Are Vegan Movie Stars Really Worth A Blog Post?

Are vegan movie stars and celebrities really worth a blog post? Should they receive oodles of attention for being vegan when there are millions of non-celebrities (myself included) who practice veganism every single day without all the hoopla and praise to go with it? And does it really matter whether a movie star chooses to abstain from eating or wearing animals?

I say “yes” to all of the above. In an ideal world, however, I believe that the lifestyle choices of celebrities are not overly important except for the fact that every individual’s choice becomes part of a collective conscience which may serve the greater good. It cannot be denied that we live in a society which celebrates “celebrity” and the choices that these “stars” make have a huge impact on the public at large. The foods they eat, the clothes they wear, and the lifestyles they lead are splashed all over the media and are certain to affect the choices of others. If only Kim Kardashian would go vegan, then we’d have it made!

Since I previously gave you my short list of vegan musicians, and in view of the upcoming Academy Awards show, I present to you this list of vegan actors. Although many actors are vegetarian, this list is inclusive of those who are vegan only. I did not include the names of actors who seem to be vascillating between vegetarianism and veganism.

At the top of my list are actors who I believe to be dedicated vegans not only with the foods they eat, but with their hearts too. I believe that these actors will be vegan for life (obviously, just an opinion)…

1. Joaquin Phoenix

Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings have been vegan since childhood after witnessing the suffering and death of a fish during a fishing trip. Joaquin recently made a video for PETA where he simulates drowning to draw a parallel between human drowning in water and the painful deaths that fish may endure on land. You can watch the video at the end of this post.

2. Woody Harrelson

Woody Harrelson has been a dedicated vegan for a very long time and it seems to me that he always will be!

3. Ed Begley, Jr.

Ed Begley, Jr. is a die-hard environmentalist and vegan, as well. He “walks the walk” and “talks the talk.”

4. Casey Affleck

Casey Affleck has been a passionate vegan for many, many years! Interestingly, he is married to Summer Phoenix, the sister of Joaquin, and he wore non-leather “Payless Shoes” to their wedding. When Casey is asked why he doesn’t eat meat or any other animal products, he answers “because they are unhealthy and they are the product of a violent and inhumane industry.”

5. Alicia Silverstone

If you’ve read Alicia’s book The Kind Diet, then you already know that this star of the movie “Clueless” is anything but clueless when it comes to her health and the health of the planet.

6. James Cromwell

This 73-year old animal activist and vegan was recently arrested after bursting into a Board of Regents’ meeting at the University of Wisconsin to challenge them over experiments with cats. If getting arrested doesn’t qualify someone as “dedicated,” then what does?

7. Tobey Maguire

Yes, “Spidey” is vegan too! I remember reading that he got very upset when a leather couch was used on a movie set. I could be wrong about this, but I think my memory serves me pretty well.

8. Daryl Hannah

Daryl is a true champion for environmental causes and her veganism clearly aligns with her principles!

9. Eric Roberts

Eric Roberts is an outspoken animal rights activist and vegan. I just loved him in the movie “The Pope of Greenwich Village” in the scene where he fainted after crying “they took my thumb, Paulie, they took my thumb!”

The next group of actors are certainly vegans, although I don’t think they have accumulated enough “vegan years” to put them in the same tier as the above named actors. Don’t hold me to that statement!

10. Emily Deschanel

This actress is beautiful, vegan and a PETA spokesperson.

11. Russell Brand 

Russell Brand has been a vegetarian since he was a teenager and, only recently, made the jump to veganism. He has been quoted as saying “Even as a junkie I stayed true (to vegetarianism)-‘I shall have heroin, but I shan’t have a hamburger.’ What a sexy little paradox.”

12. Alec Baldwin 

Alec Baldwin has always been a political activist, so it should be no surprise that he’s a vegan for “his own personal health and for the health of the planet.”

13. Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfeiffer went vegan for health reasons after watching President Bill Clinton talk about his own vegan diet and treatment with Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr. on a news show.

14. Jessica Chastain

It is often said that vegan diets make the skin glow. If this is true, then the glowing actress, Jessica Chastain, is a poster girl for veganism.

15. Anne Hathaway

This gorgeous vegan may take home the Oscar this year for her role in Les Miserables! Ms. Hathaway decided to go from being a vegetarian to a vegan after following a vegan diet to fit into her costume for her movie role as Catwoman.

16. James Cameron

Although James Cameron is not an actor, he’s certainly a Hollywood icon and a vegan! This avid environmentalist and Oscar-winning director of the movies Titanic and Avatar deserves a mention on this list.

Let’s not forget the married movie star couples who recently went vegan…

17. Ben Stiller and Christine Taylor

Yup! Last I heard, Ben and Christine decided to eat healthier and veganism was the path they chose towards the road of good health!

18. Kristin Bell and Dax Shepard

Yet another cute vegan married couple. I sure do hope they raise their new baby as a vegan!

There you have it..my short list of vegan movie stars (and one Hollywood director)!

Before you leave, you may want to check out this PETA video of Joaquin Phoenix “drowning”…