We think we know our favorite celebrities. We follow their movies, their music, and their social lives. But behind the fame, many stars are quietly mastering skills that would truly stun even their biggest fans.
Some celebrities pick up unusual hobbies out of sheer boredom. Others stumble into hidden gifts by complete accident. Either way, the results are genuinely fascinating and will completely change how you see these famous faces.
Geena Davis almost made the US Olympic archery team
Geena Davis is an Oscar-winning actress known for Thelma and Louise. In 1997 she picked up archery after watching the Atlanta Olympics. Within two years she had become one of the best archers in America.
She practiced nearly every day with a professional coach by her side. In 2000 she competed in the US Olympic qualifier and finished 24th. She came remarkably close to earning a spot on the team.
Meghan Markle was a professional calligrapher
Meghan Markle is now known worldwide as the Duchess of Sussex. Before all that fame she paid her bills through beautiful penmanship. She worked as a calligrapher while auditioning for acting roles in Los Angeles.
She taught calligraphy at Paper Source in Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2005. Her freelance work included writing invitations for Robin Thicke and Paula Patton. She also handled celebrity holiday correspondence for Dolce and Gabbana.
Margot Robbie gives real tattoos to her friends
Margot Robbie is one of Hollywood’s biggest working stars right now. What fans do not realize is she owns her own tattoo gun. She has inked dozens of close friends and co-stars over the years.
On the Suicide Squad set she tattooed co-star Cara Delevingne with a tiny toe emoji. Robbie has admitted to giving over 100 tattoos to friends and colleagues. She jokes that her tattooing is getting worse.
Harrison Ford was a master carpenter before Star Wars
Harrison Ford is one of the most iconic actors in Hollywood history. Before Star Wars changed his life, he worked as a professional carpenter. He built custom furniture for clients including director Francis Ford Coppola.
Ford grew frustrated with acting roles in the 1960s and turned to carpentry instead. A film studio job eventually led George Lucas to notice him. That chance meeting launched his legendary career as Han Solo.
Mark Ruffalo can ride a unicycle with ease
Mark Ruffalo is best known as the Hulk in the Marvel films. His secret talent belongs in a circus more than in any superhero movie. He learned to ride a unicycle at age 12 years.
He revealed this skill on Graham Norton to total amazement. He rode forward and backward on two different unicycles without a single wobble. His technique looked effortless despite many long decades away from the hobby.
Keira Knightley plays music on her own teeth
Keira Knightley has starred in some of the most beloved roles of her generation. Her hidden talent is the strangest one on this entire list. She can tap songs on her teeth using only fingernails.
She showed this skill on the Graham Norton Show to widespread amazement. Later on The Tonight Show she tapped the melody of Despacito on her teeth. The crowd responded with shocked laughter and enthusiastic applause.
Susan Sarandon opened a real ping pong club
Susan Sarandon is an Oscar-winning actress with decades of iconic Hollywood roles. Away from cameras she is a devoted competitive ping pong player. She fell in love with the sport and opened her own club.
She launched SPiN, a ping pong club in New York City, after a party. Sarandon said she was captivated by the community formed around the sport. The club became a popular city spot for years.
Adriana Lima is a dedicated and trained boxer
Adriana Lima is one of the most famous supermodels to walk a runway. Most people picture her posing for magazines or walking in a fashion show. Few would picture her throwing punches inside a gym.
Lima has trained boxing for years and views it as more than exercise. She credits it with keeping her physically strong and mentally sharp. For Lima, boxing is a true passion and never just workout.
Christopher Walken once tamed a real lion
Christopher Walken is known for his chilling and unforgettable film performances. His life story is stranger than any character he has ever played. At 16 years old he worked for a traveling circus taming lions.
He played it down in a 2015 interview saying the lion was more like a dog. He described Sheba as sweet and gentle. Still, the idea of teenage Walken taming real lions is genuinely remarkable.
Joni Mitchell painted her own iconic album artwork
Joni Mitchell is one of the greatest singer-songwriters in American music history. She has released 19 studio albums across a remarkable and award-winning career. Many fans overlook that she is also a gifted visual artist.
Mitchell painted artwork for several of her most beloved album covers. She released a book of paintings and sold pieces for thousands each. Her most celebrated visual work appears on the album Both Sides Now.
Featured Image: Photo by Gage Skidmore on Wikimedia Commons
