27 Photos Of Famous Historical Figures When They Were Young That Literally Made Me Yell, "Wait, THAT'S What They Looked Like?!"
Of course, part of those history classes was learning about lotssss of historical figures. Their photos have become engrained in our heads — so much that it's now shocking to see them at a younger age, before they reached their height of fame.
So I've compiled some photos of historical figures when they were younger...and OMG, it's shocking. I'll start with the younger one, we'll see if you can name them, and then I'll reveal who it is:
You definitely know who this is. Can you name her?
That's Saint Mother Teresa. Here she is in 1939:
Name this historical figure:
That's Diana, Princess of Wales. Here she is in 1995:
Who is this young historical figure, known to be one of the greatest minds of all time?
That's scientist Albert Einstein. Here he is in 1939:
Can you name this historical figure in recent history?
That's Ruth Bader Ginsburg, AKA RBG, lawyer and Supreme Court Justice. Here she is in 2009:
Can you tell me who this is?
That's Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of the UK. Here he is in 1941:
Who is this historical figure?
That's Mahatma Gandhi, Indian lawyer and activist. Here he is in 1940:
This person is still alive today. Can you identify him?
That's Joe Biden, former President of the United States. Here he is in 2025:
This one might be easy. Who is he?
That's singer and performer Michael Jackson. Here's a photo of him from 1996:
You definitely recognize her face. Before I reveal who it is, can you name her?
That's actress Betty White. Here she is in 2011:
Who is this historical figure?
That's Stephen Hawking, the legendary theoretical physicist and cosmologist. Here he is in 2015:
Can you identify this historical figure?
That's artist Andy Warhol. Here he is in 1982:
Do you know who this is?
That's writer Maya Angelou. Here she is in 1999:
This child is one of the most famous musicians of all time, but he doesn't know it yet.
That's singer John Lennon. Here he is in 1969:
Can you tell me who this prominent British figure is?
That's Queen Elizabeth II. Here she is in 2022:
Who is this lovely lady getting married?
That's zoologist and primatologist Jane Goodall. Here she is in 2025:
Who's this gentleman?
That's singer Elton John. Here he is in 2024:
Can you name this ultra-famous scientist?
That's Charles Darwin, founder of the theory of evolution. Here he is in 1877:
Who is this inventor?
That's Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the first practical telephone. Here he is in 1910:
Tell me, who is she? You definitely know her.
That's Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. Here she is in 1982:
Who is this famous woman in history?
That's pilot Amelia Earhart, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. Here she is in 1932:
This one should be easy given what he's doing in the photo. But who is this?
That's illusionist Harry Houdini. Here he is in 1920:
Who is she? Does the face ring a bell at all?
That's Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady of the United States. Here she is circa 1940:
Another inventor you definitely know. Who is he?
That's Thomas Edison, who invented the incandescent lightbulb. Here he is in 1924:
Do you recognize him?
That's George W. Bush, former President of the United States. Here he is in 2025:
And can you tell me who this person is?
That's actress Marilyn Monroe. Here she is in 1953:
Any guesses on who this historical figure is?
That's politician and former First Lady of the United States, Hillary Clinton. Here she is in 2025:
Finally, who is this historical figure?
That's actor and comedian Bob Hope. Here he is circa 1960:
Who's your favourite historical figure or actor who was actually really hot when they were younger? Tell me in the comments below!
And there's lots more where this came from, so check out BuzzFeed Canada on TikTok and Instagram!
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
28 minutes ago
- Elle
All the Stars, From Olivia Rodrigo to Priyanka Chopra, Watching Wimbledon This Year
Wimbledon is officially underway, and as matches begin on the grass courts of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, celebrities are turning out for the iconic British tennis tournament. Cate Blanchett, Rebel Wilson, Jessica Alba, Olivia Rodrigo, Louis Partridge, Jason Isaacs, David Beckham, Priyanka Chopra, and Nick Jonas are among the stars spotted at Centre Court. They have much to look forward to on the court, as both the women's and men's singles draw are stacked with major contenders. Players include Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula. Founded in 1877, Wimbledon is one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world. It remains the only Grand Slam played on grass, and its reputation for tradition is matched by its global visibility. Players adhere to a strict all-white dress code, and attendees must follow a strict dress code. Men are required to wear a 'lounge suit or tailored jacket, shirt, tie and trousers.' Women are encouraged to wear 'smart daywear,' including dresses, skirts, or ankle-length jumpsuits. Sportswear, denim of any kind, shorts, hoodies, and sneakers are explicitly prohibited. Even footwear must meet a refined standard, with tennis and running shoes also banned. This year, Wimbledon runs through July 13. And with its famed Royal Box and Kate Middleton as a frequent attendee (and the club's patron), there is bound to be more A-list moments ahead. Below, see every star who has been spotted at Wimbledon so far.
UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
Christina Hendricks: Patti-Nan dynamics 'flip-flop' in 'Buccaneers' S2
1 of 4 | Christina Hendricks (L) and Kristine Frøseth star in "The Buccaneers." Season 2 episodes air Wednesdays. Photo courtesy of Apple TV+ NEW YORK, July 2 (UPI) -- Mad Men and Bad Girls alum Christina Hendricks says Patti, the socialite she plays in The Buccaneers, is once again close to her daughter Nan (Kristine Frøseth) in Season 2 after secrets and lies sparked tension between the women in Season 1. Airing Wednesdays on Apple TV+, the adaptation of Edith Wharton's 19th-century novel follows a group of young American women searching for romance and fortune amongst the British society Ton. After marrying Theo (Guy Remmers), Nan is now the influential Duchess of Tintagel, a development which frees up Patti to leave her philandering husband Tracy (Adam James), while still maintaining her wealth and standing. Meanwhile, Patti's other daughter Jinny is pregnant and on the run from her abusive husband James (Barney Fishwick). Jinny's not alone, though. Along for the ride is Guy (Matthew Broome), the man Nan truly loves. Adding to the drama is the arrival of Patti's younger sister Nell (Leighton Meester), who is the biological mother Nan only recently discovered wasn't Patti. "We pick up exactly where we left off in Season 1, but the pace moves very, very quickly and there is a sort of a flip-flop with the relationship of our characters because, all of a sudden, my character really needs the protection and the strength of Nan and has to call on her this season," Hendricks, 50, told UPI in a recent Zoom interview. Frøseth, 29, agreed that there is a seismic shift in power dynamics between Patti and Nan this season. "I definitely feel like it's a role reversal and it's really beautiful because I think it shows how Patti has raised Nan, and how Nan now can pass it forward in a lot of ways. It just comes from love," Frøseth said. "I don't feel like it's a traumatic, resentful thing that she has to now take care of her mother," she added. "There's just so much love and growth and Patti is the one that Nan comes to for everything now. They've really just gotten so close when it could have easily gone the other way." While Patti was a big fish in the small pond of the Gilded Age establishment in New York, Nan has become the toast of the town in their adopted home of England. "Nan's now been exposed to really more of the world than Patti has," Hendricks said. "She's become more worldly than Patti, who sort of had this very sequestered situation and lifestyle in New York City," she added. "Now Patti has to look to Nan to sort of be the more wise guide." The series is gorgeous and entertaining -- with a fantastic contemporary, female-powered, pop-music soundtrack -- but it also seriously spotlights how limited women were by the law and society during the late 1800s. "It's tricky because we're not exactly historically accurate, but I think the themes are just so relevant still now today in a lot of ways, [specifically] female friendship and love and family, trauma, identity," Frøseth said. Hendricks chimed in: "The young women show sort of a modern side to this Victorian story, but they've definitely used, in particular, my story-line this season to be sort of a reflection of what women have had to go through, still go through, but [also] the relevant changes that have happened in a couple of hundred years. "So, hopefully," she added, "people will relate to the same emotions that everyone experiences, whether you lived in 1870s or now, but with a little bit more thoughtfulness towards the experience that these women had to go through." The cast also includes Alisha Boe, Aubri Ibrag, Josie Totah, Imogen Waterhouse and Mia Threapleton.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Olivia Rodrigo, John Cena and other celebrities make their way to Wimbledon's Royal Box
LONDON (AP) — Olivia Rodrigo. John Cena. Dave Grohl. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas. There was as much star power — or maybe even more? — in the Royal Box at Wimbledon as there was down below on the Centre Court grass on Wednesday. And that was on an afternoon that featured two-time defending men's champion Carlos Alcaraz and No. 1-ranked woman Aryna Sabalenka both winning matches at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament's main stadium to reach the third round. The seats in the Royal Box behind one of the baselines are by invitation only, and there was quite a list of celebrities on hand for Day 3 of competition. 'I was trying not to look today,' Sabalenka said about the collection of boldfaced names, explaining that she might be distracted while competing. 'I was just trying to focus on my game. Later on, I'm going to open the social media (and ask), 'OK, who was there?'' Well, Aryna, here's a rundown: Rodrigo, fresh off headlining at music festival Glastonbury while on tour for her GUTS album, sat next to Cena, the professional wrestler and movie star. Rodrigo chatted at one point with former England soccer coach Roy Hodgson (the current person in that job, Thomas Tuchel, also was in attendance). Grohl, a member of the rock bands Foo Fighters and Nirvana, made an appearance, too, as did the married couple Chopra and Jonas. Hollywood's Judd Apatow and Leslie Mann, who also are married, were on the Royal Box list, along with actor Dominic Cooper. Others taking in a day of tennis at the most famous court in the world included British athletes from other sports, such as Olympic gold medalists Sophie Bray (field hockey) and Tom Daley (diving), and Paralympic gold medalist William Ellard (swimming). ___
