The legendary film icon who is totally unrecognizable in rare 1978 pageant photos from Miss Orange County - do you know who it is?

She is now a successful actress with a decades-long career including roles in Scarface and Batman Returns, but before she got her big break, Michelle Pfeiffer competed in a number of US beauty pageants.

The 68-year-old was crowned Miss Orange County in 1978, before going on to take sixth place in the Miss California pageant later that year. And it appears to have helped the then 19-year-old land her big break, as she made her acting debut in an episode of Fantasy Island soon after.

Michelle previously shared footage of her competing in the pageant in a throwback post on Instagram, which she captioned: "Hey we all gotta start somewhere."

The actress looked almost unrecognizable as she walked down a red carpet in a daring green swimsuit and heels, while another clip shows her wearing her blonde hair in a side ponytail with hoop earrings and a one-shoulder gown.

The voiceover can be heard saying: "Here is 19-year-old Michelle Pfeiffer. Blue eyes, blonde hair. A high school graduate going to Golden West College during the summer." 

It also offered an insight into the teenager's other hobbies and ambitions, stating: "A softball player who also oil paints. She'd like to become an actress."

Michelle has been honest that her primary reason for taking part in the pageants was to try and break into acting, and it worked. She soon achieved her dream, and made her film debut just two years later in The Hollywood Knights, a 1980 teen comedy starring Tony Danza and Fran Drescher. Her big role in Scarface followed in 1983.

However, the Ant-Man star wasn't a big fan of pageant life. "I thought the whole thing was ridiculous," she told The Telegraph.

Now in her late sixties, Michelle continues to act, and is currently starring in and executive producing two television series; The Madison and Margot's Got Money Troubles alongside Elle Fanning. Meanwhile, Michelle has been married to TV producer and writer David E. Kelley since 1993 and they share two children, Claudia and John.

Michelle is not the only famous face to get their big break through competing in beauty pageants; the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Halle Berry are among the now recognizable names who also emerged from the pageant world.