Top 10 Celebrities Who are Surprisingly Good Dancers
These celebrities might be known for their acting chops, but did you know that they're actually surprisingly good dancers too? Christian Bale, Paul Rudd, Chris Messina, Sam Rockwell, Alfonso Ribeiro, Christopher Walken, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Vin Diesel, Donald Faison, Paul Rudd, Christian Bale and Tom Hiddleston are some of the actors who might not look like they've got dancing skills but they've proven us wrong!
#10: Christian Bale
In cinema, this man is mostly known as a serious method actor; a thespian dedicated to the craft. That’s what makes Christian Bale so valuable to directors. But that’s not to say that he can’t let loose too, as evidenced by his dancing character from the 1993 film “Swing Kids.” Then there’s the 2000 cult classic “American Psycho,” in which Bale plays a serial killer with a fondness for mainstream music. In one particularly disturbing yet memorable scene, a peppy dance sequence is part of the “strategy,” and the performance is so effective that a doomed guest feels at home right until the end.
#9: Paul Rudd
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Over the years, this American actor has evolved into the prototypical nice guy of Hollywood film, and among his many endearing qualities is a penchant and natural ability for dancing. Showing off his moves when the role calls for it, as seen in “I Could Never Be Your Woman” and when it doesn’t, as revealed in these hilarious “Ant-Man” bloopers, he’s developed quite the dancing rep. Rudd has shared his toe-tapping abilities time and time again on talk shows, mixing craft and technique with distinct comedic style. He just may seem like the party guy that tries to dance, but when you look past the silly facial expressions… he’s actually quite proficient on a fundamental level.
#8: Chris Messina
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With an acting career that began off-Broadway and experience in the dance world, this man entered the film industry with a special set of skills. But it was on “The Mindy Project” that Chris Messina really showed us all what he could really do on a dance floor. As Danny Castellano, he turned heads with a passionate “American Woman” performance, and he’s proven himself to be quite the club dancer as well. There’s nothing goofy going on here – just a man who commits to the grind. Like the aforementioned Paul Rudd, it’s the nice guy factor that allows Messina to get away with a little more in terms of moves than your average male actor.
#7: Sam Rockwell
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In this man’s vast filmography, there’s no one definitive dancing moment. That’s because Sam Rockwell seemingly finds excuses to dance often, and with good reason. This smooth operator knows that he’s got skills, and there’s an old school mentality that drives each performance. In fact, he’s got a bit of a James Brown style going on, as he’s mostly about hand movements and quick feet. Rockwell makes it look easy, but when you pay attention, you’ll see that it’s anything but that. Then again, when you have a so-called “footloose upbringing,” as Rockwell has previously cited, dancing just becomes natural.
#6: Alfonso Ribeiro
On the NBC series “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” this New York native played opposite a young Will Smith. Over the course of the series, Alfonso Ribeiro famously performed “The Carlton Dance” in numerous episodes, thus establishing a cultural legacy of campy moves. But when Ribeiro competed on ABC’s Dancing With the Stars in 2014 - and won - he showed that he’s more than just a comedic performer. Week after week, Ribeiro displayed his expertise and versatility by racking up 8s, 9s and 10s throughout the competition. In fact, he received all 10s with partner Witney Carson in the finals. And so, Ribeiro essentially dropped the mic and set a new bar for future dancing celebrities.
#5: Christopher Walken
Given this man’s cinematic legacy and unique manner of speech, he’s become a favorite subject for both amateur and professional impersonators. In 2001, though, Walken achieved a new level of fame, as his dancing acumen was featured in Fatboy Slim’s “Weapon of Choice” music video. With a background in theatre, Walken seemed more than comfortable shuffling around, and it’s that kind of dancing bravado that made him an ideal casting choice for the 2007 film “Hairspray.” While some older gentleman look awkward when dancing, Christopher Walken oozes confidence and style.
#4: Joseph Gordon-Levitt
As a child actor turned A-lister, this man has long been in the public eye. Before Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s career began, however, he developed his performance skills in musical theatre. So, after a big transition into movies, Gordon-Levitt’s dancing skills came in handy for a choreographed dance sequence in the 2009 film “500 Days of Summer.” Impressive as that may be, he upped the ante in 2015 with his Janet Jackson interpretation on “Lip Sync Battle.” He’s even taken his talents to the “Saturday Night Live.” This guy loves to boogie, and it shows.
#3: Vin Diesel
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As one of the more iconic 21st century action stars, this big screen tough guy is anything but one-dimensional. Like so many actors, Mark Sinclair aka Vin Diesel began on the stage, long before he crossed over into mainstream cinema. In recent years, we’ve even seen old school clips of him break dancing in New York City – nothing extraordinary but very entertaining. In 2014, however, Vin shocked and amazed fans with videos of him dancing to both Beyoncé’s “Drunk in Love” and Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse.” It’s not often that you’ll see a rough and tough movie star shaking his hips, but that’s obviously not an issue for Big Vin.
#2: Donald Faison
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While this man isn’t necessarily a household name, he’s one of the more popular television stars of his generation. Donald Faison starred in over 170 episodes of the comedy-drama series “Scrubs” in the role of Turk, and during an unforgettable 2006 episode showed off some seriously unforgettable moves. With his smooth performance of Bel Biv DeVoe’s “Poison,” Faison’s confident, fun-loving technique had pop culture buzzing. And so, the moment became an instant series classic, a moment that Donald Faison would later revisit on the Queen Latifah Show. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions. Nick Offerman Vincent Cassel Michelle Obama
#1: Tom Hiddleston
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In the 2000s, this British actor was a West End regular; but the man was destined for success beyond the stage. When Tom Hiddleston joined the Marvel family in 2011, the public began paying even more attention to this multi-talented individual. Over the years, he’s more than once displayed his precise dance moves in the middle of interviews, making him one of the more endearing A-listers of his time. Hiddleston’s relationship with Taylor Swift brought even more attention to his dancing abilities, when he worked it out with the pop star at the 2016 Met Gala, surprising Swifties, and the entire world, in the process.
