6 Stars Who Have Returned to 'Regular' Jobs

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Susan Boyle (Getty Images)

Being rich and famous certainly has its perks. But why would you want to spend all your time jetting off to paradise and walking red carpets when you could go back to a regular job like the rest of us? (That's a rhetorical question.)

Odd as it may seem, that's exactly what some stars have done.

Susan Boyle, 52, raised eyebrows when she recently dropped into an Edinburgh-area location of the U.K. betting company Ladbrokes to inquire about a help wanted sign.

"She asked how to apply," Ladbrokes Public Information Officer Alex Donohue revealed. The job posting was for a customer service assistant working a total of 16 hours per week for less than 7 pounds per hour. In other words, this position isn't exactly a cash cow.

"She spoke to the cashier and the store manager. They told her how to apply online and she thanked them and walked away," Donahue explained. Though the "Britain's Got Talent" winner was only there briefly, he described it as a "pleasant and courteous exchange." As of now, it seems the star has not actually taken the next step and filled out a formal application online, but a representative from Ladbrokes insists she was "100 perfect serious."

While the singing sensation is the latest celeb to consider punching a clock, she's hardly the first. Here's a roundup of some of our favorite stars who have (at least temporarily) taken a break from the fame game to go back to the daily grind.

1. Jon Gosselin: Last September, the former "Jon & Kate Plus 8" star revealed that he was waiting tables at the Black Dog Café in his home state of Pennsylvania. The former reality mainstay explained that it was "nearly impossible" for him to find work after the show ended, which ultimately led to him becoming a waiter. And while you might think that the transition from being a bona fide celebrity to a service industry professional would be a tough one, Gosselin, 36, insisted his new job was "fun" and that he liked the chance to "talk to people."

2. Dylan Sprouse: The "Suite Life of Zach and Cody" star is also in the restaurant biz. The actor, 21, admitted he had taken a position as a host at a restaurant in New York City. In contrast to Gosselin, however, Sprouse insisted that he did not take the job because he needed money. "I am financially secure," he posted on his Tumblr blog. "I took this job as a way to primarily feed my over bountiful video game addiction," he wrote. "I also took this as a way to try a new experience, working somewhat below the means I'm used to, as well as a way to socialize and get out of the house."

3. Nikki Blonsky: After starring in the hit musical "Hairspray," Blonsky, 25, earned her cosmetology license and started working at a Long Island, New York, salon. In her case, however, the choice to return to a day job was more of a necessity than anything else. "Its true Im workin@ Superstar Salon as a makeup artist & more Im proud 2 b workin & helpin pay bills BUT ill NEVER loose sight of my dreams," she tweeted before adding, "Just cause Im part time workin doesnt mean Im gonna give up on my dreams n dont give up on urs I might book something big soon keep positive."

Dylan Sprouse/Nikki Blonsky/Tony Danza (Getty Images)

4. Tony Danza: Keeping positive proved to be a challenge for Danza, who, after decades of success in Hollywood, decided to take on a whole new challenge and become a teacher at Northeast High in Philadelphia. "There were great moments, but then you'd fall back into deep despair," he admitted. Despair or not, the "Don Jon" star, 62, did a pretty good job because the principal reportedly wanted him back. The actor, however, decided the one year was enough — though he did write a book about his experience.

5. Steven Seagal: Even icons like Steven Seagal, 61, sometimes get the urge to do less glamorous work. While it's true that there's now a reality show based on Seagal's new life as an officer in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, (and beyond) he had actually held that post for two decades (seriously) before any camera crews rolled in.

6. Vanilla Ice: Speaking of icons, remember Vanilla Ice? Back in the '90s, the rapper traded his microphone for a hammer and began renovating — and then flipping — homes. Like Seagal, Robert Matthew Van Winkle, 46, parlayed his second career into a TV show, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's actually pretty good at the craft. In fact, he even expanded his business venture to include a training course that schools people on the fine art of real estate investing. Ice ice baby, indeed.