16 Ballet Dancers Who Are Actually Successful Actors

Not all successful actors pursue professional acting at the beginning of their careers. They may start out as models, singers, or dancers. No matter what they've been through, they eventually hit their big time, earning both fame and fortune.
This list is of 16 ballet dancers who actually became successful actors. They made a switch to acting and eventually hit their big time. Their dancing skills even help them stand out in the industry. Do you remember Zoe Saldana's role in the 2000 teen drama film Center Stage? Her ballet performances during the film weren’t all just acting. The actress studied at the School of American Ballet and started off as a ballet dancer.
There are many other actors who got their start as ballet dancers. Believe it or not, the Batman star Christian Bale took ballet classes as a young child.

#1 Elisabeth Moss

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Elisabeth Moss rose to fame for her award-winning role in the dark and dramatic The Handmaid’s Tale. The actress danced as a child. She attended the School of American Ballet and was trained with former New York City Ballet ballerina Suzanne Farrell.

#2 Zoe Saldana

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Did you remember Zoe Saldana in the 2000 teen drama film Center Stage? Her ballet performances in the film weren't all just acting. The actress started out as a ballet dancer and has since gained recognition for her role in franchises such as Guardians of the Galaxy, Avatar, and Star Trek.

#3 Neve Campbell

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Neve Campbell wowed viewers with her performances in the dance film, The Company. The actress was trained at the National Ballet School of Canada and even performed in The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty.

#4 Sarah Jessica Parker

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The Sex and the City star was trained in ballet and singing as a child. She landed on Broadway before the TV and big screen.

#5 Jennifer Garner

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Jennifer Garner studied ballet as a child. The actress often re-posts New York City Ballet videos on her Instagram.

#6 Sarah Hay

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Before landing the starring role in "Flesh and Bone", Sarah Hay danced with Semperoper in Dresden. The actress appeared in Jim Carrey’s comedy series I’m Dying Here and HBO’s Room 104.

#7 Charlize Theron

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Charlize Theron studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in NYC before a knee injury ended her dance career.

#8 Sasha Radetsky

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Sasha Radetsky had a quite successful career as a ballet dancer. He got his start in acting with the starring role in "Center Stage". The actor retired from the stage in 2014 but has still made his appearances in movies and TV shows.

#9 Diane Kruger

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Diane Kruger attended the prestigious Royal Ballet School in London until an injury ended her ballet career. The actress is best known for her role in "Troy and Inglourious Basterds".

#10 Gal Gadot

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The Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot was trained in ballet, hip hop, modern, and jazz and was a dancer for 12 years.

#11 Christian Bale

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Believe it or not, Batman star Christian Bale attended ballet classes as a young child.

#12 Jamie Bell

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Jamie Bell took dance classes as a child. He was chosen out of 2,000 young boys to star in the film Billy Elliot. The English actor has since appeared in various movies, including The Adventures of Tintin, Jane Eyre, and Fantastic Four.

#13 Summer Glau

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Summer Glau was a ballet student before landing a role in the TV series Firefly. The actress was even homeschooled to accommodate her dance training. Unluckily, a broken toe ended her dance career, so pushed her to make the move to L.A. to pursue acting.

#14 Kristen Wiig

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Hilarious actress Kristen Wiig studied ballet for seven years as a child.

#15 Emily Tyra

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Emily Tyra was trained seriously in ballet and this is proved through her work on the dramatic ballet-related series. The actress has since appeared in several movies and TV shows.

#16 Channing Tatum

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Channing Tatum may not be professionally trained like other celebs, but surely, he can dance. This heartthrob rose to fame for his role in Magic Mike and of course the dance film, Step Up.