10 Celebrities You Didn't Know Were Dancers
You love watching your favorite stars light up the screen—but did you know that many of them studied dance, too? Here are 10 celebs you had no idea were also dancers.
Tom Holland
Spider-Man: Homecoming
breakout star Tom Holland trained as a ballet dancer for most of his childhood in England. In June 2008, he even starred in the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, wowing audiences with his skills.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman is famous around the world for films such as Closer and Jackie. But 2010’s Black Swan wasn’t her first exposure to dance. Portman actually trained for many years in ballet and modern dance at the American Theater Dance Workshop.
Sarah Jessica Parker
SJP trained as a singer and ballet dancer growing up, making her Broadway debut in the 1976 revival of The Innocents. She also went on to star in Annie and The Heidi Chronicles on Broadway. These days, she’s on the board of New York City Ballet.
Taylor Lautner
It’s true, Twilight fans! Actor Taylor Lautner had a strong passion for dance growing up. In fact, he performed with both a hip-hop dance group, the LA Hip Kids, and a jazz dance group, the Hot Shots.
Jennifer Garner
13 Going on 30
star Jennifer Garner has never been afraid to show her love for dance. And that makes a lot of sense, given that she studied ballet for over a decade growing up.
Alicia Vikander
Swedish actress Alicia Vikander studied ballet intensively at the Royal Swedish Ballet School in Stockholm and the School of American Ballet in NYC. You can see some of her skills on display in 2012’s Anna Karenina, which features choreography by contemporary dance darling Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
Naomi Campbell
While it was modeling that made Naomi Campbell a household name, she originally planned to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who was a modern dancer. Campbell studied dance from age 3, and attended the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, where she focused primarily on ballet.
Megan Mullally
Although you probably recognize her from the TV series “Will & Grace,” Megan Mullally is also a trained ballet dancer. Growing up in Oklahoma City, OK, Mullally performed with the Oklahoma City Ballet in high school as well as attending the School of American Ballet in NYC.
Mia Wasikowska
Australian actress Mia Wasikowska, known for her star turn as Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, trained as a ballerina at the Canberra Dance Development Centre. Although she spent many years immersed in the craft and hoped to dance professionally, she made the switch to acting in 2004.
Penelope Cruz
Spanish actress and model Penelope Cruz studied ballet for nine years at Spain’s National Conservatory, as well as training in theater. She’s said that her dance upbringing has had a profound impact on her current life.