Celebrities are way above an average Joe and for good reasons too. It is certainly surprising how far the reasons can go. While the world knows them for either their acting or singing skills, it is astonishing to know how many celebrities are multi-talented. Here we list 18 celebrities with surprising hidden talents that will surely amaze you:
18. Kristen Stewart (Juggling)
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Immensely criticized for her lack of expression as an actress, Kristen Stewart still manages to catapult herself to new heights in her career. Whether or not she has the ability to act is debatable but she has one skill that does not need any conflict.
The Twilight star can juggle quite well and even showed her talent in the late-night talk show Lopez Tonight. On a related note, actress Ellen Page and First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama also share the same skill.
17. Taylor Lautner (Karate)
The hidden talent of Taylor Lautner can convince anyone to pledge allegiance to Team Jacob since the actor is a Karate expert. At the age of eight, Lautner represented America in the World Karate Association and made everyone’s jaws drop by winning three gold medals.
The actor took his first Karate class at the age of six and trained with none other than Michael Chataurantabut – the founder of Xtreme Martial Arts. Interestingly enough, it was Chataurantabut who suggested Lautner pursue an acting career. Acting upon the advice, he established himself as one of the highest-paid teenage actors in Hollywood.
16. Conan O’Brien (Tap Dancing)
Right now, Conan O’Brien is one of America’s most loved late-night talk show hosts and has been active in his comedic work for nearly thirty years. As a kid, O’Brien had no idea what the future would hold for him as he set his target on becoming a professional tap dancer.
After taking lessons, O’Brien continued his habit of tap dancing and was even obliged to demonstrate his talent on numerous occasions most notably at the 2012 Academy Awards ceremony.
15. Abraham Lincoln (Wrestling)
Certainly the tallest, if not the greatest, President of the United States of America. Abraham Lincoln was a smart man and used his gigantic size and long limbs to his advantage. With only one loss in his total matches which is nearly 300, it is amazing to know that the legend of Lincoln involves something so unique.
Carl Sandburg recalls in his biography about America’s 16th President that once after defeating an opponent, Lincoln challenged the entire crowd as he shouted,
“I’m the big buck of this lick. If any of you want to try it, come on and whet your horns.”
To top it all off, Lincoln has been honored as an “outstanding American” in the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.
14. Geena Davis (Archery)
Once among the most revered actresses in Hollywood, Geena Davis is much more than what meets the eye. Apart from acting and modeling, the actress has made quite a name for herself in the archery community. She was extremely close to being selected for the women’s Olympic archery team.
The Academy Award-winning actresses competed against 300 female archers from all over the country to compete in the semifinals of the 1999 Olympics. Though she did not qualify, Davis finished in an impressive 24th place.
13. Justin Bieber (Rubik’s Cube)
Perhaps the biggest sensation in modern pop music, Justin Bieber is not only a singer but also a multi-instrumentalist since he can play the guitar, trumpet, piano, and drums. Besides all that, the singer can impressively solve the Rubik’s cube in two minutes.
That is not anywhere near the world record of solving the Rubik’s cube in just 5.25 seconds but because it even gives the brightest minds a handful of problems, it is a very amazing talent for a young musician like Bieber.
12. Neil Patrick Harris (Magician)
Like his character Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother, Neil Patrick Harris is a magician and even won the Tannen’s Magic Louis Award in 2006.
He performed magic when he appeared on Glee and won an Emmy Award for it. The actor currently serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Hollywood’s Magic Castle.
11. Christopher Walken (Lion Taming)
As one of the most admired actors in Hollywood, Christopher Walken’s movies have grossed more than $1 billion in the United States and he has even won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
However, things were a lot different for Walken as a teenager since he made a living by working as a lion tamer in a circus. Despite showing no fear, Walken realized that it was not suitable for a long-term career so he pursued a career as an actor.
10. Ken Jeong (Medical Practice)
Undoubtedly the last person anyone would expect on such a list due to his outrageous roles most notably in The Hangover Trilogy. As crazy as it sounds, Ken Jeong earned his M.D. degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
“Medicine is a hard-won skill,”
states Jeong who is a licensed physician in the state of California. Once his acting career kicked off, the actor never got time to be a doctor.
9. Amanda Seyfried (Knitting)
Best known for her recurring roles in soap operas As the World Turns and All My Children, Amanda Seyfried has one more skill under her belt apart from acting.
The actress has a unique talent for knitting and crocheting and even exhibited her skill once she appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show.
8. Shaquille O’Neal (Rapping)
Standing over 7 feet tall, Shaquille O’Neal was a tower of power on the basketball court during his career which has spanned 19 years. Along with his sports career, O’Neal had a fair share of success as a rapper.
Though many African-Americans can claim that they can rap, the element that makes O’Neal special is the fact that his first album Shaq Diesel was an unexpected success and went platinum.
7. Brian May (Astrophysics)
Image Courtesy: Sky
It is normally believed that rockstars were never on good terms with their educational endeavors but the lead guitarist of the English rock band Queen broke the stereotype.
Brian May has earned a Ph.D. in astrophysics and even co-wrote two books on the subject: Bang! – The Complete History of the Universe and The Cosmic Tourist.
6. Harrison Ford (Aviation)
Who knew that the man who portrayed Han Solo in the original Star Wars trilogy took up aviation as a hobby? Harrison Ford can pilot both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
The actor has utilized his skill to save lives multiple times as Ford has personally provided helicopter services in case of emergencies upon the request of local authorities.
5. Vin Diesel (Video Game Development)
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After founding Tigon Studios, action star Vin Diesel tried his luck in video game development. As of today, the company has produced four games; three of them based on the character Riddick – one of Diesel’s most famous roles.
Interestingly enough, the first game The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay was heavily assisted by Diesel in terms of development and received critical acclaim.
4. James Franco (Academia)
Image Courtesy: Bridget Laudien via Wikimedia Commons
As amazing as it sounds, James Franco is one of the most educated actors of his generation. The movie star attained his BA degree with a CGPA of 3.5/4.0 while working in several films.
Franco has attained four MFA degrees from four different universities and is currently a Ph.D. student in English at Yale University. On a rather contrasting note, the actor received a D in the “Directing the Actor” class at NYU Graduate Film School.
3. Matthew Perry (Tennis)
Best known for his role as the clever Chandler Bing in Friends, Matthew Perry was more interested in sports than theatre while growing up.
As a kid, Perry was an avid tennis player and even became a top-ranked junior player. Even after establishing himself as an actor, Perry takes out time for his favorite sport once in a while.
2. Pierce Brosnan (Fire Eating)
Long before when Pierce Brosnan portrayed James Bond, the actor was playing with fire. As a teenager, Brosnan attended a workshop in London in which a fire-eater was teaching the skill.
Impressed by the act, Brosnan quickly learned the art of fire eating and was hired by a circus as a performer. After enrolling in an acting school, a star was gradually born and Brosnan never had to work in a circus again though he has exhibited his fire-eating skill on a few occasions.
1. Angelina Jolie (Knife Throwing)
The beautiful Angelina Jolie is an actress, humanitarian, model, and filmmaker. Apart from all the skills, she is known for, it is a fact that the Hollywood A-lister specializes in knife throwing.
Jolie picked up the habit with her live-in boyfriend during her high school days. It has been occasionally reported that Brad Pitt was quite scared of her interesting talent while Brangelina was still a thing.
Do you know any other celebrities with surprising hidden talents that are not mentioned in the list above? Please let us know in the comments below!
