A Look at Celebrities and their Creative Pandemic Hobbies
Stars – they’re just like us! Take a look at some of our favourite celebrity hobbies to come out of the past two years.
If you’ve tried something new – be it a sport, skill, or hobby – amid the pandemic or multiple lockdowns we’ve had, you have one more thing in common with some of entertainment’s biggest names.
With the lull of inactivity during the height of Covid-19 and even now, many Singaporeans turned to new devices to keep their mental health and wellness in check. Just a scroll through your Instagram feed will show you friends and acquaintances taking up new hobbies (yoga, spin, crafts, and more) during this period.
This phenomenon can also be seen globally, with studies showing that 6 out of 10 young or out-of-job Americans harnessing new skills amid the pandemic. Some of these popular hobbies also include reading (61%), baking or cooking (36%), gardening (30%), meditation (29%), and writing (26%).
And just like us, celebrities have also taken to trying new skills during this uncertain time. Here are some of our favourite celebrity pandemic hobbies to come out of the past two years.
Florence Pugh – Cooking
If you’ve been following the 26-year-old actress on Instagram, chances are you’ve already tuned in for one of Florence’s cooking shows on her page. ‘Cooking with Flo’ has become an internet sensation; the ever-so-popular segment of Florence’s social media presence even has Twitter dedicating moments, tweets, and tags to the Marvel actress for her culinary diaries. The actress’ bubbly personality also makes her videos that much more entertaining to watch.
Evanna Lynch – Aerial Hoop
Talk about an impressive hobby. 'Harry Potter' alumni Evanna Lynch has chosen to dedicate her time to mastering the skill of aerial hoop. The Lovegood actress often takes to Instagram to share her progress with the art, even captioning her posts with how she feels about the sport.
“After spending the first half of this year in a very cerebral state and very disconnected from my body I feel soooo grateful to be able to train again,” says the actress in one post. “Nothing really centres me in my body the way aerial does. The pain/discomfort/fear it brings up makes it impossible for the mind to be anywhere else but present, and appreciative of what the body can do when you work with it.”
Reese Witherspoon – Reading
Though her love for reading stemmed early on in her life, Reese Witherspoon has taken it to greater heights with ‘Reese’s Book Club’ – an international book community started by the actress to read and discuss books centred around women every month. Followed by 2.2 million book enthusiasts so far, the club’s official Instagram page has since broadened its horizons to feature talks, pop-ups, and more for Reese’s community.
This January, Reese’s book of the month is ‘Honor’ by Thrity Umrigar. Head on over to her page to see how you can join the community in time for their monthly discussion of the book.
FKA Twigs – Pole
Much like Evanna, English singer-songwriter FKA Twigs has also taken to the unconventional arts. Often sharing her progress with pole fitness on her Instagram page, it is clear that the singer has come far since she first started the sport in 2016. Although her interest in pole started before the pandemic, FKA Twigs has used the time presented to her during the past two years to actively train and better her skills at the sport.
The artist now incorporates pole into her performances, music, and life more than ever before. Earlier in 2021, she also made a guest appearance at Dua Lipa’s intimate ‘Studio 2054’ show with a pole routine planned.
Kat Dennings – Gardening
Marvel actress and Indie film queen Kat Dennings has chosen gardening as her activity of leisure during the pandemic. If you’ve been following her for a while now, you’d probably have been blessed with numerous amount of Instagram stories of Kat thriving in her garden and proudly showcasing her plant babies.
With 9 out of 10 of her Instagram highlights and even more posts on her feed dedicated towards the hobby, it is clear that the actress finds joy and respite in the art of horticulture – and we love that for her.
Jonathan Van Ness – Gymnastics
What started out as just an interest has now turned into a regular hobby of Jonathan Van Ness’. Besides figure skating, the ‘Queer Eye’ star has ventured into the art of gymnastics with the help of his trainers. On Instagram, JVN can be seen tumbling, twisting, cartwheeling, and flipping in multiple progress videos he’s shared for his followers. “It feels to move my body in a way that brings joy & passion,” says the celebrity hairstylist on a post of his. “For so long I worked out for validation from others, now I work out for me.”
Sutton Foster – Crochet
Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster has also taken her pre-pandemic hobby to the next level during the pandemic. Besides performing alongside her co-star Hugh Jackman in the latest instalment of ‘The Music Man’, the actress can be seen crocheting to her heart’s content in her free time – so much so that she’s also written her own book on the craft titled ‘Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life’. “Hooked, is about more than crafting,” says Sutton in one Instagram post. “It’s about how crafting helped me navigate some of the darkest moments of my life.”
