Margot Robbie and Pedro Pascal.
A lot happened in Hollywood this year.There were tell-all memoirs, record-breaking concert tours, a Scandoval,Beef, Beckham, The Bearand a movie about the one and onlyBarbie.And these celebs were part of it, telling stories — often, their own — entertaining us in stadiums and on the big screen and often offering us levity with their work when the world got dark.Here, in no particular order, see the full list of PEOPLE’s Most Intriguing People of 2023.
A lot happened in Hollywood this year.
There were tell-all memoirs, record-breaking concert tours, a Scandoval,Beef, Beckham, The Bearand a movie about the one and onlyBarbie.
And these celebs were part of it, telling stories — often, their own — entertaining us in stadiums and on the big screen and often offering us levity with their work when the world got dark.
Here, in no particular order, see the full list of PEOPLE’s Most Intriguing People of 2023.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift.Peggy Sirota/Trunk Archive
Peggy Sirota/Trunk Archive
After 17 years living in the spotlight, “she knows when, where, how to promote [her work], but she also knows when, where, how to be normal and be a human just living her life,” Tim McGraw tells PEOPLE of Swift, whose friends and collaborators describe her as a fiercely loyal confidant (and culinary wiz). “I think she has brilliantly navigated that line.”
Read more on Swift in this week’s cover story,on newsstands Friday.
Jeremy Allen White
Halle BaileyHalle Bailey.Erik Carter / Guardian / eyevineAlready one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle,Baileymade a big-screen splash in May as Ariel in Disney’sThe Little Mermaid. “Surreal,” she’s said of living out the childhood dream of countless young girls of color. Now, she’s focused on her newest role, Nettie inThe Color Purple.
Halle Bailey
Halle Bailey.Erik Carter / Guardian / eyevine
Erik Carter / Guardian / eyevine
Already one half of the musical duo Chloe x Halle,Baileymade a big-screen splash in May as Ariel in Disney’sThe Little Mermaid. “Surreal,” she’s said of living out the childhood dream of countless young girls of color. Now, she’s focused on her newest role, Nettie inThe Color Purple.
Ariana Madix
Beyoncé
Beyonce.Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Kevin Mazur/WireImage
Colman Domingo
With two meaty roles — as civil rights activist Bayard Rustin inRustinand the sinister Mister in the musicalThe Color Purple—the self-described character actoris officially a leading man. Already an Emmy winner forEuphoria, he may add an Oscar (or two) to his home office bookshelf. “I’m going to make room,” he quips, breaking into laughter.
Donna KelceDonna Kelce.Kevin Mazur/GettyAffectionately known asMama Kelce,the retired banking exec and grandmother of three bakes a mean chocolate chip cookie and doesn’t play favorites with her NFL superstar sons, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason, 36, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis, 34, even at the Super Bowl. “Sometimes I feel I’m on … a different planet,” Donna told PEOPLE in November. “I’m like, ‘What has my life become?’ ”
Donna Kelce
Donna Kelce.Kevin Mazur/Getty
Kevin Mazur/Getty
Affectionately known asMama Kelce,the retired banking exec and grandmother of three bakes a mean chocolate chip cookie and doesn’t play favorites with her NFL superstar sons, Philadelphia Eagles center Jason, 36, and Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis, 34, even at the Super Bowl. “Sometimes I feel I’m on … a different planet,” Donna told PEOPLE in November. “I’m like, ‘What has my life become?’ ”
David Beckham
David Beckham.Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie.Ethan James Green / Trunk Archive
Ethan James Green / Trunk Archive
Lily GladstoneLily Gladstone.PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via GettyGladstonepondered a career shift from acting to agriculture before Martin Scorsese cast her opposite Leonardo DiCaprio inKillers of the Flower Moon,the true story of the Osage Reign of Terror. As an Indigenous woman whose family are killed for their oil-rich Oklahoma land, she is earning rave reviews and Oscar buzz. All the attention feels “very surreal,” says Gladstone, who’d be the first-ever Native American up for Best Actress. “But you just roll with it.”
Lily Gladstone
Lily Gladstone.PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty
PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA/AFP via Getty
Gladstonepondered a career shift from acting to agriculture before Martin Scorsese cast her opposite Leonardo DiCaprio inKillers of the Flower Moon,the true story of the Osage Reign of Terror. As an Indigenous woman whose family are killed for their oil-rich Oklahoma land, she is earning rave reviews and Oscar buzz. All the attention feels “very surreal,” says Gladstone, who’d be the first-ever Native American up for Best Actress. “But you just roll with it.”
Emma StoneEmma Stone.Thea Traff for The New York TimesThe Oscar winnerand mom to 2-year-old daughter Louise Jean, with husband Dave McCary, capped off her year with the Showtime dark comedyThe Curseand the fantastical filmPoor Things.Playing Bella Baxter, a woman who gets a second chance at life from an unorthodox scientist, Stone embraced raw sensuality and extreme vulnerability for the role. “It felt like acceptance of what it is to be a woman,” she’s said. “To be free, to be scared and brave.”
Emma Stone
Emma Stone.Thea Traff for The New York Times
Thea Traff for The New York Times
The Oscar winnerand mom to 2-year-old daughter Louise Jean, with husband Dave McCary, capped off her year with the Showtime dark comedyThe Curseand the fantastical filmPoor Things.Playing Bella Baxter, a woman who gets a second chance at life from an unorthodox scientist, Stone embraced raw sensuality and extreme vulnerability for the role. “It felt like acceptance of what it is to be a woman,” she’s said. “To be free, to be scared and brave.”
Pedro PascalPedro Pascal.Jenny Gage + Tom BettertonThe starofThe Last of UsandThe Mandalorianwas also a constant in this year’s social media froth. From his viral Starbucks order and exuberant reaction to being at a Beyoncé concert to his avant-garde Met Gala look, Pascal’s fans just can’t seem to get enough of their “Daddy.”
Pedro Pascal
Pedro Pascal.Jenny Gage + Tom Betterton
Jenny Gage + Tom Betterton
The starofThe Last of UsandThe Mandalorianwas also a constant in this year’s social media froth. From his viral Starbucks order and exuberant reaction to being at a Beyoncé concert to his avant-garde Met Gala look, Pascal’s fans just can’t seem to get enough of their “Daddy.”
Pamela AndersonPamela Anderson.Jonny MarlowIn her bestselling memoirLove,Pamelaand a hit Netflix doc,theBaywatchstarrevealed a touching vulnerability and a quiet strength in finally telling her story. Going makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week won even more raves. “It’s very freeing to be comfortable in your own skin,” she told PEOPLE. “I don’t have to be cool to anyone. I can just be me.”
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson.Jonny Marlow
Jonny Marlow
In her bestselling memoirLove,Pamelaand a hit Netflix doc,theBaywatchstarrevealed a touching vulnerability and a quiet strength in finally telling her story. Going makeup-free at Paris Fashion Week won even more raves. “It’s very freeing to be comfortable in your own skin,” she told PEOPLE. “I don’t have to be cool to anyone. I can just be me.”
Prince HarryPrince Harry.Chris Graythen/GettyThe princeopened up like never before with his bestselling memoirSpare, revealing what he called “the good, the bad and everything in between” of life behind palace walls. Almost four years after breaking from the Crown and heading to California with Duchess Meghan, a move that has irreparably fractured the relationship with his father and brother, Harry is looking to the future. As he told PEOPLE in January: “I feel I am exactly where I am meant to be and exactly where [my family] are meant to be.”
Prince Harry
Prince Harry.Chris Graythen/Getty
Chris Graythen/Getty
The princeopened up like never before with his bestselling memoirSpare, revealing what he called “the good, the bad and everything in between” of life behind palace walls. Almost four years after breaking from the Crown and heading to California with Duchess Meghan, a move that has irreparably fractured the relationship with his father and brother, Harry is looking to the future. As he told PEOPLE in January: “I feel I am exactly where I am meant to be and exactly where [my family] are meant to be.”
Jacob ElordiJacob Elordi.Beau Grealy / trunkarchive.comFrom his star-making role in HBO’sEuphoria,the Australian actordelved into even meatier projects this year, including the thrillerSaltburnand Sofia Coppola’sPriscilla, in which he plays Elvis. Prep work involved channeling the late King of Rock and Roll’s penchant for burned bacon. “I averaged like a pound a day,” Elordi toldEW. “I was the biggest I’ve ever been.”
Jacob Elordi
Jacob Elordi.Beau Grealy / trunkarchive.com
Beau Grealy / trunkarchive.com
From his star-making role in HBO’sEuphoria,the Australian actordelved into even meatier projects this year, including the thrillerSaltburnand Sofia Coppola’sPriscilla, in which he plays Elvis. Prep work involved channeling the late King of Rock and Roll’s penchant for burned bacon. “I averaged like a pound a day,” Elordi toldEW. “I was the biggest I’ve ever been.”
Ashley ParkAshley Park.Lenne ChaiShe got her big break playing Lily Collins’s best friend onEmily in Paris— but this year provedParkis a sidekick no longer. After a scene-stealing turn in the acclaimed Netflix seriesBeef, she went on to star in the raucous comedyJoy Ridebefore holding her own opposite the likes of Steve Martin and Meryl Streep onOnly Murders in the Building.Says Park: “For the first time I got to really understand what it is to be a protagonist in your own story."
Ashley Park
Ashley Park.Lenne Chai
Lenne Chai
She got her big break playing Lily Collins’s best friend onEmily in Paris— but this year provedParkis a sidekick no longer. After a scene-stealing turn in the acclaimed Netflix seriesBeef, she went on to star in the raucous comedyJoy Ridebefore holding her own opposite the likes of Steve Martin and Meryl Streep onOnly Murders in the Building.Says Park: “For the first time I got to really understand what it is to be a protagonist in your own story."
Coco GauffCoco Gauff.Elsa/GettyAfter turning heads at age 15 with a first-round win over Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, the question was when — not if —Gauffwould earn her first Grand Slam trophy. This turned out to be the year, as the former world No. 1 junior dominated the 2023 U.S. Open, making her the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999. But Gauff is still in disbelief she’s carrying the sisters’ mantle. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. They’re my idols,” she told PEOPLE earlier this year, adding, “I’m just a person who plays tennis."
Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff.Elsa/Getty
Elsa/Getty
After turning heads at age 15 with a first-round win over Venus Williams at Wimbledon in 2019, the question was when — not if —Gauffwould earn her first Grand Slam trophy. This turned out to be the year, as the former world No. 1 junior dominated the 2023 U.S. Open, making her the youngest American champion since Serena Williams in 1999. But Gauff is still in disbelief she’s carrying the sisters’ mantle. “I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it. They’re my idols,” she told PEOPLE earlier this year, adding, “I’m just a person who plays tennis."
Robert Downey Jr.Robert Downey Jr.David Fisher/ShutterstockHe may be beloved for his portrayal of Iron Man in the Marvel Universe,but the star— and likely Oscar nominee — insists this year’s Christopher Nolan-directed historical dramaOppenheimeris “the best film I’ve ever been in.” As he told premiere attendees in July: “No matter what your expectations are, [this] transcends that.”
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr.David Fisher/Shutterstock
David Fisher/Shutterstock
He may be beloved for his portrayal of Iron Man in the Marvel Universe,but the star— and likely Oscar nominee — insists this year’s Christopher Nolan-directed historical dramaOppenheimeris “the best film I’ve ever been in.” As he told premiere attendees in July: “No matter what your expectations are, [this] transcends that.”
AdeleAdele.Kevin Mazur/GettyIt’s no rumor — in a year of can’t-miss Vegas shows (from U2 to Usher), the hottest ticket wasAdele, whose intimate residency showcases her catalog in a deeply personal way; during sets she walks through the crowd, chatting up fans and snapping selfies. “These shows have changed my life,” she wrote in October.
Adele
Adele.Kevin Mazur/Getty
It’s no rumor — in a year of can’t-miss Vegas shows (from U2 to Usher), the hottest ticket wasAdele, whose intimate residency showcases her catalog in a deeply personal way; during sets she walks through the crowd, chatting up fans and snapping selfies. “These shows have changed my life,” she wrote in October.
Jada Pinkett SmithJada Pinkett Smith.Obidigbo NzeribeIn her memoirWorthy,the motherto Jaden, 25, Willow, 23, and “bonus son” Trey, 31 (Will Smith’s child from his first marriage), opened up about her husband slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars — and revealed they had been separated for six years at the time. “We just got deep love for each other,” she told PEOPLE in October. “And we are going to figure out what that looks like.”
Jada Pinkett Smith
Jada Pinkett Smith.Obidigbo Nzeribe
Obidigbo Nzeribe
In her memoirWorthy,the motherto Jaden, 25, Willow, 23, and “bonus son” Trey, 31 (Will Smith’s child from his first marriage), opened up about her husband slapping Chris Rock at the 2022 Oscars — and revealed they had been separated for six years at the time. “We just got deep love for each other,” she told PEOPLE in October. “And we are going to figure out what that looks like.”
Jeremy Renner
Jeremy Renner.Theo Wargo/Getty
Theo Wargo/Getty
Britney SpearsBritney Spears.Britney Spears/instagramThe pop starproved she’s stronger than all of her yesterdays withThe Woman in Me,a searingly personal memoir that found Spears taking control of her narrative. “It is finally time for me to raise my voice and speak out,” she told PEOPLE in October of the revelatory book, a No. 1New York Timesbestseller.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears.Britney Spears/instagram
Britney Spears/instagram
The pop starproved she’s stronger than all of her yesterdays withThe Woman in Me,a searingly personal memoir that found Spears taking control of her narrative. “It is finally time for me to raise my voice and speak out,” she told PEOPLE in October of the revelatory book, a No. 1New York Timesbestseller.
Ryan GoslingRyan Gosling.Samir Hussein/WireImageHe may just be Ken, but this (and every) year the Oscar nominee is a ten.Goslingleaned all the way in as Barbie’s bleached-blond arm candy, stealing scenes and delighting audiences as a surprisingly layered himbo, complete with killer choreography. His daughters Esmeralda, 9, and Amada, 7, with partner Eva Mendes even helped Dad prep for his big routine. “They were at home while I was [practicing],” he told PEOPLE, “and they ended up knowing it as well as I did.”
Ryan Gosling
Ryan Gosling.Samir Hussein/WireImage
He may just be Ken, but this (and every) year the Oscar nominee is a ten.Goslingleaned all the way in as Barbie’s bleached-blond arm candy, stealing scenes and delighting audiences as a surprisingly layered himbo, complete with killer choreography. His daughters Esmeralda, 9, and Amada, 7, with partner Eva Mendes even helped Dad prep for his big routine. “They were at home while I was [practicing],” he told PEOPLE, “and they ended up knowing it as well as I did.”
Jenna OrtegaJenna Ortega.Kristina Bumphrey/WWD via GettyTheWednesdaypowerhousehad another banner year, slaying the box office withScream VIand filmingBeetlejuice 2, where she’ll play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia. But it’s the star’s determination to control her own fate that fans find most inspiring. “I want to be able to really orchestrate my own future and make more specific, precise moves,” she toldHarper’s Bazaar UK.
Jenna Ortega
Jenna Ortega.Kristina Bumphrey/WWD via Getty
Kristina Bumphrey/WWD via Getty
TheWednesdaypowerhousehad another banner year, slaying the box office withScream VIand filmingBeetlejuice 2, where she’ll play the daughter of Winona Ryder’s Lydia. But it’s the star’s determination to control her own fate that fans find most inspiring. “I want to be able to really orchestrate my own future and make more specific, precise moves,” she toldHarper’s Bazaar UK.
Bradley CooperBradley Cooper.Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImageFive years after his directorial debut, the Oscar-nominatedA Star Is Born,Cooperis now putting his stamp on the new dramaMaestroas director, cowriter and star, portraying legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper chalks up his fascination to watching Bugs Bunny conduct in cartoons as a kid, and he even led a live orchestra performance of Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 in the film. “I just felt like it was so powerful,” he told Howard Stern. “Like riding a dragon.”
Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper.Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Dimitrios Kambouris/WireImage
Five years after his directorial debut, the Oscar-nominatedA Star Is Born,Cooperis now putting his stamp on the new dramaMaestroas director, cowriter and star, portraying legendary composer Leonard Bernstein. Cooper chalks up his fascination to watching Bugs Bunny conduct in cartoons as a kid, and he even led a live orchestra performance of Mahler’s Symphony no. 2 in the film. “I just felt like it was so powerful,” he told Howard Stern. “Like riding a dragon.”
source: people.com
