Music and movies have been a huge part of my life, much as I imagine they have been for most people reading.
Some of my earliest memories revolve around music. Radio was a huge part of my childhood in Australia and I soaked up everything I heard. Rock radio at the time made me more than familiar with Australian bands such as Cold Chisel, INXS, Divinyls, and Midnight Oil.
Movies have always moved me emotionally and worked as an escape from reality. As a teenager, I was obsessed with the films of Winona Ryder and loved sitting in the dark with a jumbo popcorn as she perfectly portrayed the eternal angst-ridden teen on the big screen.
Later in my life television underwent a cultural reawakening and as an adult looking to reflect on my existence from a more critical position, shows such as Six Feet Under had me thinking of life, death, and the universe.
The popular (and sometimes not so popular) culture I’ve accessed throughout my life has helped me survive and build a sense of self.
This lifelong connection and nurturing I’ve received from performers is made extra special when someone I admire turns out to be vegan.
When a song or a piece of art speaks to me clearly and distinctly, it is an added bonus to know that the performer has a compassionate approach to life.
Let’s check out five of my favourite entertainers and why I adore them.
Most ‘vegan celebrity’ lists are just that. Lists. I wanted to give you some personal insight into how these people reached me over the years with their creative output.
Alicia Silverstone
I was 21 years old when the classic teen comedy Clueless was unleashed on the world and it instantly became a staple amongst my circle of friends. Unforgettable quotes from the film were fused into our speech patterns until we almost couldn’t separate our real life interactions from the screenplay.
The role of Cher in Clueless was enough to make me adore Silverstone forever, however I still enjoy watching her pop up across my screen now and again.
I thoroughly enjoyed her brief stint in the title role of the short-lived sitcom Miss Match. I also delighted when I saw Silverstone pop up for a four-episode arc on the dramedy Suburgatory, opposite her clueless co-star Jeremey Sisto, and in a supporting role in the 2018 film Book Club.
Woody Harrelson
I was quite a young person when Woody Harrelson entered my consciousness.
Cheers was one of my favourite TV programs and Harrelson played the supposedly unintelligent yet loveable Woody Boyd. I didn’t have a happy home life and Cheers was one of my escapes, with Woody being a familiar and happy face for me.
Woody has ever since been a part of my pop culture landscape across many decades.
I cringed at yet loved his turn as a serial killer opposite Juliette Lewis in Natural Born Killers. I adored his starring role in Zombieland and am excited for the sequel coming soon. I even loved Woody in the Han Solo movie from 2018!
Tony Kanal
No Doubt have been one of the important musical forces in my life and co-founder, bassist, and songwriter Tony Kanal is one seriously cool dude.
I first met Kanal as a fan back in the 90s when No Doubt were in Australia on a promotional tour for their smash hit record Tragic Kingdom. I went on to see the band live numerous times around the globe including London, Brisbane, and Houston.
Tony later went on to form Dreamcar with Tom and Adrian from No Doubt, alongside Davey Havok of AFI fame, and released one of the most criminally-overlooked pop records of all time.
I recently got to say hello to Tony again in person this year as we were both attending the massive Eat Drink Vegan event in California. It was a warm moment and I cherished the chance to say g’day to one of my all time musical heroes.
Mayim Bialik
Mayim Bialik as been an influence in my life for a very long time and now that she is set to open a vegan restaurant in downtown Los Angeles, I’m certain she will be on my radar for a few more decades at least.
Mayim first entered my life thanks to her title role is the 90s sitcom Blossom. I adored the show and her personality. Bialik also starred as the younger version of the Bette Midler character in the big screen tearjerker Beaches and this was a HUGE film in my younger years.
I’ve always enjoyed Mayim’s on screen comedy timing in The Big Bang Theory when I’ve seen snippets on TV but I’ve never really warmed to the show overall due to its sexist and racist undertones.
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah was such a huge movie star in the 80s. I watched so many of her film on VHS from the local Blockbuster including her turn as a mermaid in Splash with Tom Hanks.
I adored Hannah in Roxanne, Wall Street, and Steel Magnolias. These films were all on heavy rotation in my house.
Daryl Hannah has been one of the most active social justice and environmental activists when it comes to celebrities throwing their weight behind causes. She has even been arrested for putting her body on the line as a form of protest.
What do you think of my list? Who would you add?
