100 Fun Facts About Celebrity

Who is the only actor with three Best Actor Academy Awards?

Daniel Day-Lewis holds the record with three Best Actor Oscar wins for My Left Foot (1989), There Will Be Blood (2007), and Lincoln (2012).

The 2003 hit 'Crazy in Love', the lead single from Dangerously in Love, featured which rapper?

Jay-Z rapped the guest verse on Beyoncé's 'Crazy in Love', which spent eight straight weeks at number one on the Hot 100 and won Best R&B Song at the 2004 Grammys.

Which celebrity couple is known as 'Bennifer'?

'Bennifer' is Ben Affleck & Jennifer Lopez: the press coined it during their 2002–04 romance and revived it as 'Bennifer 2.0' when they reunited and married in 2022.

Who was Alex Russo on Disney Channel's Wizards of Waverly Place?

Selena Gomez played Alex Russo on Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–12); she began on Barney & Friends as a child and has starred in Only Murders in the Building since 2021.

Which NBA player legally changed his name to Metta World Peace in 2011?

Ron Artest, then a Los Angeles Laker, legally became Metta World Peace in September 2011; after marrying he changed it again in 2020 to Metta Sandiford-Artest.

Which TV show launched the careers of Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, and Lisa Kudrow?

Friends (1994–2004) launched all three actresses to superstardom. The show became one of the most popular sitcoms in television history.

What was Lady Gaga's first number-one hit single?

'Just Dance' was a sleeper hit that spent almost five months on the Hot 100 before reaching number one in January 2009; 'Poker Face' followed as her second consecutive chart-topper.

Which actor played Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?

Robert Downey Jr. portrayed Tony Stark / Iron Man from 2008's Iron Man through 2019's Avengers: Endgame, becoming one of the most iconic superhero castings in film history.

Which rapper first found fame playing wheelchair-using Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation?

Drake's full birth name is Aubrey Drake Graham. He was born in Toronto, Canada, and initially gained fame as an actor on the TV series Degrassi.

Who hosted 'The Tonight Show' for 30 years before retiring in 1992?

His run lasted from 1962 to 1992, the whole time under the title The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Which athlete became the first person to pass 1 billion combined social media followers?

Cristiano Ronaldo crossed 1 billion in October 2024, having been the first to pass half a billion in 2021; Instagram is by far his largest platform.

Which actress won an Oscar for her role in 'Black Swan' (2010)?

Natalie Portman won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her intense portrayal of a ballet dancer descending into madness in Black Swan.

Which Kardashian-Jenner family member's cosmetics brand launched with sold-out Lip Kits in November 2015?

Kylie Jenner's Kylie Cosmetics, started as Kylie Lip Kits with Seed Beauty, sold its first liquid-lipstick-and-liner kits on 30 November 2015; Coty bought a 51% stake in 2019.

After his first NBA retirement in 1993, Michael Jordan tried to make it professionally in which other sport?

Baseball: Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.

Which singer is known as the 'Queen of Pop'?

Madonna has been widely referred to as the 'Queen of Pop' since the 1980s, a title reflecting her massive influence on pop music and culture spanning over four decades.

Which celebrity chef is famous for the phrase 'Bam!'?

Emeril Lagasse became famous for his enthusiastic catchphrase 'Bam!' which he used while adding spices to dishes on his cooking shows, starting with Emeril Live in the late 1990s.

Will Smith famously slapped which presenter at the 2022 Academy Awards?

Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on stage at the 94th Academy Awards in March 2022 after Rock made a joke about Smith's wife Jada Pinkett Smith. Smith won Best Actor later that evening.

Which BTS member performed 'Dreamers' at the 2022 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony in Qatar?

Jungkook sang 'Dreamers' at the Al Bayt Stadium opening ceremony on 20 November 2022, joined by Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi; the single was released the same day.

Which actress played Katniss Everdeen in 'The Hunger Games' film series?

Jennifer Lawrence starred as Katniss Everdeen in all four Hunger Games films (2012-2015), a role that catapulted her to global stardom.

Which song spent a then-record 19 straight weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019?

Lil Nas X ('Old Town Road') held number one for 19 weeks in 2019, the longest run in Hot 100 history at that point; Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song (Tipsy)' equaled it in 2024.

Which British royal gave a famous interview with Oprah Winfrey in March 2021?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sat down with Oprah Winfrey for a bombshell interview in March 2021, making shocking allegations about the British royal family.

What was Elvis Presley's famous nickname?

Elvis Presley was known as 'The King of Rock and Roll' or simply 'The King.' Michael Jackson later earned the title 'King of Pop.'

Which reality series about Kris Jenner's family premiered on E! in October 2007 and ran for 20 seasons?

Keeping Up with the Kardashians premiered on E! on 14 October 2007 and ended after 20 seasons in 2021, turning the family into a global brand over almost fourteen years.

Who was the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director?

Kathryn Bigelow won Best Director for The Hurt Locker at the 2010 ceremony, the first woman to do so; Chloé Zhao (2021) and Jane Campion (2022) followed.

Which man claimed a men's-record 24th Grand Slam singles title at the 2023 US Open?

Novak Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the 2023 US Open final for his 24th major, moving past Rafael Nadal's 22 and Roger Federer's 20.

Which pop star's 'Eras Tour' became the highest-grossing concert tour of all time?

Taylor Swift's Eras Tour, which launched in March 2023, became the highest-grossing concert tour in history, surpassing $1 billion in revenue.

Which actor played the Joker in 'The Dark Knight' and passed away before the film's release?

Heath Ledger delivered an iconic performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008). He tragically passed away in January 2008, months before the film's release, and posthumously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Which former Disney Channel star released the hit song 'Drivers License' in 2021?

Olivia Rodrigo, known for her role in High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, released 'Drivers License' in January 2021. It broke multiple Spotify streaming records.

Which comedian and actor starred in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' and 'Good Will Hunting'?

Robin Williams starred in both Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) and Good Will Hunting (1997), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was beloved for both his comedy and dramatic roles.

Which supermodel did Time dub 'The Body' in 1989?

Elle Macpherson got the nickname 'The Body' from a 1989 Time magazine cover story; she went on to a record five Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers, the last in 2006.

Which celebrity bought Twitter (now X) in October 2022?

Elon Musk completed his $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in October 2022 and subsequently rebranded it as X.

Who played Buffy Summers, the latest in a line of young women chosen as Vampire Slayers, in the 1997–2003 series?

Sarah Michelle Gellar led the cult series Buffy the Vampire Slayer for its whole run from 1997 to 2003.

Which musician is known for hits like 'Purple Rain' and 'When Doves Cry'?

Prince was the genius behind 'Purple Rain,' 'When Doves Cry,' 'Kiss,' and many other iconic songs. He was one of the most versatile and prolific musicians of all time.

Which actor voiced Woody in the 'Toy Story' franchise?

Tom Hanks has voiced Woody, the pull-string cowboy doll, since the first Toy Story in 1995, opposite Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear.

Which athlete is known as 'The GOAT' and has won 7 Super Bowl titles?

Tom Brady won 7 Super Bowl championships (6 with the New England Patriots, 1 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), earning him the widespread nickname 'The GOAT' (Greatest of All Time).

Which actress completed her EGOT at the 2022 Tony Awards, as a producer of the musical 'A Strange Loop'?

Jennifer Hudson completed her EGOT at the 2022 Tonys as a producer of A Strange Loop, adding to her Dreamgirls Oscar, two Grammys, and a 2021 Daytime Emmy for the animated VR film Baba Yaga.

Which famous couple starred together in 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith' (2005) and later married?

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, dubbed 'Brangelina,' met on the set of Mr. & Mrs. Smith in 2004. They began their relationship and married in 2014 before divorcing in 2019.

Which streaming service produced the hit show 'Squid Game'?

Squid Game was produced by Netflix and became the platform's most-watched series ever upon its release in September 2021, turning its cast into global celebrities.

Which singer reworked Dolly Parton's 'Jolene' on the 2024 album Cowboy Carter?

Beyoncé rewrote 'Jolene' with new, confrontational lyrics for Cowboy Carter, released 29 March 2024; Dolly Parton herself recorded the spoken 'Dolly P' introduction that precedes the track.

Which action star won California's historic 2003 recall election and served as the state's 38th governor until 2011?

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Terminator star, became the 38th governor of California after the 2003 recall and served until 2011.

Which British singer had a viral hit with 'Someone Like You' at the 2011 BRIT Awards?

Adele's emotional performance of 'Someone Like You' at the 2011 BRIT Awards is considered one of the greatest live TV music moments. The song shot to number one immediately after.

Which social media star and boxer fought Floyd Mayweather in an exhibition match in 2021?

Logan Paul fought Floyd Mayweather in a pay-per-view exhibition boxing match in June 2021 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami. The fight went the full eight rounds with no official winner declared.

Which actress played Elle Woods in 'Legally Blonde'?

Reese Witherspoon starred as Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2001) and its sequel. The role became one of her most iconic, and she later became a major producer through her company Hello Sunshine.

Who took over CBS's The Late Show from David Letterman in September 2015?

Stephen Colbert dropped the satirical character of The Colbert Report for a more traditional format when he took over in September 2015; Letterman himself returned as a guest in 2023.

Which rapper ran for President of the United States in 2020 on a 'Birthday Party' ticket?

Kanye West, who later changed his name to Ye, ran as an independent under the 'Birthday Party' banner in 2020, made the ballot in twelve states and drew about 70,000 votes.

Which actress starred in both 'Mean Girls' and 'The Notebook'?

Rachel McAdams played Regina George in Mean Girls and Allie Hamilton in The Notebook, both released in 2004.

Which member of the Spice Girls went on to marry footballer David Beckham?

Victoria 'Posh Spice' Beckham married footballer David Beckham in 1999. They became one of the world's most famous celebrity couples, often referred to as 'Posh and Becks.'

Which Oscar-winning director is known for films like 'Inception,' 'The Dark Knight,' and 'Oppenheimer'?

Christopher Nolan directed all three films and won his first Best Director Oscar for Oppenheimer in 2024. He is known for his complex, mind-bending narratives and practical effects.

What was the name of Michael Jackson's famous estate and amusement park?

Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch was a 2,700-acre property in Santa Barbara County, California, that included an amusement park, zoo, and movie theater. It was named after the fictional island in Peter Pan.

Which performer holds the record for the most Academy Awards for Best Actress, with four wins?

Katharine Hepburn holds the record for the most Best Actress Academy Awards with four wins: Morning Glory (1933), Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981).

Rihanna was born and raised on which Caribbean island nation?

Rihanna was born in Saint Michael, Barbados, and grew up in a three-bedroom bungalow in Bridgetown, helping her father sell clothes at a street stall before fame.

Before wrestling and Hollywood, Dwayne Johnson played college football for which school?

Dwayne Johnson was a backup defensive tackle at the University of Miami behind future Hall of Famer Warren Sapp and was on the Hurricanes' 1991 national championship roster.

Which Hollywood star's legal surname at birth was Mapother?

Tom Cruise was born Thomas Cruise Mapother IV in Syracuse, New York; his cousin William Mapother kept the surname and appeared with him in films including Mission: Impossible and Vanilla Sky.

Which singer was born with the first names Destiny Hope?

Miley Cyrus was born Destiny Hope Cyrus in 1992; her parents' nickname 'Smiley' for the grinning baby was shortened to Miley, which she made her legal name in 2008.

In which city was Keanu Reeves born?

Keanu Reeves was born in Beirut in 1964, where his English mother was working when she met his Hawaiian-born father; the family moved on and he was raised in Toronto.

Which performer earned a record 21st Academy Award acting nomination for The Post in 2018?

Meryl Streep's 21st nod, for The Post, brought her to 17 Best Actress and four Best Supporting Actress nominations, with three wins: Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie's Choice and The Iron Lady.

Which film finally earned Leonardo DiCaprio his Academy Award for Best Actor?

The Revenant (2015) won Leonardo DiCaprio his Best Actor Oscar; playing Hugh Glass he ate raw bison liver, slept in an animal carcass and learned some Pawnee and Arikara.

Whose 2011 marriage to NBA player Kris Humphries, sold as a two-part TV special, ended after just 72 days?

Kim Kardashian married Kris Humphries on 20 August 2011 in a wedding aired as a two-part E! special, then filed for divorce on 31 October, 72 days later.

Which pop star was born Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson in Santa Barbara?

Katy Perry, born Katheryn Hudson to two Pentecostal pastors, adopted her mother's maiden name Perry to avoid confusion with actress Kate Hudson.

Justin Bieber grew up busking outside a theatre in which Ontario town?

Justin Bieber busked on the steps of Stratford's Avon Theatre as a boy; the Stratford Perth Museum opened a 'Steps to Stardom' exhibit in 2018 with his childhood drum kit and a Grammy.

Ariana Grande played the dimwitted Cat Valentine on which Nickelodeon sitcom?

Ariana Grande played Cat Valentine on Victorious (2010–13) and its spin-off Sam & Cat; dyeing her hair red every other week for the role damaged it so badly she turned to wigs and extensions.

Who became the first person born in the 21st century to win an Academy Award?

Billie Eilish, born in December 2001, won Best Original Song in March 2022 for the Bond theme 'No Time to Die', co-written with her brother Finneas; that June she became Glastonbury's youngest solo headliner.

Who became the youngest winner of the Lead Actress in a Drama Series Emmy, for 'Euphoria'?

Zendaya won Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series in 2020 at 24, the youngest winner ever, for playing Rue Bennett in Euphoria, and won the award again in 2022.

Which Australian Oscar winner was actually born in Honolulu, Hawaii?

Nicole Kidman was born in Honolulu in 1967 while her Australian father was studying in the United States, giving her dual citizenship; she won Best Actress for The Hours (2002).

George Clooney co-founded which tequila brand, sold to Diageo in 2017?

Casamigos, founded by George Clooney with Rande Gerber and Mike Meldman in 2013, was sold to Diageo in 2017 for $700 million up front plus up to $300 million in earn-outs.

Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling all starred as kids on which show?

The Mickey Mouse Club's Disney Channel revival, launched in 1989, also featured Christina Aguilera and Keri Russell; Spears, Timberlake and Gosling all joined its cast in 1993.

Which screen icon was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in 1926?

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles on 1 June 1926; by her death in August 1962 her films had grossed about $200 million.

Which music legend was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight in Pinner, Middlesex?

Elton John, born Reginald Dwight in 1947, grew up in a council house in Pinner and completed an EGOT in 2024 with an Emmy for his Dodger Stadium farewell concert special.

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara on which island?

Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar, in 1946; his Parsi family fled to England after the 1964 Zanzibar Revolution.

Who was the first person People magazine named 'Sexiest Man Alive', in 1985?

Mel Gibson, the Australian-raised Mad Max star, was People's first 'Sexiest Man Alive' in 1985 at age 29, two years before Lethal Weapon made him a Hollywood action lead.

Clint Eastwood served two years as mayor of which California town from 1986?

Clint Eastwood was mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea from 1986 to 1988 on a $200-a-month salary; his council overturned the town's ban on selling take-away ice-cream cones.

Which 'Full House' actress served prison time over the 2019 college admissions scandal?

Lori Loughlin served two months in federal prison in late 2020, paid a $150,000 fine and did 100 hours of community service; her husband Mossimo Giannulli got five months.

Which lifestyle mogul served five months in federal prison and was released in March 2005?

Martha Stewart served five months at the Alderson federal prison camp in West Virginia, released in March 2005, after a conviction tied to the ImClone stock case brought by US Attorney James Comey.

Gwyneth Paltrow's 2023 ski-collision trial concerned a crash at a resort in which state?

The 2016 collision happened at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah; Gwyneth Paltrow countersued for one dollar plus legal fees and the 2023 jury found the other skier, Terry Sanderson, at fault.

Nicolas Cage changed his surname to avoid trading on which famous director uncle?

Nicolas Cage was born Nicolas Coppola, nephew of Francis Ford Coppola; he took 'Cage' partly from the comic hero Luke Cage, and his cousin Sofia Coppola won an Oscar for Lost in Translation.

Which rock star earned the nickname 'the Boss' by handling his band's nightly pay?

Bruce Springsteen picked up 'the Boss' in the late 1960s for collecting his band's nightly pay and handing it out; he has said he never liked the nickname.

Kobe Bryant died in a January 2020 helicopter crash in which California city?

The helicopter went down in hilly terrain in Calabasas on 26 January 2020, killing Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others; the NBA renamed its All-Star Game MVP trophy for him.

Apple paid roughly how much for Dr. Dre's headphone company Beats in 2014?

Apple paid about $3 billion for Beats in 2014 — $2.6 billion in cash and $400 million in stock — its largest acquisition at that time.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney completed a takeover of which Welsh football club in February 2021?

Wrexham AFC's supporters' trust approved the Reynolds–McElhenney takeover in November 2020 and it completed in February 2021; the club's revival became the Emmy-winning series Welcome to Wrexham.

Emma Watson earned her English literature degree from which Ivy League school in 2014?

Emma Watson graduated from Brown University in May 2014 with a bachelor's degree in English literature, having spent 2011–12 as a visiting student at Worcester College, Oxford.

Who is the youngest person ever to win a competitive Academy Award, at age ten?

Tatum O'Neal won Best Supporting Actress for Paper Moon (1973) at age ten, playing a child con artist opposite her real father, Ryan O'Neal.

Halle Berry's history-making Best Actress Oscar came for which 2001 film?

In Monster's Ball (2001) Halle Berry played Leticia, the widow of an executed murderer, becoming the first Black woman to win Best Actress; she had been first runner-up at Miss USA 1986.

Sidney Poitier became the first Black Best Actor Oscar winner for which 1963 film?

Lilies of the Field, in which Sidney Poitier plays a handyman building a chapel for nuns, won him Best Actor at the 1964 ceremony; born in Miami to visiting Bahamian parents, he grew up in the Bahamas.

Meghan Markle played paralegal-turned-lawyer Rachel Zane on which legal drama?

Suits kept her from 2011 to 2018; she left the USA Network series in late 2017, ahead of her royal wedding.

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen took turns playing which character on 'Full House'?

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen shared the role of Michelle Tanner, the youngest daughter, from Full House's 1987 premiere to its 1995 finale, starting when they were nine months old.

Which actor is the centre of a famous 'six degrees' parlour game about movie connections?

Kevin Bacon is the hub of 'Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon', the 1994 game linking any actor to him in six steps; he leaned in, fronting EE's long-running UK mobile adverts.

Which entertainer held the Guinness record for the longest TV career by a woman?

Betty White was certified by Guinness in 2014, and again in 2018, for the longest television career by a female entertainer, dating back to 1939; she entered the Television Hall of Fame in 1995.

Steve Harvey mistakenly crowned which country's contestant Miss Universe 2015?

Harvey announced Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutiérrez, as Miss Universe 2015 after misreading the card; she was the first runner-up, and Miss Philippines Pia Wurtzbach was crowned minutes later.

Which sporting icon was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in Louisville, Kentucky?

Muhammad Ali was named after a 19th-century abolitionist politician, and was named Sportsman of the Century in 1999.

What is the real name of the YouTube giveaway star known as MrBeast?

MrBeast is Jimmy Donaldson, born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1998 and raised in Greenville, North Carolina, where he began posting YouTube videos as a teenager.

Supermodel Cindy Crawford's model daughter goes by what name?

Kaia Gerber, Cindy Crawford's daughter with Rande Gerber, shared the cover of Vogue Paris with her mother in April 2016, aged fourteen.

Shakira and Sofía Vergara were both born in which city?

Both Shakira (1977) and Sofía Vergara (1972) were born in Barranquilla, the Caribbean port whose pre-Lent carnival is one of the world's biggest.

Talk-show legend Larry King was married how many times?

Larry King married eight times but to only seven women, because he wed Alene Akins twice in the 1960s; his eighth marriage, to Shawn Southwick, began in 1997.

Winona Ryder's 2001 shoplifting arrest involved $5,500 of goods from which store?

Winona Ryder was arrested at Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills in December 2001 with about $5,500 of merchandise; she wore Marc Jacobs to court and then fronted his Spring 2003 campaign.

Mr. Bean creator Rowan Atkinson holds a degree in which subject?

Rowan Atkinson took a degree in electrical engineering at Newcastle University, then an MSc in the subject at The Queen's College, Oxford, where the Oxford Revue took over from a planned doctorate.

Which film won Best Picture at the 2017 Oscars after 'La La Land' was named by mistake?

Moonlight, Barry Jenkins's coming-of-age drama, took Best Picture at the 89th Oscars on 26 February 2017 after presenters were handed the wrong envelope; it was the first LGBT-themed film to win the award.

Ed Sheeran was born in which West Yorkshire town?

Ed Sheeran was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in February 1991; his family later moved to Framlingham in Suffolk, where he grew up and started writing songs around age eleven.

Tiger Woods won his first major, the 1997 Masters, by what margin?

Tiger Woods won the 1997 Masters by 12 strokes, a tournament record margin; he had turned professional only the previous August and reached world number one in June 1997.

Who co-starred with Paris Hilton on the reality show 'The Simple Life'?

Nicole Richie, Lionel Richie's daughter and Paris's childhood friend, was the co-star; for the 2003 first season the pair lived with a family in rural Altus, Arkansas.

Margot Robbie got her start playing Donna Freedman on which Australian soap?

Margot Robbie played Donna Freedman on Neighbours from 2008 to 2011, then moved to Hollywood, landing the ABC series Pan Am before The Wolf of Wall Street.