As Leah Remini dishes more dirt on the Church of Scientology, we thought it was high time for a run down of celebrities linked to the controversial religion. While Leah was an active Scientologist for years, handing over millions of dollars in the process, she’s now on a warpath to reveal the group’s biggest secrets. And this, week she’s naming names. Leah has possibly confirmed one of Hollywood’s biggest secrets – that Mr. & Mrs. Smith are in fact secret Scientologists.

But who else is dabbling in the church’s odd belief system? Created by science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, Scientology is certainly ‘out there’ in terms of credibility. They believe an intergalactic overlord called Xenu sent humans to Earth from another planet. Not just that, but also that their disembodied spirits live in everyone alive today. 

So we all know that Tom Cruise is a full-fledged member of the church, but who else is with him? We’ve rummaged around in the Scientology closet to find some secretive celebs hiding at the back and some out and proud celebrity Scientologists. You’ll be shocked at some of the names we found…

15. Will Smith – Secret Scientologist?

Will Smith regularly denies being a member of Scientology but the evidence is kind of hard to dismiss at this point. Here’s what we know. Tax records show that this Hollywood A-lister has given some serious dollar to the religion over the years. We’re talking figures that reach into the millions.

We also know that Will was introduced to Scientology by his buddy Tom Cruise. Here’s what he had to say about that: “I was introduced to [Scientology] through Tom, and I’m a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household and went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98 percent the same ideas as Scientology.”

There are also many who believe Will’s movie-flop, After Earth, was one big love letter to Scientology. There is also the recent revelation from Leah Remini that Will’s wife Jada is a Scientologist. This all adds up to one big Scientology secret in our opinion.

14. Laura Prepon – Out And Proud Scientologist

The Orange is the New Black star has made no secret of her Scientology beliefs. But Laura Prepon really let the cat out of the bag when she did an interview with the religion’s own Celebrity Magazine. Talking in depth about some of the classes, processes and inner workings of the church, Prepon talked freely about her connection to the religion.

Here’s a snippet of that interview: “Another big realization I had in my auditing is that there is a bigger picture. This is my career but it does not define me. I am so much bigger than this career and industry. It’s my job and it’s very important to me, but, when I have huge wins in session, and when you really cognate that you are a thetan and you have a mind and body, and that the MEST universe does not control you—it puts things into perspective. It takes the weight off you and things become very easy.”

13. Jada Pinkett-Smith – Secret Scientologist?

Jada’s been tied to Scientology through her family’s donations to the religion. For years the rumours have circulated and, along with Will Smith, she’s donated millions to the Church of Scientology. But this week, a fellow celebrity has lifted the lid on Jada’s Scientology status. And this latest exposé from former Scientologist Leah Remini seems fairly credible. Ever since Leah famously left the religion she’s been revealing secrets about the religion all over town. As a Scientology member for years, Leah must know a thing or two about what goes down behind their closed doors.

Here’s Leah’s take on things: “I know Jada’s in. She’s been in Scientology a long time. I never saw Will there, but I saw Jada at the Celebrity Centre. They opened up a Scientology school, and have since closed it. But Jada, I had seen her at the Scientology Celebrity Centre all the time.”

Jada’s response: “I have studied Dianetics and appreciate the merits of Study Tech… but I am not a Scientologist.” Yeah, right. Our Spidey senses say otherwise, Jada.

12. Elisabeth Moss – Out And Proud Scientologist

Elizabeth Moss is a fairly new face on the Scientology circuit. Though, let’s face it, we were all getting tired of Tom Cruise and Kirsty Alley getting all the airtime on this one. In the last few months, the Mad Men and Handmaid’s Tale star has started to open up about her beliefs and Scientology status.

Just hours before she picked up her Emmy win, she spoke out on today.com saying she didn’t think being a part of the controversial religion had affected her career. Adding “I mean, I honestly don’t pay attention to anything except for what people think of my work.”

11. Keith Urban – Secret Scientologist?

You have to feel sorry for Nicole Kidman. Her marriage to Tom Cruise was apparently ruined by Scientology and now it appears her husband, Keith Urban, is also tied to the religion. According to New Idea magazine, Keith has been keeping his Scientology link a secret from family and friends for 20 years.

The online magazine Radar picked up the story and dug some more dirt on the Australian singer-songwriter. Urban’s buddy told them: “The last few times I talked to him, Keith was talking about being a Scientologist. He wasn’t with Nicole then, he was pretty hard into it.”

While another friend told Radar than before Keith’s career took off, he’d have done anything to be famous, saying: “These were lean years for Keith. He was desperate to make it. He would consider anything that would help him — including Scientology!”

10. Jenna Elfman – Out and Proud Scientologist

The Dharma and Greg star may well have been a lifelong Scientologist and high-profile sitcom star, but she sure does need to learn a thing or two about the Internet. Earlier this year Elfman and her team made the disastrous decision to do a Reddit AMA. Within moments, she was subjected to an onslaught of hilarious Scientology-based questions and digs.

Our favourite of the lot? This one: “When you are on vacation do you visit volcanoes or are you too scared to be close to the thetans?” Things quickly turned sour when users started getting a little too personal asking questions such as “Do you feel any empathy towards the many people’s lives and families that have been destroyed by Scientology? Are you aware of the emotional, psychical and mental abuse that your cult inflicts on people?”

We’re guessing Elfman may think twice before she does another Reddit AMA. Because no religion can save you from the Reddit horde of snarky trolls.

9. David Beckham – Secret Scientologist?

It seems these days you only need to shake hands with Tom Cruise and you’re suspected of being a Scientologist. But the rumour mill surrounding Tom and his buddy David Beckham has been firing out a whole bunch of stories that all point to the UK soccer star being lured in by the church.

Former Scientologists have gone on record saying that back in the day, Tom was actively trying to recruit David and Victoria – which sounds super creepy.

Scientology’s former head of security, Gary Morehead, explains how far Tom was prepared to go: “The Beckhams were due to come, but they never did. They levelled a field. You know the guys even learned about how to put patterns in the grass and stuff like that so it looked really well groomed.

“I can only assume he was getting him into Scientology. What was Lisa Marie Presley doing with Michael Jackson? She was getting him into Scientology.”

With the Beckhams still super close to Tom Cruise and the rumours still flying, it looks like Tom may have recruited this high-flying couple.

8. John Travolta Out And Proud Scientologist

After Tom Cruise, Travolta has to be one of Scientology’s most known members. But how did one of the world’s most famous celebrities get caught up in this controversial group? An HBO documentary called ‘Going Clear’ potentially has the answer. Contributors to the film suggest that John Travolta was a “troubled young man looking for help”. And he found that help in a book called “Dianetics,” written by Scientology founder Ron L Hubbard.

But part of the Scientology process involves you divulging your deepest, darkest secrets and all of those sessions are recorded by the church. So, when word got out that Travolta wanted to leave, the officials went through the auditing sessions and dug up the skeletons from Travolta’s closet.

How do we know this? “I know this because I used to do it when I was the head of the office of special affairs,” says Mike Rinder, a former Scientologist. “By exposing or threatening to expose them, they will cower the person into silence.”

7. Persia White – Secret Scientologist?

An American actress and star of the sitcom Girlfriends, Persia White is also apparently a secret Scientologist. She’s never publicly declared her Scientology status in interviews but her name cropped up on an official Scientology document. Her name was listed among a group of Scientologists who have taken and completed the ‘Purification Rundown 84’ program.

These classes are a detoxification program that help the body recover from the “harmful effects of drugs, toxins and other chemicals that lodge in the body and create a biochemical barrier to spiritual well-being.”

Any other clues that point to her ties to Scientology? Well, Persia’s MySpace page lists L. Ron Hubbard as one of her heroes. So there’s that.

6. Bart Simpson – Out and Proud Scientologist

Who knew that Bart Simpson is a Scientologist, or more accurately, the voice behind Bart Simpson is? That’s right, the face behind one of the most iconic voices of our time, Nancy Cartwright, is an evangelical Scientologist. Donating millions of hard-earned Simpson’s cash to the church over the years, Cartwright has also been known to put her vocal talent to use in other ways.

It’s said that she’s recorded messages – in her infamous Bart Simpson voice – to encourage people to attend gatherings and Scientology events. These messages are then delivered via robocall to unsuspecting people in their homes. If Bart Simpson called us up inviting us to an event, we’d be convinced Sideshow Bob had something to do with it.

5. Gloria Gaynor – Secret Scientologist?

The famous crooner of ‘I Will Survive’ has been linked to the church of Scientology, but will neither confirm nor deny the rumours. Which is kind of odd, right? I mean if you’re not a Scientologist, there’s no harm in saying you’re not. On the other hand, if you are in the religion it could be sketchy to admit it. Scientology has caused controversy over the years, with some people claiming the movement is more of a cult than a religion. Gloria doesn’t have to worry that ties to the group will harm her career – her best work was released in the ’70s & ’80s, so why is she staying in the Scientology closet?

4. Giovanni Ribisi – Out and Proud Scientologist

Star of the Amazon hit show, Sneaky Pete, Giovanni Ribisi is famous for a whole bunch of things other than being a Scientologist. He was Phoebe Buffet’s creepy brother on Friends and had starring roles in Avatar and Saving Private Ryan. But he’s also been a lifelong member of one of the world’s most controversial religions.

Both he and his sister are Scientologists, and they are completely open about it. Often questioned about it in interviews, Giovanni Ribisi is quick to shut down any misconceptions about Scientology or speak out when former members leave the church and reveal all. Most recently he’s commented that Leah Remini’s Scientology revelations are driven by money.

3. Chaka Khan – Secret Scientologist?

It’s hard to peg Chaka Khan’s Scientology status, but we suspect she’s a closet Scientologist. She’s one of a number of celebrities who’s definitely dabbled with the courses and flirted with the church’s ideas. But Chaka’s adamant that she’s not a Scientologist. Though, for years Ellen Page denied that she was a lesbian – and look how that turned out.

Here’s what Chaka herself has to say: “I belong to the religion of the Church of Chaka Khan, and I practice it every day. I live my religion, I consider it a personal thing. But I’ve taken some courses in Scientology, and they’ve been very, very helpful through life’s ups and downs.” If we had to bet on it? Chaka’s a Scientologist and no one can tell us otherwise.

2. Doug E. Fresh – Out and Proud Scientologist

Doug E. Fresh opened up about his relationship with the Church of Scientology way back in 2009. The hip-hop star told the world that Scientology was “not just for white people” and urged people to check it out. He became the first hip-hop artist to endorse the church after being introduced to their beliefs by a girlfriend.

An active member of Scientology, Doug E. waxes lyrical when he talks about the religion, saying: “I found it fascinating. It changed how I thought. I’ve learned how to look at things and not judge them but respect them and use it in a way that people understand that I respect them, show them love and respect their reality.”

1. Juliette Lewis – Out And Proud Scientologist

Despite being nominated for Academy Awards and Golden Globes. Juliette Lewis is convinced the entertainment industry and mainstream media has it in for Scientology. She revealed a ‘conspiracy theory’ to The Daily Beast in 2014 suggesting that you’ll never see “a truthful word written about [Scientology] in mainstream media.”

There are just a couple of problems with her theory. One, Scientology believes all news is fake news – where have we heard that one before? And two, the church is so secretive; it’s hard for journalists to seek out the truth. Juliette claims she still does interviews, because they are part of her job, but the details are always distorted.

Sources: washingtonpost.com, redbookmag.com, newidea.com, madamenoire.com, indiewire.com