Hollywood Actresses You Didn’t Know Were Capricorn

Capricorns are known for persistence, discipline, and steady growth—traits that show up again and again in these performers’ careers. From awards-season fixtures to breakout stars who built lasting filmographies, each of these actresses was born between December 22 and January 19. Below, you’ll find quick-hit bios with birthdays, standout roles, and career highlights that map how their work has evolved over time.

Diane Keaton

Born January 5 in Los Angeles, Diane Keaton is an Academy Award winner best known for ‘Annie Hall’, ‘The Godfather Part II’, and ‘Something’s Gotta Give’. She began onstage before transitioning to film with early collaborations alongside Woody Allen. Keaton has also produced and directed, adding behind-the-camera credits to her résumé. Her longstanding screen presence spans comedy and drama across five decades.

Florence Pugh

Born January 3 in Oxford, England, Florence Pugh broke through with ‘Lady Macbeth’ and went on to major roles in ‘Little Women’, ‘Midsommar’, and ‘Oppenheimer’. She trained at St Edward’s School before moving quickly into professional work. Pugh is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with ‘Black Widow’ and ‘Hawkeye’. She continues to balance studio projects with independent films.

January Jones

Born January 5 in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, January Jones is widely recognized for playing Betty Draper in ‘Mad Men’. She has appeared in films such as ‘X-Men: First Class’ and ‘Unknown’. Jones also led the comedy ‘The Last Man on Earth’ on television. Her career includes modeling and brand work alongside acting credits.

Sienna Miller

Born December 28 in New York City and raised in London, Sienna Miller’s filmography includes ‘American Sniper’, ‘Factory Girl’, and ‘The Lost City of Z’. She trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute before early stage and screen roles. Miller works across British and American productions in both film and television. She has also returned to theatre, earning strong notices for West End performances.

Nina Dobrev

Born January 9 in Sofia, Bulgaria and raised in Canada, Nina Dobrev became a household name on ‘The Vampire Diaries’. Her film roles include ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’, ‘Love Hard’, and ‘The Out-Laws’. Dobrev trained in acting and dance before landing early television parts. She continues to work across genres, from action to romantic comedies.

Regina King

Born January 15 in Los Angeles, Regina King is an Academy Award–winning actress for ‘If Beale Street Could Talk’ and an Emmy winner for ‘Watchmen’. She began on ‘227’ before decades of work in film and television, including ‘Ray’ and ‘American Crime’. King also directs, with credits spanning television episodes and the feature ‘One Night in Miami…’. Her career reflects a steady progression from teen roles to top-tier accolades.

Issa Rae

Born January 12 in Los Angeles, Issa Rae rose from the web series ‘The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl’ to creating and starring in HBO’s ‘Insecure’. On film, she has headlined projects such as ‘The Photograph’, ‘Vengeance’, and voice roles in ‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’. Rae is also a producer behind multiple television series. Her company develops new talent and stories across platforms.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Born January 13 in New York City, Julia Louis-Dreyfus is known for ‘Seinfeld’, ‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’, and ‘Veep’. She began with ‘Saturday Night Live’ before long-running sitcom success. On film, she’s appeared in titles like ‘Enough Said’ and ‘You Hurt My Feelings’. Louis-Dreyfus also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with appearances in ‘Black Widow’ and ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’.

Kate Bosworth

Born January 2 in Los Angeles, Kate Bosworth first gained attention with ‘Blue Crush’. She later starred in ‘Superman Returns’, ‘Still Alice’, and the series ‘The I-Land’. Bosworth balances film and television work, including independent features. She has also produced select projects, expanding her role beyond acting.

Patricia Clarkson

Born December 29 in New Orleans, Patricia Clarkson is celebrated for ‘Pieces of April’, ‘Sharp Objects’, and ‘The Station Agent’. A Juilliard graduate, she built a career with character-driven roles in independent films and prestige TV. Clarkson has earned multiple awards and nominations across mediums. Theatre credits complement her screen work.

Alison Brie

Born December 29 in Los Angeles County, Alison Brie broke out as Trudy Campbell in ‘Mad Men’ and starred in ‘Community’ and ‘GLOW’. Her film credits include ‘The Rental’, ‘Horse Girl’, and ‘Happiest Season’. Brie is also a writer and producer on select projects. Voice acting work includes roles in ‘BoJack Horseman’ and ‘The Lego Movie’.

Ruth Wilson

Born January 13 in Ashford, England, Ruth Wilson is known for ‘Luther’, ‘The Affair’, and ‘His Dark Materials’. Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she began on stage before major screen roles. Wilson has played real-life figures, including portraying her grandmother’s story in ‘Mrs Wilson’. Her career spans British television, American series, and theatre productions.

Dove Cameron

Born January 15 in Bainbridge Island, Washington, Dove Cameron starred in ‘Liv and Maddie’ and Disney’s ‘Descendants’ franchise. She has since appeared in ‘Schmigadoon!’ and films such as ‘Vengeance’. Cameron also records and releases music alongside acting. Early theatre work informed her dual path in television and pop.

Haley Bennett

Born January 7 in Fort Myers, Florida, Haley Bennett’s credits include ‘The Girl on the Train’, ‘Cyrano’, and ‘Swallow’. She began with a film debut in ‘Music and Lyrics’ before steady roles in studio and independent projects. Bennett has appeared in period pieces, thrillers, and dramas. She continues to develop projects with frequent collaborators.

Faye Dunaway

Born January 14 in Bascom, Florida, Faye Dunaway is an Academy Award–winning actress celebrated for ‘Network’, ‘Chinatown’, and ‘Bonnie and Clyde’. She trained at Boston University and the American National Theater and Academy before Broadway and film. Dunaway’s career spans landmark New Hollywood features and international productions. She remains a reference point for leading dramatic roles.

Zooey Deschanel

Born January 17 in Los Angeles, Zooey Deschanel is known for ‘New Girl’ and films like ‘500 Days of Summer’ and ‘Yes Man’. She began acting after studying at Crossroads School and doing early guest roles on television. Deschanel has voice credits in animated projects including ‘Trolls’. She also performs music, releasing work as part of the duo She & Him.

Lucy Boynton

Born January 17 in New York City and raised in London, Lucy Boynton gained wide attention for ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. Earlier credits include ‘Sing Street’ and ‘The Politician’. Boynton started professionally as a child in ‘Miss Potter’. She continues to appear in period pieces and contemporary dramas across film and television.

Natalia Dyer

Born January 13 in Nashville, Tennessee, Natalia Dyer is best known for ‘Stranger Things’. Her film work includes ‘Yes, God, Yes’ and ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’. Dyer trained at the Nashville School of the Arts before moving into larger screen roles. She works in independent features alongside ongoing television projects.

Eliza Dushku

Born December 30 in Boston, Massachusetts, Eliza Dushku broke out in ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ and led ‘Tru Calling’ and ‘Dollhouse’. Her filmography includes ‘Bring It On’ and ‘True Lies’. Dushku began acting as a child, landing early roles in feature films. She has also done voice work for animation and video games.

Kirstie Alley

Born January 12 in Wichita, Kansas, Kirstie Alley is widely recognized for ‘Cheers’ and ‘Veronica’s Closet’. Her film credits include ‘Look Who’s Talking’ and ‘Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan’. Alley started in television game shows before transitioning to scripted roles. She worked across sitcoms, miniseries, and reality programming over several decades.

Sissy Spacek

Born December 25 in Quitman, Texas, Sissy Spacek is an Academy Award winner with roles in ‘Carrie’, ‘Coal Miner’s Daughter’, and ‘In the Bedroom’. She began in music before studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. Spacek’s career spans studio films and independent projects. Television work includes ‘Castle Rock’ and other limited series.

Maggie Smith

Born December 28 in Ilford, England, Maggie Smith has earned multiple Academy Awards and BAFTAs for a career that includes ‘The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie’ and ‘Gosford Park’. She is widely known to modern audiences for ‘Downton Abbey’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ films. Smith trained at Oxford Playhouse and built an extensive stage résumé. Her screen work covers comedy, drama, and period ensembles.

Betty White

Born January 17 in Oak Park, Illinois, Betty White built a long television career with ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’ and ‘The Golden Girls’. She began in radio before early television appearances in the 1950s. White hosted ‘Saturday Night Live’ and appeared in films such as ‘The Proposal’. She held a Guinness record for longest TV career for a female entertainer.

Dolly Parton

Born January 19 in Sevierville, Tennessee, Dolly Parton has acted in ‘9 to 5’, ‘Steel Magnolias’, and numerous television specials. She started performing on radio and television as a child before a landmark music career. Parton has written for and produced screen projects, including holiday films. She also operates philanthropic initiatives focused on literacy and education.

Aja Naomi King

Born January 11 in Los Angeles County, Aja Naomi King is known for ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. Her film credits include ‘The Birth of a Nation’ and ‘Sylvie’s Love’. King earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama before professional stage and screen roles. She continues to balance feature films with television work.

Rinko Kikuchi

Born January 6 in Tokyo, Rinko Kikuchi received an Academy Award nomination for ‘Babel’. Additional roles include ‘Pacific Rim’, ’47 Ronin’, and ‘Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter’. Kikuchi works in both Japanese and international productions. She has appeared in television series and streaming projects alongside feature films.

Gong Li

Born December 31 in Shenyang, China, Gong Li is known internationally for ‘Raise the Red Lantern’, ‘Farewell My Concubine’, and ‘Memoirs of a Geisha’. She has also appeared in Hollywood titles such as ‘Miami Vice’ and ‘Mulan’. Gong began her career collaborating with director Zhang Yimou. Festival honors and international awards mark her filmography.

Ruth Negga

Born January 7 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and raised in Ireland, Ruth Negga earned an Academy Award nomination for ‘Loving’. Her television work includes ‘Preacher’ and ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’. Negga trained at Trinity College Dublin’s Samuel Beckett Centre. She continues to alternate between stage, television, and feature films.

Nicola Peltz Beckham

Born January 9 in Westchester County, New York, Nicola Peltz has credits in ‘Transformers: Age of Extinction’ and the series ‘Bates Motel’. She began acting in youth theatre before early film roles. Peltz has worked as an actor, writer, and director on independent features. Fashion and brand campaigns accompany her screen career.

Hunter Schafer

Born December 31 in Trenton, New Jersey, Hunter Schafer is known for ‘Euphoria’. She began as a model before transitioning to acting. Schafer has appeared in feature films and continues to work in fashion. She is credited with co-writing a special episode of ‘Euphoria’ and collaborates on creative direction for visual projects.

Amanda Peet

Born January 11 in New York City, Amanda Peet’s credits span ‘The Whole Nine Yards’, ‘Something’s Gotta Give’, and the series ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip’. She studied at Columbia University and began acting in commercials and off-Broadway productions. Peet has appeared in stage premieres and television dramas. She has also written for television, adding creator and showrunner experience.

Olivia Cooke

Born December 27 in Oldham, England, Olivia Cooke is known for ‘Bates Motel’ and ‘House of the Dragon’. Her film work includes ‘Me and Earl and the Dying Girl’ and ‘Ready Player One’. Cooke started in local theatre before early television roles. She continues to alternate between genre projects and character-driven dramas.

Mary J. Blige

Born January 11 in The Bronx, New York, Mary J. Blige earned acting recognition for ‘Mudbound’ and appears in ‘Power Book II: Ghost’. She began as a recording artist before expanding into film and television. Blige has performed theme songs and contributed to soundtracks for screen projects. She also produces and mentors emerging talent through music ventures.

Aaliyah

Born January 16 in Brooklyn and raised in Detroit, Aaliyah acted in ‘Romeo Must Die’ and ‘Queen of the Damned’. She began performing professionally as a teenager in music and television. Aaliyah’s screen credits included lead roles that paired with soundtrack singles. Posthumous releases and tributes have kept her work in circulation.

Suki Waterhouse

Born January 5 in London, Suki Waterhouse has acted in ‘The Divergent Series: Insurgent’, ‘Assassination Nation’, and ‘Daisy Jones & the Six’. She began as a model before moving into film and television. Waterhouse also writes and performs music with studio releases and tours. She continues to work across fashion, music, and screen projects.

Deepika Padukone

Born January 5 in Copenhagen and raised in India, Deepika Padukone made her Hollywood debut in ‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’. She is one of Indian cinema’s leading stars with roles across action, drama, and historical epics. Padukone has produced features under her banner and supports mental-health initiatives. International brand partnerships complement her screen career.

Julia Ormond

Born January 4 in Epsom, England, Julia Ormond’s filmography includes ‘Legends of the Fall’, ‘Sabrina’, and ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’. She trained at the Webber Douglas Academy before early stage roles. Ormond has appeared in television series and limited dramas alongside films. She also serves as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador on human trafficking issues.

Joely Richardson

Born January 9 in London, Joely Richardson is known for ‘Nip/Tuck’ and films such as ‘The Patriot’ and ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Richardson has extensive stage experience with classical and contemporary plays. Guest roles and miniseries work keep her active across platforms.

Katey Sagal

Born January 19 in Los Angeles, Katey Sagal starred in ‘Married… with Children’ and ‘Sons of Anarchy’. She provides the voice of Leela in ‘Futurama’. Sagal began as a backup singer before transitioning to acting. She has released solo albums alongside ongoing television roles.

Lauren Cohan

Born January 7 in Cherry Hill, New Jersey and raised in the UK, Lauren Cohan is widely known for ‘The Walking Dead’. Additional credits include ‘Whiskey Cavalier’ and ‘The Boy’. Cohan trained in drama and English literature at the University of Winchester. Film and television roles span horror, action, and drama.

Tia Carrere

Born January 2 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Tia Carrere’s credits include ‘Wayne’s World’, ‘True Lies’, and ‘Relic Hunter’. She began as a model and singer before landing television roles. Carrere has provided voice work in animated features and series. She continues to appear in action, adventure, and family projects.

Paz Vega

Born January 2 in Seville, Spain, Paz Vega is known for ‘Spanglish’, ‘The OA’, and ‘Rambo: Last Blood’. She trained at the Centro Andaluz de Teatro and started on Spanish television. Vega has worked in European and American productions across multiple languages. Festival appearances and international co-productions mark her career.

Mary Tyler Moore

Born December 29 in Brooklyn, Mary Tyler Moore became a television icon with ‘The Dick Van Dyke Show’ and ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show’. She started in commercials before sitcom success. Moore appeared in films such as ‘Ordinary People’. She also produced television projects through her company MTM Enterprises.

Vanessa Ferlito

Born December 28 in Brooklyn, Vanessa Ferlito is known for ‘CSI: NY’, ‘Graceland’, and ‘NCIS: New Orleans’. Film appearances include ‘Death Proof’ and ‘Spider-Man 2’. Ferlito began with guest roles before steady series regular parts. She continues to work in crime dramas and thrillers.

Jennifer Ehle

Born December 29 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Jennifer Ehle’s credits include ‘Pride and Prejudice’, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’, and ‘The King’s Speech’. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts and the Central School of Speech and Drama. Ehle has appeared on Broadway and won multiple theatre awards. Her screen roles span period drama, political thrillers, and character pieces.

Tell us which Capricorn surprised you most in the list—and who else should be added—in the comments!