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27 Celebrity “Side Skills” That Could Make Them Famous In Those Specific Areas, Too
Article created by: Mindaugas Balčiauskas
One of the coolest things about people is how multi-faceted they are. Nobody’s really a one-trick pony. We all have lots of different skills, talents, and passions that we can wow the world with. And our beloved celebrities are no different.
The r/AskReddit online community recently had a fun discussion about all the (not so) hidden skills and talents that celebs have that could easily make them famous... if they weren't stars already. We’ve collected some of their most interesting bits of knowledge to share with you. Scroll down to learn more about some of the most well-known stars in showbiz.
Bored Panda wanted to find out how to overcome frustration when learning new skills and rekindling interest after burning out, so we reached out to neuroscientist Burcin Ikiz, Ph.D. She is the founder of the EcoNeuro project and the host of the Connecting Neurons blog on Psychology Today. You’ll find our interview with her below.
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#1
Brian May is the world level guitarist for the band Queen as well as many solo projects. He also has a PhD in astrophysics and is taken seriously as a researcher in interplanetary dust. (The PhD is not honorary, his dissertation is titled "A Survey of Radial Velocities in the Zodiacal Dust Cloud". ) He is a visiting research at Imperial College.
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#2
Viggo Mortensen - I really thought someone else would mention him!
He is fluent in English, Spanish, Danish, and French and can function in a lot of others
He paints, released three jazz albums, incredibly accomplished horseman, and has written a book of poetry. Still writes poetry. Has had his photography in an exhibition, surfs, often did all his own stunts, and picked up swordfighting real easy.
Love this guy.
#3
Hedy Lamarr. Laid the groundwork for Bluetooth.
For a lot of radio transmission actually. She did it during WW2 to have jam-free radios.
#4
Terry Crews is actually a really talented artist. He used to do courtroom sketches. They sort of show it in some Brooklyn 99 episodes. He also plays football, is a good flautist, designs furniture, the list goes on. Man of many talents
#5
Natalie Portman was working her way toward a research career in neuroscience when the acting career took off. She got into Harvard on academics (earned high As on an academic course load all through high school) and she's coauthored scientific research papers
#7
Jamie Foxx, this man should be studied, he is a top tier amazing actor, he sings like a absolute angel, he is an amazing stand up comedian, and his impressions are spot on!
He's also a classically trained pianist, for which he went to college on a scholarship. And the director and producers of Ray did NOT know that before casting him as Ray Charles.
#8
Matthew Perry was a nationally ranked tennis player in Canada (top 20 in singles, top 10 in doubles).
#9
Haven't seen Dolph Lundgren mentioned here yet.
That man has a master's degree in chemical engineering.
#16
Peter Weller is very well known as RoboCop and Buckaroo Bonzai, but is also a serious art historian with a PhD in the Italian Renaissance.
#17
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden. Also a pilot, not recreation, but type rated commercial and actually worked for an air carrier. Supposedly did some high-profile sorties including evacuating British citizens from conflict zones. Pilot the band's own aircraft at times, with one of the most famous is a Boeing 747 with Iron Maiden livery "Ed Force One". Owns own training and maintenance company of sorts too.
#18
Jack Johnson was world #2 in surfing then broke his ankle and instead became a chart-topping musician.
#19
Gerard Way, My Chemical Romance and wrote the Umbrella Academy. Both very famous in their own regard.
#20
Aldis Hodge is an actor most famous for playing Alec Hardison in Leverage, but has also been in features like Hidden Figures and Straight Outta Compton. He's also an incredibly talented watchmaker.
#21
Bryan Adams has a career as an award-winning photographer. He was asked to photograph Queen Elizabeth during her Golden Jubilee.
#22
Dwayne Johnson. If he wasn’t an actor he could have been a wrestler. Dude is built like a rock.
#23
Rowan Atkinson can drive. I think he’s 2nd all time best celebrity driver on Top Gear.
He could have been a race car driver.
#26
Rod Stewart has an absolutely legendary model train layout. He is highly regarded amongst model train enthusiasts.
#27
Jason Lee (my name is earl) was pro skater
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