16 Celebrities Who Are So Freaking Talented, They Could Be Famous For Something Entirely Different Than What You Know Them From
I had no idea about most of these.
It’s not uncommon for actors to dabble in singing, dancing, or vice versa. In fact, some of the biggest celebs we know are multitalented performers.
But I bet you weren’t aware that some of the most-loved celebrities had skills unrelated to what they became famous for. For example, there’s an actor who used to be a doctor, an actress who almost made the Olympic archery team, and an athlete who now owns their own interior design firm.
I’ve rounded up 16 celebs who fit the latter category, and I was surprised to learn a lot of these:
1. Vanilla Ice
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You may know the rapper, whose real name is Rob Van Winkle, for his 1990 hit song “Ice Ice Baby.” However, most aren’t aware that the musician was also extremely skilled at jet ski racing — so much so that he was sponsored by Kawasaki and even ranked 6th in the 1995 Lake Havasu Jet Ski World Finals.
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The English actor is most known for his work in House, Blackadder, and Stuart Little, but he’s also an accomplished jazz pianist, saxophonist, guitarist, and drum player. Just take one good look at his Spotify profile and you’ll see all of his amazing work.
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This one’s not exactly a secret, but the writer, producer, and director is also a deep-sea explorer. He’s most known for being the first person to solo dive to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the ocean.
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When I found out that Terry Crews is a fine artist (I’m talking drawings and paintings), I was surprised. Apparently, the football player and actor has a true passion for art. He’s gone on Jimmy Kimmel to showcase his paintings and has even illustrated a cover of Ad Age Magazine.
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The Emmy award winner is certainly known for his work in comedy shows and movies, but did you know he’s also really, really good at playing the banjo? He’s even won an instrumental Grammy for one of his songs.
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6. Ken Jeong
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You hear about a lot of people doing a career switch, but this story is pretty unexpected. Ken Jeong practiced medicine for seven years while doing occasional comedy club shows and improv stints before he decided to act full-time. (He went on to land roles in Knocked Up, The Hangover, and Role Models.) And fun fact: Jeong still maintains his medical license and has helped with medical emergencies on set.
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7. Jack Johnson
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There’s no question everyone knows Jack Johnson for his hit songs, “Upside Down” and “Banana Pancakes.” Some might not know that he was also a very talented surfer. At age 14, he scored a Quiksilver sponsorship and became the youngest person to try out for the finals of the 1992 Pipeline Masters. After getting into a bad surfing accident, Johnson started to play his guitar — a hobby he’d always enjoyed but didn’t see as an actual career.
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8. Matthew Perry
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A lot of people may not know that the late Friends actor was also a nationally ranked junior tennis player for Canada. Amazingly, he earned spots in the Top 20 in singles and Top 10 in doubles before pivoting to acting full-time.
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9. Natalie Portman
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We all know the Academy Award-winning actress for her work in Black Swan, Jackie, and Star Wars, but Natalie Portman also has a lesser-known talent — neuroscience. Not only did she earn her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University, but she also had academic papers published in scientific journals.
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10. Jennifer Tilly
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You’ll recognize her from Chucky, Bound, and Liar Liar, but she’s also a skilled poker player who has won many professional poker tournaments.
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11. Lucy Liu
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The award-winning actor has clearly had a successful career in the entertainment industry, but she’s also an accomplished painter. Using the name Yu Ling, Lucy Liu has painted several stunning works of art and had her own art exhibition at the National Museum of Singapore.
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12. Geena Davis
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You’re probably familiar with a ton of Geena Davis’s movies because she’s been in just about everything (Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice, Stuart Little, and much more). However, you might not have been so keen on the fact that the Academy Award winner was a near Olympic-level archer. Davis tried out for the US Olympic archery team in 1999, placing 24th out of 28 in the Olympic trial semifinals.
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13. Jessica Simpson
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Jessica Simpson might have initially gotten recognition for her singing and acting skills, but these days, she’s probably more known for her namesake clothing company.
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14. Emma Watson
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You’re probably aware that Emma Watson has had quite the career. She starred as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and worked on several humanitarian efforts before being asked to serve as a UN Women’s Goodwill Ambassador.
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15. Bridgit Mendler
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You’ve likely seen the headlines, so you know Bridget Mendler has a fully-stacked resume. Most people know her from her acting and singing days on Disney Channel, but she’s now the CEO of a satellite data company. She also went to Harvard Law School, MIT, and USC. Seriously, what can’t she do?
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16. Venus Williams
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The tennis champion is a household name across the world, but many don’t realize she also has a knack for interior design. Not only is she the founder of the South Florida-based interior design company V Starr, but she also cofounded Palazzo, an AI-driven interior design platform.
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