The funny thing about being a celebrity is that it’s hard for fans to see them as anything else. Once somebody becomes a famous actor, for example, it’s difficult to imagine the hobbies and interests they once had.
For example, many of your favorite celebrities were cheerleaders in their high school and college days. In some cases, this was their first real experience at performing in front of huge crowds.
Which of your fave celebs has a background in cheerleading? Here are a few of the world’s most famous celebrities that mastered the art of waving pom-poms around during the big game.
Cameron Diaz
With movies like There’s Something About Mary, Cameron Diaz established herself as one of the “bad girls” of Hollywood. But back in the day, she was a model student and served as a cheerleader at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in California.
Alicia Silverstone
Alicia Silverstone is perhaps most famous for portraying a ditzy blonde in the classic movie Clueless. While her character in that movie didn’t like to get her hands dirty, Silverstone in real life wasn’t afraid to be a cheerleader out on the field for every game.
Fergie
Years before this Black Eyed Peas singer was churning out hit singles like “Boom Boom Pow,” Fergie performed in front of crowds as a cheerleader at Glen. A. Wilson High School in Hacienda Heights, California.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox made a big Hollywood splash with roles in movies like Transformers and Jennifer’s Body. But she was probably used to getting plenty of attention thanks to her days as a varsity cheerleader back in high school.
Jennifer Lawrence
From The Hunger Games to X-Men: First Class, Jennifer Lawrence has made a career out of playing strong women. It’s no surprise, then, that she was an energetic and passionate cheerleader back when she was in high school.
Halle Berry
Movies like Monster’s Ball established Halle Berry as such a great actress that audiences forgot all about Catwoman. But one thing fans should never forget is that Berry busted out some awesome moves as a cheerleader for Bedford High School in Ohio back in the day.
Madonna
If you were to look “bad girl” up in the dictionary, it probably has a picture of Madonna next to it. But before this famous singer became a famous provocateur, Madonna was actually a “girl next door” cheerleader for Rochester Adams High School in Detroit, Michigan.
Sandra Bullock
While Sandra Bullock is a famous Hollywood actor thanks to movies such as Speed, she hasn’t forgotten her cheerleader roots. Not only was she a cheerleader back in high school, but she even held onto the uniform to remember the good old days.
Amy Poehler
On Parks and Recreation, Amy Poehler served as a relentless political cheerleader who helped keep her team of government officials together. Before channeling all that energy onto the small screen, though, she was an actual cheerleader at Burlington High School in Massachusetts.
Katie Couric
Katie Couric is one of the most famous journalists in the entire world. Before that, though, she was a humble cheerleader at Yorktown High School in Arlington, Virginia.
Lindsay Lohan
Lindsay Lohan is perhaps best known for her role in Mean Girls, where she played an awkward teen. But at her actual high school, Lohan was very outgoing. In addition to playing basketball and soccer, she brought energy and enthusiasm to the cheerleading squad.
Meryl Streep
The devil may wear Prada, but does it wear a skirt? Before becoming a genuine Hollywood legend, Meryl Streep was a cheerleader for Bernards High School in New Jersey.
Steve Martin
Along with movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Saturday Night Live helped transform Steve Martin into a household name. It probably helped that he had extensive practice as a performer thanks to his time cheerleading for Garden Grove High School in California.
Diane Sawyer
Thanks to her famous broadcast journalism career, Diane Sawyer is one of the most recognizable faces you will ever see. But nobody knew how famous she’d become back when she was a cheerleader at Seneca High School in Louisville, Kentucky.
Snooki
It may be tough to imagine petite Jersey Shore star Snooki as a cheerleader. But back when she was a cheerleader for Marlboro High School in New York, her petite stature made it easy for her to be at the top of any given pyramid.
Denise Richards
Denise Richards has had a wild acting career that ranged from B-movies to the James Bond franchise and even reality TV. Before she kicked off that career, though, she was kicking as a cheerleader for her high school.
Rachael Ray
Rachael Ray became famous for showing viewers how to bring tasty meals to life. But back in high school, she helped bring school spirit to life as a cheerleader for Lake George High School in New York.
Eva Longoria
Most of the celebs on this list were cheerleaders back in high school. But Desperate Housewives actor Eva Longoria took it to the next level by serving as a cheerleader for Texas A&M University!
Olivia Munn
Olivia Munn made a name for herself by acting in everything from Attack of the Show to The Newsroom. She even played the superhero Psylocke in X-Men: Apocalypse. Before any of that, though, she was an energetic cheerleader at PC North High School in Oklahoma.
Kirk Douglas
Hollywood legend (and father of Michael Douglas), Kirk Douglas passed away in 2020 at the age of 103. But before he amazed audiences in movies such as Spartacus, he showed off his moves as a cheerleader at Amsterdam High School in New York.
Gabrielle Union
Gabrielle Union became an instant icon thanks to her roles in films like She’s All That and Bring It On. But before she showed off her cheerleading skills on the big screen, she performed as an actual cheerleader during her high school days.