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.
![When she was seven-years-old, Close at her family moved to Switzerland join the spiritual movement Moral Re-Armament (MRA). She remained in the group until she was 22 and left when she was studying acting at the College of William and Mary. The leader of the group, Reverend Frank Buchman, was known for his belief that the world could avoid war if people experienced a moral and spiritual awakening. Close said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “You basically weren’t allowed to do anything, or you were made to feel guilty about any unnatural desire. If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how you’re supposed to live and what you’re supposed to say and how you’re supposed to feel, from the time you’re 7 till the time you’re 22, it has a profound impact on you. It’s something you have to [consciously overcome] because all of your trigger points are." She aslo said that she uses her experiences in the cult to contribute to the powerful feelings with her characters. Photo by Getty Images.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2024/05/30/8/33/GettyImages-2147790316.jpg.jpg?trim=0,0,0,833&crop=&width=800)
9. Glenn Close
When she was seven-years-old, Close at her family moved to Switzerland join the spiritual movement Moral Re-Armament (MRA). She remained in the group until she was 22 and left when she was studying acting at the College of William and Mary. The leader of the group, Reverend Frank Buchman, was known for his belief that the world could avoid war if people experienced a moral and spiritual awakening. Close said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter: “You basically weren’t allowed to do anything, or you were made to feel guilty about any unnatural desire. If you talk to anybody who was in a group that basically dictates how you’re supposed to live and what you’re supposed to say and how you’re supposed to feel, from the time you’re 7 till the time you’re 22, it has a profound impact on you. It’s something you have to [consciously overcome] because all of your trigger points are." She aslo said that she uses her experiences in the cult to contribute to the powerful feelings with her characters. Photo by Getty Images. | AFP via Getty Images