Hollywood is known as a liberal haven, but many of its movers and shakers are quite conservative. Several famous actors and actresses have played against their right-leaning personal beliefs in films, acting as sex workers, witches, and even occasionally Democrats. Considering these conservative celebrities' own politics, their performances in these progressive roles are even more remarkable.
The most famous figure among the conservative actors on this list is likely Robert Downey, Jr. The movie star seemingly puts aside his own conservative politics when taking progressive roles like the gay publisher Terry Crabtree in Wonder Boys, or the Democratic silent film actor Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin. After years as a Democrat, Rob Schneider recently made the jump over to the GOP. His character Deuce Bigalow might disagree with that decision. James Woods is an outspoken Republican, but that didn't stop him from playing the drug-snorting pimp Lester Diamond in Casino. And conservative voter Shannen Doherty seemed to have no qualms about portraying a witch on the popular series Charmed.
Are you surprised that these conservative celebs would take liberal roles in films and on television? Perhaps the challenges offered by these parts outweighed qualms they might feel about contradicting their beliefs. Read on to discover what other stars appear on this list.
Robert Downey, Jr. is known for taking on a wide variety of progressive roles, including that of the gay publisher Terry Crabtree in Wonder Boys, the Democratic silent film actor Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, and the provocatively made-up Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder. But the actor skews more conservative in his personal politics, saying he has "a really interesting political point of view."
Age: 58
Birthplace: New York City, Manhattan, USA, New York
Republican-voting actress Shannen Doherty has been anything but conservative in her acting career, with roles in racy comedy Mallrats and supernatural television series Charmed.
Despite creating and starring in raunchy comedies like Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, and The Waterboy, Adam Sandler has supported conservative political candidates.
James Woods is an outspoken Republican, particularly on social media, but that didn't stop him from playing the drug-snorting pimp Lester Diamond in Casino.
