Only a few can say they snagged an acting role straight out of college or after finishing an acting class. It's a profession with many opportunities that do not come quickly, even for actors with talent and passion. The path to success in this profession is often unpredictable and full of surprises.

Many of our favorite actors and actresses, including Jennifer Aniston, who worked as a telemarketer and a waitress, and Brad Pitt, who dressed as a chicken for a fast-food restaurant, had to work regular jobs while waiting for a role or even while having a small role because money doesn't come rolling in until you've built a long list of credentials.

Piper Perabo, the star of Covert Affairs, is a perfect example of this. She, too, worked as a waitress in New York after college. A year before she moved to the Big Apple, Perabo was noticed by a casting director while still in school. The director, Denise Fitzgerald, asked her to read for a part.

Perabo was not cast in the unknown production, but when Fitzgerald found out that she did not have any representation, she made phone calls on Perabo's behalf and found her an agent.

Even with an agent and an acting career waiting for her shortly, the actress had to find work while living in one of the most expensive cities in the United States. So she waited tables, often working long hours while being a part of many casts in plays.

Her hard work paid off. Just a month after moving to NYC, she was cast in a feature film called Whiteboyz. This was just the beginning of her breakthrough.

Perabo knew that just because she wasn't where she wanted to be, didn't mean she would never get there. It's perfectly fine to support yourself and take on regular jobs as you prepare for your dreams to become reality.