ago, you could not watch TV or listen to the radio, without being confronted by Justin Timberlake's blond curls and killer vocal range. After leaving one of the most popular boy bands of all time, he went on to release a solo album, which of course dominated charts and earned him six Grammy Awards. But it was no surprise to anyone who's been paying attention to his career since then that Timberlake told Entertainment Weekly he doesn't feel pressure to return to music anytime soon. With his new film, "The Social Network," being discussed for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and two Emmy Awards already in his pocket, Justin's acting career might finally be taking off. He's definitely not the first wildly successful musician turned actor. And he brings to mind some other artists who have successfully switched careers midstream.

A surefire example of the musician-turned-actor gone right is Will Smith. Innovative and popular in his rap career, Will took that success and exponentially increased it with his acting career. When he was starting his TV show "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" he explained that he wanted to be "the biggest movie star in the world," and now, he kind of is.

Another rapper turned actor, Mark Wahlberg, had similar luck. He went from bad boy Marky Mark to underwear model to an actor with serious roles and prestigious award nominations.

There are other models who've left behind their mannequin days for speaking roles. Remember when Tyra Banks used to be known as the model on page 28 of latest Victoria's Secret catalog? And before he hung out in "That '70s" basement or "Punk'd" his pals on MTV, Ashton Kutcher could be found working it up and down the runways as a fashion model.
What is it that provokes these changes? Sometimes the need for a lifestyle change could be the answer. We think that's why Lauryn Hill went on hiatus to become a full-time mom until her latest return to the stage.

When they grew up, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen managed to say goodbye to their childhood legacy of mystery books and straight-to-video movies and hello to a fashion career.

But sometimes, as with Arnold Schwarzenegger's career change from the Terminator to governor of California, we can't even tell what inspired celebs to quit their day jobs.