The job of babysitter is one which many are asked to undertake at some point in the life. For some it’s part of their teenager rite of passage but for some it’s a professional decision which can mean caring for the children of a number of clients.

One unusual phenomenon however is where the babysitter later went on in life to fame, fortune and celebrity glory. What’s more, the child they were looking after also entered the industry at a later date or was just taking their first tentative steps into acting and became just as famous. The odds against this may seem pretty slim but it’s happened more than you’d imagine.

Here are some of the global stars who before their red carpets days spent their evenings listening out for youngsters who then went on themselves to be Hollywood A-listers.

1. Laura Dern and Angelina Jolie

With an ever-increasing family to care for, Angelina Jolie more than likely has an army of nannies, helpers and babysitters ready to step in whenever needed. She probably took note of the excellent care given to her when she was young in the form of actress Laura Dern who stepped in one night when Angelina’s famous Dad jon Voight was involved in the making of the 1978 movie ‘Coming Home’ and used that experience when looking for assistance with her six youngsters.

2. Kiefer Sutherland and Gwyneth Paltrow

Unbelievable perhaps but Kiefer Sutherland really was once charged with looking after a young Gwyneth Paltrow. He revealed in 2009 at the ‘Monsters vs Aliens’ premiere that when he was working in a theatre at the same time as Gwyneth’s mum, she asked him on a couple of occasions to watch over the soon to be globally admired actress.

3. Michael Bolton and Paula Abdul

An unlikely pairing it has to be said, but singer, choreographer and X-Factor judge Paula Abdul was ‘Straight Up’ when she revealed that the man at the centre of many a ladies heart Michael Bolton did sing her to sleep when he was her babysitter many years ago. Whilst Michael may have been the model hired help, Paula was no saint and told of the time that she jabbed her leg deliberately with a pencil in a bid to attract attention so he’d have to take her to hospital. All’s fair though perhaps in love and babysitting as she also told of the fact that he wouldn’t help her with her homework.

4. Alice Cooper and Keanu Reeves

The stuff of nightmares for those of a nervous disposition, but a young Keanu Reeves wasn’t having a bad dream when Alice Cooper turned up clutching snacks for the night and settling down to watch the TV.

Again, backstage theatrical networks meant the unusual pairing, but when Keanu’s mum was working as a costume designer, she asked the then rising rocker to keep an eye on the future Matrix superstar whilst she was behind the scenes with her sewing machine.

5. Cher and Anthony Kiedis

Red Hot Chili Peppers group front man has a claim to fame which can pretty much outstrip all others in the babysitting stakes; he was looked after by singer and movie legend Cher.

He explains in his autobiography ‘Scar Tissue’ that he was 13 when she was ensuring he went to bed on time.

6. Tia/Tamera Mowry and Ashley/Mary-Kate Olsen

The odds must be astronomical that twins who would become famous would look after another set of twins set for worldwide celebrity.

The Sister Sister TV series hit twins Tia and Tamera Mowry were asked to keep an eye on younger identical Hollywood twin starlets Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen in the 1990s – way before they became multi-millionaire household names. The brother of the Mowry twins was starring in sitcom Full House at the time and they would visit the set where the Olsen twins were just starting out in the business, sharing the role of the youngster character Michelle Tanner. When not on set, Tia and Tamery were asked to babysit them between scenes.

7. Robin Thicke and Wayne Gretzky

In the late 1980s, ‘Blurred Lines’ superstar needed a babysitter when his own famous father Alan Thicke was away touring following the production of ‘Growing Pains’. Family friend Wayne Gretzky was asked to look after the younger singer to be; seems his blossoming ice hockey skills didn’t rub off on him though when he was telling him bedtime stories and ‘The Great One’ now spends his time as a Canadian international player whilst Robin tours with his band of infamous backing dancers.

8. Bethenny Frankel and Paris Hilton

It’s doubtful that Bethenny Frankel can attribute any of her self-made millions to her babysitting duties, but when you’re looking after Paris Hilton you’d hope she was well rewarded for her time.

Many years before the Real Housewives of New York City star was clocking up the dollars with her entrepreneurial initiatives, she was the personal assistant to the Hilton family. Part of her role was to child mind when needed and to take the young heiress on the school run each day.

9. William H Macy and Joan Cusack

US Shameless star William H Macy was a penniless student when he landed the job of looking after one of the Cusack acting family children. He was appearing in a play at the very start of his career and Dick Cusack asked him if he wanted to earn some extra cash.

The extra twist to this crossing of paths is that both are now stars of the TV hit series Shameless in America where there are bound to be times when they re-live the times William would ensure that Joan ate all her dinner before she went to bed.

10. Chloe Sevigny and Topher Grace

Star of ‘That 70’s Show’ and Spiderman A-lister Topher Grace also had further paths to cross with his babysitter. It was years after  former ‘It – Girl’ turned actress, model and fashion designer Chloe Sevigny had stopped asking Topher to put his toys away and had grown up to become famous for her eclectic lifestyle that they found themselves sharing a stage not once, but twice.