10 actors born in the Year of the Dragon: from recent Golden Globes winner Emma Stone and The Matrix’s Keanu Reeves, to Reese Witherspoon, Sandra Bullock and Chuck Norris

• Reese Witherspoon, who became known through Legally Blonde and is dubbed Hollywood’s most powerful woman, was born under the Chinese zodiac sign
• Others include The Godfather’s Al Pacino, martial arts star Chuck Norris and Colin Farrell – who recently starred in The Banshees of Inisherin

The upcoming Year of the Dragon promises to bring power, strength and energy – something actors born in the year have shown to have in abundance.

The Year of the Dragon starts in February and is observed every 12 years. This year will see the Year of the Wood Dragon, which is celebrated every 60 years.

“It (the Dragon) incorporates the most powerful things of all kinds of creatures into one. That’s why people love it, because if you’re a dragon, you’re everything,” Canada-based feng shui master Paul Ng told CBC previously.

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Those born in the Year of the Dragon are charismatic, confident and gifted – and these 10 actors have these traits in abundance.

1. Al Pacino

Al Pacino (right) at a music video shoot with Bad Bunny in New York City; the actor played Michael Corleone and was born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: GC Images

Born on April 25, 1940 in New York, US, Alfredo James Pacino is one of the most established actors in the world.

He first rose to fame as Michael Corleone in the 1972 classic film The Godfather and its sequels. He went on to star in several other films, including Scarface, Heat, Serpico, The Irishman and Scent of a Woman.

He has won numerous awards, including an Oscar, five Golden Globes, two Tony Awards and two Emmys.

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2. Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock at a premiere for the film The Unforgivable at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, in 2021; the actress has since announced a break from acting. Photo: Reuters

Sandra Annette Bullock was born in Virginia, US, on July 26, 1964. She made her film debut in 1987’s Hangmen and went on to star in dozens of films over the few decades.

Besides winning several awards, including an Oscar and Golden Globe for her role in The Blind Side (2009), she was named one of Time magazine’s most influential people in the world in 2010.

In 2014, Forbes declared her the world’s highest-earning actress, estimating her earnings at US$51 million between June 2013 and June 2014.

She announced a break from acting in 2022, telling CBS News Sunday Morning she “‘just want[s] to be at home” with her family.

3. Colin Farrell

Colin Farrell poses for photographers upon arrival at the 76th British Academy Film Awards in London, in 2023. Photo: AP

For a time in the early 2000s, Irish actor Colin Farrell was one of Hollywood’s most notorious bad boys, playing big-budget roles and filling gossip pages with his whirlwind romances.

He has shown his versatility in the decades since with more creative and niche roles, cementing his position as one of the talented actors in the world.

Farrell was born on May 31, 1976 in Castleknock, Ireland and has starred in films such as Tigerland, S.W.A.T., Miami Vice, Phone Booth, Alexander, The Batman and The Banshees of Inisherin.

Among his many awards, Farrell has won two Golden Globes.

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4. Chuck Norris

Chuck Norris, who devised his own fighting system called Chun Kuk Do, was born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: Getty Images

Your grandmother’s favourite bad boy, Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris was also born in The Year of the Dragon.

The action hero star was born in Oklahoma, US, on March 10, 1940, and along with Bruce Lee, inspired a generation of high-energy martial arts-infused films. The pair faced off in the 1972 film The Way of the Dragon (also released as Return of the Dragon), which is widely credited with launching Norris to fame.

Norris would go on to star in several more films, including Delta Force, Missing in Action, as well as the popular TV show Walker, Texas Ranger, which he also produced.

The star is not only an expert fighter but also started his own discipline, Chun Kuk Do.

5. Emma Stone

Emma Stone, who won a Golden Globe for her role in Poor Things at the 81st Annual Golden Globe Awards in 2024, was born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: Reuters

Becoming a famous actress may have come as a surprise even to Emma Stone herself, who was born on November 6, 1988. The Oscar-winning actor battled anxiety growing up in Arizona, detailing to Rolling Stone how she had even struggled to leave the house at times.

Thanks to her resilience, Stone has gone on to win multiple awards, shifting from roles in lighthearted pictures such as Easy A and Crazy, Stupid, Love to flexing her acting chops in Poor Things and La La Land.

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6. Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart in a still from Logan (2017); surprisingly, the actor has won a Grammy for best spoken word album for children.

Perhaps best known for his roles as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Professor X in the X-Men franchise, Patrick Stewart was born in West Yorkshire, England on July 13, 1940.

His career in theatre, film and TV span decades, and he has won numerous awards, including two Oliviers, three Saturns and even a Grammy in 1996 for best spoken word album for children.

7. Isabella Rossellini

Italian actress Isabella Rossellini, born to actor Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini, has appeared in over 50 films. Photo: Getty Images

Born in June 1952 in Rome to Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman and Italian director Roberto Rossellini, Isabella Rossellini is one of the most well-known film stars hailing from Italy.

She rose to fame in the 80s and early 90s with roles in White Nights, Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her and Wild at Heart. According to the Carnegie Corporation of New York, she has appeared in over 50 films and won multiple awards.

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8. Reese Witherspoon

Reese Witherspoon arrives at the 74th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2022; the actor is dubbed the

Legally Blonde is arguably the role that made Reese Witherspoon a household name back in 2001 – especially given the countless memes and catchphrases the film inspired – but the actor has since gone on to become a powerful name in Hollywood.

Born on March 22, 1976, she has become known not only for her roles but also for making her voice known in the #MeToo movement. Witherspoon’s company, Hello Sunshine, has propelled her influence behind the camera too, not only adding to her bank account but also her status in Hollywood. The actor is often referred to as the “most powerful woman in Hollywood” by the media

9. Keanu Reeves

Keanu Reeves arrives at the UK Premiere of John Wick: Chapter 4 at London, in 2023; the Year of the Dragon actor is known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick. Photo: EPA

Canadian film star Keanu Charles Reeves was born in Beirut on September 2, 1964, and is best known for his roles in The Matrix and John Wick films.

His iconic characters in the two series, more than a decade apart, are a testament to his longevity in the industry. He has won over a dozen awards, including four MTV Movie & TV Awards, and was featured in the popular video game Cyberpunk 2077.

He was named by Time magazine in 2022 as one of the world’s most influential people, and has been dubbed the “internet’s boyfriend”. Reeves told People US that he was honoured. “I really appreciate the goodwill,” he said.

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10. David Hasselhoff

David Hasselhoff, the most watched man on TV at one point, was born in the Year of the Dragon. Photo: @davidhasselhoff/Instagram

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, US on July 17, 1952, Hasselhoff is one of the most iconic actors of the late 20th century, with roles in several high-profile films and shows. There was a time in the 80s and early 90s when his fame in the popular TV series Knight Rider and Baywatch made it seem as if he was the centre of the acting universe, with him earning a Guinness World Record as the most watched man on TV. His cult status has earned him the nickname The Hoff.

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