Actors Who Got Tattoos In Honor of Their Role

Sometimes a role leaves a mark that goes way beyond the screen. For a surprising number of stars, that mark is literal ink that celebrates a character, a crew, or a story that changed their lives. These tattoos are mementos that travel with them from project to project and serve as a quiet nod to the people and worlds they helped bring to life.

From ensembles that got matching designs to solo tributes that capture a single character’s spirit, these choices tell you a lot about how meaningful a production can be. Here are twenty actors who decided their time on set deserved a permanent shout out, along with what they chose and why it mattered to them.

Elijah Wood

Elijah Wood joined fellow members of the Fellowship in getting a small tattoo in Elvish that signifies the number nine, a reference to the nine characters at the heart of ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The ink marked the end of a long shoot and a bond that formed while filming across rugged locations with a tight knit cast and crew.

The matching design became a quiet badge of shared experience for the group. Wood has spoken about how the gesture captured the sense of family that developed on set and how the symbol instantly connects anyone who worked on that core journey through Middle earth.

Ian McKellen

Ian McKellen chose the same Elvish symbol as his Fellowship costars to honor his time as Gandalf in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The decision followed months of physically demanding work and an intense stretch of storytelling that brought the cast together on and off camera.

The tattoo serves as a simple way to recognize a sprawling production that depended on trust and collaboration. It also reflects how major ensembles sometimes commemorate a project with a unifying mark rather than individual character art.

Orlando Bloom

Orlando Bloom joined the Fellowship with the Elvish nine tattoo after wrapping ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The design links him to the rest of the principal cast and nods to the world building that turned their adventure into a cultural touchstone.

For Bloom, the ink is a reminder of a formative role early in his career and the tight schedule and training that came with it. Keeping the symbol small made it an easy keepsake that still carries clear meaning among the people who shared that experience.

Viggo Mortensen

Viggo Mortensen also carries the Elvish nine symbol for his part in ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The cast chose a consistent mark so the tribute stayed about the collective rather than any single character.

Mortensen’s tattoo reflects how much time the group spent together during extended location shoots. It recognizes months of sword work, riding, and rehearsal that required steady support from scene partners and a crew that lived the project alongside them.

Sean Astin

Sean Astin embraced the Fellowship tradition with the Elvish nine tattoo tied to ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The ink celebrates the narrative core of the story and the way the main cast relied on one another to sell that friendship on screen.

Astin has described the symbol as a shared reminder of what the cast built together. It points to a production that blended practical stunts, exacting schedules, and close quarters into a lasting sense of community.

Dominic Monaghan

Dominic Monaghan’s Elvish nine tattoo is another part of the Fellowship set that commemorated ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The group settled on a subtle script that fit the lore of the series without calling attention to itself.

For Monaghan, the mark is linked to an ensemble that spent long stretches far from home while filming. It keeps a piece of that period close and acknowledges friendships that were forged during demanding months on location.

Billy Boyd

Billy Boyd wears the same Elvish nine symbol that his Fellowship colleagues chose after ‘The Lord of the Rings’. The matching ink signals the equal footing of the nine core characters and the actors who portrayed them.

It also acts as a simple conversation starter whenever cast members cross paths at events. The understated design remains a practical way to honor a role without overshadowing new work or requiring constant explanation.

Sean Bean

Sean Bean completed the Fellowship’s ink tradition with the Elvish nine tattoo for ‘The Lord of the Rings’. Like the others, he opted for a clean, minimal script that ties directly to the story’s central theme of unity.

The tattoo functions as a personal keepsake from an expansive shoot that asked a lot from its cast. It captures the idea that large scale productions often hinge on a tight circle of performers who shoulder the narrative together.

Scarlett Johansson

Scarlett Johansson marked her work as Black Widow with a matching team tattoo created for the core ‘Avengers’ actors. The design incorporated the familiar symbol associated with their superhero team and became a small tribute to years spent making interconnected films.

Johansson helped rally colleagues to join in after a major milestone in the franchise. The ink doubles as a thank you to crews across multiple productions and as a compact souvenir of a long running collaboration.

Chris Evans

Chris Evans joined his ‘Avengers’ costars in getting the team tattoo to recognize the end of a major chapter. The simple emblem captured the shared timeline of training, travel, and press that layered on top of the actual filming.

For Evans, the symbol is a straightforward way to carry a bit of that era forward. It came from a place of appreciation for the scale of the project and the friendships that formed while juggling overlapping schedules.

Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. added the same ‘Avengers’ tattoo as a nod to the franchise that helped launch a sprawling cinematic universe. The compact design kept the focus on the group effort rather than any single character.

Downey championed the idea as a way to honor years of teamwork across multiple sets. The ink represents gratitude for crews, stunt teams, and fellow actors who sustained a complicated production pipeline.

Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth completed the circle with the ‘Avengers’ team tattoo alongside his principal castmates. The emblem stands for years of coordinated shoots that stitched together characters from different corners of the franchise.

Hemsworth’s choice acknowledges the consistency required to maintain a role across many entries. The tattoo is a small reminder of a long term commitment that involved returning to the same character while tackling new challenges each time.

Jeremy Renner

Jeremy Renner joined his ‘Avengers’ colleagues with the same team tattoo. The idea was to mark the culmination of an ambitious run that depended on alignment among actors, directors, and crews across multiple films.

For Renner, the ink is part of a tradition where ensembles memorialize the end of a significant chapter. It recognizes the planning and endurance behind a franchise that kept its core cast working together over several years.

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner honored her years on ‘Game of Thrones’ with a Stark inspired tattoo that reads the pack survives. The line references the family unit at the center of her character’s arc and connects directly to the show’s themes.

Turner also marked the date she and a close costar were cast, which turned into a shared tradition among friends from the series. The tattoos reflect how the production shaped their early careers and cemented bonds that extended well beyond the final season.

Maisie Williams

Maisie Williams commemorated ‘Game of Thrones’ with tattoos that tie to her character’s journey and to the day she joined the show. The designs include a reference to a key identity from her storyline and the casting date she shares with a fellow actor.

These pieces function as anchors to a role that evolved over many seasons. They show how a long running series can become a marker in an actor’s life, worthy of a personal reminder that lasts.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke celebrated ‘Game of Thrones’ by getting small dragon tattoos that speak to the three creatures central to her character. The minimal artwork keeps the tribute tasteful while still unmistakably connected to the series.

The choice acknowledges the global impact of the show and the effort required to lead such a prominent role. It also stands as a thank you to the teams behind visual effects, makeup, and costuming that helped build the character’s world.

Margot Robbie

Margot Robbie marked her time on ‘Suicide Squad’ with a tattoo reading SKWAD, a stylized nod to the film’s ensemble. She learned to handle a tattoo gun and even inked teammates who wanted the same memento.

The tattoos became a cast bonding ritual during and after production. They served as a lighthearted way to capture a chaotic shoot that relied on group chemistry and a steady sense of camaraderie.

Cara Delevingne

Cara Delevingne joined her ‘Suicide Squad’ colleagues in getting the SKWAD tattoo to mark their shared experience. The simple lettering kept the message clear and linked the cast through a unified design.

For Delevingne, the ink reflects the spirit of an ensemble that spent long days together on set. It stands as a keepsake from a production that leaned heavily on teamwork and a collective tone.

Jai Courtney

Jai Courtney added the SKWAD tattoo as another member of the ‘Suicide Squad’ cast who wanted a permanent reminder of the project. The straightforward mark tied him to the rest of the group that chose to participate.

The decision highlights how short phrases often make for durable commemorations. It also shows how cast driven rituals can turn a production into a community with its own shared symbols.

Tom Holland

Tom Holland got a tiny spider tattoo to honor his turn as the friendly neighborhood hero in ‘Spider Man’. The discreet design keeps the reference playful while clearly linking back to the character that introduced him to a huge new audience.

He chose a small placement that suits the minimalist style many actors prefer for role tributes. The tattoo captures a milestone in his career and offers a simple acknowledgment of a part that fans associate closely with him.

Share your favorite role inspired tattoo stories in the comments and tell us which ones we should add next.