People with bright red hair attract everyone’s attention in an instant. Whether it’s the color itself, their personality traits that we associate with it, or both – these people will inevitably leave an impression on others that is going to last for a long time. It is a well-known fact that less than 2% of the population of our planet proudly possess naturally red hair, so probably the very fact that these people are so rare makes them truly special. Indeed, this rare hair color is sometimes so strongly desired by other people that they are ready to pay significant amounts of money to have their locks dyed. The gorgeous celebrities you are about to see have undoubtedly been the inspiration for a lot of these salon visits.
Considering how rare the genetic trait we are talking about is, it is no surprise such a large number of red-haired people have had great success on the path to stardom in Hollywood. Their hair alone is special enough to leave a lasting impression on other people. And if you match that with attractive facial features, theatric talent and personal charisma, that will inevitably add up to this person’s star power! So, in order to remind you of all the famous red-heads who’ve impressed us all on the silver screen, we have decided to create a compilation of the most stunning celebrity gingers. Read on and see just how beautiful red-heads are!
Jessica Chastain, Actresses
The crimson-haired Jessica Chastain is more than just your average Hollywood celeb. She is one of the most charming and talented actresses of our generation and she has proven her prowess on the silver screen more than once. Chastain started her cinematic career in the 2008 drama, Jolene and went on to work in many other films after that. A long, long list of those film, together with her award tally, reflects her immense talent.
Jessica has received critical acclaim for her roles in movies like Interstellar, Zero Dark Thirty, Molly’s Game, and The Help, to name just a few of them. She had so much dedication to her craft that when she needed to learn some German for one of her roles, she instantly started taking lessons to make sure her performance is on a high enough level.
Lana Del Rey, Musician
Elizabeth Woolridge Grant, whom we know as Lana Del Rey, of course, was born in NY in 1985. The aspiring musician spent her childhood (80s and 90s) growing up in upstate New York. In her mid-20s, she relocated to California to pursue her dream of performing music on stage. The name Lana was inspired by Lana Turner, a Hollywood diva of the past. Beautiful surname “Del Rey” means “of the King” in Spanish.
The story of Lana Del Rey’s international success began when Cedric Gervais made the remix of her song ‘Summertime Sadness.’ After the world had heard that one track, her music career shot off immediately As for the remix itself, it propelled to the top of the Billboard charts, which of course it did.
Emma Stone, Actress
Emma Stone charmed the world with her red hair and distinctively husky voice. These traits alone have helped establish herself as one of the most successful actresses in Hollywood today. It’s hard to think of a movie she starred in that wasn’t a hit. If you want to check her acting prowess out, you can see her in box-office hits like The Help, La La Land, and Crazy, Stupid, Love, among many others.
The fiery-haired Arizona-native has received one Golden Globe Award and one Academy Award. That’s on top of being labeled by Time magazine as part of the 100 most influential people in the world as well as Forbes magazine’s Celebrity 100 all before the age of 30.
Kate Mara, Actress
Kate Mara is known as an integral member of the Fantastic Four film. As a kid, no-one would’ve guessed she was destined for Hollywood because she was a “painfully shy” kid. This is surprising considering that she comes from a very high-profile family. Her grandparents were the founders of both the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Mara now stars in the Netflix series House of Cards where she plays the role of Zoe Barnes, a reporter in the show. This role was a stepping stone for her to get into films like The Martian and 127 Hours. She also starred in and produced a hit FX series entitled A Teacher.
Julianne Moore, Actress
This list of the best redheads just wouldn’t be complete without A-list actress Julianne Moore. The star is known for her niche talent in portraying emotionally troubled female leads. What we like about Julianne is that she works on both mainstream Hollywood films as well as on smaller independent projects. She started acting back in 1985 after graduating from Boston University, and her career has skyrocketed since then.
Julianne Moore is a native of New York who found success in films like The Kids Are Alright, The Big Lebowski, Children of Men, and Hannibal. Her outstanding performances led her to receive two Golden Globes and one Academy Award. Moor, however, doesn’t only focus on acting – she is also a celebrated children’s author. Her most famous character is Freckleface Strawberry.
Lindsay Lohan, Actress
Everyone knows Lindsay Lohan from her shaky acting career and scandalous personal life. Lohan has managed to become a household name, we’re just not sure if she’s gone about it in the healthiest way. But we’ll let you be the judge of that!
She started her acting career alarmingly young, at the age of just three. By the time she turned ten, she was a veteran in show-business. Do you remember her as Alexandra ‘Alli’ Fowler in Another World? While that was a memorable role, her big breakthrough came with the Disney film, The Parent Trap. The film marked the start of a steep upward trajectory into fame followed by an even more rapid descent into infamy.
Laura Prepon, Actress
Hollywood is a funny place. Some people never seem to get a break, and then there are those like Laura Prepon who didn’t even have to break a sweat to catch the fame train. At 15, she started studying dance, acting, and jazz, but she realized modeling was opening more doors for her after booking one successful job after another. She even got the chance to travel the world, from Paris to Milan, and even Brazil!
While it sounds like she’s had life figured out before she hit 20, Laura had bigger things in mind. She craved more than modeling could offer, so she sent an audition tape to Fox for a sitcom entitled That 70s Show. The show was wildly popular, catapulting Prepon to fame. Indeed, many people still remember her as Donna Pinciotti, a role she filled from 1998 to 2006.
Zoey Deutch, Actress
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Zoey Deutch found her success at the age of 19. You may remember her from Vampire Academy (2014) and Beautiful Creatures (2013), films that established her name in Hollywood. If you’re wondering where all of that talent came from, then you should know that she’s the daughter of a director and an actress.
Deutch started taking acting classes at the age of five. Today, she has already starred in numerous successful films like Before I Fall, Flower, Everybody Wants Some, Set it Up, Why Him? and many more! Seems like Zoey is already one of the biggest stars of her generation.
Isla Fisher, Actress
Another Australian on this list, Isla Fisher’s first major role was in a soap opera entitled Home and Away. She played the role of Shannon Reed and her character was a resounding success. But she had bigger things in mind than Aussie TV soap operas. By 2002, she was able to successfully transition over to Hollywood movies.
Isla starred in movies like Wedding Crashers, Scooby-Doo, and Confessions of a Shopaholic to name a few. As she rose to worldwide fame, she met Sasha Baron Cohen, the controversial star of Borat. Two years later, they got engaged, and then they married in 2010.
Madelaine Petsch, Actress
Since all the actresses we’ve mentioned so far have tons of experience. It’s about time we introduce you to a newbie. Madelaine Petsch has just six film and TV credits to her name. However, she is gaining more and more attention by the day. You may recognize her for her role as Cheryl Blossom on The CW series Riverdale.
Petsch was raised in South Africa but was born in Port Orchard, Washington. For as long as she can remember, Petsch knew she wanted to be an actress. After moving to LA, she had to work as a barista to support herself before catching her big break.
Sophie Turner, Actress
Who better to kick this list off than the stunning Sophie Turner? You may know her best as ‘Lady Sansa’ from the House of Stark on the hit HBO series, Game of Thrones. The Warwickshire local was cast in the hit series when she was just 14 years old, and since then, she has grabbed many opportunities that boosted her career to where it is now.
From red carpets to magazine covers, Sophie’s blazing red-hair always gives the town something to talk about. She made her first transition from TV to film back in 2013 with the movie Another Me, which was directed by Isabel Coixet. Sophie has now taken on the role of Jean Grey, one of the X-Men franchise’s most powerful mutants. You can see her in the box-office winner, X-Men: Apocalypse.
Marcia Cross, Actress
Marcia Cross ventured into the world of acting with roles in daytime soap operas like Another World, The Edge of Night, and One Life to Live. Her impressive performances in these shows opened many doors for her, including a number of long-standing TV roles.
Cross starred in Melrose Place as Dr. Kimberly Shaw between 1992 and 1997. Then from 2004 to 2012, she played conservative housewife Bree Van de Kamp for the ABC Series, Desperate Housewives. This role allowed her to score a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series as well as three Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy.
Riley Keough, Musician
Santa Monica local Riley Keough knew she was born to play music. Why? Well, aside from the fact that she grew up near Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, she came from a family of musicians and her grandfather? None other than the King himself, Mr. Elvis Presley. Now that’s what you call musical royalty!
Before she got her breakout role as Capable in Mad Max: Fury Road, Keough never made use of the ‘My grandfather was Elvis’ card. Instead, she spent years auditioning for roles and only getting rejection in return for her hard work. You may also know her from her roles in The Girlfriend Experience, Magic Mike, and Logan Lucky.
Bella Thorne, Actress
Bella Thorne got her start in a Disney series entitled Shake It Up which allowed her to join the ranks of international stars. After this successful run, she began appearing in films like Midnight Sun and The Babysitter. She also starred in the crime-drama Southland as Arielle, a diner worker.
In an interview with L’Officiel, Thorne explained that she loves writing music, television, books, and movies. Having a talent for writing along with her acting skills is pretty impressive. You go, Bella!
Alyson Hannigan, Actress
We think everyone knows Alyson Hannigan for her role as a band nerd in the hit comedy film, American Pie. The Washington DC native started doing commercials at the age of four. By 11, her family decided to pack all of their bags and move to Hollywood to support her burgeoning career.
While she has tackled numerous roles at this point, she is most commonly recognized for her part in the hit sitcom How I Met Your Mother. Her performance as Lily Aldrin was loved by the show’s audience so much that she won the People’s Choice Award back in 2009. Another of her most iconic roles was as Willow in Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Indeed, Alyson looks back on her Buffy days with more fondness than any other project she’s worked on. Why? Because this was where she met her husband, Alexis Denisof.
Nicole Kidman, Actress
Though IMDb describes her as “one of Hollywood’s top Australian imports,” Nicole Kidman was born in Hawaii to two Australian parents with student visas. However, they brought her back to Sydney, Australia where she spent most of her years growing up.
Nicole’s fame started almost instantly after returning to America. Today, she has appeared in 67 movies (and counting). These included iconic films like Moulin Rouge and Eyes Wide Shut. The A-list star has accepted multiple major awards, including a number from the British Academy Film Award, two Emmy Awards, and five Golden Globes. To top it all off, she is the first Australian actress to ever be the recipient of an Oscar.
Amy Adams, Actress
The bright red-haired Amy Adams is known for her versatility as an actress. She started with a bang, portraying a singing princess from Disney’s 2007 feature-film Enchanted. She quickly followed this up with roles in critically acclaimed films which earned her two Golden Globes as well as six Academy Award nominations.
Time magazine even included her in its 2014 list of 100 most influential people in the world. Forbes also reported that Adams was the highest-paid actress in the years 2013, 2016, and 2017.
Bryce Dallas Howard, Actress
Bryce Dallas Howard isn’t only a great actress, but she is also a talented filmmaker, just like her father. In her family, she shares the spotlight with her father Ron Howard who is an Oscar-winning director known for his work on The Da Vinci Code and A Beautiful Mind.
Despite coming from a rich family, Bryce was taught by her parents to have a grounded outlook. This was partly achieved by raising her away from Hollywood in Greenwich, Connecticut. Her parents claim that it was better for her to grow up without the glitz and glamour of Hollywood at her doorstep. And it seems they were right! Some of her biggest films include the Twilight: Eclipse, Jurassic World, and Jurassic World: the Fallen Kingdom, among many others.
Susan Sarandon, Actress
Susan Sarandon is one of those actresses who doesn’t need any introduction. She can walk into a room and everyone will know who she is right away. The actress has been in around 84 films and has been a mainstay of the industry for decades. Her excellence in acting is reflected in the numerous major awards and nominations she has received from the British Academy Film Awards, the Academy Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards.
She is also known as a political and social activist. Indeed, Sarandon has invested just as much time into humanitarian work as she has into her acting career. She even became a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador back in 1999. She is also a business owner, sharing control of a company with her former partner Malcolm Bricklin. The business has had a lot of positive online reviews and has evolved into a chain of ping-pong lounges named SPiN. A red-head and an over-achiever!
Christina Hendricks, Actress
Christina Hendricks favors characters who are capable, intelligent, and dominant. She started out as an intern for the Showtime comedy series entitled Beggars and Choosers back in 1999. She did her dues, taking small guest roles in shows like The Court, Firefly, and ER. Young Christina worried that she would never find her break, but then a 2007 series kicked her acting career into gear.
Mad Men helped skyrocket Hendricks to legit stardom. Joan Holloway even stated that the actress has become an international icon. Her performance in this show allowed her to bag six Primetime Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.
Kate Walsh, Actress
Known for her role as Dr. Addison Montgomery on the ABC drama series Grey’s Anatomy, California-born actress Kate Walsh is one of the most easily recognizable TV personalities out there. She also starred in Private Practice and the hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why and The Umbrella Academy.
But it wasn’t always rainbows and butterflies for Kate Walsh – she used to work for Dairy Queen and Burger King. Then she flew to Japan to teach English, but she ended up finding work as a model. This led to her starting a perfume line called Boyhood which sold out on the first day of its release.
Karen Gillan, Actress
Karen Gillan might not be easily recognized in a sea of people, but hearing her name will definitely ring a bell. She has starred in a lot of successful movies and has played iconic roles. One of her most notable characters was Nebula, the blue cyborg daughter of Thanos in The Avengers franchise.
Karen Gillan knew she had to shave her head to star as Nebula and she didn’t even think twice before going ahead with the bold move. She agreed to part ways with her luscious red locks to be part of the Avengers franchise, and the actress claimed that it was actually a liberating experience for her.
Gillian Anderson, Actress
It didn’t take long for Gillian Anderson to make the transition from the stage to the screen. Die-hard fans know her for the role of FBI Special Agent Dana Scully. Yes, she starred in Fox’s nine-season sci-fi classic, The X-Files.
Gillian Anderson, throughout her career, has won a Golden Globe, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award. She also received an Evening Standard Theatre Award for Best Actress and a Theatre World Award. Most recently, she starred in the brilliantly creepy Hannibal series.
Tori Amos, Singer
Everyone knew Tori Amos was born for greatness. Her teachers considered her to be a child prodigy. At the age of five, she became the youngest student to be accepted into the prestigious Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore. However, this didn’t last long as Amos had a rebellious spirit that her administrators couldn’t handle. By the age of 11, she had been expelled for “musical insubordination.”
When Amos entered the mainstream, her songs were mostly about the deep emotional trauma she experienced in her life. People watching her perform live expect her to play her piano wildly as she swings her red locks around the stage. She is a fiery performer whose talent knows no bounds!
Molly Ringwald, Actress
Molly Ringwald started her career back in 1982 with the release of the film Tempest. She then won roles in seminal films of the 80s, including The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, and Pretty in Pink. These films grew massively big and it made her a teen icon.
As if that level of fame wasn’t enough, Ringwald became a member of the ‘Brat Pack’ along with fellow icons Demi Moore and Rob Lowe. Ringwald still acts today as Mary Andrews in the show, Riverdale. She also released a jazz record in 2013 entitled ‘Except Sometimes.’
Heather Graham, Actress
Heather Graham has her role as Mercedes Lane to thank for giving her the first big break of her life. After starring in the 1988 teen comedy, License to Drive, she immediately became a star and went on to appear in blockbusters like Boogie Nights, Bowfinger, The Hangover, Drugstore Cowboy, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
If Graham isn’t on the set filming something, she spends her days as an activist for a few global nonprofit organizations. One of them is Children International, an org that provides educational support to children so they can overcome poverty. She’s also involved with the Cambodian Children’s Fund, which is focused on eliminating human slavery and trafficking through the provision of free healthcare, clean water, and education.
Lauren Ambrose, Actress
If you watched the HBO drama series Six Feet Under, you’ll know Lauren Ambrose who played the role of Claire Fisher in the show. The series gave her a platform to showcase her talents, and it paid off with two Screen Actors Guild Awards and two Emmy Award nominations for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
Ambrose also appeared in Torchwood: Miracle Day as Jilly Kitzinger, a beautiful PR girl. Her work for the British science fiction series earned her a nomination for the Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actress on Television.
Rose Leslie, Actress
Born in Aberdeen Scotland, Rose Leslie’s family decided to settle near Lickleyhead Castle 500 years ago. Despite her family history of settling down, she knew she couldn’t just stay there, so she left for the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. Little did she know that by 2008, she would appear in a made-for-TV film entitled Purves + Pekkala and it would mark her entry into a path destined to lead to fame.
2011 came and Rose got the role of a lifetime as Ygritte in HBO’s Game of Thrones. Despite leaving the show back in 2014, she kept a connection with Kit Harrington, her co-star. A few years later, the two married – their characters may not have gotten the happy ending fans were hoping for, but these two actors made it happen in real life instead.
Maureen O’Hara, Actress
Looking for an actress perfect for the role of a wise, passionate, heroine in an adventure film? Old-school Hollywood’s answer to that was always Maureen O’Hara. The Irish actress became one of the brightest stars during the Golden Age of Hollywood. The redhead started making a name for herself when she starred as Esmeralda in the 1939 classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Maureen was nicknamed “The Queen of Technicolor” after the movie because of how vibrant she was on screen. She went on to appear in films like The Black Swan, The Parent Trap, The Spanish Main, and How Green Was My Valley.
Ellie Kemper, Actress
Ellie Kemper graduated from an Ivy League school and was initially interested in performing improvisational comedy as well as writing sketches. But she was fortunate to have Jon Ham, the lead actor in Mad Men, as an acting instructor. This proved to be very useful as she grew up and sought out an on-screen career.
Ellie’s biggest breakthrough was her role as Erin Hannon, a receptionist from the NBC comedy series The Office. She went on to receive two Emmy Nominations for her role in the wildly successful Netflix comedy series, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Florence Welch, Musician
A songwriter, and the lead vocalist of famous rock band Florence and the Machine, Florence Welch is one of the most striking stars of today’s music scene. The London-born songwriter and her indie music group debuted their album Lungs in 2009. It reached number one in the UK charts and number two in the Irish Charts.
She revealed that their band’s name, Florence + the Machine, first started out as a private joke. Long story short, she had to think of a name quick as she was about an hour away from her first gig. She paired her name with the nickname she gave her friend (Isabella Machine). Isabella called her singing bestie Florence Robot in return.
Cynthia Nixon, Actress
No Sex and the City fan will ever forget Cynthia Nixon for her portrayal of the show’s beloved lawyer, Miranda Hobbes. The HBO comedy continued for six seasons, followed by two successful movies. But before that, Cynthia got her start as a Broadway actress in 1980 while doing some supporting roles in a few films.
Believe it or not, acting isn’t the only thing she can do. This redhead stunner has also been an LGBTQ rights advocate in the US for the longest time. She has been pushing for same-sex marriage to be legalized amongst many other things. Today, Nixon is married to a fellow activist Christine Marinoni.
Judy Greer, Actress
Judy Greer first appeared in iconic romantic-comedy films of the 2000s like The Wedding Planner, What Women Want, 27 Dresses, and 13 Going on 30.
Her career didn’t end there as she also made waves on the small screen. She was cast as Kitty Sanchez in Arrested Development and as Fatty Magoo in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. She is also behind the Jill Piccirillo character in the comedy-drama, Kidding on Showtime.
Ann-Margaret, Musician
Ann-Margaret’s talent in acting makes her roles believable and compelling. She started this career in music back in 1961 where she earned a nickname as “the female Presley.” She ended up living the dream, starring alongside the King himself in the musical comedy Viva Las Vegas.
Ann-Margaret is also known for her roles in State Fair and Bye Bye Birdie. She shared the stage with lots of Hollywood legends like Steve McQueen, Jack Nicholson, and John Wayne. Throughout her career, she earned two Grammys, five Golden globes, two Oscar nominations, and six Emmys.
Sarah Snook, Actress
Sarah Snook is an Australian actress who found her first big break in Hollywood after her 2010 appearance on a telemovie entitled Sisters of War. The film was based on a true story. This was soon followed by the films Predestination, These Final Hours, Steve Jobs, and Not Suitable for Children.
She also starred as Siobhan Roa (aka Shiv) in HBO’s comedy-drama series, Succession. The show has been successful enough to receive accolades like the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series and a British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme.