Actresses Who Openly Admit They Don’t Own a Television Set

In an industry built on screen presence, it may come as a surprise that some of Hollywood’s biggest stars choose to live without a television in their homes. While millions tune in to watch them in hit series and films, these actresses often prefer the quiet of a book, the movement of the outdoors, or the specific intentionality of choosing what they consume via other devices. From environmental activists to period drama icons, the decision to opt out of the traditional “idiot box” is a lifestyle choice shared by many prominent performers. Here are 30 actresses who have publicly stated that they do not own a television set.

Shailene Woodley

During the 2017 Emmy Awards, the ‘Big Little Lies’ star famously revealed that she has not owned a television set since she moved out of her parents’ house at the age of 18. She explained that she considers herself a dedicated reader and would much rather spend her free time with a book than flipping through channels. Even while promoting her own television projects, she remains committed to a lifestyle that excludes broadcast media. Woodley has often discussed her desire to live a more natural, grounded life away from the distractions of modern technology.

Keira Knightley

The ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ actress told Elle magazine that she decided to get rid of her television after realizing it was affecting her self-image. She admitted to spending too much time watching low-quality programs that made her feel poorly about herself and her lifestyle. By removing the device from her home, she found more time to focus on her personal well-being and her acting craft. While she occasionally watches specific programs like ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ through other means, she does not maintain a traditional set in her living room.

Susan Sarandon

Academy Award winner Susan Sarandon has long lived without a television, noting that she only catches up on popular culture when staying in hotels. She has spoken about the “epiphanies” she experiences when suddenly encountering shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ or ‘Teen Mom’ during her travels. At home, she prefers to fill her time with more active pursuits and meaningful social interactions. Sarandon has noted that she enjoys being somewhat removed from the constant stream of broadcast information.

Natalie Portman

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Natalie Portman confessed that she and her family do not own a television set. Despite being a major star in both the ‘Star Wars’ and Marvel franchises, she prefers to use her computer for any viewing she chooses to do. She mentioned that her guilty pleasures are often cooking shows, but she consumes them intentionally rather than through passive channel surfing. Portman’s choice reflects her broader commitment to a focused and intellectually rigorous home life.

Rachel McAdams

‘Mean Girls’ and ‘The Notebook’ star Rachel McAdams admitted in 2009 that she does not have a television and prefers to get her news from the radio. She described herself as being quite bad with technology and noted that she was a late adopter of many digital trends. By avoiding a television, she maintains a simpler lifestyle that aligns with her interest in environmentalism and personal privacy. McAdams has often been described as one of Hollywood’s more grounded and old-school personalities.

Lupita Nyong’o

Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong’o has stated that she learns about current affairs through her friends because she does not own a television set. She jokingly refers to her circle of news-reading friends as “human news apps” who provide her with summaries of important events. This lack of a television allows her to remain focused on her work and stay connected to her community in a more personal way. The ‘Jungle Book’ star emphasizes that she finds her information through active reading and conversation rather than broadcast media.

Hilary Swank

Hilary Swank has admitted that while she knows great writing is happening in television, she does not actually own a set herself. She once joked that her lack of a TV was “stupid” because she has been told about all the high-quality shows she is missing. The ‘Million Dollar Baby’ actress mentioned that she would eventually have to do a significant amount of binge-watching to catch up on the last decade of programming. Despite her professional involvement in projects for the small screen, her home remains a television-free zone.

Penélope Cruz

Spanish actress Penelope Cruz is another high-profile figure who chooses to live without a television in her household. She has expressed frustration with how the media can distort reality and prefers to keep her home life focused on her family and her craft. By removing the distraction of a TV, she ensures that her children are raised with a focus on creative play and outdoor activities. Cruz is known for being intensely private and protective of her personal space.

Madonna

The legendary singer and ‘Evita’ actress has famously prohibited televisions in her household while raising her children. Madonna has stated that “TV is trash” and wanted to prevent her children from growing up with the constant noise and commercial influence of broadcast media. She believes that avoiding the device encourages more self-expression and intellectual independence among her family members. While she is a global media icon, her personal domestic life is strictly curated to exclude standard television sets.

Tilda Swinton

Known for her unconventional and avant-garde career, Tilda Swinton has openly admitted that she does not have a television set. She once asked an interviewer “who needs a television?” while discussing her independent lifestyle. Swinton is known for living away from the traditional Hollywood hub and focusing on art, literature, and independent cinema. Her lack of a TV set is consistent with her overall persona as a performer who values unique experiences over mainstream consumption.

Lisa Bonet

The ‘Cosby Show’ alumna lives a famously peaceful life in the mountains and does not own a television set. She and her former partner Jason Momoa raised their children with a focus on the outdoors and connection to nature rather than screen time. Bonet prefers to keep her home a sanctuary away from the influences of the modern entertainment industry. Her commitment to a simpler, more spiritual way of life has been a hallmark of her public image for decades.

Alexis Bledel

‘Gilmore Girls’ star Alexis Bledel told Vulture in 2009 that she did not own a television set despite her fame on a popular TV series. She noted that she preferred to stay in touch with her colleagues personally rather than following their work through a broadcast. Bledel has often been described as private and introverted, qualities that align with her choice to avoid the constant noise of a television. Even as she transitioned into more mature roles in shows like ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’, she maintained a relatively low-tech personal life.

Chloë Sevigny

The ‘Big Love’ and ‘American Horror Story’ actress does not own a TV and has also stated that she avoids searching for herself or anything else on Google. Sevigny has expressed a nostalgic preference for the 1990s and feels that modern digital culture can be overwhelming. She prefers to focus on fashion, film, and her social life in New York City without the distraction of a television screen. Her choice reflects her identity as an “it girl” who values authenticity and subculture over mainstream media.

Jena Malone

‘The Hunger Games’ actress Jena Malone has revealed that she hasn’t owned a television since she was 16 years old. Instead of a traditional set, she uses a projector for the specific movies and programs she chooses to watch with her son. Malone values the archive of her own past work but prefers to be intentional about what enters her home. She has balanced her acting career with a passion for music and photography, often choosing analog experiences over digital ones.

Tyne Daly

The ‘Cagney & Lacey’ veteran and Broadway star has admitted that she hasn’t owned a television set for approximately 20 years. Despite her long and successful career in the medium, she describes herself as a “not regular” television watcher. Daly has noted that the device can be a “death of conversation” and prefers to focus on her work in the theater. While her colleagues often urge her to watch new prestige dramas, she remains content with her television-free home.

Jewel

Singer and ‘Ride with the Devil’ actress Jewel was famously raised on a homestead in Alaska without a television. She has continued to value a life that is self-sustaining and independent of the constant stream of popular culture. Jewel has spoken about how her upbringing taught her to find entertainment through storytelling and music rather than broadcast programs. Her lifestyle remains focused on authenticity and a disconnect from the “noise” of the entertainment industry.

Rebecca Hall

British-American actress Rebecca Hall has stated that she favors more old-fashioned ways of keeping in touch with the world, such as reading newspapers. She told the NY Post that she does not actually have a television in her home and prefers to stay removed from the “box.” Hall is known for her roles in films like ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’ and ‘The Prestige’ and values a quiet home environment for her creative work. Her commitment to traditional media consumption over digital broadcasts is a key part of her personal routine.

Clémence Poésy

French actress Clemence Poesy, best known for her roles in the ‘Harry Potter’ series and ‘The Tunnel’, has stated in interviews that she still doesn’t have a TV. She grew up as one of the few teenagers who didn’t watch the shows her peers were obsessed with, often having to go to friends’ houses to see them. Poesy has expressed a preference for the lifestyle in Paris, where she feels culture does not revolve solely around the movies. She finds that living without a television allows her to maintain a unique perspective on her work.

Zosia Mamet

‘Girls’ star Zosia Mamet once told Refinery29 that she does not have a television and instead watches specific programs on the internet. She finds that there are too many options to choose from in traditional broadcasting and prefers to be selective about her viewing. Mamet has balanced her time on hit television series with a home life that is relatively removed from the medium. Her approach allows her to enjoy the creative process of making shows without the constant presence of the device in her personal life.

Caitlin Fitzgerald

The ‘Masters of Sex’ and ‘UnREAL’ actress revealed to Coveteur that she does not own a television set. She mentioned that her father once gave her one, but she chose to give it away to maintain her lifestyle. Like many of her peers, she uses her computer for streaming services like Netflix when she specifically wants to watch something. Fitzgerald lives in a bohemian apartment and prefers to spend her time reading poetry and exploring art rather than watching broadcast TV.

Alexa Demie

‘Euphoria’ star Alexa Demie stated in an interview with A24 that she does not own a television. She prefers to spend her nights doing things that feel therapeutic and spontaneous rather than sitting in front of a screen. Demie has discussed her desire to avoid the “canceled” culture of the internet and the over-saturation of media. Her choice to live without a TV helps her maintain a clear boundary between her high-profile acting career and her private life.

Gaby Hoffmann

Gaby Hoffmann, known for her roles in ‘Transparent’ and ‘Girls’, has admitted that she does not have a TV and therefore rarely happens upon old movies. She noted that without cable, she only revisits films or shows when there is a special occasion or screening. Hoffmann has been an actress since childhood but has maintained a home life that is largely disconnected from the industry’s mainstream output. She finds that her lack of a television allows her to focus on her personal growth and her young family.

Joanna Gaines

While she is a staple of HGTV and has launched her own television network, Joanna Gaines has revealed that she and her husband Chip do not own a television. She told Fast Company that they still don’t have a set in their home, a choice that has remained consistent throughout their rise to fame. Gaines believes that the secret to good television is finding people who don’t necessarily want to be on it. Her family life is centered around their farm and their work rather than the consumption of broadcast media.

Paloma Faith

British singer and ‘Pennyworth’ actress Paloma Faith told The Mirror that she does not own a television because she doesn’t have much free time. She stated that she prefers to read books when she does have a moment to relax after work. Faith’s career spans both the music and television industries, but she keeps her domestic life free of the device. She has often spoken about her busy schedule and her commitment to more traditional forms of entertainment and learning.

Lauren Zakrin

Broadway actress Lauren Zakrin, who appeared in the reality competition ‘Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods’, has stated that she does not own a TV. She admitted that while she enjoys shows like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘Homeland’, she watches them online before bed. Zakrin prefers to avoid having a DVR or a traditional set to prevent herself from becoming too absorbed in passive viewing. Her home remains focused on her rehearsals and her passion for musical theater.

Sadiya Siddiqui

Indian television actress Sadiya Siddiqui revealed in 2021 that she has not had a television set in her home for over 20 years. Despite being a regular cast member in popular dramas like ‘Barrister Babu’, she chooses to live without the device herself. She has noted that she is a stickler for rules and logical thinking, which led her to remove the distraction of broadcast TV. Siddiqui finds that her life is more focused and productive without the constant presence of a screen in her living room.

Which of these actresses surprises you the most for living without a television in their home, and would you ever consider making the same lifestyle choice to reclaim your own free time? Share your thoughts in the comments.