In today’s digitally connected world, celebrities have more influence than ever before. Vegan celebrities often use their platform to promote animal rights, environmental advocacy and the health benefits of a plant-based diet. Here are just some of our favourite vegan celebrities – who have revealed their own reasons for adopting a plant-based diet.
Billie Eilish
“I was raised vegetarian, and I chose to stop eating all animal products when I was 12. Once I learned about how animals are treated in our industrial food system, I didn’t want any part of it.”
Benedict Cumberbatch
During a recent promotional tour for the latest Avengers movie, English actor Benedict Cumberbatch revealed that he eats a plant-based diet. In 2016, Mr Cumberbatch also featured on the cover of British GQ, wearing vegan boots and a suit made from cruelty-free wool.
Venus Williams
“Once I started [a plant-based diet] I fell in love with the concept of fueling your body in the best way possible. Not only does it help me on the court, but I feel like I’m doing the right thing for me.”
Venus Williams was diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome in 2011 – an autoimmune disease which threatened her superstar tennis career. After taking time off, Ms Williams was able to step back onto the court with renewed strength, thanks to the right medical treatment and a newly adopted raw, vegan diet. Today, the 7-time grand slam winner describes the raw vegan diet as the ‘best fuel’ for her athletic performance.
Serena Williams
The 23-time grand slam winner Serena Williams also follows a plant-based diet, like her sister Venus. As one of the best athletes in world history, Serena’s example leaves little doubt that a diet free from animal products is suitable for all.
Ariana Grande
“I love animals more than I love most people, not kidding… I am a firm believer in eating a full plant-based, whole food diet that can expand your life length and make you an all-round happier person.”
Ariana Grande is a proud and candid vegan, stating that her love for animals almost outweighs that of people. The 25-year-old singer and actress has been outspoken about topics such as ivory poaching and keeping animals in zoos; and has even encouraged her fans to adopt companion animals, rather than buying them in pet stores.
Joaquin Phoenix
“It takes nothing away from a human to be kind to an animal.”
The Oscar-nominated actor Joaquin Phoenix was raised vegan by eco-conscious parents. Since then, the 44-year-old has been an outspoken advocate for animal rights and narrated the eye-opening documentary Earthlings. He even rescued a calf from a slaughterhouse and used his Oscar’s speech to educate the world about the horrors of the dairy industry.”
Pamela Anderson
“At age 11, when I realized that hamburgers didn’t really grow in hamburger patches, but came from cows who screamed as they were electrically prodded to slaughter, I became a vegetarian.”
Pamela Anderson has been vegetarian since the age of 11 – and after being exposed to the horrors of slaughterhouses, she turned to veganism. Today, Ms Anderson is a proud proponent of animal rights, and has appeared in multiple campaigns. Pamela’s website humorously challenges its visitors: “If you’re not vegan, you’re old fashioned.”
Natalie Portman
“Eating for me is how you proclaim your beliefs three times a day. That is why all religions have rules about eating. Three times a day, I remind myself that I value life and do not want to cause pain to or kill other living beings. That is why I eat the way I do.”
Superstar Hollywood actress, Natalie Portman, was a vegetarian for over 20 years – and turned to veganism after producing and narrating the documentary Eating Animals. Ms Portman says she is motivated by a true love for animals, and has told her fans there’s never been an easier time in history to go vegan.
will.i.am
“I’m fighting for a healthier me and a healthier planet. I started realizing … urgh, I was eating, like, rotted animal lactate … that came from freaking cow’s tit? That’s disgusting.”
Rapper, musician, and producer Will.i.am says he is ‘violently vegan’ and his passion for being plant-based has spilled over into his lyrics. He invites everyone to join the VGang, which he says is “a group of people taking a hardcore gangster approach to wellness and [conscious] living.”
Jessica Chastain
Named as one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world, powerhouse actress Jessica Chastain is also a long-term vegan. The animal-lover is known for supporting shelter adoptions and cruelty-free products – and traveled to an African wildlife sanctuary in 2017.
Some other world-famous vegan celebrities include…
- Alanis Morissette
- Alicia Silverstone
- Brad Pitt
- Demi Moore
- Jenna Tatum
- Kate Mara
- Rooney Mara
- Leona Lewis
- Madonna
- Michelle Pfeiffer
- Moby
- Portia De Rossi
- Stevie Wonder
- Woody Harrelson
