You would think being an Oscar-winner is enough of a talent but some of our favorite celebrities are determined to add surprising strings to their bow. We can’t help but be impressed by this mix of eccentric and delightful talents. Some would make a great party trick (hello Olympic-level archery!); others make for casual and fun competition. If you ever meet Salma Hayek, make sure to challenge her to a game of Sudoku!
Here are 5 extra-talented celebrities, and some encouragement for you to join them in learning a new skill.
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Geena Davis, Archery
While watching archery at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics games, actress Geena Davis thought, “It’s very dramatic and beautiful…. I wonder if I’d be good at that?” At 41, Davis decided to take up the sport, and has since won a series of national and international events. In fact, the Thelma and Louise star narrowly missed out on making the US team for the 2000 Sydney Olympics! Nowadays, she still picks up a bow and arrow, “but just for fun. I haven’t been competing lately.”
Movement Living Tip: You might not want to try out for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics but you can absolutely pick up a new sport at any time! Try this free absolute-beginner kickboxing class with world champion Farinaz Lari.
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Jodie Foster, Linguist
Clarice could have interviewed Dr. Lecter in several different languages. The talented actress most recently seen in the television series True Detective is fluent in French, German, Spanish, and Italian! She showed an early aptitude for language, learning to read at age three, and attended the Lycée Français de Los Angeles, a French-language prep school. The two-time Oscar winner also dubs herself in French-language versions of her films.
Movement Living Tip: Studies suggest learning another language as an adult can increase memory retention, help stave off dementia, and become more flexible thinkers! Language learning apps like Duolingo are a great way to start from scratch.
Jamie Lee Curtis, Inventor
You might know Jamie Lee as an Oscar-winning actress, activist, and children’s book author, but she also has some patents in her name. One of these is the Dipe and Wipe. In the 1980s, when changing her daughter’s diaper and realizing her wipes were not close at hand, the Halloween star had a bright idea! “In that moment, I said, ‘Aha, I have to invent a diaper that has a wiper built into the diaper.’ I invented Dipe and Wipe, and I patented it.” Although it never went into production, we still think this is a genius idea. Curtis also said that she invented Instagram 4 years before it came out. She launched a website in which she published iPhone photos taken by her friends. “We were doing Instagram before Instagram!”
Movement Living Tip: You don’t have to file a patent but you can train your brain to be more creative. Here are 4 free ways to do this based on neuroscience: engage with nature, meditate, exercise, and connect with different types of people. And when your next lightbulb idea comes to you, make sure to write it down!
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Lucy Liu, Mixed-Media Artist
The Charlie’s Angel star is a talented artist who sculpts, paints, photographs, and collages. Her work has been exhibited in the National Museum of Singapore! Her love for visual detail started when she was small, and her father would take her to bakeries for pastries. “They were always laid out and organized in a beautiful manner.” She started photographing in her teens and has spent 30 years honing her talents. Liu worked on larger pieces while off-set, and while filming Elementary would practice her embroidery in between takes. You can see more of Liu’s work here.
Movement Living Tip: Art is inherently therapeutic for us. Studies have shown that doing just 45 minutes of any kind of art lowered the stress hormone cortisol by as much as 25%. And just one art experience per month can extend your life by 10 years. All great incentives to pick up your paintbrush, open your collage book, or get crafting like Lucy.
Salma Hayek, Puzzler
Salma Hayek revealed her secret talent to her Magic Mike’s Last Dance co-star, Channing Tatum: Sudoku. She discovered her gift for Sudoku while breastfeeding her daughter, Valentina. “I breastfed for 14 months, and my God, that baby could not get enough all night. I didn’t sleep for like a year … While she was breastfeeding, it was boring, so I started doing Sudoku, and I think I’m really good. I can do it sometimes in four minutes.”
Movement Living Tip: Puzzling can help our brain keep working better for longer. Studies show that people who do puzzles have brain function equivalent to 10 years younger than their age, and on short-term memory tests, puzzle takers have brain function equivalent to 8 years younger. Head to our Games page for a sampler of our favorite digital puzzles.
What’s something new you’ve been wanting to try? Today is always the best time to start.
