Catholic Actors and Singers

Catholic Rock Stars, Pop Stars Oscar Winners and Bombshells

Mar 5, 2008 Dulcinea Norton-Smith

Celebrities can be Catholic, too. Among some of the people brought up as or converted to Catholocism are Sylvester Stallone, Madonna, Mel Gibson and Ben Afleck.

Here are some celebrities who are reported to be previous or practising Catholics even though some of their work may seem in conflict with their faith.

The Hollywood Catholics

• Jim Calviezel played Jesus in The Passion of the Christ and is a very devout Catholic.
• Mel Gibson, director of Passion of the Christ, is Traditionalist Catholic- doesn't accept the reforms of the Second Vatican Council.
• Nicole Kidman star of the film The Golden Compass, which is said to have a basis in Christianity and which some people are calling anti-Catholic, was raised Catholic and returned to her Catholic roots after divorcing Scientologist Tom Cruise.
• Mary Pickford, producer, actress and star of over one hundred movies between 1909 and 1933 was raised Catholic but converted to Christian Science in later life.
• Bridget Bardot, blonde bombshell and star of And God Created Woman is Catholic and had publically lamented the downward slide of practising Catholics in France.
• Actor and singer Dean Martin was Catholic.
• Carmen Miranda was raised in a strict Roman Catholic household.
• Award winning actor and star of the thriller Silence of the Lambs Sir Anthony Hopkins is Catholic.`
• Star of the Witches of Eastwick, Susan Sarandon was raised in a large Catholic family and attended the Catholic University in Washington DC.
• Ever popular actor Will Smith was born in a Baptist house, went to a Catholic school and is now a Scientologist.
• Alfred Hitchcock was raised a strict Catholic and despite the macabre theme of his movies he did incorporate much religious imagery in them.
• Brooke Shields is a Catholic although she did recently come under some harsh criticism for her choice to have an IVF baby.
• Actor Sean Penn is a Catholic and was raised by a devout Catholic mother and a lapsed Jewish father.
• Star of the film The Devil's Advocate, Al Pacino is Catholic.
• Bill Murray was raised in a Catholic family and his sister, a Dominican Sister, made headlines with her one-woman show on Saint Catherine of Sienna.
• Sophia Lauren was Catholic and caused a scandal in Italy when she married a divorcee.
• Ben Afleck, star of the movie Dogma, was raised by a Protestant father and a Catholic mother.
• Antonio Banderas was raised Catholic but now describes himself as agnostic.
• Director, producer and actor Martin Scorcese once considered entering the priesthood but is now a lapsed Catholic.
• Nicolas Cage, who stars as a Catholic policeman in The Wicker Man, was raised Catholic.
• Sylvester Stallone was raised a Catholic and has recently heavily returned to the faith after a period which he describes as being lost in the temptations of the modern world.
• Bela Lugosi, renowned for his work in horror movies and in particular as Dracula, was raised a Catholic.

The Singing Catholics

• Christina Aguilera was raised Catholic.
• Despite her "Like a Virgin" tour, which enraged several Catholic organisations, Madonna was raised Catholic, though she is now of the Kabbalah faith.
• Cyndi Lauper attended Catholic schools as a child and describes herself as a “recovering Catholic”.
• Bob Geldof is Catholic despite the inconsistencies between Catholocism disagreeing with the use of condoms and the work Bob does in Africa promoting the use of them to prevent the spread of HIV and AIDS.
• Bruce Springsteen had a Catholic upbringing.
• Despite being a remarried divorcee Luciano Pavarotti returned to his Catholic roots shortly before he died.
• Celine Dion comes from a large Catholic family.

So it seems that a life of fame and fortune and the temptations they bring do not necessarily preclude a life of faith.

You may also want to read about Catholic scientists, authors and artists.

The copyright of the article Catholic Actors and Singers in Catholicism is owned by Dulcinea Norton-Smith. Permission to republish Catholic Actors and Singers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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11 Comments

Comments

May 22, 2009 4:48 PM

Guest :

Liam Neeson is a Catholic too.

Jul 13, 2009 4:51 PM

Guest :

Sharon mitchell is a catholic (former porn performer and creator of aim health care)

Aug 6, 2009 8:32 PM

Guest :

Natalie Imbruglia is catholic.

Aug 18, 2009 3:08 PM

Guest :

A "life of fame and fortune and the temptations they bring" may not "preclude a life of faith", most of the people listed have fallen away.

Aug 30, 2009 11:06 AM

Guest :

What about Kelly Clarkson?

Oct 28, 2009 1:24 PM

Guest :

Tom Araya (the singer and bass player of the death thrash metal band SLAYER) is catholic too.

Nov 27, 2009 7:09 AM

Guest :

what about lady gaga

Jan 4, 2010 7:16 PM

Guest :

you forgot aaliyah and tyra banks two of the sexiest women that every lived

Jan 4, 2010 7:43 PM

Guest :

gwen stefani and fergie are catholic too..

Jan 9, 2010 8:00 AM

Guest :

James Hetfild from Metallica too

Jan 11, 2010 5:50 AM

Guest :

Also, Pope John Paul II was Catholic!

11 Comments