Meet the Vegan Actresses Who are Changing Hollywood
Vegan Actresses - Natalie Portman - Georges Biard / CC-BY-SA-3.0
We get it, things are uncertain, there is a lot of doom and gloom, but if ever there was some hope or a silver lining it is these amazing vegan actresses who while making a name for themselves in Hollywood have also paved the way for a healthy, plant-based, ethical lifestyle. These ladies are true vegan warriors and also aim to lift up their fellow women. And we think that deserves some celebrating!
Natalie Portman
While you may know Portman from the big screen in hits like Black Swan, Annihilation, and Jackie, she is also making noise in the world of vegan cinema. In 2018, Portman co-produced and narrated a documentary called Eating Animals. Boasting a 91% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this film covers the harsh realities of factory farming and its effects on animals, humans, and the planet.
Portman can also regularly be found on social media urging her followers to try veganism. She sees this as a feminist issue as much as an animal rights one due to how egg laying hens and dairy cows are treated: “Dairy and eggs don’t just come from cows and chickens, they come from female cows and female chickens. We’re exploiting female bodies and abusing the magic of female animals to create eggs and milk.”
Shout out to Portman for sharing the truth!
Evanna Lynch
A longtime vegan actress and vegan, you may know Evanna Lynch as Luna Lovegood from the Harry Potter franchise. She's been vegetarian since age 11, and it wasn't until she read the impactful book Eating Animals by Jonathan Safron Foer that she came to the conclusion that veganism was more aligned with her personal values. Since making the switch, she's achieved so much with her animal advocacy!
This famous vegan actress is a co-founder of the famous vegan beauty subscription box Kinder Beauty, along with Daniella Monet and Andrew Bernstein. Additionally, she works with a variety of animal charities and organizations like Veganuary, Mercy For Animals, PETA, and many more.
Mayim Bialik
Bialik is best known for her role as one of the brainiacs from The Big Bang Theory. In reality, she is an actual brainiac; she holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience! Today, you can find her on her YouTube channel promoting a vegan lifestyle and recommendations on how to bring up a vegan family. She has also released a cookbook for all your vegan needs.
Ultimately, Bialik’s focus is on showing people that a vegan lifestyle is achievable, manageable, and optimal for all walks of life including kids. Like any good scientist, she relies on the facts. And all facts point to veganism! Join in her fight today!
Nathalie Emmanuel
This Game of Thrones and The Fast & The Furious star adopted a plant-based diet for health reasons, and today Nathalie Emmanuel is thriving on her vegan lifestyle! She stays healthy and active with home-cooked plant-based meals, yoga, and running, which she shares in photos on her Instagram page.
Although she isn't as outspoken about her beliefs as some of the other vegan actresses in our list, she is proud of her beliefs, and says her new meat-free diet has majorly boosted her energy levels. She's felt significantly better since making the switch and has even recreated some of her favorite Caribbean dishes using healthy vegan swaps! Yum!
Rooney Mara
Mara hails from something of a vegan dynasty with her sister--Kate Mara--in the vegan trenches too! Rooney Mara is known for several amazing performances like those in The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Her, Social Network etc. She, alongside current boyfriend and fellow vegan activist Joaquin Phoenix, are doing their part for the animals, the planet, and the vegan movement. She can be found marching in the streets with cruelty-free combat boots. Veganism consumes far more than just her plate. She recognizes the value in eating vegan, using cruelty-free beauty products, and living a mindful lifestyle. It is about living your best life and doing the least amount of harm possible!
Sadie Sink
A self-proclaimed "passionate vegan", Sadie Sink isn't afraid to speak up for the animals and use her huge platform to promote the movement! Sink had been vegetarian for a year when she met vegan actor Woody Harrelson and his family on the set of The Glass Castle. She learned more about the mistreatment of animals in the egg and dairy industries, and they showed her just how easy and sustainable plant-based eating could be. So, she essentially switched to a totally vegan diet overnight!
Sadie Sink believes that although perhaps not everyone can be 100% vegan, everyone can still do something for the animals. Whether you try vegan food, opt for animal-free clothing/products, or support an animal welfare organization, every little act of kindness counts!
Daniella Monet
At age 33, actress Daniella Monet, most commonly known for her role as Trina Vega on Victorious, has now been vegan for 23 years! She made the connection at age 5, going meat-free after having witnessed animal abuse at a rodeo. Years later, her uncle and parents were diagnosed with cancer, and they all went fully vegan to better combat the disease. And by age 13, Daniella had learned of the benefits of the lifestyle and made a whole-hearted transition to veganism.
Throughout the years, Monet has been very active within the vegan community. So far, she's invested in projects like 'Pig Out' vegan pork rinds, 'Sunday Supper' vegan take-and-bake lasagnas, and has even co-founded her own vegan beauty subscription box brand called 'Kinder Beauty' alongside fellow vegan actress Evanna Lynch! She posts her favorite vegan recipes on her website, and openly discusses her vegan lifestyle on her famous podcast "Adulting Like a Mother Father". It seems this hardworking actress is constantly fighting for the animals!
Taraji P. Henson
Finally, Taraji Henson is a new convert to the vegan movement. In Hollywood you might know her from Hidden Figures, Empire, and What Men Want. Lately though, her health has caused her to take up the vegan cause. She is quoted saying, “It took a doctor in Macon, Georgia, to say, ‘If you don’t change what you’re doing, you’re going to get stomach cancer,’” she said. “I said, ‘Say no more.’ So, I switched everything up out of necessity. I want to live. Thank God, because I feel so much better.” While her health was the primary motivator, Henson is a great reminder that strong women making a statement can lead to great change!
Madelaine Petsch
This Riverdale and Cruel Intentions star has been vegan her entire life, and is all about spreading the vegan message in a fun, positive way! "People make it seem like it’s so difficult...I want to teach people how positive and easy it is to be vegan — I don’t want to make it seem like it’s this big feat,” shared Petsch in an interview with Teen Vogue.
She's a huge believer in clean, non-processed foods like protein pasta (made of red lentils) and veggies (namely spinach). Overnight oats with chia seeds are also a favorite of hers. Seems like she's truly keeping her diet simple and easy as possible, and has not struggled to maintain her plant-based lifestyle. Petsch claims that "being vegan keeps [her] body fueled and running smoothly". You can even catch a glimpse of her daily diet and wellness routines on her YouTube channel!
Jessica Chastain
Once pescatarian, later vegetarian, and finally 100% vegan actress Jessica Chastain (known for her roles in The Martian, The Help, Interstellar, and It) has experimented with many diets. However, after 14 years as a vegan, she seems to have found a lifestyle that fits both her health and her values. Not only does she enjoy vegan banana pancakes and veggie burgers, she also rocks cruelty-free fits on the red carpet! She's claimed her health and energy levels are better than ever after making the switch to veganism, and she hasn't gone back since!
Future Vegans
These women are using their platforms to educate, inform, and share their experiences. It is truly a hopeful reminder that we can all play a role in creating a brighter, healthier, and greener tomorrow! Girls run the world, right?? So, join this vegan movement, spread the hope, and run this world!
