You Won't Believe Who's Vegetarian! | Surprising Veggie Loving Celebrities

His words, so deeply shocking to us, now part of pop culture, “A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.” shook us to the core. The onscreen dialogue of a madman and cannibal earned actor Anthony Hopkins a best actor Oscar in 1991, and very well it should have as the character with the predilection for human flesh was portrayed most convincingly by long time vegetarian celebrity Anthony Hopkins.

Batman, protector of Gotham city, tall and muscular and encased in a suit of armour weighing more than 50 lbs., must be a serious carnivore you would think. Not Christian Bale. He has been a confirmed vegetarian since childhood and has purposely lost and gained large amounts of weight for roles under the guidance of nutritionists. With workouts and a carefully crafted diet, Christian has filled out the bat suit very well.

She's a pretty little vampire! Anna Paquin plays character Sookie Stackhouse on the popular TV series “True Blood”. She may portray a frightening, blood thirsty member of the undead on television, but Anna has been proudly vegan for years. She's beautiful, fit and feisty – and a veggie girl!

Rob Zombie, heavy metal shock rocker and producer of gruesome horror movies, likes his food vegan, please. His shows are all blood and gore, but Rob only eats plant based meals. His 30 year vegan life style comes out of his love for all animals.

Rob isn't the only musician who looks like he would be a definite carnivore (or serial killer!) but is actually a vegetarian. Heavily tattooed and pierced Travis Barker, drummer for rock band Blink-182, is as gentle as a kitten. After a terrible plane crash and a cancer scare, Travis gave up drugs, alcohol and meat and embraces a healthy lifestyle now.

“The truth is out there.” Here's a surprising truth – the actors behind Mulder (David Duchovny) and Scully (Gillian Anderson) of X-Files fame follow a vegetarian diet. I loved those characters and love that both actors are veggie lovers!

Vegetarian athletes? No way that would work – or maybe it would. Ten time Olympic medallist, once called the fastest man on Earth, Carl Lewis, lives the veggie life. He's not the only supercharged non meat eating high achiever – look at Venus Williams, Martina Navratilova, Billie Jean King – wow, lots of tennis stars - plus Joe Namath, wild man boxer Mike Tyson, and mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter, Mac Danzig.

There are some lean and clean beauty queens who maintain their star appeal by eating a healthy, plant based diet. Claudia Schiffer, Christie Brinkley and Kate Moss just never seem to get a day older! No chicken, no fish – just a beautiful selection of soy, lentils, beans, nuts, seeds to fill the protein requirements of these lovely ladies.

Blonde bombshell, actress Pamela Anderson, has been turning heads since her days on TV shows “Home Improvement” and “Baywatch”. She still looks like a million dollars today at 47 years of age. Pamela once said “Good Viking genes, being vegetarian and having rowdy kids and dogs definitely keep me in shape. Not eating meat gives me the energy to keep up with my work, family and travel – I'm very active.”

Steve-O, seemingly crazy stunt man, comedian, self described “professional idiot” and star of the don't-try-this-at-home-kids series of movies entitled “Jackass”, will try just about anything to shock and entertain his audience. What he will not do is stray from his vegetarianism. Steve especially loves to share recipes for garbanzo spread, spinach hummus and chipotle fingers. Those don't sound crazy, they sound delicious!

Vegetarians and vegans come in all forms. Don't be deceived by the outer package – big and burly, loud and crazy, runway model or even President of the United States (Bill Clinton for one), the vegetarian life is being lived by the mostly unlikely people. These famous folks lose weight, build muscle, recover from illness or addiction, prevent disease, get more energy and feel better about their choices all by eating plant based food. It's easier today than ever, with the ever growing vegetarian selection in grocery stores. You too can live like a vegetarian celebrity and don't even need a personal chef!

As singer Erykah Badu said “I'm not trying to win an award for being the best vegetarian, just want to be healthy. I'm blessed to do anything I want, so I decide to take the best care of my body and my family in the same way. Holistically. Vitally.”