What are the stories behind the most famous celebrity scars? Discover the origins of scars worn by stars like Seal, J.R. Martinez, Tina Fey, and more. Learn scar management tips from a dermatologist.

The Stories Behind 9 Celebrities’ Scars

Hollywood is often seen as the land of the beautiful and flawless, but many famous faces carry scars that tell a story. Some celebrities embrace their scars and openly share the narratives behind them, while others prefer to keep the origins private. In this article, we’ll delve into the tales behind nine of the most famous celebrity scars and uncover the secrets they hold.

Seal’s Discoid Lupus Scars

Grammy-winning singer Seal is known for the distinctive scars on his face and scalp, which were caused by a skin condition called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). “DLE is a disfiguring disease in which the immune cells attack the skin from underneath, creating inflammatory areas and scarring of the scalp, ears, face, and sometimes chest and arms,” explains Dr. Jessica Krant, a board-certified dermatologist. “The scars that form from the disease are permanent, so prevention and early treatment is the best management.”

J.R. Martinez’s Burns and Scars from Iraq

Cpl. J.R. Martinez of the 101st Airborne Division was just 19 years old when he was deployed to Iraq in 2003. Less than a month later, the Humvee he was driving hit a landmine, leaving him with burns on more than 40% of his body. Today, the actor and Dancing with the Stars champion views his scars as a gift. “Once a burn patient is stabilized, the treatment depends on how large an area has been affected,” says Dr. Krant. “New skin must be either taken from another area of the body, grown from the patient’s own cells, or applied from an artificial graft.”

Tina Fey’s Childhood Scar

When 30 Rock actress Tina Fey was a young child, a random stranger slashed the left side of her face, leaving a scar from just below her cheekbone to under her bottom lip. Fey doesn’t like to publicly discuss the origin of the scar and covers it with makeup to make it less noticeable. “There is no single, reliable, perfect scar treatment, but depending on the scar, injecting it with corticosteroid to flatten and relax it, using silicone gel sheeting, or occasionally some types of laser may be helpful,” says Dr. Krant. “Massage and time are also great factors in improving scars.”

Padma Lakshmi’s Car Accident Scar

Former model and Top Chef host Padma Lakshmi has grown quite fond of the thick, seven-inch long scar on the front of her arm, which resulted from a car accident when she was 14. “On rare occasion, a scar can be cut out and re-stitched to make a less visible scar after a long time of initial healing, for a thinner, flatter scar,” Dr. Krant notes.

Harrison Ford’s Chin Scar

The well-known scar on Harrison Ford’s chin has even been written into some of his movies – it was from a whip in Indiana Jones and an ear piercing gone wrong in Working Girl. In real life, Ford earned the scar when he lost control of his car while putting on his seatbelt. “When a deep cut occurs, you may be able to minimize scarring with fast action. Keep the wound moist with petroleum jelly and out of the sun, and seek a doctor’s advice immediately to see if it’s the type of wound that would benefit from suturing,” says Dr. Krant.

The Mysterious Scar of Mary J. Blige

While Grammy-winning singer Mary J. Blige has never acknowledged how she got the scar below her left eye, rumors abound that it resulted from a fight she had with another woman. Another story is that the scar is from a traumatic event during her childhood that she made a pact to never discuss. In one interview, Blige did say, “If I don’t accept the scar on my face, the lips that God gave me, the big giant feet, the long legs, whatever it is that I’m deformed with, I got to love it so everybody else can love it. And I started loving it.”

Joaquin Phoenix’s Cleft Lip Scar

Actor Joaquin Phoenix was born with what looks like a type of scar between his lip and nose. It’s actually a microform cleft, the mildest form of cleft lip. “Cleft lip is a birth defect that typically appears as a scar or notch,” explains Dr. Krant.

Whether worn with pride or hidden from view, these celebrity scars all have a story to tell. From battles with skin conditions to traumatic accidents, the scars of the rich and famous serve as a reminder that even the most glamorous among us can carry the marks of their past. By understanding the origins of these scars and the treatment options available, we can gain insight into the human experience that lies beneath the surface of fame and fortune.

9 Celebrities With Scars

Some famous people with scars wear them proudly, while some refuse to discuss or acknowledge them. Get the stories behind some of the most famous scars in Hollywood, plus tips on how to care for your own scars.

Medically Reviewed

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images; WENN.com; Alberto Reyes/WENN.com

Hollywood is the land of beautiful people, celebrities who are admired for their good, often perfect looks. But you might be surprised to learn which of the biggest stars sport scars — or where those scars came from. Some embrace them and openly share their stories; others say the topic of their scar is off limits. Take a look at nine of the most famous celebrity scars and discover their origin as well as tips for scar management from Jessica Krant, MD, MPH, a board-certified dermatologist, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and founder of Art of Dermatology in Manhattan.

Seal

Amanda Edwards/Getty Images

The Grammy award-winning singer’s voice is unmistakable. But Seal is also known for very characteristic types of scars on his face and scalp, caused by a skin disease called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). Seal had the condition as a teenager. “DLE is a disfiguring disease in which the immune cells attack the skin from underneath, creating inflammatory areas and scarring of the scalp, ears, face, and sometimes chest and arms. The scars that form from the disease are permanent, so prevention and early treatment is the best management,” explained Dr. Krant.

J.R. Martinez

Noel Vasquez/Getty Images

Cpl. J.R. Martinez of the 101st Airborne Division was just 19 when he deployed to Iraq in 2003. Less than a month later, a Humvee he was driving hit a landmine and he received burns on more than 40 percent of his body. Today, the actor and Dancing with the Stars champion views his scars as a gift. Between surgeries and therapies to stretch his tender skin, he has visited other wounded veterans — he gave them hope, and they gave him purpose. “Once a burn patient is stabilized, the treatment depends on how large an area has been affected. New skin must be either taken from another area of the body, grown from the patient’s own cells, or applied from an artificial graft,” said Krant.

Tina Fey

Alberto Reyes/WENN.com

When the 30 Rock actress was a small child, a random stranger walked up to the front yard of Fey’s home and slashed the left side of her face, leaving a scar from just below her cheekbone to under her bottom lip. She doesn’t like to publicly discuss the origin of the scar and covers it with makeup so that it is less noticeable. “There is no single, reliable, perfect scar treatment, but depending on the scar, injecting it with corticosteroid to flatten and relax it, using silicone gel sheeting, or occasionally some types of laser may be helpful. Massage and time are also great factors in improving scars,” Krant said.

Padma Lakshmi

Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images

The former model and host of Top Chef has grown rather fond of the thick, seven-inch long scar on the front of her arm — the result of a car accident that occurred when she was 14. Upset about it at first, Lakshmi has said that she now views it as a source of affirmation instead of an ugly mark. “I love it because it makes me a person who has an interesting past,” she said in a People.com interview. “On rare occasion, a scar can be cut out and re-stitched to make a less visible scar after a long time of initial healing, for a thinner, flatter scar,” Krant said.

Harrison Ford

Ray Tamarra/Getty Images

The well-known scar on Ford’s chin has even been written into some of his movies — it was from a whip in Indiana Jones and an ear piercing gone wrong in Working Girl. In real life, Ford earned the scar when he lost control of his car putting on his seatbelt while driving. When a deep cut occurs, you may be able to minimize scarring with fast action. Keep the wound moist with petroleum jelly and out of the sun, and seek a doctor’s advice immediately to see if it’s the type of wound that would benefit from suturing,” Krant said.

Mary J. Blige

Kyle Blair/WENN. com

While Grammy award-winning singer Mary J. Blige has never acknowledged how she got the scar below her left eye, rumors abound that it resulted from a fight she had with another woman. Another story is that the scar is from a traumatic event during childhood that she made a pact to never discuss. In one interview Blige did say, “If I don’t accept the scar on my face, the lips that God gave me, the big giant feet, the long legs, whatever it is that I’m deformed with, I got to love it so everybody else can love it. And I started loving it.”

Joaquin Phoenix

WENN.com

Joaquin Phoenix was born with what looks like a type of scar between his lip and nose. It’s actually a microform cleft, the mildest form of cleft lip. It typically appears as a scar or notch. Cleft lip is a birth defect that develops very early in a pregnancy, before the 10-week mark. About 6,800 babies in the United States are born with some form of cleft lip or cleft palate each year. According to a 2009 study published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, milder versions of cleft lip, such as the type Phoenix has, occur later in the labial formation, when the process is nearly complete.

Kate Middleton

Getty Images

Being thrust into the limelight after marrying Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge’s looks have been the topic of endless discussion. When a 3-inch long scar was spotted along the left side of her temple, noticeable only because of the way her hair was styled, it became headline news. A spokesman for the Duchess confirmed the scar was the result of a serious surgery Middleton had as a young child, but declined to give further details, stating it was a private matter.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Jim Spellman/Getty Images

Makeup artists are always looking to cover up the 1½ inch scar on the front of Catherine Zeta-Jones’ neck. It’s the result of the tracheotomy she had to have as an infant after a virus she contracted caused breathing difficulties. “I don’t want to hide it,” she has said. “I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t have this scar.” With surgery, there is the risk of scarring at the incision. Typically, scars fade over time, but never completely disappear. For people who would rather not have that reminder, options to help minimize their appearance include dermabrasion, injections, chemical peels, creams, and laser treatments. Researchers continue to look for more effective options, said Krant.

6 Famous Celebrities and Their Scars

Time may heal all wounds, but for scars, it’s the opposite. Whenever the skin is injured, the body’s natural healing response goes into overdrive, working hard to produce extra collagen, which “fills in” and repairs the injured tissue. Scars can develop due to any number of reasons, but they affect almost everyone at some point in our lives.

In fact, you may be surprised to learn how many so-called “perfect” celebrities have scars, though this isn’t too surprising when you stop to consider that scars and beauty aren’t mutually exclusive. Thanks to exciting innovations in the field of Dermatology, however, scar management is better than it’s ever been before. At Kitagawa Dermatology, Dr. Kory Kitagawa offers various treatments to reduce the appearance of unwanted scars, including laser skin resurfacing, laser light therapies, and even soft tissue fillers like Restylane.

That being said, there are some celebrities who not only live with their scars but embrace them. Below you’ll find a list of celebrities who don’t let their scars define who they are or what they do.

1. Michael K. Williams

Michael K. Williams of “The Wire” (as Omar Little) and “Boardwalk Empire” (as Chalky White) fame earned his scar the old-fashioned way: by getting slashed across the face with a razor in a bar fight on his 25th birthday. The scar catapulted him from being a struggling dancer to being cast as iconic characters in movies and television shows.

2. Tina Fey

Brilliant comedian and writer Tina Fey was attacked by a stranger when she just was five years old, playing in the front yard of her suburban home. The little girl thought the person had drawn on her cheek … but the “drawing” was done with a blade. Though she was traumatized at the time, she confidently moved on with her life. She says she usually doesn’t even think about the scar until a cameraman points it out. And honestly, did you ever notice it either?

3. Padma Lakshmi

Celebrity cook, author, and model Padma Lakshmi of “Celebrity Chef” was in a car accident at age 14 that left her with a 7-inch scar on her forearm. She says the scar reminds her that she’s a survivor with an interesting past. She’s so untroubled by the scar that she happily posed nude for a photo shoot in “Allure” magazine.

4. Harrison Ford

Harrison Ford — the original Han Solo in “Star Wars” and also the original Indiana Jones — was given a great backstory for his craggy scar in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.” Indiana got the scar while he was practicing with his whip. The real story is more mundane: young Harrison started driving before buckling up, was fumbling around for his seatbelt, and rammed into a telephone pole.

5. Catherine Zeta-Jones

Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones of “Feud” (as Olivia De Havilland) “The Mask of Zorro” (as Elana) has a scar on her neck that she won’t let make-up artists cover. Why not? That scar saved her life. It marks the spot where doctors performed a tracheotomy on her when she was a child. Good work, docs!

6. Danny Trejo

In the case of character actor Danny Trejo (“Machete”), his entire face is riddled with scars, from acne pock marks to dents left by other boxers’ fists. Once he made it onto a film set, those scars became his bread and butter. His IMDB page sports 538 appearances in films and movies, with about 20 projects for 2018 alone.

Expert Scar Treatment in Hawaii

If you’re not a celebrity, you don’t have to flaunt, celebrate, or even live with your scars. Dr. Kory Kitagawa of Kitagawa Dermatology uses a combination of laser and other dermatologic therapies to improve the appearance of scars. Every scar is unique and has its own story, which is why Dr. Kitagawa works with you on an individual basis to design a scar-improvement strategy that helps you feel like a star again.

We’re located at the Kuakini Medical Plaza, 321 N. Kuakini St, #610, in Honolulu. You can call our helpful office staff or contact us online.  

TESTIMONIALS FROM OUR PATIENTS

I had great experiences here! Staff is friendly, efficient, and very helpful. I saw Dr. Kitagawa when I was younger and he has always been great. I just met his PA, Rocco, and he was awesome as well. They squeezed me in for an emergency and were extremely helpful. Thank …

S S
January 30, 2023

Read More Testimonials

Dr. Kitagawa and his staff all provide excellent service. 5/5. I was referred to him after being told by someone in the industry he’s the best on the island. I’d highly recommend to others. via Google

Koa J
January 30, 2023

Read More Testimonials

AFFILIATIONS

20 stars with scars on their faces and bodies

We love to closely follow the lives of stars, learn about them the latest news and be aware of all the nuances of their appearance! Surely you had to notice a mark in the form of a scar on the body of your favorite artist and, of course, you wanted to know the history of its appearance. So, especially for you, we have compiled a rating of the “scarred” with a short note about each. Read and be enlightened.

Gaspard Ulliel

30 years old, actor

The famous mark on the face of a handsome French man was received at the age of six.
Restless Ulliel jumped on the back of a sleeping Doberman, to which the frightened dog responded with a bite right in the face. The scar of the actor does not bother at all, and the numerous army of female fans too.

Rihanna

26 years old, singer

The scar on Rihanna’s lip was the result of an unhappy love for singer Chris Brown. In 2009, he used physical force on his beloved, leaving an indelible mark on the singer’s beautiful lips.

Harrison Ford

72 years old, actor

He got his trademark mark on his chin at the age of 27 as a result of an accident. The actor hit the steering wheel, which provided himself with a noticeable scar.

Liza Boyarskaya

29 years old, actress

The face of the beautiful Liza Boyarskaya has a small flaw in the form of a scar on her cheek. At nine months, sitting in her mother’s arms, the future actress managed to knock over a table lamp. A fragment of a broken lamp cut the baby’s cheek.

Joaquin Phoenix

40 years old, actor

A noticeable scar on the actor’s face has two versions of origin.
Some say it’s the result of cleft lip surgery. The actor himself claims that he was born that way.

Vera Brezhneva

32 years old, singer

On the right side of the abdomen, the singer has a scar from the removal of the appendix, and on the left – a scar after a cesarean section. The singer adorned the acquired marks with a colored tattoo.

Prince William

32 years old, Duke of Cambridge

William received his mark on his forehead during his school years from a classmate who hit him with a golf club.

Kate Middleton

33 years old, Duchess of Cambridge

The mysterious scar on Middleton’s head raised a real sensation in the press. In photographs taken at one of the charity dinners, journalists saw a thin strip near the temple under the hair. A representative of the royal family said that the scar is a consequence of the operation that the duchess had in childhood.

Jason Momoa

35 years old, actor

The scar on the actor’s eyebrow makes more than one woman’s heart flutter. He got such a mark after a fight in a bar and gives the image even more masculinity. Although it would seem, where else … nomu way of life.

Tommy Flanagan

49 years old, actor

The scars of this actor are immediately evident and terrify fans.
Tommy got them in his younger years during one of the parties. Unidentified perpetrators hit Flanagan in the face with a shard of a glass bottle. As it turned out later, they simply confused him with someone else.

Sandra Bullock

50 years old, actress

Sandra received a barely noticeable scar over her left eye in early childhood. The actress fell into the river from a high hill. Thank God, there were no serious injuries.

Sharon Stone

56 years old, actress

The actress got a scar on her neck also in her childhood. Running across the yard, she caught on a stretched clothesline, which dug into her neck.

Tina Kandelaki

39 years old, TV presenter and journalist

The scar on the left hand of the TV presenter was received in a car accident. Tina disguised the place of a severe burn with a tattoo in the form of an ancient Indian sign of strength.

Mary-Jay Blige

44 years old, singer

The singer acquired a scar under her right eye in her youth, during one of the fights with peers.

Padma Lakshmi

44 years old American television presenter

14 years old in a car accident. Padma barely survived and was treated for a long time after the tragic incident.

Owen Wilson

46 years old, actor

A deep scar on the actor’s arm was the result of a failed suicide attempt.
After a long depression, the actor, who also suffered from drug addiction, tried to cut his veins in his arms. Nilson was saved from death by his own brother, having discovered him in time.

Maksim

31 years old, singer

She got a scar on the bridge of her nose when she was two years old, having run into the kitchen table. The wound even had to be sewn up.

Franck Ribery

31 years old, French footballer

It is simply impossible not to notice the scars on the face of the French footballer. At the age of two, together with his parents, the athlete got into a terrible car accident. Little Ribery flew out through the windshield. This incident could cost the life of a football player and left an indelible reminder on the face.

20 stars with scars that are not shy and do not hide them

Scars and scars can appear on the skin as a result of literally any damage to it – a burn, a cut or a surgical operation. Do you think that almost every owner of them dreams of getting rid of such dubious “decorations”? Far from it. Among celebrities, there are many who prefer not to remove their scars and not mask them under a layer of concealer. In our selection – 20 stars who are not as perfect as they seem.

Kylie Jenner

When Kylie Jenner was 5 years old, she and her sister were playing hide-and-seek and, climbing the gate, stumbled upon sharp stakes.

“I tried to pull it out of my leg, but it just went right through. Now the scar seems to me much smaller than before, probably because I have grown!” Kylie shared a sad memory.

Vera Brezhneva

Vera Brezhneva has a scar on the right side of her stomach from the removal of an inguinal hernia, and on the left side there is a scar after a caesarean section. In 2015, the singer adorned one of them with a small tattoo in the shape of a heart.

Angelina Jolie

Another wave of rumors about Angelina Jolie’s plastic surgery was generated by a 2009 photo. On it, behind the ear of the actress, a scar is clearly visible, similar to a trace from a surgical incision. According to New York specialist David Schafer, “scars like these could be the result of an otoplasty.” However, his colleague Jennifer Walden from Manhattan believes that such an incision “is not typical for either otoplasty or facelift.” Therefore, one can only guess about its true origin …

MakSim

When asked about the origin of the scar on the bridge of the nose, MakSim answered in one of the interviews: “I really do not have complexes about this. I do not ask the make-up artists to cover it up for me. I really want to tell a heroic story that I defended the weak and was injured in an unequal struggle. But everything is simpler – I hit the table when I was little.

Sharon Stone

Sharon Stone got a scar on her neck also in her childhood. It is said that while playing in the yard, she did not notice the stretched clothesline that cut into her neck. However, this is only the official version. There was even a special site on the Web dedicated to other theories of the origin of this scar (for example, some fans claim that Sharon received it in the process of unusual erotic games, and others that her brother tried to kill her).

Elizaveta Boyarskaya

Liza Boyarskaya had a small scar on her left cheek when she was 9 months old. As the actress herself said, in childhood she was a very mobile and curious child. Once, when her mother was holding little Lisa in her arms, the girl pulled a table lamp towards herself, and the glass ceiling shattered. A fragment hit the baby in the face and left a mark on her cheek.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

As a little girl, Catherine Zeta-Jones caught a dangerous virus and had trouble breathing. To fix this, doctors performed a tracheotomy. After that, a noticeable scar remained on the neck of the actress. “Makeup artists are always trying to disguise it, but I don’t want them to do that. It is important to understand that if it were not for this scar, I would not be here with you now, ”she said in an interview.

Halle Berry

Halle Berry has always maintained that plastic surgeons have never touched her body. However, at one of the events, the actress raised her hand and showed the world a scar under her arm. The verdict of experts is unequivocal – this is a trace after breast augmentation surgery.

How Halle Berry has been living with diabetes for 32 years

Christina Aguilera

At the press conference for the release of the film Burlesque, Christina Aguilera began to greet the fans, joyfully waving her hand. Photographers filming the star immediately noticed a large scar under her arm. Usually such marks are left after breast augmentation surgery, when the implants are inserted through incisions under the armpits

Kate Middleton

Few people know that Kate Middleton played in the Malborough hockey team at school. During one match, 14-year-old Kate was seriously injured. She was accidentally hit on the head with a stick. The scar just above the left ear can still be seen in some photographs.

Reese Witherspoon

In September 2011, while jogging in the morning, Reese Witherspoon was hit by a car at a crosswalk. “I fell and hit my head on the asphalt. I had a bruise and a wound on my forehead that left a scar.”

Lindsay Lohan

Because of her unhealthy lifestyle and constant problems with alcohol, Lindsay Lohan has always got into trouble in the past. Photos of the actress with huge scars on her arms have been circulating on the Web for a long time. According to rumors, the girl intentionally hurt herself. However, in an interview, Lohan explained: “I have had these scars for a very long time, it’s funny that only now they paid attention to this.”

Sandra Bullock

Sandra Bullock was not a very lucky child in her childhood. First, the younger sister hit her with an elbow in the face and broke her nose, and then Sandra herself fell on sharp stones and cut her temple. From the last incident, the actress had a small scar near her left eye.

Rihanna

In 2009, Rihanna’s then boyfriend severely beat her boyfriend Chris Brown. The young man paid for it: he was sentenced to probation for 5 years, but the singer still has a scar on his lip after that fight.

Mary J. Blige

Mary J. Blige was born and raised in one of New York’s most unfortunate neighborhoods, the Bronx. The singer acquired a scar under her right eye in her youth, during one of the fights with her peers in the yard.

Padma Lakshmi

At the age of fourteen, Padma Lakshmi was the victim of a terrible car accident, which severely injured her right arm and thigh. Deep scars remained with the TV presenter for life, reminiscent of that terrible road from the Hindu temple to Malibu.

Kaley Cuoco

Actress Kaley Cuoco seriously injured her left leg while riding a horse. An unpleasant incident occurred in October 2010, when she was urgently taken to the surgery department of a nearby hospital. “I fell, tried to get up, but my horse was so scared, and then he jumped on me and landed right on my foot. I remember that terrible sound of breaking bones. The doctors inserted a special metal rod into me, which left two scars, ”Cuoco said in an interview.

Queen Latifah

The three-centimeter scar is impossible to miss – it is located right in the middle of the actress’s forehead. “When I was 3 years old, I was playing with my brother, tripped over a telephone cord and hit my head on the corner of the bathroom.