Call it the impossible dream: Making the the leap from reality television to serious working actor. For the lucky few, the uphill climb to legitimacy can be daunting, but oh-so-worthwhile. Take Jacinda Barrett, who got her start as a model and member of “The Real World: London” cast way back in 1995. Since then, she’s appeared in movies (“The Namesake”) and appeared in the sophomore season of “The Following,” the Kevin Bacon-helmed FOX series about a killer cult on the loose

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Barrett does have a few fellow reality TV brethren who’ve managed to establish themselves as legitimate actors, such as Katherine McPhee, NeNe Leakes, and more. Click through to see 10 reality TV alums who’ve made the leap to legit acting careers.