From Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Amazon deal drama to Harry Secombe’s Goons legacy, stars who ditched their original careers for something wilder and more unexpected are taking the spotlight.
For some years now, associating Phoebe Waller-Bridge with Amazon would only evoke feelings of sadness and disappointment. After all, in 2019, Waller-Bridge signed – and re-signed, and re-signed again – a $20m-a-year deal to develop shows for the platform, without a single project ever making it to screen. However, that ends now.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a British actress, writer, and producer known for her work on the comedy series 'Fleabag' and 'Killing Eve'.
Waller-Bridge was born on July 14, 1985, in London, England, she began her career in theater before transitioning to television.
Her critically acclaimed series 'Fleabag' earned her multiple awards, including three BAFTAs and two Emmys.
Waller-Bridge has also received recognition for her work as a writer and executive producer on the spy thriller 'Killing Eve'.
She continues to make waves in the entertainment industry with her unique voice and perspective.
The Art of Reinvention
On Thursday, Amazon Prime Video will release Octopus!, a two-part documentary about some octopuses, narrated by none other than Phoebe Waller-Bridge. And while it does in fact look like a very good documentary about some octopuses – it’s part-animated and seems to heavily feature Tracy Morgan as a talking head – it arguably isn’t what Amazon had in mind when it paid Waller-Bridge $100m for content ideas.
The octopus is a highly intelligent and fascinating creature, with a large brain-to-body mass ratio.
They have been observed using tools, solving complex problems, and even displaying a form of playfulness.
In the wild, they use camouflage and escape tactics to evade predators.
With eight flexible arms and suckers, they can crawl, swim, and manipulate objects with ease.
A Legacy of U-Turns
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is far from the first celebrity to strike out in a radical new direction. Harry Secombe, for example, spent his 20s and 30s working with Spike Milligan. As a founding member of the Goons, he was a pivotal figure in the history of British comedy. Without Harry Secombe, there would be no Monty Python, no Reeves and Mortimer, no Mighty Boosh.
Harry Secombe was a renowned Welsh comedian, actor, and singer.
Born on August 8, 1921, in Maesteg , Wales, he rose to fame as a radio personality and later became known for his work with The Goons comedy group.
Secombe's distinctive voice and comedic style made him a beloved figure in British entertainment.
He also appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the popular series 'The New Adventures of Robin Hood'. Secombe passed away on April 24, 2001, leaving behind a legacy as one of Britain's most cherished comedians.
Kal Penn, another celebrity who made a significant career change, starred in Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle in 2004. He appeared to lock in a career as a comic actor who specialized in playing stoned goofballs. However, three years later he fell in with Barack Obama and became a member of his National Arts Policy Committee.
From Actor to Entrepreneur
Then there is Frankie Muniz. As the titular star of Malcolm in the Middle, Muniz had everything he could possibly dream of. In the Agent Cody Banks movies, he even pivoted seamlessly to films. However, at the height of his fame, Muniz walked away to focus on many other things.
Primarily, there is race-car driving – Muniz became a storied NASCAR driver who has raced the Daytona International Speedway countless times and currently races trucks. He is also (or has been) a drummer, a band manager, the owner and operator of an independent oil and vinegar store, a spokesperson for a brand of carbon fibre wallets and the proprietor of several Los Angeles car parks.
The Pizza Underground
Perhaps the most dramatic career handbrake turn belongs to Macaulay Culkin. He retired from being one of the most recognizable actors on the face of the planet in the late 90s to exclusively make a career of being Macaulay Culkin. He’s traded on his Home Alone notoriety in various adverts and cameos.
He formed The Pizza Underground, a very specific New York rock band who performed cover versions of songs by the Velvet Underground with all the lyrics rewritten to reference the various components of pizza (sample lyric: ‘I’ve been out walking/ I don’t do too much toppings these days/ Cheese days’).
Happiness Over Fame
One can only assume that Phoebe Waller-Bridge and her octopus documentary are cool with it. If she’s happy with it, we should all be happy with it too.
