10 Celebrities Born in the Year of the Dragon

Each Chinese Lunar New Year features a symbolic animal that represents what the coming year could bring to your life. It can also bestow those attributes on the people born within those 12 months. As this new year begins under the watchful eyes of the wood dragon, you can watch the symbolism in real-time by learning which celebrities were born in its year.

What Is the Year of the Wood Dragon?

The year of the wood dragon is the upcoming 12 months, according to the Chinese Lunar New Year calendar. It begins on February 10 and lasts until the next lunar new year, which may or may not be on the same date in 2025. It depends on the timing of each monthly lunar cycle.

What Does the Wood Dragon Symbolize?

The dragon itself has many Lunar New Year cycles, but those cycles split into elemental categories. The wood dragon specifically nods to each person’s potential for growth, symbolizing more luck, power and success in new ambitions. Use the encouragement to gain momentum toward your goals this year.

What Are Some Dragon Years?

Lunar calendars change, but they eventually return to the same cycles. The dragon stood watch over many previous years, including:

• 1916 - Fire Dragon

  • Element: Fire
  • Characteristics: Passionate, energetic, and dynamic.

• 1928 - Earth Dragon

  • Element: Earth
  • Characteristics: Practical, reliable, and ambitious.

• 1940 - Metal Dragon

  • Element: Metal
  • Characteristics: Determined, resilient, and confident.

• 1952 - Water Dragon

  • Element: Water
  • Characteristics: Flexible, intelligent, and reflective.

• 1964 - Wood Dragon

  • Element: Wood
  • Characteristics: Creative, sociable, and generous.

• 1976 - Fire Dragon

  • Element: Fire
  • Characteristics: Passionate, energetic, and dynamic.

• 1988 - Earth Dragon

  • Element: Earth
  • Characteristics: Practical, reliable, and ambitious.

• 2000 - Metal Dragon

  • Element: Metal
  • Characteristics: Determined, resilient, and confident.

• 2012 - Water Dragon

  • Element: Water
  • Characteristics: Flexible, intelligent, and reflective.

• 2024 - Wood Dragon

  • Element: Wood
  • Characteristics: Creative, sociable, and generous.

Celebrities Born in the Year of the Dragon

People born in the year of the dragon might achieve more success or power because they have the dragon as part of their identity. They could also become known for their personal growth throughout their careers. These are the leading celebrities born in the year of the dragon from previous Lunar New Year cycles.

1964: Nicolas Cage 

If you’ve seen “Leaving Las Vegas,” “National Treasure” or “Pig,” you’re likely a Nicolas Cage fan. He was born on January 7, 1964, and perhaps combined his talent with the wood dragon’s blessing of success to achieve generational fame as a method actor.

1964: Mariska Hargitay

You may have found Mariska Hargitay through “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” or her activism work. Born January 23, 1964, Hargitay may have had some wood dragon luck on her side when she starred in a music video and got discovered, leading to her extensive film and television career.

1964: Russell Crowe

Russell Crowe was born on April 7, 1964, in New Zealand. He merged his passion for acting and music by becoming an Academy Award-winning actor in musical and non-musical productions. It’s not an easy feat to accomplish, which may point toward the extra luck in his lunar birth year.

1964: Lenny Kravitz

People love Lenny Kravitz for his Grammy award-winning career and his distinctive sense of fashion. He was born on May 26, 1964, making him a late spring wood dragon baby who’s still earning accolades today.

1964: Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock is another actor known for classic movies like “Miss Congeniality,” “The Proposal,” “The Lake House” and others. Some of her success could stem from her wood dragon birthday — July 26, 1964.

1964: Keanu Reeves

After realizing he wanted to be an actor, Keanu Reeves got stronger with weights and fell in love with Brazilian jiu-jitsu. His career wove those skills together with the blessing from his birthday, September 2, 1964.

1976: Rashida Jones

After studying religion and philosophy at Harvard, Rashida Jones entered Hollywood to become a well-known actor, director, producer and writer. Her February 25, 1976 fire dragon birthdate may have helped propel her through her career, especially as she set new goals that required continual personal growth to achieve.

1976: Reese Witherspoon

When people picture successful women in Hollywood, Reese Witherspoon might often come to mind. Born March 22, 1976, Witherspoon is an Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress, and owner of a multimedia production company called Hello Sunshine. She’s also known for lifting up other women in Hollywood, extending the success from her hard work and her lunar birth year to others.

1988: Rihanna

The music world would forever change after Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988. She sold millions of albums worldwide, broke industry records and won Grammys for her work in numerous genres. Additionally, she’s known as a billionaire businesswoman who redefines what success looks like.

1988: Rupert Grint

Rupert Grint’s talent and August 24, 1988 birthday led him to international fame in the “Harry Potter” film franchise. Since the series ended, he continued acting in movies, television and the theatre. Being a lead character in some of the most famous films is lucky, especially for a young kid. It may link back to his earth dragon birth year in addition to his skills.

This year, watch for the Wood Dragon’s Success

As the wood dragon watches over the next 12 months, see how its success and luck manifest in your life. You might even see it as you follow these celebrities born in the year of the wood dragon through news stories and social media posts. It’s fun to watch how the Lunar New Year affects the people you admire, especially if they’re people producing the art you love.