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Angelina Jolie
The Hobby: Dagger-collecting
The Awesome: Hollywood’s favourite wild child was never going to be keen on embroidery or flower-pressing, was she? No, long before Angie started collecting foreign children, she was collecting sharp knives, a pastime she’s now passed on to her own offspring, by giving a blade to six-year-old Maddox. Er, cheers Mum…
If She Was In Character: Lara Croft wouldn’t look twice at a dagger, unless it was a couple of thousand years old and buried in a prohibitively far-flung tomb.
Dennis Hopper
The Hobby: Photography
The Awesome: Hopper took up snapping whilst enduring a mid-‘60s dry patch, on account of his reputation as a “difficult” actor. What started as a means of passing the time continued throughout his career, with Hopper getting some incredible shots of his famous co-stars, and even creating the cover art for Ike & Tina’s River Deep – Mountain High.
If He Was In Character: We fear Frank Booth’s photo album might not be for the faint of heart…
Keanu Reeves
The Hobby: Playing the Bass
The Awesome: Okay, so Keanu’s band Dogstar might be a bit pony, but they can at least list a Glastonbury appearance amongst their achievements, as well as an excellently named drummer in the form of Robert Mailhouse. They really were crap though…
If He Was In Character: We can imagine Neo noodling his way through an interminable prog-rock concert before boring some groupies to tears with his existential musings.
Brad Pitt
The Hobby: Architecture
The Awesome: Whilst his other half busies herself chucking knives around, Brad has carved out a second career for himself in the construction industry. Having befriended renowned architect Frank Gehry during the refurbishment of one of his old homes, Pitt lent the pro a hand with his plans to redevelop the seafront in Hove. The project was eventually scrapped, but Pitt had got a taste for the business, going on to set up a project dedicated to building affordable housing in post-Katrina New Orleans. Good man!
If He Was In Character: If Tyler Durden were to build a house, we’d give it about a week before he’d burned it to the ground.
Tom Cruise
The Hobby: Fencing
The Awesome: In a frankly bizarre scenario akin to a tabloid journalist’s wet dream, Tom Cruise has invited both Will Smith and David Beckham to his Los Angeles home for regular fencing sessions in his basement. “This is his way of getting together and bonding” says Will, trying desperately not to make it sound weird. “David and I go to his home and just do fencing. It's a lot of fun.” If you say so mate…
If He Was In Character: Fencing is the sort of thing Ethan Hunt might do to keep himself trim. With some lasers thrown in, obviously.
Eddie Izzard
The Hobby: Marathon Running
The Awesome: Most celebrities would balk at the idea of running a single marathon for charity, let alone 43 marathons, but that’s what Izzard did for Sport Relief back in 2009. Oh, and we should probably mention that he did all 43 in just 51 days. Utterly astonishing stuff.
If He Was In Character: We would dismiss Ocean’s 13 ’s Roman Nagel as too portly a fellow for running, but then, that’s what they said about Eddie…
Patrick Dempsey
The Hobby: Racing
The Awesome: Dempsey is a bit of a petrolhead, so much so that he even owns his own IndyCar team Dempsey Racing. Not satisfied with just bankrolling the outfit, he also gets behind the wheel to compete, although only when he’s not filming. The insurance would give a studio exec a heart attack…
If He Was In Character: His namby-pamby Grey’s Anatomy character couldn’t work a racecar’s ignition, let alone make it around the track in one piece.
Geena Davis
The Hobby: Archery
The Awesome: Davis took up archery in 1997 and just two years later was trying out for the US Olympic team. She didn’t quite make the cut, but having placed 24th out of 300 competitors, she’s clearly pretty handy with a bow and arrow.
If She Was In Character: Thelma has a pretty itchy trigger finger, although at least she couldn’t do as much damage with a bow and arrow as with a gun. Probably…
Viggo Mortensen
The Hobby: General Artiness
The Awesome: An abstract painter, all of the paintings featured in A Perfect Murder were knocked up by Viggo himself. He is also a keen photographer, with his work having been featured in a number of galleries worldwide. Finally, he can also carry a tune, and has collaborated with Guns and Roses guitarist Buckethead across a staggering 8 albums. It’s a wonder he gets any acting done really…
If He Was In Character: Aragorn does a bit of crooning himself, with Mortensen’s “Aragorn’s Coronation” featuring on the Return Of The King soundtrack.
Kiefer Sutherland
The Hobby: Collecting guitars and promoting bands
The Awesome: You’re probably already familiar with Kiefer’s more tabloid-friendly hobbies, but alongside the carousing, he’s also a keen music lover with an enviable collection of vintage Gibson guitars. Not only that, but he also co-owns the independent record label Ironworks, with a view to promoting “non-mainstream” artists. He’s a non-mainstream kind of guy, you see…
If He Was In Character: Jack Bauer only knows one song. It’s called “Fuck off out of my country” and is played entirely in the key of awesome. Got that?
Jason Statham
The Hobby: Olympic diving
The Awesome: Stath describes his early diving exploits as “just a silly hobby”, but we reckon he’s being a little modest, given that he spent 10 years travelling round with the UK Olympic team. He’s knocked it on the head professionally of course, but was recently spotted taking a huge dive off Harvey Weinstein’s Caribbean yacht. He’s still got it…
If He Was In Character: Chev Chelios chows down on danger as part of a healthy breakfast. Attempting the high-dive would barely get his heart going.
John Travolta
The Hobby: Flying Planes
The Awesome: Not only can Travolta fly (planes…he’s not that awesome), he also owns a whopping five aircraft. Quite what he needs five for is beyond us, but it’s pretty cool nonetheless. And he doesn’t just use them for doing barrel-rolls either. After the Haitian earthquake earlier this year, JT loaded up his 707 with supplies and flew direct to the disaster area. Well done that man.
If He Was In Character: We wouldn’t feel comfortable to know Vincent Vega was in the cockpit. Heroin tends to mess with your reactions somewhat…
Steve Buscemi
The Hobby: Fire Fighting
The Awesome: Okay, so this one is stretching the term “hobby” somewhat, but we love how Buscemi rejoined his old unit to help out in the aftermath of 9/11, so we’re including it anyway. The star apparently clocked up a string of twelve-hour shifts, all the while making sure nobody took a picture of him to turn it into a publicity stunt. Impressive.
If He Was In Character: Not many of Buscemi’s weaselly alter-egos would have the guts or the compassion to man-up like Steve did. Hats off to him.
Daniel Craig
The Hobby: Cooking
The Awesome: Before you roll your eyes, we don’t just mean he knows how to boil an egg. No, 007 used to work in the kitchen of his local pub, and is still a dab hand when it comes to whipping up a culinary storm. “I love to cook,” he says, “but because I used to work in the hostelry industry, I can’t cook for a few, because I’m used to cooking for 20 or more at a time. There are always a lot of leftovers.”
If He Was In Character: Can you imagine Bond putting down his Martini to knock up a quick omelette? No, us neither.
Cameron Diaz
The Hobby: Snowboarding
The Awesome: We always thought she seemed a game girl, and Diaz’ apparent love of snowboarding seems to have proved us right. “I love speed and adrenaline,” says Cam. “Snowboarding is an amazing escape for me. Riding from the top of the hill to the bottom without ever touching the ground is so exciting.” She’s broken a fair few bones along the way, but still refuses to give it up in the face of nagging studio types. You go girl!
If She Was In Character: She spends most of her time playing tomboyish hotties, so this hobby seems very much in character already.
Harrison Ford
The Hobby: Flying helicopters
The Awesome: Flying a helicopter is pretty badass on its own merits, but using it to rescue people in distress? That’s taking things to the next level. Notable Ford exploits include rescuing a struggling hiker from a mountainside, finding a missing boy-scout in the woods and lending a hand with airlifting volunteers in Haiti. Eat your heart out Indy!
If He Was In Character: Han Solo would never put himself out like that, whilst Indy would only do it if there was a dusty old trinket at stake.
Billy Dee Williams
The Hobby: Painting
The Awesome: Before his adventures in a galaxy far, far away, Williams had attended New York’s National Academy of Fine Arts and Design, learning the skills that would later see his work exhibited in various prestigious galleries including the Smithsonian Institute and the National Portrait Gallery.
If He Was In Character: Lando could paint a masterpiece, fly the Millenium Falcon, and pleasure a bevy of female admirers simultaneously. No sweat.
Morgan Freeman
The Hobby: Sailing and Flying
The Awesome: Tremulous voiceovers are not the only strings to Morgan’s bow. He’s a surprisingly sprightly character in his old age, whether bombing around in his BMW or sailing the high seas in his yacht. However, coolest of all is the fact that he’s been known to fly his Cessna 414 twin-propeller aircraft in to work. No bus-pass for this old boy.
If He Was In Character: Old Red might stretch to a motorcar, but flying a plane? That’s a pretty quick way to get busy dying.
Spike Lee
The Hobby: Supporting Arsenal Football Club
The Awesome: Movie-star fans are seemingly ten-a-penny in the Premier League, usually spouting some sort off excruciating guff about “offence and defence”. However, Spike Lee appears to be different, having been spotted at both Highbury and the Emirates on numerous occasions. Oh, and he’s good mates with Thierry Henry apparently, so he probably knows what he’s watching too!
If He Was In Character: Mookie might be a bit lost amongst the prawn-sandwich brigade Spike mingles with at the Emirates…
Jessica Alba
The Hobby: Scuba-diving
The Awesome: “I grew up in CA where the water is so cold that diving isn't something you do if you're a regular teenage girl,” says Alba, a touch smugly. “But I loved it immediately, I was fearless.” Her role as a diver in Into The Blue therefore held no horrors for the plucky actress. Shame the same couldn’t be said for the audience.
If She Was In Character: Nancy Callahan would shy away from wearing a wetsuit on account of it not being revealing enough.
Michael Caine
The Hobby: Ambient House DJ
The Awesome: “Oi! Get away from the decks granddad! Oh, you’re quite good.” So goes the conversation in the Caine household when Michael gets his hands on the wheels of steel. Revealing his extensive music knowledge to a stunned Elton John a few years back, Caine has now put his love of chillout tunes to good use, releasing a collection of his favourite tracks on the catchily titled Cained album.
If He Was In Character: Each track would be preceded with a nasal cry of “you were only supposed to blow the bloody doors off.”
Ewan McGregor
The Hobby: Motorcycling
The Awesome: Not only has Ewan ridden his motorcycle everywhere from Ethiopia to Inverness, he’s done most of it with professional irritant Charley Boorman in tow. And he hasn’t tried to throttle him once! Now that’s awesome…
If He Was In Character: Renton would have headed to Colombia and stayed there. “Ah’m gonnae score sum opium an sherve it oop ma erse” etc etc.
Kevin Bacon
The Hobby: The Bacon Brothers
The Awesome: The Bacon Brothers might sound like a ‘70s porn double-act, but they’re actually the band formed by Kev and his brother Michael. Four albums in, they might not be a household name, but with lyrics like, “Oh my god, my god / Where’d she get that body? / What’s she got on her iPod?”, ubiquity is surely just around the corner.
If He Was In Character: Footloose ’s Ren McCormack couldn’t help but dance along to the Bacon Brothers. In fact, he already has. They contributed to the soundtrack.
Danny Trejo
The Hobby: Rebuilding Vintage Cars
The Awesome: The only thing that could make the motorbike in Machete seem any cooler is the fact that it was built by Trejo himself. A fan of classic motors, he’s also the proud owner of one of the only five 1936 Dodge Touring Sedans registered in the world. Not bad for a man who spent his early life on a tour around America’s most notorious prisons!
If He Was In Character: Machete looks like a man who would no how to change an oil-filter. He seems pretty handy…
Clint Eastwood
The Hobby: Blues Piano
The Awesome: Just because a man sports a scowl that could crack a paving slab at ten paces, it doesn’t mean he can’t tinkle the ivories with the best of them. Playing at Carnegie Hall was a particular highlight, although the less said about his collaboration with Jamie Cullum on the Gran Torino soundtrack, the better.
If He Was In Character: Harry Callahan wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet in anyone who coughed during his recital.
Paul Newman
The Hobby: Racing
The Awesome: Having been cast as a racing driver in the 1969 film Winning , Newman’s competitive instinct was piqued, leading him to take up racing for real. “I just decided one day, why not do it?” said Newman. “I can’t be competitive about acting…what are you competing against?” Not only did Newman become competitive, he also became pretty bloody good, bagging second place in the bum-numbing Le Mans 24-hour race at the ripe old age of 54!
If He Was In Character: It sounds as though he was, from 1969 onwards!
Emma Watson
The Hobby: Ping Pong
The Awesome: Wait! Come back! Ping-pong is the latest Hollywood trend! Well, sort of. Matthew Broderick is a keen player, Ed Norton received expert tuition whilst filming in China and Susan Sarandon recently graced the launch of an exclusive New York ping-pong parlour. Meanwhile, Emma Watson is apparently so good that neither Daniel Radcliffe or Rupert Grint will play with her any more. “Emma is brilliant,” grumbles Grint. “We rarely play her now because it gets quite embarrassing.” Spoilsports.
If She Was In Character: Hermione could cast some sort of spell to speed up her shots if she weren’t such a stickler for fair play.
Gwyneth Paltrow
The Hobby: Running A Book Club
The Awesome: Yep, when she’s not chasing after her daftly named children, Gwynnie is trying to inject a little culture into the lives of her Hollywood friends by getting them reading. Indeed, as her website states, the club is for, “women who read voraciously and with passion,” and counts Madonna among its members. Her favourite book? The Time Traveller’s Wife apparently. So now you know.
If She Was In Character: Shakespeare would be on the list every week…
Jennifer Love Hewitt
The Hobby: Comic-Book Writing
The Awesome: Hmm, where to start. Jen’s debut comic mines that well-worn narrative of the “possessed music box”, and appears to feature a lead character who looks startlingly like herself. Half-baked idea meets supreme ego-trip? Not a bit of it says Hewitt! “I've always been fascinated by the notion that an inanimate object can hold as much malevolent energy as a human being can,” says she. Haven’t we all?
If She Was In Character? She’s be writing said comic book in a distractingly low-cut top. *Tries desperately to think of seminal Love Hewitt role. Fails.*
