Celebrities have to juggle a lot of responsibilities: red carpets, events, photo shoots, interviews, hours of preparation for roles and performances, and a host of other tasks that come with the job. So who would ever guess that beneath the glamorous façade lies a total nerd? Here is a list of some major celebs who you’d least expect to be low-key total nerds.
John Krasinski
John Krasinski is best known for his hilarious performance as Jim Halpert in the NBC sitcom The Office. He also directs, produces, and stars in the new Amazon Prime show Jack Ryan. But the Boston native is also secretly a massive nerd who loves playing Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer. He even appointed himself “Dungeon Master” while playing with a group of friends.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is known for her sexy and sassy roles in That 70’s Show, Family Guy, and various romantic comedies. But beneath her stunning looks and easy-going personality is a total video-game nerd. She’s a massive fan of World of Warcraft, and even wrote a letter to Blizzard Entertainment asking to voice a character in the game.
Olivia Munn
Olivia Munn is an actress and world-renowned model. She’s recently had major roles in The Newsroom, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Aaron Sorkin’s Molly’s Game. This “face of G4” also turns out to be a major nerd, who grew up playing Dungeons and Dragons with her brothers and has even been seen playing Magic: The Gathering.
Steve Buscemi
Remember him from the cult classic The Big Lebowski? Well, comedian and actor Steve Buscemi is a master of the low-key nerd. He’s been an avid fan of board games and tabletop gaming since childhood. He’s also been a lifelong Dungeons and Dragons fan, and even helped write and star in a short film adaptation of the classic game.
Jesse Eisenberg
Jesse Eisenberg is mostly known for his role in The Social Network, but what you may not know is that this actor is also a self-proclaimed “huge nerd.” He’s been playing chess since he was four years old, and became a U.S. Chess Federation Expert player. He’s also an avid fan of the online strategy game Magic: The Gathering.
Zoe Saldana
Zoe Saldana may be one of Hollywood’s most beautiful and sought after actresses, however, what you may not know is that this Nerds Crush also has some serious nerd chops. She’s an avid fan of the Star Trek franchise, and even named her sons Cy and Bowie after famous legendary musicians David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper.
Emma Watson
Emma Watson skyrocketed to fame for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter franchise. But the Oxford-educated actress hasn’t forgotten her nerdy roots. She is a huge fan of Doctor Who, and has even expressed interest in playing the next doctor if the role is ever offered to her.
Jarrod Carmichael
Actor, comedian, and writer Jarrod Carmichael may keep a low profile, but that doesn’t make him any less of a total nerd. He’s been playing videogames since he was a kid, and is a huge fan of the popular online battle royale game, Fortnite. When he’s not working, he often spends his free time streaming the game with his friends.
Justin Timberlake
Pop star Justin Timberlake might have a sexy and playful on-stage persona, but deep down he’s a total nerd. He’s an avid fan of the series Game of Thrones, so much so that he even asked HBO to make him a pair of custom-made Jon Snow boots for his show. This “Sexy Back” singer is also an outspoken fan of Minecraft.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman may be best known for her roles in Leon: The Professional, Star Wars, and Thor, but that’s not all she has to offer. She graduated from Harvard with a degree in psychology, and is an avid fan of the classic board game Scrabble. She even made a custom-made version of the game for her wedding, complete with a personalized dictionary.
Kumail Nanjiani
Kumail Nanjiani may be one of the biggest comedians of our time, but he’s also a self-proclaimed geek. He takes to social media to express his love for science fiction, comic books, and superheroes. He also recently starred in the blockbuster hit The Avengers: Endgame.
John Cho
John Cho may be best known for his lead roles in Harold & Kumar and the Star Trek reboot series, but he’s also a big nerd. He’s a fan of the classic RPG Dungeon and Dragons, and even dressed up as an Elven ranger for Halloween one year.
Dan Harmon
Creator, writer, and producer of the hit show Community, Dan Harmon, is something of a genius. He’s also a self-proclaimed nerd who enjoys playing video games such as Super Smash Bros and Magic: The Gathering. He’s also been a guest judge on the hit show Geekdown, which showcases up and coming geek culture.
It’s always interesting to see what celebrities have in common, and that includes nerdy hobbies. These major celebs may seem like far cry from a typical nerd, but beneath all the glitz and glamor lies a true inner geek. It’s refreshing to know that even the most glamorous people in our society still appreciate and enjoy nerdy activities such as Dungeons and Dragons and Magic: The Gathering.
