Changing religion can involve years of study, personal crises, relationships, or a gradual shift in worldview. Public figures have reached those decisions for very different reasons.
These seven examples are based on conversions or major changes the celebrities themselves publicly discussed, rather than assumptions about religion based on marriages, names or family backgrounds.
Cat Stevens Converted to Islam
Cat Stevens, now widely known as Yusuf Islam, experienced a spiritual turning point after surviving a near-drowning off Malibu in 1976. His brother later gave him a copy of the Quran, which Stevens said brought together questions he had been asking throughout his songwriting career. He converted to Islam, changed his name, and eventually stepped away from commercial pop music for years before gradually returning. Faith remained central to his later charitable and musical work.
Tina Turner Embraced Nichiren Buddhism
Tina Turner was raised in a Baptist family but began practicing Nichiren Buddhism during the 1970s. She later credited chanting and Buddhist practice with helping her find clarity and strength while escaping an abusive marriage and rebuilding her life. Turner did not describe the change as rejecting every element of her childhood spirituality; she acknowledged continuing familiarity with Christian prayer while making Buddhism the system that most deeply shaped her adult outlook.
Julia Roberts Became a Practicing Hindu
Julia Roberts grew up around Christianity but publicly identified herself as a practicing Hindu after developing a connection with Hindu spirituality. She discussed attending temple with her family and said the faith brought her peace. Roberts’s interest deepened around the period she filmed Eat Pray Love in India, although she has described the attraction as spiritual rather than simply a temporary consequence of playing a role.
Karlie Kloss Converted to Judaism
Karlie Kloss converted to Judaism before marrying Joshua Kushner in 2018. In 2026, she emphasized that the decision followed years of studying, reflection and conversations with family and friends rather than being something she did casually for a relationship. Kloss has specifically described Shabbat as a grounding part of her life. She says embracing Judaism became meaningful to her personally, even though her relationship initially introduced her to a faith that was important to Kushner.
Isla Fisher Converted to Judaism
Isla Fisher converted to Judaism before marrying Sacha Baron Cohen. She undertook years of study and later spoke warmly about the faith’s emphasis on family, food and community. Fisher and Baron Cohen eventually married in a Jewish ceremony in 2010, though their marriage ended years later. Her religious choice should not simply be treated as a temporary requirement of the relationship: Fisher publicly described Judaism as something she genuinely valued after completing the conversion process.
Marilyn Monroe Converted to Judaism
Marilyn Monroe converted to Judaism in 1956 around the time she married playwright Arthur Miller. Historical accounts indicate she studied with Rabbi Robert E. Goldburg and possessed Jewish religious books, suggesting the change involved more than a ceremonial gesture. Monroe and Miller divorced in 1961, but evidence of her conversion remained part of her personal history. The detail is often overshadowed by the far more famous stories about her films, marriages and Hollywood image.
Dave Chappelle Became a Practicing Muslim
Dave Chappelle developed an interest in Islam while young and was publicly described by TIME in 2005 as a practicing Muslim. Chappelle has generally avoided making his religion a major part of his celebrity identity because he does not want his personal flaws mistaken for reflections of the faith itself. During one of the most stressful periods of his career, he described religion as an important standard that helped him examine his motivations and keep fame in perspective.
Featured Image: By Simon Fernandez – https://www.flickr.com/photos/simonfernandez/3763989266/, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9457782
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