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15 Celebs You Didn’t Know Were from the Midwest

The Midwest is home to some of the most scrumptious, and equally stinky, cheese in America. Even better, the breadbasket region (aka our midsection) is also responsible for churning out some of today’s most celebrated stars. Here, 15 celebs who were potty-trained, wore braces and *may have* experimented with underage drinking in the Midwest.

 

 

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Kristen Bell

Bell froze her butt off in Huntington Woods, Michigan, before she was ever known as the voice of Anna and our favorite human on the planet.

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Cindy Crawford

Before making it as a supermodel and becoming double-date besties with the Clooneys, Crawford was just your average, breathtakingly gorgeous gal living in DeKalb, Illinois. Oh, and she was valedictorian of her high school and attended Northwestern University to study chemical engineering. Casual.

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Chris Pratt

Virginia, Minnesota, was Chris Pratt’s home before he became the dreamiest man in the galaxy.

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Betty White


Long before she moved in with fellow Golden Girls Blanche, Dorothy and Sophia, White called Oak Park, Illinois, home.

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Bill Murray

Prior to his role as a gopher-obsessed groundskeeper in Caddyshack, Murray was a preteen IRL caddie in a suburb outside of Chicago. He and his brothers enjoyed schlepping around clubs so much that they’re opening a a Caddyshack-themed bar in Chi-town.

7 Times Bill Murray Was, Well, Bill Murray


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January Jones

Jones grew up in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where one of her first jobs was serving ice cream at Dairy Queen. We’re not sure Betty Draper would approve, but we do know Jones’s humble beginnings led to a major acting career.

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Vince Vaughn

A huge Chicago Blackhawks fan, Vaughn once took part in the Lake Michigan Polar Plunge proudly wearing his home team's jersey. 

 

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Halle Berry

Before Halle Berry became, well, Halle Berry, she was Miss Teen Ohio in her native Cleveland. We know, shocker.


 

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John Legend

Ten-time Grammy winner Legend was a child prodigy with an impressive set of pipes in Springfield, Ohio, long before he was Chrissy Teigen’s beloved personal punching bag.


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Hilary Swank

The Million Dollar Baby star, who knew she wanted to be an actress since she was eight, calls Lincoln, Nebraska, home. 

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Janet Jackson

Miz Jackson once shared a home with her ten brothers and sisters in Gary, Indiana. Now, she and baby boy Eissa share a home big enough to house all of her siblings, plus their children and then some.

See the First Pic of Janet Jackson’s Baby Boy Eissa


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Ashton Kutcher

Kutcher cultivated a love for carpentry while growing up in Iowa. He now uses his talents to craft baby gates for his two adorable children. 

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Ellie Kemper

Kemper fell in love with acting after enrolling in an acting class in Kansas City, Missouri (where she grew up). The class was taught by none other than dreamboat Jon Hamm! Not sure we would’ve ever left Kansas City…

The ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ Season 3 Trailer Is Fudging Fantastic


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Mark Ruffalo

Ruffalo has said that growing up on Lake Michigan and experiencing its natural beauty ultimately led him to co-found a clean energy initiative called 100%. You're beautiful, Mark. 

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Jenna Fischer

Regina “Jenna” Marie Fischer started acting as a child in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Ironically, she worked in a Dunder Mifflin-like office as an administrative assistant before hitting it big as Pam on The Office. 



lex

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.