16 Successful Celebrities Who You Didn't Know Started Off As Ballet Dancers
All these actors began their careers as ballet dancers.
A surprising percentage of Hollywood actors began their careers as dancers before they ever became actors—specifically, as ballerinas, not just any kind of dancers.
Learning the poise, discipline, and artistry of ballet was where they started their careers—and for many of them, their lives. Unfortunately, many of these celebrities eventually had to give it up due to injuries and switched to drama, which was their second preference.
Others simply had a change of heart about what they truly wanted in life, while some chose to pursue acting even though it was not their first passion, understanding that it would be more lucrative and promising in the long run. Whatever the motivation, each of these actors eventually had to make the difficult choice to forgo the dancing academy in favor of a shot at an Academy Award.
The 16 ballet dancers on this list went on to have successful acting careers. Even their dancing abilities make them stand out in the field.
Do you recall Zoe Saldana's performance in the teen drama Center Stage from 2000? Her on-screen ballet routines weren't solely about acting.
The actress began her career as a ballet dancer before attending the School of American Ballet. Numerous other actors also began their careers as ballet dancers. Unbelievably, the Batman actor Christian Bale studied ballet as a child, too.
1. Before a knee injury halted her dancing career, Charlize Theron attended the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.
Steve Granitz/ Getty Images2. Sasha Radetsky was a ballet dancer who enjoyed a successful career.
He made his acting debut in the lead role of "Center Stage." The actor stopped performing on stage in 2014, but he has continued to participate in films and TV shows.
broadwaydancecenter3. Jamie Bell studied dance when he was young.
Out of 2,000 young boys, he was chosen to play Billy Elliot in the movie. Since then, the English actor has appeared in several films, including Jane Eyre, The Adventures of Tintin, and Fantastic Four.
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4. Ballet was Jennifer Garner's childhood pursuit. On her Instagram, the actress frequently reposts videos of the New York City Ballet.
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5. Elisabeth Moss gained notoriety for her critically acclaimed performance in the suspenseful drama The Handmaid's Tale.
The actress used to dance. She trained with former New York City Ballet ballerina Suzanne Farrell while attending the School of American Ballet.
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6. Emily Tyra received intensive ballet training, as evidenced by her work on the dramatic ballet-related series.
Since then, the actress has made numerous film and television appearances.
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7. Sarah Hay danced with the Semperoper in Dresden before securing the lead role in "Flesh and Bone."
The actress starred in HBO's Room 104 and Jim Carrey's comedy series I'm Dying Here.
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8. In the dance movie The Company, Neve Campbell astonished the audience with her talents.
The actress received her training at the National Ballet School of Canada, where she also performed in Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.
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9. Before an injury ended her ballet career, Diane Kruger studied at the esteemed Royal Ballet School in London.
She is well known for her work in "Troy" and "Inglourious Basterds."
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10. Do you recall Zoe Saldana from the teen drama Center Stage from 2000?
Her on-screen ballet performances weren't solely about acting. The actress began her career as a ballet dancer and has since become well-known for her work in the Star Trek, Avatar, and Guardians of the Galaxy series.
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11. Channing Tatum may not have received formal dance training like other celebrities, but he can still dance.
This hunk became well-known for his roles in Step Up and Magic Mike, both dance movies.
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12. Unbelievably, Batman actor Christian Bale took ballet lessons as a child.
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13. Before landing a role in the TV series Firefly, Summer Glau studied dance.
To align with her background in dance, the actress even completed her studies at home. Unfortunately, a fractured toe ended her dance career, which encouraged her to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
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14. Kristen Wiig, a hilarious actress, spent seven years as a child studying ballet.
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15. Sarah Jessica Parker
The Sex and the City star received vocal and ballet instruction as a child. She arrived on Broadway before transitioning to television and film.
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16. Gal Gadot, the Wonder Woman star, spent 12 years dancing and received training in ballet, hip hop, modern, and jazz.
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Given that each of these celebrities is now well-known—and yes, some of them have even won the coveted Oscar—it would be difficult to deny that they made the right decision. Now, these are just a few of the well-known actors who are also ballerinas, including those who have starred in dance movies throughout the years.
