Two famous faces have used their memoirs to speak candidly about their experiences of being in a cult; One Tree Hill actress Bethany Joy Lenz and Game of Thrones star Hannah Murray.
You may be shocked to learn that these are not the only celebs who have had experiences of being involved with these groups, which are often defined by the devotion to the leader. There’s also often a certain set of strong and strict beliefs associated with the cult, which the members must follow.
Keep reading to find out more about the experiences of Lenz and Murray, and also seven other well-known people who have also been part of cults.
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Keep reading to find out more about the experiences of Lenz and Murray, and also seven other well-known people who have also been part of cults.
5. Reality star Keira Maguire.
Reality star Keira Maguire's upbringing as part of a cult was uncovered when she starred on The Bachelor in 2016. She grew up as part of “The Seaside Sect", which had been founded by her dad in the 1970s. Her mum was one of nine wives and the cult leader reportedly had 64 children in total. Speaking about her experience at the time, the TV personality said: “I didn’t know who my mum was until I was five. It sounds strange, but it just is what it is”, adding, “I didn’t even have birthdays. I think I had my first birthday when I was seven. For other people, it might be really sad. But it’s not, because it’s my story.” Photo by Getty Images. | Getty Images for NGV Photo: Getty Images
6. Joaquin Phoenix
Actor Joaquin Phoenix and his siblings, River, Rain, Liberty and Summer, were raised in Children of God, a group with an extensive history of making members give up their money and contact with the outside world. His parents left when he was around four-years-old and changed their last name to Phoenix. In 2014 he told Playboy: “I think my parents thought they’d found a community that shared their ideals. Cults rarely advertise themselves as such. It’s usually someone saying 'we’re like-minded people. This is a community', but I think the moment my parents realised there was something more to it, they got out". Photo by Getty Images. | Getty Images
![Rose McGowan is another actress who was raised as part of Children of God. In her memoir, Brave, she detailed how her family were part of the group until she was nine years old. Sge previously recalled being entirely cut off from the rest of the world and has also discussed the role of women as sexual objects in the cult. She told People: “I remember watching how the [cult’s] men were with the women, and at a very early age I decided I did not want to be like those women. They were basically there to serve the men sexually. You were allowed to have more than one wife.” She also explained that her family escaped the cult once they realised that sexual relations between adults and children were encouraged. “My dad and I escaped with my dad’s other wife in the middle of the night,” she said. “I remember running through a cornfield in thunder and lightning, holding my dad’s hand and running as fast as I could to keep up with him . . . [The cult] sent people to find us. I remember a man trying to break in with a hammer.”](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/03/18/9/30/GettyImages-912811144.jpg?crop=3:2&trim=&width=800)
7. Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan is another actress who was raised as part of Children of God. In her memoir, Brave, she detailed how her family were part of the group until she was nine years old. Sge previously recalled being entirely cut off from the rest of the world and has also discussed the role of women as sexual objects in the cult. She told People: “I remember watching how the [cult’s] men were with the women, and at a very early age I decided I did not want to be like those women. They were basically there to serve the men sexually. You were allowed to have more than one wife.” She also explained that her family escaped the cult once they realised that sexual relations between adults and children were encouraged. “My dad and I escaped with my dad’s other wife in the middle of the night,” she said. “I remember running through a cornfield in thunder and lightning, holding my dad’s hand and running as fast as I could to keep up with him . . . [The cult] sent people to find us. I remember a man trying to break in with a hammer.” | Getty Images
8. Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise Cruise was converted to Scientology by his first wife, Mimi Rogers, in 1986 and went on to became an outspoken advocate for the Church of Scientology from the 2000s onwards. The actor has previously credited Scientology with helping him overcome his dyslexia. But, his involvement in the group has been controversial and he has banned interviewers from asking him about it since 2008. Key Scientology beliefs include reincarnation, humans being immortal and that traumatic events cause subconscious command-like recordings in the mind, called engrams, which that can be removed through a paid for activity called "auditing". The group is described as both a cult and a religion. Photo by Getty Images. | Getty Images