Actresses Who Were Arrested Before They Were Famous

Many Hollywood stars faced significant legal challenges long before they walked the red carpet or earned major awards. These women navigated complex situations that ranged from youthful mistakes to political activism during their formative years. Understanding their history provides a deeper look at the lives they led prior to achieving worldwide recognition in film and television. The following list highlights actresses who had run ins with the law before their careers reached their ultimate peak.

Erika Eleniak

Erika Eleniak faced legal trouble well before her breakout role in ‘Baywatch’ made her famous. She was arrested for driving under the influence at the age of nineteen during the early stages of her career. This incident occurred while she was still navigating the world of modeling and small acting roles in Los Angeles. She eventually moved past this hurdle to become a major television star in the early nineties.

Pauley Perrette

Pauley Perrette is a well known actress who spent many years starring on the hit show ‘NCIS’. Long before she found fame she had a brush with the law as a young teenager. She was arrested for shoplifting at the age of fourteen in her home state. The actress has been open about this youthful mistake in various interviews over the years.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan lived a very unconventional life before she became a famous actress in Hollywood. She spent time as a runaway and faced multiple arrests for minor offenses during her teenage years. These events took place while she was living on the streets before being discovered for her first film role. Her difficult upbringing eventually became a significant part of her public narrative as an activist.

Natasha Lyonne

Natasha Lyonne had a very successful start as a child actress but faced significant legal issues as a young adult. She was arrested for driving under the influence and other charges during a turbulent period in the early two thousands. These incidents happened before her major career resurgence in shows like ‘Orange Is the New Black’. She has since become one of the most respected actresses and producers in the industry.

Michelle Rodriguez

Michelle Rodriguez gained fame for her roles in action movies but she had legal trouble early in her journey. She was arrested for a hit and run incident and driving with a suspended license in two thousand two. This occurred just as her career was beginning to take off after her debut in ‘Girlfight’. She served time in jail and completed community service as part of her sentencing requirements.

Debra Winger

Debra Winger is an acclaimed actress who had a brush with the law during her teenage years. She was arrested for shoplifting while living in Ohio long before she moved to California to pursue acting. This event happened while she was still a student and before she landed her iconic role in ‘An Officer and a Gentleman’. She eventually became one of the most sought after leading ladies of the nineteen eighties.

Whoopi Goldberg

Whoopi Goldberg had a challenging path to stardom that included various struggles with the law. She was arrested on several occasions for drug related offenses before she turned her life around and pursued a career in entertainment. These incidents took place during her younger years while she was living in New York City. She later achieved the rare status of an EGOT winner through films like ‘The Color Purple’.

Roseanne Barr

Roseanne Barr faced many personal challenges before she became the star of her own sitcom. She was arrested as a teenager and spent time in a state hospital after a serious car accident changed her behavior. These difficult years occurred long before she started her career in stand up comedy. She eventually used her life experiences to create one of the most successful shows in television history.

Melanie Griffith

Melanie Griffith grew up in the spotlight but faced legal issues as a young woman. She was arrested for underage drinking and other minor offenses before her career reached its peak in the eighties. These incidents happened while she was still trying to establish herself as a serious actress in Hollywood. She eventually found major success and earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Working Girl’.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh is known for her intense roles and she had a rebellious start in life. She was arrested for shoplifting as a teenager while she was still living in Los Angeles. This occurred before she became a professional actress and started appearing in major motion pictures. She has since built a long and respected career spanning several decades in the film industry.

Lisa Robin Kelly

Lisa Robin Kelly is best remembered for her role on ‘That ’70s Show’ but her life was marked by early legal troubles. She faced multiple arrests for driving under the influence and other charges early in her adult life. These issues began to surface just as she was becoming a recognizable face on television. Her career was ultimately impacted by these recurring legal and personal struggles during her time in Hollywood.

Dana Plato

Dana Plato became a child star on ‘Diff’rent Strokes’ but her life took a dark turn as she entered adulthood. She was arrested for armed robbery at a video store in the early nineties while her career was in decline. This incident shocked the public as she was still largely associated with her wholesome television persona. She faced several other legal issues before her untimely death in nineteen ninety nine.

Tatum O’Neal

Tatum O’Neal remains the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Award but her youth was also filled with legal problems. She was arrested for drug possession and other offenses as she struggled with the pressures of early fame. These run ins with the law occurred during her transition from a child star to an adult actress. She has written extensively about these experiences in her personal memoirs published later in life.

Mackenzie Phillips

Mackenzie Phillips was a major star on ‘One Day at a Time’ during her teenage years. Her early success was overshadowed by multiple arrests for drug possession and other related charges. These legal issues began when she was still a minor and continued throughout much of her early career. She eventually became a counselor to help others struggling with similar addictions in the entertainment world.

Allison Janney

Allison Janney had a very different start compared to many other actors who faced legal trouble. She was arrested for trespassing while she was a college student long before she became a famous actress. This minor incident occurred while she was still studying drama and preparing for a professional career. She eventually went on to win multiple Emmy Awards and an Oscar for her work in ‘I, Tonya’.

Courtney Love

Courtney Love had a very difficult upbringing that included time spent in foster care and juvenile halls. She was arrested for shoplifting at the age of fourteen and faced other legal challenges throughout her youth. These experiences took place years before she formed her band and began her acting career in films like ‘The People vs. Larry Flynt’. Her early life was defined by a sense of rebellion that carried into her professional work.

Faith Evans

Faith Evans is a talented actress and singer who faced legal trouble as her career was just beginning. She was arrested for drug possession during a period of high intensity in the music and film industry. This incident occurred while she was still establishing her name as a solo artist and appearing in television roles. She later wrote about the challenges of fame and the legal system in her autobiography.

Lil’ Kim

Lil’ Kim became a pioneer for women in hip hop but her early life included significant legal hurdles. She was arrested on various charges related to her associates before her solo career truly exploded. These incidents took place while she was still a rising figure in the New York music scene. She eventually served time in federal prison during the height of her fame for a separate legal incident.

Foxy Brown

Foxy Brown was a teenager when she first entered the entertainment industry and quickly faced legal issues. She was arrested for assault and other charges early in her career while she was still a minor. These legal battles became a recurring theme throughout her professional life and impacted her ability to work consistently. She remains a significant figure in the history of female rap music and urban cinema.

Kelly LeBrock

Kelly LeBrock was one of the most famous models and actresses of the eighties but she faced legal trouble later in her life. She was arrested for driving under the influence during a period when she was attempting a career comeback. This incident happened after she had taken a long break from the spotlight to raise her family. She eventually returned to the screen in various independent film projects over the following years.

Sean Young

Sean Young was a major star in the eighties with roles in films like ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘No Way Out’. She faced legal issues including an arrest for trespassing during a time when her career was in transition. This incident took place at an industry event and received significant media attention at the time. She has continued to work in the industry despite the challenges she faced with her public image.

Fiona Apple

Fiona Apple is an actress and musician who has always been known for her unique and raw talent. She was arrested for drug possession at a border stop early in her career while she was on tour. This incident occurred during a time when she was still being introduced to a global audience. She has remained an influential figure in the industry known for her honesty and artistic integrity.

Monica

Monica was a teenage superstar who faced legal challenges while her career was at its peak. She was arrested for a minor offense during her younger years while she was still a rising star in the music and acting world. This incident did not hinder her success as she continued to release hit albums and appear in television roles. She has since become a veteran of the industry with a career spanning over two decades.

Da Brat

Da Brat was the first female solo rapper to go platinum and she also pursued a career in acting. She faced significant legal trouble early in her career including an arrest for assault that led to prison time. This incident occurred while she was still a major figure in the entertainment world and influenced her public persona. She has since transitioned into a career in radio and television.

Mischa Barton

Mischa Barton became an overnight sensation on the hit show ‘The O.C.’ but struggled with the pressures of fame. She was arrested for driving under the influence and possession of marijuana during the early years of her stardom. This legal issue occurred shortly after she left the show that made her famous. She has worked steadily in independent films and television since that time.

Emma Roberts

Emma Roberts comes from a famous acting family and started her career at a very young age. She was arrested for a domestic dispute with her partner early in her adult career while she was still building her filmography. This incident occurred before she landed some of her most iconic roles in television series like ‘American Horror Story’. She has since moved past the incident and continues to be a leading actress in Hollywood.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan was a successful child actress who faced a long series of legal battles as she entered adulthood. Her first major arrest for driving under the influence occurred when she was just twenty years old. This was the beginning of a public struggle with the law that lasted for several years during the height of her fame. She has recently made a comeback in the industry with new film projects and business ventures.

Tell us which of these celebrity stories surprised you the most in the comments.