Top 20 Celebs Who Are Surprisingly Down to Earth

He’s not just one of our favorite actors, he’s one of our favorite people. You’d think that dominating the box office for basically three decades might influence someone’s ego. But that’s just not the case with the Sandman, who is reportedly one of the nicest and most genuine actors in the industry. Whether he’s apologizing over a parking mistake or taking part in a local basketball game, Sandler is, as described by former colleague Ken Miyamoto, living proof that “you can be an overly successful movie star without being a diva or a prick”.

His roles have covered a spectrum of personas, topics and genres, from action to sci-fi, historical pieces to dramas. But even after an Oscar win, and many more nominations, this Massachusetts native hasn’t seemed to let his A-list status get to his head. Coming from a modest background, the versatile actor always seems to remember where he came from, whether he’s showing some Boston pride, or sticking up for the little guy. Interviewers have also reported that he is “down to earth” and - as they might say in South Side - “Wicked smaht.”

From the moment he skyrocketed to fame as the excitable stoner half of TV’s favorite meth-making duo, Aaron Paul portrayed himself as the kinda celebrity you’d love to hang out with. In fact, being able to connect with people has gotta be one of Paul’s most endearing traits, whether he’s greeting tour buses full of fans outside his house or delivering audio greeting cards in person. Fans feel so connected to the former Jesse Pinkman that they wrote a song dedicated to Paul himself when “Breaking Bad” ended – that kinda love is only reserved for the nicest celebrities! Sweet, open, and approachable, Aaron Paul seems to have a knack for getting other people involved in his brand of fun.

After breaking out in a big way, the world fell in love with this talented actress. She just seemed so NORMAL: geeking out at her first Oscar gala, never taking questions - or herself - too seriously. But that was just an act, right? Part of the “Katniss doesn’t play by the rules” persona to help market “The Hunger Games,” perhaps? Seems not. With this lady, what you see is what you get. Sure, it probably doesn’t hurt that she’s typecast as authentic characters, but it’s something she could run with in real life. But if being typecast as “real” because you’re real is wrong, who wants to be right?

By all accounts, the Fresh Prince is just as fly, dope and nice as you’d hope he’d be. And, we can probably attribute Will Smith’s unrelenting kindness and generosity to his family values. In fact, it’s almost impossible to think of Smith himself these days without picturing his family standing right there beside him – and those values even show up in his work. As a rapper, Smith is known for his clean lyrics, and has never had a ‘Parental Advisory’ label on one of his albums throughout his entire music career. It’s easy for kids and parents alike to love this guy.

He used to be just a Trekkie favorite, but since taking to social media he has become a beloved household name everywhere. Coming from both humble, and tragic origins – his family was held in Japanese internment camps in America during WWII – Takei rose to stardom as helmsman Mr. Sulu, on the original Star Trek series. But these days, he loves to spend time with his fans. He happily answers questions, signs autographs, and is always gracious. Not to mention, he is an avid human rights advocate and is not afraid to speak up against injustice when he sees it.

Before making it big in the WWE, John Cena came from humble beginnings in Massachusetts. In recent years, it’s become clear he hasn’t forgotten his roots. In fact, he is one of the best examples of a celebrity using their platform for good. From brightening the lives of sick children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, or travelling across the globe to visit active and wounded troops, Cena has made a conscious effort to transform his career into an opportunity to help others. While he often makes headlines with his charity work, he makes just as much of an impact when the cameras aren’t rolling. He’ll even pay for your groceries!

Just because you’ve won an Oscar doesn’t mean you don’t want to do normal things - like run some errands, talk with local shopkeepers, or even deal with a flat tire. None of this should be shocking, but when you get used to seeing celebs that seem to want to perch on the highest pedestal they can find, it’s nice to see actors like Eddie Redmayne doing just those things after all “The Theory of Everything” hoopla. He’s one of those artists that reminds us that when you see their faces on the big-screen, they are at WORK. It’s just a job; it’s fun and glamorous, but it’s a job. And like any job, you still have a life to live around it.

This celebrity chef may be known for his frosted tips and epic bowling shirts, but it’s his relentless devotion to helping others and supporting his community that really stands out. In 2015, he officiated a mass wedding ceremony for 101 same-sex couples in Miami. During the California wildfire season in 2018, he provided thousands of free meals to first responders and evacuees. Then in 2020, he partnered with the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to provide financial support to over 43,000 restaurant workers affected by the Coronavirus pandemic. Time and time again, Fieri has done everything in his power to stand up for the little guy.

Not only is she an amazing comedian and feminist icon, but it also turns out she is really nice and normal in real life! This is coming from just about every single person who’s ever come in contact with the actress and comedian, saying she’s funny, gracious, and extremely easy to work with. Fans got a bit more of this in her sincere, thoughtful, and of course hilarious memoir “Yes, Please,” in which she chronicles her life, shares stories about friends she made along her way to stardom, and doles out practical advice. All in all, Amy Poehler is the sort of person you wish were your best friend.

If you follow The Rock on any social media platform, you know that 1) he works out A LOT, 2) he has an amazing smile and 3) his feed is basically a laundry list of his good deeds. And that’s because Dwayne Johnson is just one of those celebrities that you wish were part of your crew. Whenever he surprises his fans, he does so in a big way and, usually, in style! He’s also the kind of celebrity that likes to shine a spotlight on kids with amazing stories about overcoming challenges. He’s so enthusiastic when it comes to his sense of fun and community that it never fails to make us feel good. It also never fails to inspire us.

Former SNL cast member turned host of The Tonight Show, this actor/comedian/writer has been tickling our funny bones for some time. Fallon has never let his status get in the way of interacting with his fans, the same fans who frequently report how willing he is to snap a quick photo, or sign an autograph when he’s spotted out on the town. Others have commented on how modest he is. A hard worker, Fallon seems genuinely grateful for the opportunities he’s had, and remains grounded whether he’s making people laugh with an amazing lip-sync battle, or laughing his way through a round of Wheel of Musical Impressions.

Most of us known Jeff Goldblum’s a bit of a strange guy, and definitely a fun-loving guy, but he’s also a nice guy. When signing fan autographs, not only is Goldblum unafraid to respond in kind to his fans’ declarations of undying love; he also makes a point of making direct eye contact with each and every one of them. He doesn’t shy away from making grand gestures to complete strangers either, like when he met Anna Kendrick for the first time. But you know what else makes him seem like an accessible celebrity? He’s not afraid to tackle more intimate and engaging interview questions head on. For us, what makes Jeff Goldblum irresistibly nice is his utterly unrestricted charm.

Best known for his breakout role as Harry Potter, Daniel Radcliffe has been taking on some interesting roles since hanging up his wand. Despite being one of the most recognizable people of his generation, Radcliffe seems to have stayed pretty normal – due in large part, it seems, to the fact that he never takes himself very seriously. Whether he’s mocking his own status as a superstar, taking part in elaborate pranks, or accepting movie roles that might make others gag, he’s still the Chosen One to us.

George Clooney’s usual vibe is one of dignity and reserve, but deep down you just know this Kentucky native loves to laugh and have a good time. Clooney doesn’t shy away from getting personal with his fans – even if that means breaking his composure or the occasional red carpet barricade. Of course, on the more serious side of things, he’s a major activist and humanitarian – which you have to respect. In fact, he’s well known for his heart of gold and compassion. But like we said, when he’s not busy trying to save the world, Clooney likes to let loose with his costars and celebrity pals, either through a good-natured prank or some gentle joshing.

Despite being among the top earning actresses in the world, this Academy Award winner has not forgotten about others. It’d be easy to point out how charming she is, or how slick her mad lip syncing skills are, but the moment that nabbed her spot on this list has got to be the infamous paparazzi signs. After noting that they were being tailed by photographers, Stone and Amazing Spider-Man co-star Andrew Garfield decided to put their star power to good use, with Stone quickly making signs to direct people’s attention to charities and organizations that could use more attention than them.

Considering how he talks about his co-stars and colleagues, as well as his undeniable sweetness with his fans, it’s no wonder Hugh Jackman has been labeled one of Hollywood’s nicest guys. We’ll admit: celebrities surprising fans is not an uncommon move in Hollywood, but for some reason it’s just super endearing when Hugh does it! Oh, and how ‘bout this: while interacting with a crying fan, Jackman made her and everyone watching feel at ease with a group selfie – and he even made sure not to leave out the “ET” reporter interviewing him! Geez, it truly seems like Jackman is nice to everyone – even the reporter he embarrassed by recounting the time he’d spent teaching him at school in England!

Considered one of the coolest people in the music industry, here’s a musician who knows how to keep it real. He’s had this reputation for over 20 years, so it’s safe to say it’s legit. Foo Fighters founder and front man Dave Grohl has consistently been called funny and easygoing, not to mention a down-to-earth dad. Also, he gives often to charity, has been known to leave $1000 tips, and even performs in the garages of ardent fans, as a strong advocate of garage bands himself. Plus, if he promises a show, he gives a damn show – even if his leg’s broken! He’s basically a normal guy living an extraordinary life, and he seems all too happy to give back.

Tom Hanks is the type of guy that makes kindness look cool. And seriously, it’s nigh impossible to find any negative fan testimonial about him: people consistently rave about how nice and grounded he is. It’s hard not to love a celebrity who appreciates a good selfie just as much as the next person. But besides crashing random weddings, posing for hilarious photo series with fans in restaurants, and randomly getting his name chanted by tens of thousands of people at a basketball game, Hanks also seems to be the best husband known to man, as he is constantly gushing about his wife Rita Wilson. Humble, grateful, and compassionate, Tom Hanks gives us every reason to love and respect him.

Before we unveil our most down to earth celeb, here are a few honorable mentions:

John Cena
Emma Watson
Meryl Streep

So much more than a seemingly ageless/pretty face, the Chosen One of the Matrix is also one of the kindest, most sensible people in Hollywood. For YEARS, fans have reported on how warm and friendly he is upon meeting them, but more than that he goes out of his way to interact with and help people. In 1997, he famously spent the day talking, sharing food and hanging out with a homeless man - just to be a decent human being. Never on a high horse, he’s been known to offer seats and assistance to those in need while taking public transportation, proving you’re never too famous to be a good person.