BEYOND THE SPOTLIGHT

Quirky Collectors: Did you know these 10 strange Celebrity Hobbies?

Credit: Karen Vardazaryan

Have you ever wondered what celebrities do in their free time? Most stars are used to being the center of attention, but beyond the luxuries, fancy dresses, and red carpets, they are people with different interests, tastes, and passions, just like us. However, they sprinkle a bit of stardust and extravagance on everything they do, including their hobbies.

It's time to lift the veil and explore the lesser-known side of fame. Let's peek behind the velvet curtain and discover the hobbies of these 10 world-famous celebrities; you won't believe number 10!

Credit: Takafumi Yamashita

We all know Angelina Jolie is a tough woman, and it's not just because of her roles in action movies. Beyond her martial arts prowess and stunt work, she has a touch of Mrs. Smith in her real life too.

While many people collect coins or stamps, Angelina's hobby is a bit more exciting: she is into knives. The actress stated that she has a thing for daggers and blades, finding them utterly fascinating. And this is nothing new, since Angelina began her collection at the tender age of 11, hand in hand with her mother.

Credit: Sean Bernstein

With iconic roles like Jack Sparrow and Willy Wonka, it's no surprise that Johnny Depp's off-screen hobbies are as eccentric as his characters. While perhaps not as intense as Angelina Jolie's knives, Depp's hobby is certainly unexpected: he collects dolls.

The actor revealed that his fascination with dolls began during his daughter's childhood when he would join her in playing with Barbies. Even as his daughter grew older, Depp continued to accumulate dolls, accessories, special editions, and even celebrity dolls to his extensive collection. Sounds fun, right?

Credit: Nathan Dumlao

Behind legendary boxer Mike Tyson's tough exterior lies a remarkable soft spot for an unexpected creature. While many remember Tyson's famous tiger pet, it's his affinity for pigeons that really shows his tender side.

From a young age, Tyson has felt a deep connection with pigeons, and this bond has grown stronger over the years. He has dedicated himself to raising, protecting, and loving these feathered friends, taking his adoration to the next level by housing hundreds of them in his huge mansion.

Credit: Zdeněk Macháček

Who could've ever imagined that Paris Hilton and frogs would be in the same sentence? Truth is indeed stranger than fiction!

Despite her stance against hunting and her deep respect for all creatures, big and small, Hilton has a peculiar predilection for hunting frogs.

Although it may sound bizarre, the actress stated that she finds immense joy in chasing and catching these slippery amphibians. Of course, she does it with care and compassion. Once caught, she releases her amphibious targets back into their natural habitat.

Credit: Rich Smith

In the world of celebrities, it is no secret that their closets are often full to the brim with an array of designer dresses, suits, and coats. But when it comes to hangers, few stars can boast a collection as quirky and extensive as Penelope Cruz.

The Spanish actress has let slip her peculiar penchant for collecting hangers. Perhaps a little less fun than Johnny Depp's collection, Cruz has more than 500 hangers of different materials, colors, and sizes. So, if one day you find yourself face to face with the radiant Penelope Cruz, you'll know just the unique gift to bring her way.

Credit: rocknwool

Okay, let's be real; there's nothing unusual about this hobby, but we couldn't resist putting the iconic Meryl Streep in the spotlight. In a world where eccentricity reigns supreme, Meryl shines with her simplicity.

The renowned actress, known for her breathtaking performances on the silver screen, has an ordinary hobby: knitting. That's right, she dedicates her free time to making cozy garments, and she has even knitted pieces that she used in some of her films. Admit it, who wouldn't jump at the chance to wrap themselves in a sweater made by Meryl Streep herself?

Credit: Samuel Ramos

Collecting coins, spoons, buttons, or even dolls and knives may require little space, but Tom Hanks' passion ventures into a realm that demands a bit more room: typewriters.

The beloved actor has compiled a collection of these mechanical marvels at his home, a habit that traces its origins back to his youthful days at 17.

His devotion to typewriters has even led him to write a book containing 17 captivating stories.

Credit: Erik Mclean

When it comes to passions, some transcend mere collections. Take the case of Nicolas Cage, for example. He's not just a casual comic book fan; he elevates his love for comics to another level, infusing it into every aspect of his life.

In fact, it is said that his own stage name pays homage to a Marvel comic book hero, Luke Cage (the actor's real last name is Coppola).

And it doesn't stop there; Cage also created a comic book with his son, and dabbled in various acting roles related to heroes and other comic book characters. He is what we would call a true fan.

Credit: Courtney Cook

When the topic of beauty arises, it's almost impossible not to conjure up thoughts of Brad Pitt. But beyond his striking looks, this actor has a talent for creating beauty in more ways than one.

In a revelation that may surprise many, Brad stated that he delved into the art of pottery during the 2020 lockdown. Since then, he has been in love with the activity, even though he may not indulge in it as frequently as before.

Imagine drinking a cup of delicious coffee from a mug made by the hands of Brad Pitt himself. That elevates the entire experience to new heights.

Credit: Sonika Agarwal

When we encounter an insect, there's only one thing most of us can do: jump and scream. But for the beautiful and talented Claudia Schiffer, these little friends are not a threat at all. Quite the contrary, they're a source of fascination and wonder.

The renowned model and actress has shared her deep connection with the insect kingdom. It all began with spiders, but her curiosity soon spread to butterflies, beetles, and beyond.

Surprising, right? But also a testament to the diverse passions that lie beneath the surface of even the most glamorous.

THE WEIRD AND THE WONDERFUL

Learn About 10 English Idioms And Then You Can "Hit The Hay"!

Credit: Debby Hudson

Language is complex and rich, but we often use it without even thinking about where our words and expressions come from. For example, have you ever thought about the origins of the idiom "upset the apple cart"? And what about "hit the hay"? Idiomatic expressions can be quite daunting, and we’ve gathered 10 of them to explore their meanings and origins. Continue reading if you want to find out, too!

Credit: Henley Design Studio

Quite a strong start, isn’t it? This idiom, with a vivid image and quite dark humor behind it, is simply amazing and it means to discard something valuable (the baby, one can only assume) along with things that are not wanted or valued (the bath water).

Origins are not so certain, but it is probably derived from a German expression ("Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschütten"), and it was first recorded in 1853 by a German-to-English translator.

Credit: Ryan Arnst

Have you ever had a perfectly laid plan with a well-defined course of action, only for it to derail, ruining everything? You could say someone "upset the apple cart."

That is what the idiom means: to obstruct or derail someone’s plan, especially if it is to hinder progress. In short, to spoil everything.

The phrase dates back to the 1700s and derives from a Roman phrase which originally was "upset the cart."

Credit: Kate Stone Matheson

You’ve had a long day, so you just want to get home, have a nice dinner, and get ready to hit the hay. Does that sound familiar? That is because this idiom is used quite frequently in everyday English, but have you ever wondered about its origins?

One can always say, "Go to bed," but the idiom is much more fun. And its origin is not metaphoric at all; it’s right there in the phrase. When beds weren’t accessible for everyone, hays (or sacks in the alternate version) were the bed of choice, hence this fun (but itchy) idiom!

Credit: Alexis Brown

The good thing about idioms is that they usually don’t hold a literal meaning; just imagine chewing the fat! This idiom has to do with engaging in a conversation about trivial matters or small talk.

This phrase can be traced back to British English of the 1880s, and an alternate version is "chew the rag," although why any of these words were chosen to refer to gossip is not known. Maybe it has to do with how juicy fat can get; what do you think?

Credit: Mink Mingle

When John Lennon wrote, "Imagine all the people living life in peace," we could easily say that it was just a pie in the sky.

A pie in the sky refers to that impossible thing one hopes happens. It refers to wishful thinking, and it is part of a larger chant: "Work and pray, live on hay, you’ll get a pie in the sky when you die." Can you guess who chanted this? It was a rallying song called "The Preacher and the Slave," composed by Joe Hill and sung by the International Workers of the World in 1911.

Credit: Sergiu Vălenaș

Animals in idioms are a dime a dozen; there are hundreds of them. And this one mentions a goat, but it actually comes from the world of horse racing.

Before a race, goats were placed next to horses to make them feel calm. Now, when someone got someone else’s goat, that horse got agitated. So, you guessed it: to get someone’s goat means to make someone feel angry or annoyed!

If you think this one is crazy, wait until you read the next one!

Credit: Pierre-Alain Picard

Try to leave aside the fact that a hat and cattle have absolutely nothing in common and think of that person who is always talking about the things they’ll do, but never actually do anything. That person is all hat and no cattle.

This idiom is quite popular and takes several forms. For example, the British version is "All mouth and no trousers," and you’ve probably heard the phrase "Much ado about nothing." They are all synonyms!

This one, in particular, refers to cattle ranchers and the typical hat they use, describing those cowboys who used the hat but weren’t actually cattle owners.

Credit: Cristina Gottardi

Well, things are getting pretty creepy here, aren’t they? Fear not; this idiom is much milder than it seems!

Originating in the 17th century, when wealthy people wore wigs quite often, bandits pulled them over people’s faces to make the job of taking their pennies easier for them. In time, the phrase came to describe those who are easily deceived and taken advantage of. Here’s one we hope you never use!

Credit: Young Shih

Please do tell us if you think otherwise, but we don’t think sliced bread is something to get crazy over, right? Well, in the 1920s, when sliced bread made its first appearance, it surely was a great thing. So much so it became an idiom!

What it means is simply that nothing so great happened after sliced bread, until the topic you’re discussing. For example: "Look at this article; it’s the best thing since sliced bread!"

Credit: Prasad Panchakshari

Let’s end this list with a cute idiom. Aren’t baby animals the cutest? Especially when they are around their mommies, and they lick their offspring to bathe them.

But why does the idiom mention the ears? Well, because that’s the last place to dry in a newborn. On a similar note, this cute idiom -which can be traced back to the early 1900s- is used to refer to people who lack experience or are immature. This one describes us all at one point or another, doesn’t it?