The 38 Most Well-Known Left-Handed People In History
Despite the prejudice and discrimination left-handers have faced throughout history, being left-handed is now widely accepted and celebrated. In fact, many of the world's most successful and influential people are lefties. From presidents and artists to scientists and musicians, left-handers have made their mark in every field imaginable. Some even believe that being left-handed can confer unique advantages, such as enhanced creativity and problem-solving skills. So while left-handedness may have once been viewed as a misfortune, today it's clear that being a lefty is nothing to be ashamed of, but rather a unique and valuable trait. These Well-Known Left-Handed People are our favorite celebrities.
It is inherited, according to some scientists. A right-handed couple, for instance, almost never has a left-handed child. Meanwhile, if the couple is made up of lefties, their child or children will probably be as well.
But there are advantages to using the left. For instance, lefties frequently have greater coordination and are more imaginative. Additionally, they were discovered to be more adept at math and musical composition. They also benefit from advantages in sports, particularly tennis and fencing.
In reality, some of the most successful people in the world, such as the guitarist Jimi Hendrix, the pop diva Lady Gaga, and former president Barack Obama, are left-leaning. With our list of the most well-known left-handed people in history, you can find out who else belongs to the club. These Most Famous Lefties might be seen here.
You could feel star-struck if you ever run into Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie. But if you can have the courage to ask for a signature, you'll see that she uses her left hand to sign her name.
The world is in love with songs by British diva Annie Lennox like "No More 'I Love You's" and "Walking on Broken Glass." She is a well-known vocalist who also performs with her left hand.
According to Concordia University, Aristotle composed his mind-bending and perspective-shifting philosophical concepts using his left hand between the years 384 and 322 B.C.
Left-handed athletes like Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Sandy Koufax, and Barry Bonds are among the most illustrious baseball players in history. It comes as no surprise that Babe Ruth, one of the best sluggers to ever play in Major League Baseball, was a left-handed pitcher.
Barack Obama made a joke about being a lefty as he issued his first executive order as president on January 20, 2009. But it's nothing new to have a southpaw in the White House. James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush were among the left-handed former American presidents.
"There's a little bit of higher variance of talent, high and low, for left-handers. But it's never been explained," according to The Economic Times, Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, remarked. And he could have a point, given that other creative businesspeople like Bose founder Amar Bose and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, as well as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, are left-handed.
One of the most renowned singers of all time, Celine Dion is the voice behind iconic ballads like "The Power of Love," "Because You Loved Me," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," and "My Heart Will Go On." The left-handed vocalist always uses her left hand to grasp the microphone while belting out one of her classics.
Charlie Chaplin, who is best known for his comedic roles in silent movies, also occasionally appeared on-screen holding a violin. And any fans who were paying attention likely observed that he always played with his left hand. During a 1912 U.S. tour, Chaplin had the strings on his violin "reversed so he could play left-handed," according to fellow performer Stan Laurel.
Penn State estimates that 50% of left-handers play the guitar with their right hand. And David Bowie, whose non-dominant hand was used to write classic songs like "Heroes," "Rebel Rebel," and "Ziggy Stardust," can attest to the truth of that statement.
Emma Thompson is a celebrated writer in addition to being an Academy Award-winning actor. She also used her left hand to take notes on the Sense & Sensibility script that earned her the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
One of the most well-known celebrity chefs is Gordon Ramsay. And if you've ever witnessed him do his culinary magic, you might have observed that he uses his left (and more dominant) hand when slicing and dicing. Ramsay seemed to be coping just fine, despite some lefties who work in restaurants complaining that it can be difficult because cooking equipment is frequently made for righties.
Comedian Harpo Marx had a fairly appropriate stage name in the early 20th century. Fans are aware that he frequently performed on the harp (thus, Harpo). He played a left-handed instrument, which he taught himself to play even though he couldn't read music, which some people might not have noticed.
According to Concordia University, "Blind, deaf, and left-handed, nothing could hold Helen Keller back." Keller is another left-handed person whose life was not without hardships, but her tale will go on as an inspiration.
Hugh Jackman is equally comfortable slicing up villains as his X-Men character Wolverine and tap-dancing on stage, but if you pay close attention to any performance within his broad range, you'll probably notice that he favors his left hand.
Even though he refused to play the guitar as it was designed, Jimi Hendrix is frequently regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
According to Time, "the six-string revolutionary liked a right-handed Fender Stratocaster that didn't even need to be restrung, slung upside-down across his shoulders." "Hendrix taught himself how to hit the strings in reverse order, producing a unique sound and allowing him to alternate between left- and right-handed playing if he so desired. (He could play right-handed but generally preferred not to)."
History records Joan of Arc as a left-handed person, and an examination of her signature revealed that this was most likely the case. It's been argued, though, that the Christian rebel might have been painted as a leftist to demonize her.
Witches and heretics were frequently portrayed as having left hands, which the church believed to be the devil's mark, according to Right, Left, Right, Wrong! And that may be what happened to Joan of Arc.
Following the first Screen Guild Theatre broadcast at the Earl Carroll Theatre in Hollywood, California, in September 1939, Wizard of Oz actress Judy Garland and fellow celebrity Mickey Rooney inscribed their names in cement. Garland used her left hand to sign her name as she was being photographed.
The fact that "America's Sweetheart" Julia Roberts is a left-handed person should be celebrated. Every time admirers assemble in hopes of obtaining her autograph, the Pretty Woman star can be seen writing with her left hand.
The Roman tyrant, politician, and military leader Julius Caesar, who ruled from 100 B.C. to 44 B.C., was left-handed, according to The New York Times.
Keanu Reeves is a left-handed actor, but he also uses his right hand quite effectively. The John Wick actor plays the bass with his right hand while writing with his left.
According to The Complete History of Guitar World, Kurt Cobain responded to criticism that he was utilizing cheap instruments by saying that being a lefty had something to do with his decision-making.
He told Guitar World, "I'm left-handed, and it's not very easy to find reasonably priced high-quality left-handed guitars,"
Even though she is a southpaw by nature, Lady Gaga plays guitar (and keytar) with her right hand. Reeves plays bass with his right hand. However, the actor and singer use her left hand, which is more dominant, to sign contracts or do her makeup.
Perhaps the most well-known left-handed artist of all time is Leonardo da Vinci. The Museum of Science claims that da Vinci is famous for his mirror writing, a form of coded script in which he penned his text backward. He may have done this because, being a lefty, writing ink from left to right was too untidy for him.
The editors of Time wrote, "Historians have suggested that da Vinci's left-handedness added to his genius because it forced him to think and see extraordinarily," However, a 2019 investigation by the Uffizi Gallery in Italy suggests that da Vinci might have genuinely been ambidextrous. He certainly preferred writing with his left hand, though.
Lewis Carroll wrote several well-known books, including Through the Looking Glass and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which transported readers into fantastical worlds full of whimsy. It turns out that he was using his left hand to write each exquisitely weird tale. "Carroll was, seemingly, the archetype of the left-handed man in a right-handed world, like his own White Knight in Through the Looking Glass," according to Cliffnotes.
Marie and Pierre Curie, a married couple and Nobel Prize-winning scientist team were both left-handed in addition to being very intelligent. According to Time, Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, were both left-handed. Irène won her own Nobel Prize for research on artificial radioactivity.
The creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening is so proud of his left-handedness that he made several of his most well-known characters left-handed as well. According to the television show's wiki, residents of Springfield who write with their left hands include Bart and Marge Simpson, Principal Skinner, Moe, and Ned Flanders.
Not just Leonardo da Vinci but other well-known artists were left-handed from birth. "Although there is no doubt that almost all of [Michelangelo Buonarroti's] well-attributed drawings were drawn with the right hand…it has been often neglected in the literature that he was an innate left-hander." When dealing with materials that required force, "such as hammering, carving, and chiseling marble" he reportedly only utilized his dominant left hand.
The legendary actor Morgan Freeman, who has portrayed roles ranging from God in Bruce Almighty to the chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy, is naturally left-handed.
But after a car accident in 2008, he shattered his left arm, shoulder, and elbow in addition to paralyzing his left hand. The terrible experience compelled Freeman to make some significant adjustments, including giving up his hobbies of jet- and horseback riding and golf, which he now plays with one hand.
Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic nun, is known for a variety of qualities, one of which is her left-handedness. She can be seen signing paperwork with her left hand in pictures.
A musical great who also happened to be left-handed was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The renowned Austrian artist and composer, whose operas, concertos, symphonies, and sonatas greatly influenced classical music, did it all with a dominant left hand, according to Concordia University-Portland.
Napoleon Bonaparte, who was left-handed, "objected to the time-honored military practice of marching on the left side of the road with weapons at the ready in the right hand: it put lefties like him at a strategic disadvantage." according to Time.
He forced his soldiers to change sides and walk on the right when he finally got his way. The same rule applied to regular people, which is said to have contributed to present driving laws and, as Time puts it, "also explains why the British … still drive on the left." Visit 125 Facts That Will Make You Feel Instantly Smarter for more trivia that will make your friends jealous.
During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon, and like many other astronauts of the era, he used his left hand. The Apollo astronauts' left-handedness was "almost double what the percentages would predict," according to NASA, which is particularly surprising given that "it is more comfortable for test pilots to be right-handed."
Oprah Winfrey enjoys spending her free time in the kitchen creating delectable dishes like Challah French toast, sweet potatoes gratin, and cranberry sauce. You'll also notice that she always uses her left hand if you pay close attention to the images and videos of her creating these delectable goodies. Visit Oprah Says This Was the Worst Guest She Ever Had for additional information about the host.
Paul McCartney is a left-handed guitar player, as are some of the best in the world. Ringo Starr of the Beatles is a left-handed drummer who uses a right-handed drum set.
As it turns out, the British royal family has a large left-leaning population. Along with Prince William, other left-handed monarchs include Queen Victoria, King George VI, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince George. Check out The Sweet Ways Prince William Has Taught His Children About Princess Diana for more information on the royal family.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, left behind an influential and lasting political impact. Viewers may observe Ginsburg working diligently in the 2018 documentary RBG about her life, frequently holding a pen in her left hand.
Actor and writer Seth Rogen use his left hand for writing and other things. However, his propensity for pottery and the final ceramic goods he posts on Instagram demonstrate his skill as an artist in both of those areas.
The pioneering movies directed, produced, and written by Spike Lee include Malcolm X (1992), She's Gotta Have It (1986), Jungle Fever (1991), and BlacKkKlansman (2018).
He used his left hand to sign his name on a DVD copy of the 1989 film Do the Right Thing, demonstrating that he is simply a lefty who is doing the left thing.
It is inherited, according to some scientists. A right-handed couple, for instance, almost never has a left-handed child. Meanwhile, if the couple is made up of lefties, their child or children will probably be as well.
But there are advantages to using the left. For instance, lefties frequently have greater coordination and are more imaginative. Additionally, they were discovered to be more adept at math and musical composition. They also benefit from advantages in sports, particularly tennis and fencing.
In reality, some of the most successful people in the world, such as the guitarist Jimi Hendrix, the pop diva Lady Gaga, and former president Barack Obama, are left-leaning. With our list of the most well-known left-handed people in history, you can find out who else belongs to the club. These Most Famous Lefties might be seen here.
#1 Angelina Jolie
Source: Shutterstock
You could feel star-struck if you ever run into Academy Award and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Angelina Jolie. But if you can have the courage to ask for a signature, you'll see that she uses her left hand to sign her name.
#2 Annie Lennox
Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
The world is in love with songs by British diva Annie Lennox like "No More 'I Love You's" and "Walking on Broken Glass." She is a well-known vocalist who also performs with her left hand.
#3 Aristotle
Source: markara/Shutterstock
According to Concordia University, Aristotle composed his mind-bending and perspective-shifting philosophical concepts using his left hand between the years 384 and 322 B.C.
#4 Babe Ruth
Source: Alamy
Left-handed athletes like Ty Cobb, Ted Williams, Sandy Koufax, and Barry Bonds are among the most illustrious baseball players in history. It comes as no surprise that Babe Ruth, one of the best sluggers to ever play in Major League Baseball, was a left-handed pitcher.
#5 Barack Obama
Source: Evan El-Amin/Shutterstock
Barack Obama made a joke about being a lefty as he issued his first executive order as president on January 20, 2009. But it's nothing new to have a southpaw in the White House. James Garfield, Herbert Hoover, Harry S. Truman, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, and George H.W. Bush were among the left-handed former American presidents.
#6 Bill Gates
Source: Paolo Bona/Shutterstock
"There's a little bit of higher variance of talent, high and low, for left-handers. But it's never been explained," according to The Economic Times, Bill Gates, the creator of Microsoft, remarked. And he could have a point, given that other creative businesspeople like Bose founder Amar Bose and Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, as well as Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, are left-handed.
#7 Celine Dion
Source: Tom Rose/Shutterstock
One of the most renowned singers of all time, Celine Dion is the voice behind iconic ballads like "The Power of Love," "Because You Loved Me," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," and "My Heart Will Go On." The left-handed vocalist always uses her left hand to grasp the microphone while belting out one of her classics.
#8 Charlie Chaplin
Source: United Artists via IMDB
Charlie Chaplin, who is best known for his comedic roles in silent movies, also occasionally appeared on-screen holding a violin. And any fans who were paying attention likely observed that he always played with his left hand. During a 1912 U.S. tour, Chaplin had the strings on his violin "reversed so he could play left-handed," according to fellow performer Stan Laurel.
#9 David Bowie
Source: Alamy
Penn State estimates that 50% of left-handers play the guitar with their right hand. And David Bowie, whose non-dominant hand was used to write classic songs like "Heroes," "Rebel Rebel," and "Ziggy Stardust," can attest to the truth of that statement.
#10 Emma Thompson
Source: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Emma Thompson is a celebrated writer in addition to being an Academy Award-winning actor. She also used her left hand to take notes on the Sense & Sensibility script that earned her the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar.
#11 Gordon Ramsay
Source: Shutterstock
One of the most well-known celebrity chefs is Gordon Ramsay. And if you've ever witnessed him do his culinary magic, you might have observed that he uses his left (and more dominant) hand when slicing and dicing. Ramsay seemed to be coping just fine, despite some lefties who work in restaurants complaining that it can be difficult because cooking equipment is frequently made for righties.
#12 Harpo Marx
Source: MGM/YouTube
Comedian Harpo Marx had a fairly appropriate stage name in the early 20th century. Fans are aware that he frequently performed on the harp (thus, Harpo). He played a left-handed instrument, which he taught himself to play even though he couldn't read music, which some people might not have noticed.
#13 Helen Keller
Source: Alamy
According to Concordia University, "Blind, deaf, and left-handed, nothing could hold Helen Keller back." Keller is another left-handed person whose life was not without hardships, but her tale will go on as an inspiration.
#14 Hugh Jackman
Source: magicinfoto/Shutterstock
Hugh Jackman is equally comfortable slicing up villains as his X-Men character Wolverine and tap-dancing on stage, but if you pay close attention to any performance within his broad range, you'll probably notice that he favors his left hand.
#15 Jimi Hendrix
Source: Alamy
Even though he refused to play the guitar as it was designed, Jimi Hendrix is frequently regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time.
According to Time, "the six-string revolutionary liked a right-handed Fender Stratocaster that didn't even need to be restrung, slung upside-down across his shoulders." "Hendrix taught himself how to hit the strings in reverse order, producing a unique sound and allowing him to alternate between left- and right-handed playing if he so desired. (He could play right-handed but generally preferred not to)."
#16 Joan of Arc
Source: BlackMac/Shutterstock
History records Joan of Arc as a left-handed person, and an examination of her signature revealed that this was most likely the case. It's been argued, though, that the Christian rebel might have been painted as a leftist to demonize her.
Witches and heretics were frequently portrayed as having left hands, which the church believed to be the devil's mark, according to Right, Left, Right, Wrong! And that may be what happened to Joan of Arc.
#17 Judy Garland
Source: Alamy
Following the first Screen Guild Theatre broadcast at the Earl Carroll Theatre in Hollywood, California, in September 1939, Wizard of Oz actress Judy Garland and fellow celebrity Mickey Rooney inscribed their names in cement. Garland used her left hand to sign her name as she was being photographed.
#18 Julia Roberts
Source: Russell Einhorn/Shutterstock
The fact that "America's Sweetheart" Julia Roberts is a left-handed person should be celebrated. Every time admirers assemble in hopes of obtaining her autograph, the Pretty Woman star can be seen writing with her left hand.
#19 Julius Caesar
Source: Jule_Berlin/Shutterstock
The Roman tyrant, politician, and military leader Julius Caesar, who ruled from 100 B.C. to 44 B.C., was left-handed, according to The New York Times.
#20 Keanu Reeves
Source: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
Keanu Reeves is a left-handed actor, but he also uses his right hand quite effectively. The John Wick actor plays the bass with his right hand while writing with his left.
#21 Kurt Cobain
Source: Fabio Diena/Shutterstock
According to The Complete History of Guitar World, Kurt Cobain responded to criticism that he was utilizing cheap instruments by saying that being a lefty had something to do with his decision-making.
He told Guitar World, "I'm left-handed, and it's not very easy to find reasonably priced high-quality left-handed guitars,"
#22 Lady Gaga
Source: Joe Seer/Shutterstock
Even though she is a southpaw by nature, Lady Gaga plays guitar (and keytar) with her right hand. Reeves plays bass with his right hand. However, the actor and singer use her left hand, which is more dominant, to sign contracts or do her makeup.
#23 Leonardo da Vinci
Source: Hunter Bliss Images/Shutterstock
Perhaps the most well-known left-handed artist of all time is Leonardo da Vinci. The Museum of Science claims that da Vinci is famous for his mirror writing, a form of coded script in which he penned his text backward. He may have done this because, being a lefty, writing ink from left to right was too untidy for him.
The editors of Time wrote, "Historians have suggested that da Vinci's left-handedness added to his genius because it forced him to think and see extraordinarily," However, a 2019 investigation by the Uffizi Gallery in Italy suggests that da Vinci might have genuinely been ambidextrous. He certainly preferred writing with his left hand, though.
#24 Lewis Carroll
Source: Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Lewis Carroll wrote several well-known books, including Through the Looking Glass and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, which transported readers into fantastical worlds full of whimsy. It turns out that he was using his left hand to write each exquisitely weird tale. "Carroll was, seemingly, the archetype of the left-handed man in a right-handed world, like his own White Knight in Through the Looking Glass," according to Cliffnotes.
#25 Marie and Pierre Curie
Source: Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Marie and Pierre Curie, a married couple and Nobel Prize-winning scientist team were both left-handed in addition to being very intelligent. According to Time, Irène Joliot-Curie and her husband, Frédéric Joliot-Curie, were both left-handed. Irène won her own Nobel Prize for research on artificial radioactivity.
#26 Matt Groening
Source: s_bukley/Shutterstock
The creator of The Simpsons Matt Groening is so proud of his left-handedness that he made several of his most well-known characters left-handed as well. According to the television show's wiki, residents of Springfield who write with their left hands include Bart and Marge Simpson, Principal Skinner, Moe, and Ned Flanders.
#27 Michelangelo
Source: Shutterstock
Not just Leonardo da Vinci but other well-known artists were left-handed from birth. "Although there is no doubt that almost all of [Michelangelo Buonarroti's] well-attributed drawings were drawn with the right hand…it has been often neglected in the literature that he was an innate left-hander." When dealing with materials that required force, "such as hammering, carving, and chiseling marble" he reportedly only utilized his dominant left hand.
#28 Morgan Freeman
Source: Everett Collection/Shutterstock
The legendary actor Morgan Freeman, who has portrayed roles ranging from God in Bruce Almighty to the chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy, is naturally left-handed.
But after a car accident in 2008, he shattered his left arm, shoulder, and elbow in addition to paralyzing his left hand. The terrible experience compelled Freeman to make some significant adjustments, including giving up his hobbies of jet- and horseback riding and golf, which he now plays with one hand.
#29 Mother Teresa
Source: mark reinstein/Shutterstock
Mother Teresa, a Roman Catholic nun, is known for a variety of qualities, one of which is her left-handedness. She can be seen signing paperwork with her left hand in pictures.
#30 Mozart
Source: Alessandro Cristiano/Shutterstock
A musical great who also happened to be left-handed was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The renowned Austrian artist and composer, whose operas, concertos, symphonies, and sonatas greatly influenced classical music, did it all with a dominant left hand, according to Concordia University-Portland.
#31 Napoleon Bonaparte
Source: Everett Collection/Shutterstock
Napoleon Bonaparte, who was left-handed, "objected to the time-honored military practice of marching on the left side of the road with weapons at the ready in the right hand: it put lefties like him at a strategic disadvantage." according to Time.
He forced his soldiers to change sides and walk on the right when he finally got his way. The same rule applied to regular people, which is said to have contributed to present driving laws and, as Time puts it, "also explains why the British … still drive on the left." Visit 125 Facts That Will Make You Feel Instantly Smarter for more trivia that will make your friends jealous.
#32 Neil Armstrong
Source: Alamy
During the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the moon, and like many other astronauts of the era, he used his left hand. The Apollo astronauts' left-handedness was "almost double what the percentages would predict," according to NASA, which is particularly surprising given that "it is more comfortable for test pilots to be right-handed."
#33 Oprah Winfrey
Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Oprah Winfrey enjoys spending her free time in the kitchen creating delectable dishes like Challah French toast, sweet potatoes gratin, and cranberry sauce. You'll also notice that she always uses her left hand if you pay close attention to the images and videos of her creating these delectable goodies. Visit Oprah Says This Was the Worst Guest She Ever Had for additional information about the host.
#34 Paul McCartney
Source: Shutterstock
Paul McCartney is a left-handed guitar player, as are some of the best in the world. Ringo Starr of the Beatles is a left-handed drummer who uses a right-handed drum set.
#35 Prince William
Source: Isaaack/Shutterstock
As it turns out, the British royal family has a large left-leaning population. Along with Prince William, other left-handed monarchs include Queen Victoria, King George VI, the Queen Mother, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, and Prince George. Check out The Sweet Ways Prince William Has Taught His Children About Princess Diana for more information on the royal family.
#36 Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Source: Rob Crandell/Shutterstock
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, left behind an influential and lasting political impact. Viewers may observe Ginsburg working diligently in the 2018 documentary RBG about her life, frequently holding a pen in her left hand.
#37 Seth Rogen
Source: Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock
Actor and writer Seth Rogen use his left hand for writing and other things. However, his propensity for pottery and the final ceramic goods he posts on Instagram demonstrate his skill as an artist in both of those areas.
#38 Spike Lee
Source: Tania Volobueva/Shutterstock
The pioneering movies directed, produced, and written by Spike Lee include Malcolm X (1992), She's Gotta Have It (1986), Jungle Fever (1991), and BlacKkKlansman (2018).
He used his left hand to sign his name on a DVD copy of the 1989 film Do the Right Thing, demonstrating that he is simply a lefty who is doing the left thing.
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