Caption: It turns out that Susan Sarandon is a dab hand at ping pong
They light up red carpets and big screens with their incredible entertainment skills, but did you know that there are many celebrities who have other secret talents? It’s true! From fire eating and archery to poker pros and ping pong, there are a number of celebrities who are so good at their secret talent that they could probably give up their day job. Here is a look at some of the best secret talents in showbiz.
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie has collected a number of talents throughout her career, but there is one that seriously impresses her fans. The award-winning actress has held her own pilot’s license since 2004 and regularly flies her own single-engine Cirrus SR22-G2. While filming the David Attenborough documentary The Queen’s Green Planet in 2018, Jolie impressed fans as she effortlessly co-piloted a light aircraft over the Namibian desert. She has partnered with the Namibian government to replace dying trees with a unique plant nursery that will preserve forest conservation efforts.
Pierce Brosnan
Most famous for playing secret agent James Bond, Pierce Brosnan also has a very cool secret talent. In 1969, Brosnan was rehearsing for a production at the Ovalhouse. When he arrived, he noticed that there was a workshop happening next door. A street performer was teaching people how to eat fire. Brosnan was immediately interested and joined in the workshop where he learned how to safely play with fire. He gave his last performance of the trick in 1996 on The Muppets show while in character as James Bond.
Caption: Pierce Brosnan displaying his secret talent
Susan Sarandon
Not content with being one of the best actresses of all time, Susan Sarandon also has another impressive skill set up her sleeve. Ping pong! Her love for the game led to her making Ping Pong Summer (2014), a coming-of-age movie in which the lead character crosses paths with Sarandon, who portrays a ping pong champion. However, this is not the first time she has been open about her love for the sport, back in 2009 she opened a ping pong club called SPiN in Flatiron. There are now SPiN clubs in Los Angeles, Toronto, and Dubai, and Sarandon has donated $100,000 worth of ping pong equipment to get more people into the game
Geena Davies
Highly respected for her acting abilities, Geena Davies also has another string to her bow. Not many people know that she is also a gifted archer. In fact, she is so good at archery that at one point she was the 13th best archer in the United States and finished 24th out of 300 women trying out for the 2000 Olympics. Davies was initially drawn to the sport while watching the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. She was fascinated by 21-year-old Californian Justin Huish who won two gold medals and subsequently started training with his coach. Her archery prowess demonstrated how women can excel in a male-dominated sport.
Daniel Cormier
Daniel Cormier might be well known for his UFC heavyweight champion title, but he is also making a name for himself on the pro poker scene. He was recently announced as one of the latest UFC PokerStars Ambassadors, alongside No. 12 ranked light heavyweight Johnny Walker. Originally a mixed martial artist and former Olympic wrestler, Cormier has held both the heavyweight and light heavyweight world championships simultaneously as well as a world championship belt in every promotion for which he has fought. He is considered to be one of the greatest mixed martial arts fighters of all time and is now making a name for himself on the pro poker circuit.
Neil Patrick Harris
Ok, so this one might be out of the bag already, but Neil Patrick Harris’ magician skills are definitely worthy of a spot on this list! If you didn’t know already, Harris is a proficient (and very talented) magician. Not only does he perform his tricks every moment he gets, but he is also the President of the Board of Directors of Hollywood’s Magic Castle, a prestigious venue for illusionists and magicians. From pulling rabbits out of thin air and predicting the Oscars to bending spoons and reading minds, it’s fair to say that Harris is definitely committed to his entertainment career!
There you have it! Whether it’s Angelia Jolie flying planes or Pierce Brosnan eating fire, there are plenty of celebrities out there who have secret talents.
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