Vegan celebrities are no longer a rarity in entertainment, sport or music. From Hollywood actors and British racing champions to Bollywood stars, Brazilian television personalities and Australian musicians, public figures have talked about avoiding animal products for reasons including animal welfare, the environment and personal wellbeing.
If you have searched for famous vegan celebrities, vegan actors, vegan singers or vegan athletes, this guide brings those interests together. Rather than repeating an unverified list, it explains what each person has publicly said or done, with the date and a link to the reporting behind the claim.
One important point: a celebrity’s diet can change. Someone who tried plant-based meals once is not automatically vegan for life, and one entry below (Sia) is included precisely because her story shows how labels can shift. Dates and sources are given so readers can tell long-term advocacy from an older announcement.
What does it mean when a celebrity is vegan?
A vegan diet excludes meat, fish, dairy, eggs and other animal-derived foods. Veganism, as a wider philosophy and way of life, also seeks to avoid animal exploitation in clothing, cosmetics and other purchases as far as possible and practicable. A vegetarian may still eat eggs or dairy; someone describing a mostly plant-based diet may sometimes eat animal products. These are not interchangeable labels. The Vegan Society explains the difference, and our own guides cover what veganism means and how vegetarian and vegan diets are defined.
The 16 people below have publicly spoken about veganism or have been documented supporting vegan eating and animal-free living. Each entry describes what is on the public record, with the year of the statement, instead of claiming access to anyone’s private, daily meals.
Famous vegan actors and musicians in the United States
1. Joaquin Phoenix — actor and longtime animal advocate
Oscar-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix, known for films including Joker and Walk the Line, has said he has been vegan since early childhood. He has described a boat trip when he was about three, when he and his siblings saw fish being caught and killed; he says that moment led his family to veganism (Vanity Fair, 2019). In early 2020 he persuaded the organisers of the Golden Globes to serve an all-vegan menu and led an Animal Equality protest on London’s Tower Bridge ahead of the BAFTAs (The Guardian, 2020).
Phoenix is a clear example of the difference between occasionally ordering a vegan dish and advocating a wider ethical position: his public work extends beyond what he eats to the treatment of animals in food production. He also appears in PETA’s profile of famous vegans.
2. Billie Eilish — singer and vegan fashion supporter
Billie Eilish has said she was raised vegetarian and became vegan at around 12; in a 2021 British Vogue interview she said she had been vegan for seven years (VegNews report), and in a 2025 British Vogue interview she again spoke about her veganism and why animal agriculture troubles her. The American singer has also brought vegan food and sustainability messaging to her work: Los Angeles magazine reported that her signature fragrances are vegan and cruelty-free, that Nike made its first vegan “leather” sneaker with her, and that she persuaded Oscar de la Renta to stop using fur for her 2021 Met Gala outfit.
Her example shows how an artist can affect food options beyond their own dressing room. For her two sold-out shows at San Jose’s SAP Center on 10 and 11 December 2024, the arena replaced its usual concessions with vegan and vegetarian options, believed to be a first for an artist there (Mercury News, 2024). PETA also named her its 2021 Person of the Year.
3. Alicia Silverstone — actor and vegan cookbook author
Alicia Silverstone, widely known for Clueless, has spent years discussing vegan food, cruelty-free living and practical home cooking. She wrote The Kind Diet, a 2009 vegan cookbook and guide (publication details), and later The Kind Mama. In an August 2025 podcast appearance, reported by Business Insider, she said she went vegan “for the animals” after seeing a documentary about how food is produced.
For people who are curious about the everyday side of veganism, Silverstone is an example of a celebrity whose work includes meals and household decisions rather than only public statements. PETA’s celebrity overview also features her as a long-time advocate.
4. Natalie Portman — actor and Eating Animals documentary advocate
Natalie Portman, who was born in Israel and built an international acting career, has said she has been vegetarian since childhood. She narrated and co-produced the documentary Eating Animals, released in 2018 and based on Jonathan Safran Foer’s book about industrial animal agriculture (Los Angeles Times, 2018).
Her story is useful for readers asking whether becoming vegan must happen all at once, and it shows why dates matter. Reports in 2011 said she had become vegan in 2009 after reading Foer’s book, and that she told a radio station in April 2011 she had “gone back to being vegetarian”#8220;went back to being vegetarian“gone back to being vegetarian”#8221; during pregnancy (New York Post, 2011). By 2018 Vanity Fair described her as having embraced veganism about seven years earlier, and in an August 2025 Elle interview she said, “I eat a vegan diet.” Sources give different years for the switch, so treat any single date with caution.
Vegan celebrities from Canada
5. Pamela Anderson — actor and animal-rights campaigner
Canadian actor Pamela Anderson is associated with long-running animal-rights campaigns. The Guardian described her in 2023 as a vegetarian since childhood and a vegan for more than three decades, known for activism that includes posing for PETA and protesting foie gras in France. In 2024 she published the cookbook I Love You: Recipes from the Heart, with 80 plant-based recipes (publisher’s page).
Anderson’s approach is a useful reminder that the term vegan lifestyle is not only about labels. She told the Washington Post she did not want the book to be “a typical vegan cookbook” shelved in a vegan section, but a celebration of her garden and vegetables that does not leave anybody out (Washington Post interview, reprinted by the NZ Herald, 2024).
6. Bryan Adams — rock musician and longtime vegan advocate
Canadian musician Bryan Adams has discussed animal rights alongside his music career. In an interview published by PETA he said he was opposed to fur and to any use of animal products, and described his path as leading to “a complete vegan” (PETA interview). In a November 2019 interview with alive magazine he said he had switched to a plant-based diet 30 years earlier because he was no longer comfortable eating animals, including fish (alive magazine, 2019).
Because both interviews are not recent, they are evidence of his long-established public position, not a claim that every meal he eats today has been verified.
Vegan celebrities in the United Kingdom and Ireland
7. Lewis Hamilton — British Formula One driver
Seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton is one of the best-known athletes associated with veganism. In September 2017 he announced that he was moving to a vegan diet, saying he had been influenced by a documentary about the meat industry and its effects on the environment, animal welfare and human health (CNN, 2017).
Hamilton’s visibility matters because athletes are often asked where they get protein and whether plant-based food can support demanding training. Individual sporting success, however, does not prove that a vegan diet automatically improves performance; CNN’s own report quoted a nutritionist stressing the extra planning an elite vegan athlete needs.
8. Cynthia Erivo — British actor and singer
Cynthia Erivo, known for stage work and films including Wicked, has spoken about eating plant-based. In an interview cited by PETA she said that dairy is an allergen for her, that as a singer she does not want to “mess around” with her voice, and that being vegan turned out to be the right way for her to treat her body. In a 2025 podcast interview summarised by VegNews in October 2025, she said, “When I was vegan, my body was really happy,” and named tofu as a favourite food.
Her experience is a reminder that the reasons people choose vegan meals are not always identical. Some begin with ethical questions, while others first explore foods that fit their preferences or dietary requirements.
9. Evanna Lynch — Irish actor and ethical-vegan campaigner
Irish actor Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films, has said she went vegan gradually in late 2013 or early 2014, after reading Foer’s Eating Animals. She describes herself as an ethical vegan and has worked with animal-welfare organisations (Vegan Food & Living interview, 2020).
For Lynch, the subject includes the ingredients in makeup and skincare as well as food. She co-founded Kinder Beauty, a vegan and cruelty-free beauty subscription box (interview). The business has since closed: Beauty Independent reported its liquidation in January 2024. Her story may appeal to readers interested in why some celebrity vegans also speak about animal testing and cosmetics.
Vegan celebrities from France and Germany
10. Joe Duplantier — French metal musician
Joe Duplantier, the vocalist and guitarist of French metal band Gojira, appeared in a November 2024 PETA campaign explaining why he is vegan. In the video he says, “I became vegan for the animals,” and adds that he has more energy when he performs; Consequence reported that he had been vegan for about ten years (Consequence, November 2024). The campaign followed Gojira’s high-profile appearance at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony earlier that year (PETA announcement).
Duplantier demonstrates that vegan advocates are found across musical genres, including heavy metal, not just in pop music or wellness culture.
11. Patrik Baboumian — German strongman of Iranian birth
Patrik Baboumian, an Iranian-born German strength athlete, became vegetarian and then, after winning the title of Germany’s Strongest Man in 2011, decided to go vegan (The Independent, 2022). He appears in the documentary The Game Changers, which features athletes who follow plant-based diets.
Baboumian is a compelling response to the popular question, “Can vegans build muscle?” His achievements show that strength training and a plant-based diet can coexist. They do not, on their own, settle broader scientific questions about the best diet for every athlete. Further sources: PETA’s profile and a 2022 interview with Vegan Food & Living.
Vegan Bollywood celebrities in India
India has a long vegetarian tradition, which is part of why plant-based eating in Bollywood often starts from vegetarianism; see our guide to Hindus and vegetarianism for background. The two examples below are documented in Indian press and PETA India’s announcements.
12. Sonam Kapoor — actor and animal-friendly fashion supporter
Indian actor Sonam Kapoor has been publicly recognised for her support of vegan eating and animal-friendly fashion. PETA India named her its 2018 Person of the Year for “singing the praises of vegan eating” and for keeping animal skins out of the handbag line of her fashion label, Rheson (PETA India, December 2018). The Indian Express, reporting the award, described her as a vegan (Indian Express, 2018).
Her example highlights a familiar question for fashion-conscious readers: if you avoid eating animals, do you also think about leather, silk and other animal-derived materials?
13. Riteish Deshmukh — actor and plant-based food entrepreneur
Indian actor Riteish Deshmukh has promoted vegan eating and, with his wife, actor Genelia Deshmukh, launched the plant-based food brand Imagine Meats, which now appears under the name Imagine Foods. PETA India described him as vegan when it named him one of its “Most Beautiful Vegetarian Celebrities” of 2024 (PETA India, October 2024). In a January 2026 interview, Genelia said Riteish gave up meat in 2016 and that the couple later went fully vegan during the Covid-19 pandemic (Indian Express, 2026).
Deshmukh’s work also introduces a different part of the vegan story: meat alternatives can be developed for people who enjoy familiar tastes and textures but want options without meat. At the 2021 launch, the founders described the products as aimed at people who want a simple switch to plant-based meat.
Celebrities from Australia
14. Ruby Rose — actor who has spoken openly about vegan eating
Australian actor Ruby Rose, known for Orange Is the New Black, said in a 2020 WIRED interview: “I’m vegan,” adding that she eats “everything that anyone else eats, but without any animal products.” She said she was vegetarian from a young age, and that she does not judge anyone for what they eat. She suggested that even one or two vegan or vegetarian days a week would make a difference.
The interview is a useful first-person source because it shows the actor discussing her own diet rather than a publisher guessing from restaurant photos. It dates from 2020, so we cannot say how she eats today. Source: WIRED’s interview with Ruby Rose.
15. Sia — a reminder that labels change
Australian singer-songwriter Sia announced on Twitter in 2014 that she was going vegan, which PETA reported at the time (PETA, 2014). By 2022, however, she was describing herself differently: in an op-ed for Fortune she wrote, “I became a vegetarian because of my dogs,” and argued for cultivated meat as a way to reduce animal slaughter (Fortune, 2022).
So Sia is a documented historical announcement, not an example of a current vegan. We include her deliberately: when reading any celebrity vegan list, checking when a statement was made is just as important as checking who said it.
A vegan celebrity from Brazil
16. Xuxa Meneghel — television personality and vegan advocate
Brazilian television personality Xuxa Meneghel has discussed her move to vegan eating in Brazilian media. In a December 2018 interview with the Ana Maria Braga website she said she saw the documentary Terráqueos (Earthlings) and then What the Health, which led her to a vegan diet. In November 2023 the Terra news portal reported that she was vegan at 60 and dated the change to 2018.
Xuxa also offers a useful distinction. In 2018 she said she was not “completely” vegan, only that she followed a vegan diet, and that her diet and her wider outlook were different things. Her own words deserve more weight than a simplistic “vegan celebrity” label. Sources (in Portuguese): her 2018 interview and 2023 coverage by Terra.
Why do famous people become vegan?
Celebrity interviews often point to three broad reasons, although no single motive describes everyone:
- Animal welfare: Some people avoid animal-derived food, leather, fur or animal-tested products because of concern about animal exploitation.
- Environmental concerns: Others want to reduce the environmental footprint associated with their meals and purchases. The environmental impact of any particular product still depends on how it is produced.
- Personal preferences and wellbeing: Some people discover vegan meals through cooking, digestive preferences, fitness interests or an effort to eat more vegetables and legumes. Individual testimonials are not medical evidence.
The reason matters less than making the label accurate. A person who eats a vegan meal on camera is not necessarily vegan; someone who eats eggs is not following a strictly vegan diet.
What can you learn from vegan actors, singers and athletes?
You do not need a celebrity’s budget, chef or training schedule to try plant-based meals. A simple day might include oatmeal with fortified soy milk and fruit, a lentil-and-rice bowl for lunch, and tofu with vegetables and noodles for dinner. Beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, tempeh, nuts, seeds and fortified plant milks are practical ingredients in many cuisines.
A balanced vegan diet does require planning. The UK’s NHS advises choosing fortified foods or considering supplements for nutrients that are harder to get from a vegan diet, including vitamin B12, vitamin D, iodine, selenium and calcium, and paying attention to iron. An athlete’s meal plan or a celebrity’s personal health claim should not replace qualified nutrition advice. Read the NHS guide to a vegan diet.
A good place to start is with meals you already like: bean chili, pasta with tomato sauce and lentils, chickpea curry, vegetable stir-fry or a hummus sandwich. Replace one ingredient at a time and check packaged-food labels for dairy, eggs, honey and other animal-derived ingredients.
Frequently asked questions about vegan celebrities
Which celebrities are vegan?
Publicly documented examples include Joaquin Phoenix, Billie Eilish, Lewis Hamilton, Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman, Pamela Anderson and Riteish Deshmukh, each of whom has spoken about veganism in the reporting linked above. This guide also includes older statements from other celebrities and one example (Sia) whose description has changed. Diets and lifestyle choices can change, so a list is best understood as a record of public information, not a guarantee about a person’s private meals today.
Who are some famous vegan singers?
Billie Eilish and Bryan Adams have publicly spoken about being vegan, and French musician Joe Duplantier of Gojira took part in a PETA vegan campaign in 2024. Cynthia Erivo, who is both an actor and a singer, has described eating plant-based. Australian artist Sia announced in 2014 that she was going vegan but described herself as a vegetarian in 2022. For any artist, check the date of the supporting interview.
Which Hollywood actors are vegan?
Joaquin Phoenix, Alicia Silverstone, Natalie Portman and Pamela Anderson are well-known actors who have spoken publicly about veganism and animal advocacy. Their publicly discussed motivations and activities differ.
Are there vegan celebrities in India?
Yes. Sonam Kapoor has been recognised by PETA India for supporting vegan eating and animal-friendly fashion, and PETA India has described Riteish Deshmukh as vegan. He also co-founded the plant-based food brand Imagine Meats (now Imagine Foods) with his wife, Genelia.
Which famous athletes are vegan?
British Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton and German strength athlete Patrik Baboumian are prominent examples. Their personal experiences show that elite competition and plant-based eating can coexist, but they do not establish universal performance benefits.
Is Billie Eilish vegan?
Billie Eilish has said she became vegan at around 12 and, in interviews in 2023 and 2025, continued to speak about her veganism. She has promoted vegan food, animal-free fashion and cruelty-free products, and her 2024 San Jose concerts featured an all-vegan and vegetarian concession menu.
Is Lewis Hamilton vegan?
Lewis Hamilton announced in 2017 that he was moving to a vegan diet and has regularly spoken about animal welfare and food choices. As with any person, a present-day private diet cannot be checked continuously from outside.
Is Carrie Underwood vegan or vegetarian?
Carrie Underwood was the subject of this blog’s original 2007 celebrity feature, which described her as a vegetarian. She should not be listed as a strict vegan. In 2020 she described herself to Women’s Health as a longtime vegetarian following a mostly vegan, “wannabe vegan” diet that included occasional eggs from her own backyard chickens (Women’s Health, 2020). In 2024 the same magazine reported that she says she is no longer vegan and that she keeps bees and chickens (Women’s Health, 2024). “Vegetarian or mostly plant-based” is the more accurate description.
What is the difference between vegan and vegetarian celebrities?
A vegetarian avoids meat and fish but may consume eggs or dairy. A vegan diet excludes all animal-derived foods, and veganism as a philosophy extends beyond diet where possible. Public labels such as “plant-based” and “mostly vegan” may describe different practices.
Does eating vegan automatically make someone healthier?
No. Vegan diets can be balanced, but their quality depends on food choices and appropriate nutrition planning. A variety of whole foods, adequate energy and a reliable vitamin B12 source matter more than copying a celebrity’s menu. See the NHS vegan diet guidance.
Do celebrities ever stop being vegan?
Yes. Diets and personal beliefs can evolve, as the examples of Natalie Portman (who said in 2011 she had returned to vegetarianism during pregnancy), Sia and Carrie Underwood show. That is why an old headline should not be rewritten as a definite claim about someone’s current lifestyle. Look for first-person interviews, dated reporting and clearly documented advocacy.
The takeaway
Vegan celebrities around the world represent different industries, countries and reasons for avoiding animal products. The common thread is not a single perfect menu: it is the public conversation they have helped start about food, fashion and animal welfare. Whether you follow a singer, film actor or athlete, the most useful next step is to explore reliable information and find a few plant-based meals that fit your own life.
Celebrity information in this guide was checked against dated news reports, interviews and official announcements in October 2026. It records what each person has said publicly and is not a claim about anyone’s current private diet. This guide is a documented selection and does not cover every country.