Meat is so passé. At least in Hollywood.

More A-listers than ever are sticking to strict vegan or vegetarian diets — and being kinder to animals in general. Among them: Jessica Chastain, Russell Brand, Kristen Bell and Kristen Wiig.

“I don’t want to torture anything — it’s about trying to live a life where I’m not contributing to the cruelty in the world,” Chastain said after being named one of PETA’s sexiest vegetarians. “While I am on this planet, I want everyone I meet to know that I am grateful they are here.”

Chastain’s new menu options have also had an unexpected, positive effect on her waistline.

“I used to think about dieting,” she told Harper’s Bazaar in August 2012, “but I’m vegan now, so it’s not really a problem.”

Click on the gallery above to check out other famous vegetarians.

Then tell us: Are you meat-free, or could you never give up a juicy cheeseburger?

The red carpets weren’t always rolling out for this year’s batch of Academy Award nominees.

Before the big screen roles, seven-figure salaries and fawning fans, movie stars started out as ordinary people. Sure, after decades in the spotlight, Oscar hopefuls like Robert De Niro, Sally Field, Steven Spielberg and Denzel Washington are some of the most familiar faces in the industry.

But that wasn’t always true.

Before bursting into the spotlight, their now-famous mugs might not have caught so much as a singular glance amongst a crowd on Hollywood Boulevard.

So as we count down the final hours to the award season’s most-anticipated ceremony, Celebuzz takes a trip back in time to see what this year’s crop of nominees looked like before they scored their 2013 Oscar nomination.

Was Bradley Cooper just as eye-catching before hitting it big? Was Denzel Washington distinguished even decades before becoming the most-nominated African American in the history of the Oscars? And was Anne Hathawayalways big-screen beautiful?

Find out by taking a peek at our blast-from-the-past the gallery. Scroll through to see if you can guess the Oscar nominee from their pre-fame photos.

Before the red carpets, big screen roles and seven-figure salaries, movie stars started out as ordinary people.

And this year’s batch of Academy Award nominees are no exception. Sure, after decades in the spotlight, A-list acting nominees like Robert De Niro, Sally Field and Denzel Washington are so recognizable that they might stop traffic a mile away.

But before bursting onto the scene, their now-famous mugs would have blended right in with a crowd on Hollywood Boulevard.

So as the countdown to the Oscars ceremony (five weeks!) continues, Celebuzz takes a trip back in time to see what this year’s crop of nominees looked like before they hit the big time.

Was Tommy Lee Jones just as distinguished decades before Lincoln? Was Jennifer Lawrence already breaking hearts as a pre-teen? Did Anne Hathaway always have her movie star good looks?

For a blast from the past, take a gander at the gallery and see if you can guess the Oscar nominee from their pre-fame photos.