Lights, camera, action, and…a lack of divine intervention? In the glitzy, sometimes-godly world of Hollywood and beyond, there is a cache of celebrities who’ve traded in the traditional notion of a higher power for a more grounded, secular viewpoint. Interestingly, in a 2019 Pew Research Center survey, about 4% of Americans identified as atheists. Here are 19 stars who simply shrug and say, “Nah, not for me,” when it comes to faith.
Angelina Jolie
Despite being raised in a family with Catholic roots, Jolie has made it clear in multiple interviews that she does not believe in a higher power. She has often spoken about how her life experiences and observations worldwide, especially during her humanitarian work, have shaped this belief.
Keira Knightley
In multiple interviews, the “Atonement” star has attributed her atheism to the influence of her parents and a general lack of religious exposure growing up. Despite her lack of belief in a deity, Knightley has expressed an appreciation for the cultural aspects of religion and its role in storytelling, a sentiment often reflected in her choice of film roles.
Jodie Foster
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Jodie stated, “I’m an atheist. But I absolutely love religions and the rituals. Even though I don’t believe in God, we celebrate pretty much every religion in our family with the kids.”
Daniel Radcliffe
Despite being raised in a Jewish household, Radcliffe has often expressed his lack of belief in a higher power. In an interview with Esquire, the actor candidly stated, “I’m an atheist, but I’m very relaxed about it. I don’t preach my atheism, but I have a huge amount of respect for people like Richard Dawkins who do.”
George Clooney
Clooney identifies as an atheist, a fact that might surprise those who remember him playing a devout soldier in ‘The Thin Red Line’. In a 2006 interview with Larry King, Clooney stated, “I don’t believe in heaven and hell. I don’t know if I believe in God.”
Brad Pitt
Raised in a conservative Baptist household, he strayed from his religious upbringing as he grew older, citing a disconnect between his personal beliefs and organized religion. In a 2009 interview with Bild, when asked if he believed in God, he responded, “No, no, no!” cementing his position in the atheist camp.
Johnny Depp
Regarding religious belief, Depp has never been one to sail with the mainstream. He once stated, “I have faith in my kids… but as far as religion, I don’t believe in a god who sits watching us.”
Jenelle Evans
Evans identifies as an atheist and has often taken to social media to provide her followers with a glimpse into her secular worldview. Contrary to the often stereotyped image of the non-religious, Evans demonstrates that one can lead a meaningful life grounded in values of love, honesty, and respect without subscribing to religious doctrines.
Bruce Willis
While his tough-guy image on screen often involves playing characters with a penchant for saving the day (and the world), off-screen, he takes a different stance on the concept of faith. Willis once famously quipped, “Organized religions in general, in my opinion, are dying forms.” He believes in simply being a good person and living life to the fullest rather than adhering to religious doctrines.
Zac Efron
With those boyish good looks and a charming smile, he’s stolen many hearts, but did you know he’s also a proud atheist? Efron has frequently voiced his non-religious stance, stating in interviews that he believes in hard work and a bit of luck rather than divine intervention.
Hugh Hefner
Hef, as he was colloquially known, once quipped, “It’s perfectly clear to me that religion is a myth.” His disbelief in organized religion didn’t stand in the way of his philanthropy, though; he generously supported causes like freedom of speech, civil rights, and sex research.
Julianne Moore
Moore once shared with the Hollywood Reporter, “The realization struck me when my mother passed away five years ago—there is no inherent essence in life. We are the ones who impose structure and narrative on the world around us as a means to comprehend it. Without our interpretations, chaos would reign supreme.” In the face of chaos, Moore finds empowerment.
Keanu Reeves
The “John Wick” star once declared in an interview, “I’m not a believer. I’m more in the realm of asking questions.” It’s a classic Keanu move, replacing dogma with curiosity.
Kathy Griffin
Not one to shy away from controversy, Griffin famously stated in her Emmy acceptance speech, “A lot of people come up here and thank Jesus for this. But no one thanks him when things go horribly wrong. That’s bad times…God is gone!” While her comments stirred up quite a whirlwind, they painted a crystal-clear picture of her views on religion.
Joaquin Phoenix
The actor eschews religious belief, leaning more towards atheism as a philosophy. He was quoted in an interview saying, “I don’t believe in God. I don’t believe in an afterlife. I don’t believe in soul.” His beliefs (or lack thereof) don’t stem from bitterness or antagonism against religious institutions but from a profoundly personal understanding of life and death.
Morgan Freeman
Freeman’s sonorous tones have graced the character of the almighty in films like “Bruce Almighty,” yet in interviews, he has been open about his lack of personal faith. He once said, “The question of faith is whatever you actually believe is. We take a lot of our beliefs from our parents.”
Seth MacFarlane
While his shows are all-in-good-fun, MacFarlane has been quite direct about his atheism in interviews and public forums. A staunch advocate of science and reason over faith, he once quipped, “I do not believe in God. I’m an atheist. I consider myself a critical thinker, and it fascinates me that in the 21st century most people still believe in, as George Carlin puts it, ‘the invisible man living in the sky'”.
Kevin Bacon
In an interview with The Guardian, he stated, “I don’t believe in God.” Instead of divine intervention, Bacon credits his enduring Hollywood career to hard work and a heaping serving of luck.
Javier Bardem
Little known fact: Bardem does not subscribe to any religious belief. In an interview with Esquire in 2011, he was pretty upfront about his atheism, saying, “I’ve always said I don’t believe in God, I believe in Al Pacino.”
Uma Thurman
Openly identifying as an atheist, Thurman’s spiritual compass is driven not by faith in a higher power but by an unwavering belief in human potential and reason. From her perspective, it’s not a divine intervention but human actions that shape our world—a philosophy as compelling as her unforgettable performances on screen.
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