19 Hollywood stars who, you didn’t know, are excellent dancers

Hollywood has been filled with talented stars who may just wow us with their incredible acting, but many of these talented people have impressive dancing skills that may catch us by surprise. Whether they are showing off their moves onscreen or doing it out of the blue for their fans, these stars prove they can win in more than one way, showcasing their rhythm, grace, and style for the spotlight. From the elegant ballet to the high-energy hip-hop, here are 19 Hollywood stars you didn't know were great dancers, bringing their own flavors to the dance floor.

1. Tom Holland

Before juggling the streets as Spider-Man, Tom Holland was setting the dance floor on fire. He honed his skills in ballet and nailed the perfect movements with some essential dancing skills as the lead actor in Billy Elliot the musical on London's West End. That special training helped him win the viral Lip Sync Battle with that unforgettable performance on Rihanna's Umbrella. Whether he is doing backflips or moonwalking in interviews, Holland's moves prove that he's more than a superhero, he's got serious rhythm too.

2. Zendaya

Zendaya is an actress, but she is a dancing powerhouse. She started off as a backup dancer for Selena Gomez and later stunned audiences on Dancing with the Stars, where she was the runner-up. In her music videos, she ranges from hip-hop to contemporary, and in The Greatest Showman, she easily performed aerial choreography, which proved that grace is not just on the ground. Whether she freestyles on social media or executes precise routines, Zendaya's dance skills are as remarkable as her acting.

3. Joseph Gordon-Levitt

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is a versatile actor and has really good dancing skills. A trained performer, he has practically used that skill on most talk shows, but his standout dance number with Zooey Deschanel has to be the one in 500 Days of Summer. His impromptu but impressive routines even made him go viral, especially when he broke all the rules by doing a gravity-defying routine to Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation on Lip Sync Battle. Whether it's tap, jazz, or freestyle, JGL brings effortless charm and skill to the dance floor.

4. Jamie Foxx

Jamie Foxx is a man of many talents, including acting, singing, and dancing. He has infused live performances with smooth moves that are so easy to blend with rhythm. In films such as Dreamgirls and Ray, he effortlessly commanded the stage, but the background in comedy also comes alive in his dance routines. The Michael Jackson impersonation is forever legendary, as he proves to have studied the best. Whether it is dancing at award shows or breaking it down in interviews, Foxx's dance skills add to his undeniable charisma.

5. Channing Tatum

Long before Magic Mike, Channing Tatum was an accomplished street dancer. With his eventual breakout role in Step Up, this man cemented himself as being Hollywood's go-to dancer. His athletic background gives him an edge in freestyle and breakdancing, but his choreography-driven performances in Magic Mike and Hail, Caesar! really show him how versatile a performer he is. Off-screen, though, Tatum's fluid dancing is evident with impromptu dance-offs and Lip Sync Battle, where he hilariously takes on Beyoncé's Run the World (Girls).

6. Hugh Jackman

Hugh Jackman isn't just Wolverine, but he's a triple threat with impressive dance skills. Broadway shows such as The Boy from Oz had helped him tap and jazz out. His precision was on full display, as he tapped out The Greatest Showman. He can be seen to easily blend old-school charm with modern movement whether it is to lead musical numbers or casually break into dance at award shows. In fact, he's even busted out some dance moves during Deadpool 3 rehearsals, proving that even after a few years in Hollywood, he still remains a top-notch dancer.

7. Jenna Dewan

Jenna Dewan is a professional dancer first and then an actress. She started by being a background dancer for Janet Jackson and has toured with big stars such as Ricky Martin and Missy Elliott. Her debut in Step Up was not really acting; she was simply a demonstration of real-life dancing prowess. Dewan's combination of contemporary, hip-hop, and jazz styles distinguishes her performances in music videos and television programs. She regularly posts dance videos on social networks, which shows that her skills remain the same as before.

8. Margot Robbie

Actress Margot Robbie, whose previous films like I, Tonya, and The Wolf of Wall Street describe her galvanic performances, has a hidden talent: dancing. In Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Margot Robbie showed how grace and attitude were needed in a small but memorable dance scene. It isn't known if she is a former gymnast, but the love for movement is evident in her most natural theatric roles, although it was at the 2023 Golden Globes that really surprised the fans with a surprise ballet move.

9. Chris Evans

Chris Evans may be most famous as Captain America, but he also has some smooth dance moves. He took tap and jazz lessons as a kid, which is probably why he's so in tune. His fluid footwork was demonstrated in Not Another Teen Movie and Puncture, and his fun dance interludes on talk shows prove he hasn't lost his step. Evans often blames his mobility for helping to perfect stunt work, making his fight scenes look very fluid.

10. Anne Hathaway

Anne Hathaway was certainly impressive in her dance sequences in Les Misérables and The Devil Wears Prada, but she was a trained dancer long before these performances. As a child, she took ballet and tap, working to hone her craft with every passing year. Her scenes in Ella Enchanted and The Princess Diaries showcased a lightness that added a lot of humor, while the choreographed fight sequences in The Dark Knight Rises highlighted sharp precision. Hathaway's ability to shift between elegance and high-energy routines proves she's a natural performer.

11. Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth may be playing Thor, but his silk smooth dance moves can go up against the god of thunder. A natural show-off, he has been seen busting a move on The Tonight Show and surreptitiously behind the scenes on movie sets. He frequently appears goofing off in choreographed routines on social media, and his footwork has certainly gotten better with time. Whether it's dancing at an event or with his kids, Hemsworth shows that superheroes can too have rhythm.

12. Ryan Gosling

Ryan Gosling has been known for his acting in drama and romance films, but his dancing talent is worth more recognition. His role in La La Land was one of the most memorable performances, with intricate choreography. Gosling prepared for months to prepare for the movie, mastering tap, and ballroom dance. He even took part in one Saturday Night Live sketch in which he danced with an unexpected partner, showing fans his sense of humor and versatility, as well.

13. Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman's dance performances in Black Swan are among Hollywood's most renowned. However, not all is on-screen magic—Portman trained for months in ballet performances to perfect her role. Such performances were indeed so authentic that she even clinched an Oscar for it. Since Black Swan, Portman has had her feet wet in other work comprised of dance-related projects, such as her role in V for Vendetta, when the choreography in martial arts also resembled rhythmic flow. Her commitment to the art form is beyond impressive.

14. Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is known as a powerhouse of performances, but what no one knew is that she has some serious moves on the dance floor too. In Mad Max: Fury Road, Theron showed her athleticism and smooth agility but made a public appearance dancing via a viral Instagram video in 2021. This is the clip of her dancing to "Single Ladies" alongside Atomic Blonde director David Leitch-proving she can add "dancer" to her already pretty extensive list of skills. She's a natural with fluidity and control in her movements as an expressive dancer.

15. Bradley Cooper

Bradley Cooper changed from a completely normal guy to a rock star in A Star is Born. It wasn't just singing, but Cooper, who had trained considerably for this role, had to learn dancing on stage as well to go along with his character arc. He has taken classes to perfect the rhythm and style required for the concert performances and succeeded with it in the film. His natural rhythm and ability to move in front of an audience showed his dedication to the craft.

16. Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt has danced her way through various roles in films like The Five-Year Engagement and Mary Poppins Returns, where the acting and dance go hand in hand. She is classically trained in ballet and contemporary forms and carries incredible grace and fluidity about her body. In fact, she has been candid about her admiration for dancers and their discipline. In a recent interview, Blunt revealed that one of her favorite pastimes was dance classes in her free time.

17. Matt Damon

Matt Damon is not a dancing king; fans were shocked when he showed his dancing skills in the Eurovision Song Contest film in 2023. The light-hearted dance performance gave him some laughs as an action hero who isn't serious at all. Damon always had a great feel for rhythm, and embracing such a comedic dance role in his later career brings a refreshing aspect to his range. His impromptu movements on set always seem to have a certain charm that fans love.

18. Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba might be of the acting world, but she is also a trained dancer. Before breaking the conventional Fantastic Four, Alba was undergoing studies in ballet and jazz dance, of which her flowing movements on the screen capture that skill. In 2021, Alba flaunted her dancing skills by performing at a charity event, and her Instagram is studded with videos of her performing spontaneous dance parties with friends and family. Yet still, she makes her natural rhythm and grace stay in her public persona and she keeps giving glances into this dance-filled life of hers.

19. Tom Hiddleston

Tom Hiddleston may not be the first person that comes to mind when you think of the talented actor, but he certainly has a flair for dance. His ballroom moves in Crimson Peak were elegant, and his memorable turn in Thor: Ragnarok featured him busting a move during a moment of comic relief. Hiddleston also displayed his rhythmic side on different talk shows, including The Graham Norton Show, where he participated in a dance performance with other guests.