Celebs Who Are Even More Gorgeous In Real Life

When it comes to celebrities, we already know that makeup, lighting, and angles play a major role in how we perceive them. And while there's no denying that all of those can make one look much more beautiful, some celebrities actually look even more stunning in person than they do on screen or social media. At least, according to those who have met them, that is.

Today, we're taking a closer look at just which ladies have that kind of addictive, ethereal beauty that just leaves you gasping for air in their presence. And while we do believe that their beauty routines and makeup habits play a role in their glowy skin and youthful features, for most of these ladies, it's that inner beauty that's actually shining through in person, and that is something that's impossible to fake. Confidence, happiness, and self-esteem are undeniably making these celebs look even better in real life!

Hollywood star Keira Knightley has won our hearts over with her talent as much as she has with her natural beauty, but those who have seen the "Pirates of the Caribbean" star in person were definitely in awe of her glow. "I saw Keira Knightley casually walking down the street one morning and at first I didn't recognise her (she had sunglasses on) but I was like damn that girl is so beautiful and when she got closer I realised who she was," a Reddit user gushed.

Knightley has admitted that she tries to let her skin breathe whenever possible. "When I am at work I put my skin through a lot, so it makes me want to not do anything when left to my own devices," she told Vogue in 2018. "Maybe about three times a year I might get a facial, but otherwise it's literally as little as possible." Keira Knightley may have undergone a stunning style transformation, but her skin is as youthful as ever.

Liv Tyler, a '90s icon, has always been known for her natural beauty, which undeniably also led to her role as Arwen in "The Lord of the Rings." In real life, the Hollywood star is just as magical, with one Reddit user admitting, "Sat almost next to her at a restaurant a few years back and she was just luminescent." They added that she has "magical skin."

Today, Tyler is in her late 40s, but her beauty is timeless. In a candid conversation with Into the Gloss in 2013, the actor admitted that beauty was always a passion of hers. "I'm obsessed with beauty — seriously, one of my dreams is to write a book about beauty secrets and do a skincare line," she said. "Having said that, I haven't even begun to venture down that road, but since I was a very young teenager, I would collect masks and moisturizers, and when my girlfriends would come over, I'd be giving them ideas for what to do to their skin." Now, we don't know about you, but we certainly wouldn't mind finding out more about the star's beauty secrets!

Kim Kardashian is definitely one of the most influential celebrities when it comes to style and beauty. In fact, while Kim Kardashian's style secrets will change the way you get dressed, her beauty routines are undoubtedly the crème de la crème of the industry — something the star even admitted herself. "I have notes of the best doctors, the best everything," she told Allure in 2022. "I care. I really, genuinely care about looking good. I probably care more than 90% of the people on this planet ... I do my beauty treatments usually late at night. After everyone's in bed, I'm doing laser treatments." And while she has put in the hard work, the treatments she has been doing definitely paid off.

"I never understood the hype around Kim Kardashian, but when I saw her in person, she truly is one of the most beautiful people I have ever seen. Like you can see she has a lot of makeup on but still," a user shared on Reddit, with another one adding in a different thread, "I thought Kim Kardashian was actually prettier in person." While many might not be as diligent when it comes to taking care of their skin as Kardashian, we do appreciate the reality star's honesty when talking about the effort she puts into looking good.

While Helena Bonham Carter has always gone for characters who are outsiders, in real life, her beauty is anything but the underdog. "She lives near me and I'm always struck by her beauty," a user gushed on Reddit about the star's looks. "She's so dainty and shy. Her skin is perfect," another user added.

Of course, anyone who has been keeping up with the actor knows that she doesn't really seem like the type of person who would do extensive skincare routines. Instead, Bonham Carter's approach to beauty is a lot simpler. "People say I look really good, and it's because I sleep a lot, which is the biggest collagen booster ever," the "Harry Potter" star told New Beauty in 2020. "It's amazing that I achieve anything considering how much I sleep. I snooze during the day and eight or nine hours at night to help collagen production."

It's no secret that Mariah Carey cares about beauty — after all, Mariah Carey's favorite self-care activity is the most soothing bath. So when a Reddit user shared that the pop diva was one of the prettiest people they had seen, we were not surprised. "Mariah Carey walked into a bar I was at late one night in NYC. Dressed to the nines, full makeup, hair, gown, diamonds, heels," they wrote. "Looked like she walked off a red carpet and she had a really natural, pretty smile, and her skin almost glows."

Those who know more about the singer shouldn't be surprised by Carey's love for self-care. "I started beauty school in the 11th grade, and a year later I was officially a beauty school dropout," the musician shared with Into the Glass in 2019. In 2018, Carey revealed to Allure that she has numerous beauty secrets but she isn't quite ready to share them with the world. "Yes, sometimes I use milk as a beauty treatment," she said. "I don't want to give away all my secrets."

We're not surprised at all that Hollywood star Mila Kunis radiates beautifully in person. "It was like the sun was shining out of her smile. Never seen someone be so legitimately radiant," a Reddit user shared. Kunis has incredible features, and seeing her in person only makes those stand out even more.

"I don't wear makeup," Kunis told Glamour in 2016. "I don't wash my hair every day. It's not something that I associate with myself. I commend women who wake up 30, 40 minutes early to put on eyeliner. I think it's ­beautiful. I'm just not that person." Even though Kunis isn't a beauty girlie, she always looks beautiful with or without makeup. In fact, she is one of the few who have mastered the art of looking fresh-faced when you don't have makeup.

In a Reddit thread about what stars look like in real life, a user simply wrote "Jessica Chastain: ethereal," and we definitely believe them. The Hollywood star has a fairy-like aura about her that is even more enhanced in person, and she is definitely one of the celebrities whose beauty is overwhelming to witness.

"Being a redhead, I have very sensitive skin, so I prefer products that are really clean and that don't irritate the skin," the "Interstellar" star told InStyle in 2024. "My grandmother taught me so much about skincare when I was younger, but no one ever talks about the skin on your chest or your hands even, which actually get so much sun exposure, so it's just as important to care for that as we're getting older." It's clear that the actor takes good care of herself, which in turn gives her a youthful presence many wish they could emulate.

Former Disney star Miley Cyrus has gone through numerous changes — in fact, Miley Cyrus' face has noticeably changed over the years. As someone who grew up in the spotlight, this kind of change is expected, but there is no denying that the musician is as stunning today as she was a decade ago. "I think she always looks amazing, but in person, she was just unreal," a user on Reddit gushed. "More petite than I thought she was too, but I think that's true for a lot of celebs."

While not much is known about Cyrus' beauty routine, the star has revealed that she has given the controversial trend salmon sperm a chance. "I tried that salmon sperm," Cyrus said (via People). "Tastes strange, but my skin looks good ... It came pre-packaged ... I do feel like my skin's looking good." Of course, skincare plays a major role in beauty, but if you ask us, it's also Cyrus' unwavering confidence that helps the star radiate beauty when out and about.

Musician Janet Jackson has been in the industry long enough to know all of its beauty secrets, but fans still can't believe how stunning the star looks in person. "I saw her up close (a few feet away), she's unbelievably beautiful in person, like a real-life doll," a user shared on Reddit.

In a candid conversation with Allure from 2022, Jackson revealed that for her, it's all about aging gracefully. "Everyone would always want to stay young and this and that, but it's inevitable. I mean, we're all going to get there," the star said. "I don't know when my day is coming, but at some point it's going to come and I can choose which path I want to take. I do hope I age gracefully." Judging from what people who have seen her in person have to say, there's no denying that the musician is aging as beautifully as possible.

Supermodel Naomi Campbell has made a career out of her undeniable beauty, and in person, the star is even more stunning, as impossible as that sounds. "I saw Naomi Campbell last year, and she is legit perfect in person," a user shared on Reddit. "Like people talk about how she's barely aged and everything, but you'd think in person she'd have at least some flaws, but her skin is completely perfect. I couldn't stop staring at her."

As someone who has worked in the beauty industry for decades, Campbell always ensures she takes good care of herself. "I cleanse and scrub every day, I take off makeup every night," she told Into the Gloss in 2019. "Hydration, for me, is the most important thing. I like my skin to look greasy and oily. I'm constantly moisturizing — masks, face masks, creamy masks, paper masks. When you're under the lights, the makeup goes really deep into the pores. When I'm not working, I try not to wear makeup at all." If you ask us, Campbell is one of the few celebs who don't seem to age at all, so her diligent routines are definitely paying off. Of course, just like most celebs on today's list, Campbell's in-person beauty isn't just about perfect skin and symmetrical features — the model has an undeniable aura that captivates the moment one lays their eyes on her.

Hollywood star Jennifer Connelly is known for her effortless beauty. As hard as it is to believe, she is even more beautiful in person. "Jennifer Connelly is like so gorgeous it almost makes my eyes hurt, she used to be a regular where I worked," a user shared on Reddit.

In a conversation with New Beauty in 2015, the "Top Gun: Maverick" star revealed that she has a completely holistic approach to beauty. "I'm very much aligned with the philosophy of taking a holistic approach to health, well-being and beauty," she explained. "I eat well, exercise regularly and live my life in a pretty balanced and healthy way. Taking care of your skin is definitely part of the approach." Whether she's wearing makeup or not, there is no denying that Connelly is taking incredibly good care of her skin.

Hollywood star Salma Hayek looks just as breathtaking in life as she does on screen, according to those in the know. In fact, a Reddit user gushed about seeing Hayek on a flight. "When I was a [flight attendant], had Salma Hayek onboard," they wrote. "She is the most gorgeous being I have ever seen in my life. She didn't have on any makeup and I was mesmerized by her."

For Vogue in 2025, the "Eternals" star admitted that she prefers a more natural look. "I don't want to look overproduced," she explained. "Everybody is too overproduced, and they look gorgeous, but that's not the look I want for myself." Hayek added that when it comes to her makeup routine, she changed it with time. "You have to change your makeup and beauty routine as you get older," the actor said. "Maybe what worked before isn't working now. So it's good to be adventurous, creative, and try to have fun while you're doing it." Frankly, with Hayek's striking natural features, we truly can't imagine a makeup look she wouldn't be able to pull off. 

"Game of Thrones" alum Gwendoline Christie is yet another Hollywood actor whose real-life beauty is mesmerizing. "Just because I'm still not over seeing her the other day, Gwendoline Christie is otherworldly amazing IRL," a Reddit user shared, with another replying, "I feel like she's the one that would take my breath away in real life. I literally gasped when she showed up in 'Sandman.' She's so ethereal!"

While Christie is undeniably stunning, the star has admitted that she didn't always feel beautiful while working. Luckily, her role in the Netflix show "Wednesday" changed that. "It is the first time I've ever felt beautiful on screen," she told Entertainment Weekly in 2022. With her natural beauty, Christie looks stunning with minimal makeup — which is often her approach for red-carpet events.

Angela Bassett is known for her striking beauty, which is why it's not surprising that she looks incredible in person, too. "Years ago, I saw Angela Bassett in NYC and when I say bone structure and flawless skin for days," a Reddit user shared.

While the MCU star has been in the entertainment industry for over three decades, her looks are still leaving our jaws on the floor. In a conversation with People in 2023, the actor admitted that she enjoys getting ready for industry events. When asked when she feels the most beautiful, Basset replied, "Definitely on the carpets or as I'm getting ready and about to head out the door. You and your team just have put together a lot of effort, a lot of thought, into where you're going and what the event is," she said. "And that's what you want: to feel your most best, because all eyes are on you."

"10 Things I Hate About You" star Julia Stiles has the kind of beauty that never seems to fade. "Julia Stiles looks exactly the same as she did 20 years ago; she hasn't aged a day," a user on Reddit, who had seen the star in person, shared. "I think she obviously looks great on screen, but she's really beautiful in person."

Stiles is a celeb who loves embracing a no-makeup makeup look, and when it comes to beauty, she is all about healthy and clean cosmetics. "For skincare, I gravitate towards more natural products," she explained to Into the Gloss in 2019. "I've also discovered that it's good to change things up, because climates change, and sometimes you need more moisture, sometimes you need more of something else." Stiles added that because of the heavy makeup she wears on screen, she does treat herself to skin treatments regularly: "I get facials a lot when I'm working, because I need to cleanse out the makeup."

Phoebe Tonkin has always had beautiful features, so it probably doesn't come as a shock that she looks just as stunning in real life. "Phoebe Tonkin is strikingly beautiful in person," a user wrote on Reddit. "The screen doesn't do her justice IMO."

"The Vampire Diaries" star tends to embrace a more natural look, and her day-to-day makeup is very clean and simple. "When it comes to my own makeup, I like to look fresh, clean, and well-rested — nothing too crazy," she told Into the Gloss in 2013. "My mother really introduced me to beauty. She's obsessed with all of the magazines' 'best of' lists, like the ones in Allure, Glamour, and InStyle. Her beauty cabinet looks like one of those annual lists. She got me into finding staples."

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