The World's Most Famous Puzzlers: Celebrities that Love to Puzzle

Looking for a cost-effective way to emulate the lifestyles of the rich and famous? Look no further than jigsaw puzzles. They're a surefire way to get in that much needed R&R after a long day at work. 

At Rest In Pieces, we have put together a list of celebrities who enjoy the same pastimes we peasants do. Which one surprises you the most? 

1. The Queen

You may be surprised to read this (or not if you've stayed up to date with our blogposts), but Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is well known to be an avid puzzler. The Queen is famous for her preference to puzzles without a guide picture, as she believes this makes the puzzle too easy. The Queen is also a member of the British Jigsaw Puzzle Library, and is believed to frequently borrow them for those winter stays at Sandringham.

Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth solving a jigsaw puzzle 

2. Kylie Jenner

This reality-TV-star-turned-billion-dollar-empire-owner recently announced that she took up puzzling when pregnant with her firstborn, Stormi. Jenner says that it is those very same pastimes she relied on during pregnancy that she turned to during quarantine to keep her entertained. 

3. Hugh Jackman

It turns out even Wolverine has a softer side...or does he? I'm not sure tearing up a jigsaw puzzle that took four months to complete can be considered soft. It seems even Wolverine can't control his wolf-like tendencies. 

 

Read more here: 

Hugh Jackman Loses to the Starry Night Jigsaw Puzzle 

If this jigsaw puzzle tickles your fancy, you can purchase the 1000-piece Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night Jigsaw Puzzle here.

4. Bill Gates

Being the richest man in the world shouldn't preclude you from partaking in this novel pastime. It is said that Bill Gates and his (ex-)wife Melinda are quite competitive when it comes to jigsaw puzzles, so much so that they will often buy the exact same one in order to see who can do it fastest. Or at least they used to.

5. Ellen Degeneres

Ellen "Do It" Degeneres took to Instagram during the COVID-19 restrictions to share with fans how she's been coping with lockdown. As you can imagine, Ellen says the "hardest part" of any jigsaw puzzle is turning over each and every single piece, especially when you're daring enough to tackle a 4000-piece challenge!

Watch the queen of daytime television tackle a 4000-piece jigsaw puzzle below:

6. Michelle Keegan

Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan posted a throwback photo from the Essex backyard of “Wrightyhome” she shares with TOWIE star husband Mark Wright, where they spent the original coronavirus lockdowns together.

Much like most people during lockdown, Michelle was trying her hand at a giant jigsaw puzzle as she lounged on the outdoor setting in the black bikini top and high waisted denim jeans. Michelle appeared to be in a reflective mood for her post, as she asked: "Who else misses the 1st lockdown? ☀️"

Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan solves jigsaw puzzle in throwback snap from first lockdown.

7. Khloe Kardashian

The Kardashians are back! This time the most famous family in the world have found a new home, and for the first time, they’re on a streaming service. The Kardashians will be available to stream exclusively on Hulu and Disney+ outside the United States beginning in April. 

The family you know, and love is here with a brand new series, giving an all-access pass into their lives. Kris, Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, Kendall and Kylie bring the cameras back to reveal the truth behind the headlines. We are happy to discover fan favourite Khloe Kardashian likes to wind down from a busy work schedule, filming KUWTK and launching Good American, and the stress of being married to Tristan Thompson, by solving a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

KUWTK star Khloe Kardashian solving a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle on Disney Plus The Kardashians

8. Anne-Marie

She's the British chart-topping newcomer who recently toured with Ed Sheeran. But instead of living it up like a rock-star, Anne-Marie has admitted that she's more likely to be found backstage completing a jigsaw.

Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the 27 year-old singer said: 'People come in and expect me to be listening to music and drinking alcohol and getting pumped for the show. And I am just sitting there in silence doing a jigsaw puzzle.'

9 and 10. Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally

They say the couple that puzzles together stays together, and if that’s the case, this pair are in for a long marriage. Nick Offerman (The Last of Us) and Megan Mullally (Parks & Recreation) have been sharing their finished jigsaw puzzles – and achieving #couplegoals – on Twitter since 2015.

Ron Swanson would wish you luck on your next 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, but he believes luck is a concept created by the weak to explain their failures.

Parks And Rec stars Nick Offerman and Megan Mullallly solving a jigsaw puzzle

11. Gwyneth Paltrow

In a blog post on her Goop website the Avengers star revealed how she has been maintaining her and her family's wellness during the coronavirus pandemic. Amongst the items listed include food, drink, clothing, health products, Trivial Pursuit and a 450-piece puzzle featuring nothing but boobs adding that she brought it "just for fun."

12. Kendall Jenner

Kendall Jenner is known for her love of fashion, modelling and tequila, but it turns out she also has a passion for puzzles! Recently, Kendall took to her Instagram account to share with her 270 million followers that she had been enjoying a jigsaw puzzle from Rest In Pieces with her sister, Kylie.

Kendall Jenner solving a jigsaw puzzle with her sister Kyle.

13. Jessica Henwick

The Surrey-born actor stars as Kate Hudson’s character’s assistant in the Netflix murder-mystery Glass Onion. Henwick recently told Glamour magazine

"I think I'd be the one to solve the mystery, because I'm obsessed with puzzles. Every Christmas my family gets a 2,000 piece jigsaw puzzle, and it really triggers me to see it incomplete. So once it's started, I have to just finish it, or else I get angry. It's a weird OCD thing for me. We do it every year, and it drives us crazy so we're always like, never again – this is the last year. Then someone, usually me, will buy one."

 

14. Patrick Stewart

Patrick Stewart once called the world of jigsaw puzzles a “secret society.” The Star Trek: Picard star shared his puzzling hobby in an appearance on "The Graham Norton Show" via Skype alongside his wife, singer-songwriter Sunny Ozell.

Asked how he was spending his time, the X-Men actor held up a completed jigsaw puzzle for host Norton to see.

"This is one of my finished puzzles as you can see. It's actually framed because I framed them all," he said.

Stewart then showed off another example of his work and said, "Right here is one I just finished and I've got to be so careful because it's loose. This is a Frank Stella painting done as a jigsaw puzzle. This took weeks."

"It was very challenging because it's an abstract piece and that's what I spend a significant amount of time doing," he added.

15. Olivia Culpo

Olivia Culpo is the ultimate It-girl and model. The former Miss Universe took to her Instagram Stories to reveal her obsession with jigsaw puzzles. "Can't stop won't stop 🧩" she wrote.

Olivia Culpo solving a jigsaw puzzle

16. Marilyn Monroe

Iconic actress Laura Dern once gifted Marilyn Monroe's jigsaw puzzle box to film critic Roger Ebert after his Sundance Tribute. Dern added the gift note:

“It was Marilyn Monroe’s, who collected puzzles, and it had been given to her by Alfred Hitchcock. That night at Sundance you inspired me about film and contribution and I wanted to pass along film and connection in some way. Thank you again.”

17. The Anime Man

Celebrity YouTuber Joseph Tetsuro "Joey" Bizinger, known online as The Anime Man, built a one-thousand piece Takashi Murakami jigsaw puzzle live on Twitch to his 3.28 million subscribers.

18. Tobey Maguire

Spider-Man star and Babylon producer Tobey Maguire told The Hollywood Reporter about his newest hobby. “I’ve been playing some pickle ball with my friends, and hang out with my kids. I’m going skiing soon. I’ve done a couple jigsaw puzzles recently. A buddy of ours does some puzzling himself, and he introduced me to competitive puzzling. You team up into groups of four and everyone gets the same 250-piece puzzle, and you race against the clock.”

19 and 20. Jamie Dornan and Stanley Tucci

"Have you ever seen such a perfect photo?” a fan commented. 'Besties' Jamie Dornan and Stanley Tucci reveal their fun stay at-home activity is puzzling as they celebrate the New Year. The wine glasses and abandoned beginnings of a jigsaw puzzle… This is too hot. 🥵

The White Lotus season 3 casting announcement when?

21. David Beckham

Victoria Beckham revealed to HELLO she bought husband David a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. "He loves those things, you know, he loves Lego, so I think a jigsaw puzzle is the next thing for him."

22. Kate Hudson

Glass Onion star and Fabletics founder Kate Hudson is a self-proclaimed puzzle lover who spent Christmas this year puzzling in Aspen. 

23. Ellie Goulding

On their third wedding anniversary, Caspar Jopling, husband of Ellie Goulding, shared affectionate photos of the singer on his Instagram account with the caption "My love!". According to the Daily Mail, the couple were first set up on a blind date by their mutual friend Princess Eugenie, and the art dealer popped the question at their countryside home over a jigsaw puzzle.

24. Barack Obama

The former First Lady Michelle Obama opened up on Jimmy Kimmel Live! about her first Christmas in Hawaii with Barack Obama when they were first dating, and described expecting romantic walks on the beach, Mai Tais, and hula dancing.

But instead, what she got was days spent with the former POTUS' grandparents, 60 Minutes viewings, jigsaw puzzles, and even "sandwiches on TV trays."

"But I tell this story because…what I saw at that young age, I thought romance and love was Mai Tais and sunsets on the beach. But Barack was showing me that family was important, that he showed up for his family. And he continued to show up for our family in the same way."

 

25. Sean Hayes

Sean Hayes is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He is best known for his role as Jack McFarland on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award, four SAG Awards, and one American Comedy Award.

In his free time, Sean's favourite pastime is solving jigsaw puzzles.

Will and Grace star Sean Hayes solving a jigsaw puzzle

26. Emma Watson

Emma Watson, known for her role in Harry Potter and her work as a UN Ambassador, opens up to Vogue about her thoughts on fame, recovering from heartbreak, and learning to not be a control freak. She also mentions her various pastimes, including traveling, going on silent retreats, swimming in Hampstead Heath Ladies' Pond, visiting art exhibitions, and completing a jigsaw puzzle on her dining room table.

27. Tom Holland

Tom Holland, the English actor known for his role as Spider-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, recently showed off his love for jigsaw puzzles on The Graham Norton Show. Not only did he entertain himself with the challenging task of piecing together a puzzle, but he also gave his fans a glimpse of his impressive biceps.

Tom Holland solving a jigsaw puzzle

28. KSI

Rap star and boxer KSI says he'd rather be at home doing puzzles than boozing at celebrity parties since getting sober after last year's BRIT Awards. The YouTuber-turned chart-topper admits he’s a total geek when it comes to just relaxing. “I love puzzles and games. I love 500 or 1,000-piece jigsaws, just with random pictures like London Bridge or something."

29. Elle Fanning

In an interview with Variety, Maleficent star Elle Fanning discussed her quarantine routine, which involves spending time with her family and engaging in creative activities such as cooking, baking, painting by numbers, bedazzling, embroidering, and completing a jigsaw puzzle featuring the Top Gun movie poster.

30. Jonathan Ross

Jonathan Ross, the British television and radio presenter, film critic, and comedian, recently took to Twitter to share his latest accomplishment: completing a Dracula jigsaw puzzle designed by illustrator Adam Simpson. Despite the fact that Halloween is typically celebrated in October, Ross seemed to find enjoyment in completing the puzzle in March.

31. Joanna Gaines

Joanna Gaines is a well-known American businesswoman, interior designer, and television personality. She is best known for co-hosting the HGTV television show "Fixer Upper" alongside her husband, Chip Gaines. Recently, Chip and Joanna Gaines were spotted enjoying fireside jigsaw puzzles and snowball fights with their children on a family ski trip.

The adorable clip features Chip and his youngest son, Crew, spending quality time by the fire and frolicking in the snow. The highlight of the video is Chip's hilarious efforts to fit Crew's skis. Meanwhile, the girls are seen enjoying the winter wonderland, catching snowflakes with their mouths while bundled up in their snow gear. As the cold weather takes over, the family heads indoors to enjoy some cozy indoor activities. They can be seen working on challenging jigsaw puzzles and engaging in a unique tic-tac-toe-style game, which involves ping pong and peanut butter on toast.

32. Yang Yang

L'Oreal Paris has recently announced its newest male face for their brand - none other than Yang Yang, one of the most popular and successful actors in the Chinese entertainment industry. In a recent L'Oreal Paris YouTube video, Yang Yang was asked to complete a jigsaw puzzle in just 30 seconds. The host of the show, who was quite impressed with Yang Yang's love for puzzles, decided to put his puzzling skills to the test. Yang Yang, who is known to be an avid puzzler, seemed quite excited about the challenge, but also a little nervous.

Yang Yang, L'Oreal Paris' new male face, solves a jigsaw puzzle in 30 seconds while wearing a white suit. This image showcases Yang Yang's skills and promotes L'Oreal Paris products.

Yang Yang: I hope you count the seconds slower 🥺

33 and 34. Josh Bryant and Kristin Chenoweth

Hands-on celebrity couple Josh Bryant and Kristin Chenoweth felt accomplished after solving a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle.

35. Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall

Don't you 🤬 dare! This TikTok of Jade Thirlwall finishing her 1000-piece Disney puzzle was taken seconds before a murder was commited. 😂

@jadethirlwall don’t you f*cking dare 🧩 #lockdownlife #jigsaw #foryou #foryoupage #fyp ♬ original sound - Jade Thirlwall

36 and 37. Sofia Vergara and Joe Manganiello

Manolo needs to move out and leave his mum to enjoy her extremely good looking husband and 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle. 

38. Oprah Winfrey

You get a puzzle and you get a puzzle and you get a puzzle!

These celebrities show that no matter how rich or famous you are, getting in some much needed rest and relaxation never has to be costly. Jigsaw puzzles are an activity both kids, adults and even celebs can enjoy — but while the best cheap jigsaw puzzles are surprisingly low in cost, that doesn't mean they sacrifice quality.

More from Rest In Pieces

Rest In Pieces puzzles feature eye-catching imagery and high-quality pieces that easily fit together:

1 comment

Samatha W

As if I needed another reason to love Stanley Tucci!

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