Actresses Who Are Certified in Unusual Skills (Pilot, Black Belt, Scuba)

Plenty of performers train for roles, but some go a step further and earn real certifications that carry weight outside a film set. From private pilot certificates to legitimate black belts and open-water dive cards, these credentials require serious time, testing, and ongoing practice. Below are actresses with verified skills that involve formal instruction and assessment rather than a quick boot camp. You’ll find flyers, martial artists, and divers who put in the work to qualify for the real thing.

Angelina Jolie

Angelina Jolie holds a private pilot certificate and has logged hours in single-engine aircraft. She has flown a Cirrus SR22 and keeps current by meeting required medical and flight review standards. Jolie has also trained for additional competencies so she can safely operate with family on board. Her aviation activity includes regular proficiency flights to maintain skills.

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney earned her private pilot certificate after completing ground school, dual instruction, and the required solo time. She trained in light single-engine planes and prepared for the FAA checkride with cross-country flights and pattern work. Sweeney documents maintenance and safety practices as part of her flying routine. She continues to build hours to expand her experience beyond initial licensing.

Ronda Rousey

Ronda Rousey is a judo black belt with international competition credentials. She progressed through sanctioned belt ranks under qualified coaches and met testing standards for technique and randori. Rousey’s certification reflects years of structured training that began in childhood and continued through elite programs. She has applied the discipline to screen work that requires grappling accuracy.

Cynthia Rothrock

Cynthia Rothrock holds multiple black belts across disciplines that include tang soo do, karate, and taekwondo. She earned these ranks through formal exams that assess forms, sparring, and weapon proficiency. Rothrock also has tournament titles that validate her competitive skill set. Her certifications inform her choreography and instructional seminars worldwide.

Sarah Michelle Gellar

Sarah Michelle Gellar holds a black belt in taekwondo earned after years of dojang training. Advancement required demonstrated mastery of kicks, blocks, and poomsae under certified examiners. She maintained conditioning and technique between tests to prepare for board breaks and sparring evaluations. The credential reflects progression through color ranks to a recognized black belt level.

Evan Rachel Wood

Evan Rachel Wood holds a taekwondo black belt gained through structured classes and examinations. Testing included forms, one-step sparring, and demonstrated control during contact drills. Wood trained consistently to meet the endurance and flexibility standards set by her school. The rank is recognized within the traditional belt hierarchy used by many taekwondo organizations.

Kelly Hu

Kelly Hu is a karate black belt who advanced through formal grading overseen by qualified instructors. Her training covered kihon, kata, and kumite along with etiquette and self-defense applications. Promotion required successful demonstrations under testing conditions and time in grade between levels. The certification supports her ability to execute techniques precisely on camera.

Catherine Bell

Catherine Bell holds a taekwondo black belt earned through long-term practice and testing. She completed requirements in striking combinations, forms, and controlled sparring with protective gear. Conditioning, flexibility work, and pad drills were part of her preparation for exams. The rank reflects recognized competency in core taekwondo fundamentals.

Rina Takeda

Rina Takeda is a karate black belt who trained extensively in traditional dojos in Japan. Her certification follows standardized evaluations in basics, kata, and free sparring. Takeda’s practice includes weapon forms and discipline-focused conditioning sessions. The rank underscores her ability to perform complex combinations with accuracy under scrutiny.

Julie Strain

Julie Strain held a taekwondo black belt earned after progressing through structured belt levels. She completed practical tests involving kicks, combinations, and breaking techniques. Training emphasized stance work, balance, and cardio conditioning to meet exam standards. The credential recognized her technical proficiency within the art’s curriculum.

Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba is a certified scuba diver who completed coursework and open-water checkouts. Her dive training included skills such as mask clearing, buoyancy control, and underwater navigation. She logged supervised dives to qualify for certification and followed standard safety procedures. Alba has used her training during underwater filming and recreational trips.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore holds an open-water scuba certification and continues to dive recreationally. She trained in dive planning, equipment setup, and emergency ascent techniques. Moore completed confined-water sessions before qualifying open-water dives with an instructor. She tracks bottom time and surface intervals according to standard dive tables or computers.

Nina Dobrev

Nina Dobrev is a certified scuba diver with experience in warm-water reef environments. Her qualification required classroom modules, pool skill assessments, and open-water evaluations. Dobrev practices neutral buoyancy and proper finning to protect marine life during dives. She maintains her certification through periodic diving and adherence to safety protocols.

Shay Mitchell

Shay Mitchell earned an open-water scuba certification after passing written exams and in-water skills tests. Training covered regulator recovery, controlled descents, and buddy checks. Mitchell completed multiple open-water dives to demonstrate competence under instructor supervision. She follows established guidelines for depth limits and no-decompression times.

Courteney Cox

Courteney Cox is a certified scuba diver who trained in standard recreational diving procedures. Her coursework included equipment maintenance, hand signals, and underwater problem solving. Cox completed qualifying dives that tested navigation and buoyancy in open water. She continues to dive for recreation while observing safety and environmental best practices.

Karen Sheperd

Karen Sheperd holds a taekwondo black belt earned through formal promotion testing. She advanced by demonstrating poomsae, full-contact sparring, and breaking requirements under certified examiners. Time-in-grade and instructor recommendations were part of her progression to higher dan levels. She has used her rank to teach seminars and support precision fight choreography on set.

Diana Lee Inosanto

Diana Lee Inosanto is a certified black belt who tested across Filipino martial arts and other systems under recognized instructors. Her evaluations included weapon flow drills, empty-hand applications, and controlled sparring. She maintains credentials through ongoing instruction, curriculum development, and periodic revalidation of skills. Her work often integrates standardized safety protocols for screen combat.

JeeJa Yanin

JeeJa Yanin is a taekwondo black belt who progressed through color ranks in a structured dojang environment. Examinations covered forms, kicking combinations, and contact sparring with protective gear. She fulfilled time-in-training requirements and passed graded assessments overseen by qualified examiners. Her certification supports the technical accuracy of complex action sequences.

Yukari Oshima

Yukari Oshima holds a karate black belt gained through rigorous dojo practice and staged examinations. Testing included kihon, kata, and kumite evaluated by senior instructors. She advanced with required time-in-grade and proficiency checks across multiple techniques. The credential underpins her ability to execute precise combinations in action roles.

Michiko Nishiwaki

Michiko Nishiwaki is a karate black belt who earned rank through formal progression and evaluation. Her testing featured stance work, striking fundamentals, and sparring assessments. She completed curriculum benchmarks that measured power generation, balance, and control. The certification complements her experience performing and coordinating action scenes.

Sophia Crawford

Sophia Crawford holds a taekwondo black belt awarded after standardized skill demonstrations. Examinations assessed flexibility, high-kick accuracy, and defensive combinations under timed conditions. She fulfilled sparring and breaking requirements as part of advancement. Maintaining her rank involves regular training, pad work, and ongoing instructor oversight.

Cynthia Khan

Cynthia Khan is a certified black belt who advanced through structured martial arts programs. Her promotions required kata or forms performance, controlled contact drills, and theory components. She met time and conditioning standards that schools use to validate readiness for testing. The rank supports her capability to perform choreographed exchanges safely.

Rina Uchiyama

Rina Uchiyama holds a karate black belt awarded after multiyear practice and testing. Her grading included precision in kata, partner drills, and scoring criteria in sparring. She satisfied school-specific requirements for fitness, control, and etiquette during exams. The credential documents verified technical competence within her style.

Chieko Shiratori

Chieko Shiratori is a certified black belt who completed structured instruction leading to rank examinations. Tests emphasized correct form, distance management, and application against resisting partners. Advancement included written or oral components on rules and terminology. She continues to meet training hours needed to maintain proficiency.

Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich is a certified scuba diver who completed classroom modules, confined-water practice, and open-water checkout dives. Skills included mask clearing, buoyancy control, and emergency procedures with a buddy. She documented qualifying dives and met medical screening standards for certification. Her training supports safe participation in underwater filming environments.

Cobie Smulders

Cobie Smulders holds an open-water scuba certification gained through a recognized diving agency. She trained in gear setup, dive planning, and ascent protocols before qualifying in open water. Required competencies included regulator recovery and underwater navigation with a compass. She logs dives to maintain comfort with depth limits and no-decompression rules.

Hayden Panettiere

Hayden Panettiere is a certified scuba diver who completed academic study, pool sessions, and supervised open-water evaluations. Training covered hand signals, controlled descents, and buddy-system safety checks. Her certification process included demonstrating neutral buoyancy and basic rescue assists. She follows standard depth and surface-interval guidelines during recreational dives.

Minka Kelly

Minka Kelly holds an open-water scuba certification earned through structured coursework and in-water testing. She practiced essential skills such as equipment clearing, buoyancy tuning, and altitude or current considerations. Qualifying dives verified her ability to plan and execute entries and exits safely. She keeps her card current by diving within recommended limits and using a computer for tracking.

Katheryn Winnick

Katheryn Winnick holds a third-degree taekwondo black belt and a second-degree karate black belt earned through formal promotion testing. She completed standardized exams in forms, sparring, and board breaking under certified examiners. Winnick also became a licensed bodyguard and opened martial arts schools where she taught curriculum to youth and adults. Her ranks require continuing practice and time-in-grade to remain in good standing.

Amy Johnston

Amy Johnston is a second-degree taekwondo black belt who advanced through standardized testing. Promotion required demonstrations of power, flexibility, and technical control during timed examinations. She maintains her ranking with ongoing pad work, sparring practice, and instructor-led refreshers. Her certification underpins her choreography and stunt performance on camera.

Lauren Mary Kim

Lauren Mary Kim holds a third-degree taekwondo black belt earned through formal grading. She met requirements in poomsae, sparring, and breaking across multiple testing intervals. Kim continues to train to satisfy time-in-rank and fitness standards associated with higher dan levels. The credential supports her ability to execute complex fight sequences safely.

Zara Phythian

Zara Phythian holds multiple taekwondo black belts and progressed to senior dan rankings through official examinations. Her testing portfolio includes advanced forms, multi-opponent drills, and breaking proficiency. She has taught students through structured syllabi that align with governing-body guidelines. The ranks reflect long-term commitment to technical development and instruction.

Chloë Grace Moretz

Chloë Grace Moretz earned a taekwondo black belt after beginning training at a young age. Advancement involved color-rank progression, forms practice, and sparring assessments overseen by certified coaches. She completed the required time-in-training and physical evaluations to qualify for promotion. The credential recognizes verified competency within a traditional belt system.

Zhang Lanxin

Zhang Lanxin is a taekwondo black belt and former national-level competitor who transitioned into acting. She achieved rank through formal testing that measured precision in kicks, combinations, and ring control. Competitive experience added judging-standard performances under pressure. Her credential demonstrates verified skill carried from sport to screen.

Gul Panag

Gul Panag holds a private pilot license issued after completing ground school, dual instruction, and solo flight requirements. She passed written and practical exams that cover navigation, flight planning, and emergency procedures. Ongoing currency includes medical certification and periodic flight reviews with an instructor. Panag documents flight hours to maintain proficiency in single-engine aircraft.

Sushmita Sen

Sushmita Sen is a certified scuba diver who completed academic modules, confined-water skills, and qualifying open-water dives. Training included buoyancy control, underwater communication, and emergency ascent techniques. She follows depth limits and no-decompression guidelines when planning recreational dives. Equipment checks and buddy procedures are part of her standard routine.

Parineeti Chopra

Parineeti Chopra holds a recognized scuba certification earned through coursework and supervised open-water evaluations. Skills assessed included regulator recovery, mask clearing, and basic navigation. She logs dives to track experience and adhere to recommended profiles for safety. Her training emphasizes environmental awareness and proper buoyancy near reefs.

Brenda Song

Brenda Song holds a taekwondo black belt earned after progressing through structured color-rank levels. Examination requirements covered poomsae accuracy, sparring with protective gear, and breaking standards. She satisfied attendance and instructor sign-off criteria prior to each promotion. The rank reflects consistent practice and validated technique.

Jessica Henwick

Jessica Henwick has a taekwondo black belt awarded through formal testing at a recognized school. Promotion included assessments in forms, pad combinations, and controlled sparring. She maintains conditioning and flexibility benchmarks expected at her rank. The credential supports choreography that aligns with traditional technique.

Pom Klementieff

Pom Klementieff earned a taekwondo black belt after sustained training under certified coaches. Her evaluations measured kicking precision, stance work, and defense against set attacks. She continues to drill combinations and sparring to keep skills current. The rank documents verified competency within a standardized system.

Share your picks for other certified pilots, black belts, or divers in the comments and tell us who we should add next.