In the glitz and glam of Hollywood, some stars keep their cards close to their chest when it comes to religion. For others, religion includes an ever-evolving journey to find the best fit for their beliefs.
Whether drawn by love, personal growth, or life-changing experiences, a slew of our favourite celebrities have walked the path of conversion and embarked on often decades-long quests to find their perfect spiritual fit.
From Julia Roberts embracing Hinduism and Richard Gere’s devotion to Buddhism, to Katie Holmes’ eschewal of Scientology and Snoop Dogg’s dalliance with Rastafarianism, when it comes to religion, the first cut isn’t always the deepest.
These celebrities have been open about their faith and its role as anchor amid the tumultuous tides of fame, preaching that it’s never too late to find spirituality.
Join HELLO! as we explore the A-listers who made the giant leap to change their religion.
1. Julia Roberts – Hinduism
Julia was born into a Christian family but converted to Hinduism in adulthood after feeling a strong connection with a picture of a guru.
“Hinduism is something that I’m very intrigued by and very interested in…it came from seeing a picture of a guru called Neem Karoli Baba. I was so drawn to this picture of this person, and I didn’t know who he was, and what he was about, but felt a very strong interest,” she said in an interview with ABC.
Many believed the actress converted after starring in Eat, Pray, Love in 2010. However, she told a press conference her attraction to the religion predated the film.
“I will say this about Hinduism, which I practise… I didn’t suddenly make this movie and start practicing Hinduism. It was a part of my life for a very long time,” she said.
2. Richard Gere – Methodism and Buddhism
The Pretty Woman actor was raised in a Methodist family but fell in love with Buddhism in his 20s and never looked back.
“I think, like most young men, I was not particularly happy…I was pretty unhappy, and I had questions like, ‘Why anything?'” he revealed in an interview with Lion’s Roar in 1999.
“Realising I was probably pushing the edges of my own sanity, I was exploring late-night bookshops, reading everything I could in many different directions. Evans-Wentz’s books on Tibetan Buddhism had an enormous impact on me. I just devoured them.”
He continued: “So the Buddhist path, particularly the Tibetan approach, was obviously drawing me, but the first tradition that I became involved in was Zen.”
Richard is a vocal activist for the Tibetan independence movement and is close friends with the Dalai Lama, who taught him much about the religion.
3. Katie Holmes – Catholicism and Scientology
Katie converted from Catholicism to Scientology when she started dating renowned Scientologist Tom Cruise in 2005.
She revealed to W Magazine that despite being raised by devout Catholics, she looked forward to learning more about the Mission Impossible star’s faith.
“You know, it’s really exciting. I just started auditing and I’m taking some courses, and I really like it. I feel like it’s really helping,” she told the publication.
After their highly publicised split in 2012, Katie moved to New York and registered at a local Catholic church, indicating her return to the religion she grew up with.
4. Isla Fisher – Judaism
The Australian actress converted to Judaism in 2007 in order to marry fellow actor Sacha Baron Cohen, five years after the pair first met.
“I would do anything– move into any religion– to be united in marriage with him,” she told the Evening Standard in 2010. “We have a future together, and religion comes second to love as far as we are concerned.”
Isla treasured the Jewish traditions she was introduced to through Sacha, as well as the theology of the religion.
“I love the focus on family, food and laughter. You know, I didn’t get to go to university because I’ve been acting since I was a kid,” she said in 2013, as per Express. “So, for me, studying theology was also fascinating. I love Judaism.” The couple sadly filed for divorce in 2023.
5. Snoop Dogg – Christianity, Rastafarianism and Islam
The iconic rapper was raised a Baptist but has changed course several times during his life.
He wrote about his love for God in his 1999 autobiography, explaining: “These days I look to God to get me through each day, to guide me on my path and to help others along their way. He’s taken me this far; I’ve got no reason to believe He won’t be with me for the rest of the ride.”
He joined the Nation of Islam in 2009, announcing his dedication at their Chicago convention in the same year. However, he converted to Rastafarianism in 2012, even changing his name to Snoop Lion as calling someone a dog is an insult in the religion.
The 53-year-old became a born-again Christian in 2018, revealing the change in an interview with TV One at the 33rd Stellar Gospel Music Awards.
“I always referred to my saviour Jesus Christ on most of the records that I spoke on; I always had moments that I would reflect on that and let people know that I was a born-again Christian,” he said at the time.
6. Sharon Stone – Methodism, Scientology and Buddhism
The Basic Instinct actress was raised a Methodist and briefly became a Scientologist in the ’90s before settling on Buddhism, thanks to her friend Richard Gere.
She converted after he introduced her to the Dalai Lama, and is now a follower of the Tibetan branch of Buddhism. “It’s important to have a philosophy or way of life or faith that keeps you balanced,” she told The New York Times.
“For me, that has been Buddhism. It’s something that brings you back to centre, and is really the key to serenity and beauty – an internal sense of form and elegance.”
She opened up about practicing the religion to Time in 2018, explaining, “I’m a Buddhist…I really believe in the yin-yang practice. And yin is that breath where you breathe in, and you create an opening, an expanse.”
7. Ice Cube – Islam
Another iconic rapper to grace this list is NWA star Ice Cube, who converted to Islam in the ’90s after going solo.
“What I call myself is a natural Muslim because it’s just me and God,” he told The Guardian in 2000. “You know, going to the mosque, the ritual and the tradition, it’s just not in me to do. So I don’t do it.”
Despite proclaiming his conversion to the religion, he spoke to The Daily Beast in 2017 about his spiritual future, revealing that his beliefs are not set in stone.
“I’m gonna live a long life, and I might change religions three or four times before I die,” he said. “I’m on the Islam tip– but I’m on the Christian tip, too. I’m on the Buddhist tip as well. Everyone has something to offer to the world.”
8. Karlie Kloss – Judaism
Victoria’s Secret model Karlie Kloss converted to Judaism to marry Josh Kushner, who happens to be Ivanka Trump’s brother-in-law. As his family are staunchly religious, she began the process of conversion before their wedding and hasn’t looked back.
“Changing part of who you are for someone else can be seen as weak, but you know what? Actually, if you’ve been through what I’ve experienced, it requires you to be anything but weak,” she told British Vogue in 2019.
“It requires me to be stronger and self-loving and resilient. I really did not take this lightly.”
She continued: “It was only after many years of studying and talking with my family and friends and soul searching that I made the decision to fully embrace Judaism in my life and start planning for a future with the man I chose to marry.”
9. John Travolta – Catholicism and Scientology
Raised a Catholic, John converted to Scientology in 1975 and has remained one of its most celebrated members, alongside fellow actor Tom Cruise.
“As a Scientologist, I have the technology to handle life’s problems and I have used this to help others in life as well,” he said, per the religion’s website. “I would say Scientology put me into the big time.”
Sadly, the Grease actor lost his son Jett in 2015, and he credited the religion with helping him through the grief. “I’ve been brought through storms that were insurmountable, and [Scientology has] been so beautiful for me that I can’t even imagine attacking it,” he told the Tampa Bay Times.
10. Orlando Bloom – Buddhism
Another devout Buddhist on this list is Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando Bloom, who discovered the religion when he was 16 after hearing his high school mentor reciting a Buddhist chant.
“I’ve had this practice since I was 16, and it’s an amazing tool to keep me present, focused and grateful for what’s right in front of me because I think, sometimes, we can forget that all of the obstacles in our life are really opportunities for our growth,” he told Today.com in April.
“As a philosophy and as a practice, it’s something that’s definitely been the anchor in my life. At its core, it’s about respecting all living beings, and I liked that as a roadmap. I always wanted a roadmap, and in a way, this practice has been that for me.”
11. Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Islam
Seventies popstar Cat Stevens (now known as Yusuf Islam) converted to Islam after contracting tuberculosis when he was 18.
At the time, he was touring with Jimmy Hendrix so his star was in the ascendancy. However, his lifestyle was headed firmly in the opposite direction.
“I didn’t feel good and gradually burned myself into the ground,” he told GQ. I drank too much, smoked too much, and did everything I shouldn’t do. And I became ill — that’s when I got TB. It was a new chance to look at life again and evaluate a little bit more about what might be beyond this world because I was almost at the edge of it.”
On the road to recovery, he started his spiritual journey. Initially, he turned to Buddhism to help write his music. This changed in 1975 when his brother, recently returned from Jerusalem, gave him the Quran for his 27th birthday.
He went on to read the holy book, telling GQ it cemented his spiritual beliefs: “There’s no divine scripture, I think, that directly asks you to look at your own character. And, it says very clearly that God knows your secrets. Once you know that God knows your secrets, there isn’t anywhere really to hide. Then I read the story of Joseph, and it just opened my heart. And I said, ‘This is it. I’ve got to be a Muslim.’”
After nearly drowning in Malibu, his desire to convert was further galvanised. Recording his 1978 album Back to Earth, Cat noticed he felt detached from his peers: “That was a little bit tough because I was in two worlds. I’d go off and try to find a mosque to pray Jum’ah and then come back to a studio with all these guys drinking and doing stuff, so it was a very stark difference. And I knew that was not my future. Staying in that environment was difficult because there were so many things I had to learn. So many things I have to do now.”
The now 76-year-old singer took a lengthy break from the music industry in 1979, only returning to the scene in 2006.
BY KATIE FITZPATRICK
