There are a series of famous faces who have starred in a host of slightly embarrassing and bizarre international adverts over the years as they began their careers. The likes of Leonardo DiCaprio, George Clooney, and Britney Spears have appeared in campaigns all over the world in their younger years. Many have done the ad work alongside their acting and singing as they got a foot in the industry to make a bit more money on the side and gain exposure.

MailOnline takes a look at the international adverts certain celebrities DON’T want you to see:
1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO
Back in the day, in 2014, Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a commercial for Japanese credit card company Orico. The past: The action-packed commercial saw him dramatically save the day and then pay with his Orico card for the mess he made along the way. YEAR: 1998 COMPANY: Orico Card

In 2014, Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio starred in a commercial for Japanese credit card company Orico. At the time, he was at the beginning of his trajectory to becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. In the nineties, he was making a name for himself in movies such as Romeo + Juliet (1996), Titanic (1998), and The Beach (2000). However, around the time of his busy movie making, he also starred in a series of ads for Orico. The action-packed commercial saw him dramatically save the day and then pay with his Orico card for the mess he made along the way. He fights the Japanese mafia, stops a thief in his tracks, and saves a lift full of people before they plummet to their deaths. “Orico card ok?” he says at the close of each scene, with a wink to the camera. It appeared he could charm not just movie producers but companies looking to cast a star in the nineties.

2. BRITNEY SPEARS
YEAR: 1999
COMPANY: Suki Candy

In 1999, pop sensation Britney Spears starred in a Japanese commercial for sweet brand Suki Candy. It was the same year after her popular hit Baby One More Time had been released, and there was a huge amount of media attention on her. Many brands were wanting to work with her as she became the biggest pop star on the planet. Popular with youngsters and teenagers, UHA Mikakuto cast Britney as the face of their new gummy candy. In the ad, Britney and her team travel on a CGI private jet, dashing between arena concerts and brand jobs. Her Japanese one-liner vaguely translates to: ‘konjak gummies make my stomach better’.

3. MADONNA
YEAR: 1995
COMPANY: Takara

In May 1995, Alek Keshishian filmed Madonna in a Japanese television commercial for Takara, a shochu or Japanese sake manufacturer. Wearing geisha shoes, Madonna enters the lair of the golden dragon to the sound of music she wrote and recorded especially for the ad. Approaching the beast, Madge draws her sword and cuts away a magical golden orb from its mouth, which then transforms into a glass of Jun Legend sake on ice. ‘I’m pure. Jun Legend,’ Madonna says, turning to the camera. The sake, called Jun Legend, was made by blending two types of alcohol distilled from barley and corn and aging them in charred oak barrels for one to five years. Takara’s claim at the time was that the sake tasted similar to whiskey. Madonna wrote and sang the commercial’s song, which featured the lyrics: ‘How can I be pure, when all the strength I have is breaking me? How can I be sure, where is this road I’ve chosen taking me? I’m pure. Jun Legend.’

4. BEN STILLER
YEAR: 2013
COMPANY: Kirin Fruit Beer

In 2013, actor Ben Stiller starred in a bizarre Japanese advert for Kirin Fruit Beer. It features Stiller getting frozen in a block of ice after opening a beer, only to be tackled by a bunch of football players. It starts with him bursting through the pom-poms of the Kirin cheerleaders to tell the people of Japan all about their latest beverage. However, it isn’t Stiller talking as they chose to use a dubbed voice instead of his own. Ben is most famous for roles in films such as Zoolander, Night at the Museum, and Dodgeball.

5. JULIA ROBERTS
YEAR: 2010
COMPANY: Lavazza

In 2010, Julia was cast as Venus in an Italian commercial for Lavazza coffee. In it, a cup of Lavazza makes her smile so that a painter can finish his painting of her. She appeared in the campaign, the 45-second advertisement, for the hefty fee of £1.14 million. The actress appeared in the heavenly advertisement, screened over the Christmas period in Italy, as Botticelli’s Venus in a setting in the clouds. The scene opens with the painter at his wits’ end as his difficult muse refuses to smile for him as he attempts to create his masterpiece, Spring Allegory. The ad also features two famous Italian entertainers, Paolo Bonolis and Luca Laurenti, who offer the star some of Lavazza’s A Modo Mio coffee. After sipping the coffee, Julia breaks into her trademark toothy grin as the men rejoice around her and Botticelli excitedly gets to work to capture her smile. The brief advertisement ends with Roberts winking at the camera.

6. NICOLAS CAGE
YEAR: 2006
COMPANY: Sankyo Pachinko

In 2006, Nicholas Cage starred in a Japanese advert for Sankyo Pachinko – who make pinball machines. The pachinko game looks like a vertical version of a pinball machine. The game is played by firing off metal balls called ‘pachinko balls’. You can play pachinko by renting pachinko balls at the salon. Once you hit the jackpot, you can win lots of pachinko balls that can be exchanged for a variety of prizes. Nicholas starred in a number of ads in 2006. In one, he sits at a grand piano noodling about just how much he loves pachinko.

7. LADY GAGA
YEAR: 2009
COMPANY: F1 Rocks

Lady Gaga in 2009 appeared in an advert for F1 Rock advert – a concert in Singapore. A star of club music, it seemed like a good fit, and in it, she wears a skin-tight newspaper print outfit with statement shoulder pads. The concert in Singapore accompanied the Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix. In the deadpan voiceover, she tells how Singapore is ‘unique’ just like her as her song Poker Face plays in the background. She says, ‘Welcome to Singapore, a city of firsts. The first-ever Grand Prix night race, and now the first-ever F1 rocks. The race is on, so get ready to rock the F1 world in Singapore.’

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