Evan Rachel Wood is undeniably one of the most successful stars in today's entertainment industry, but she's also one of the most unique. We have a tendency to assume that the actors we see in TV shows and in movies are just like the characters they play. But as anyone can tell you, actors are completely different people in real life. When some fans find out about some of things their favorites actors have done, they're pretty shocked. Evan Rachel Wood is a great example of that. She's well known today for her stunning portrayal of the android Dolores Abernathy on the hit HBO show Westworld. In the beginning of this show, she's the picture perfect farmer's daughter.

But she's not really a stereotypical, traditional American woman in real life. In fact, she's anything but. Time and time again, she's proven that she's definitely her own person, and she does all kinds of unique things with her life. People are quick to forget these things when they see acting, and that's a true mark of her skill. When she's acting, she's completely invested in the character she's playing, and we barely see any of her personality shining through. Here are 15 things you probably forgot about Evan Rachel Wood.

She Was Once Engaged To Marilyn Manson

When most people found out that Evan dated Marilyn Manson, they're completely taken aback. At first glance, they seem like complete mismatches. But love isn't always what you expect.

As most of us know, opposites attract, and that was definitely the case with this relationship. Or is it? In fact, both partners in this relationship had a lot in common, and it was clear that their romance was anything but a brief and random fling.

US Weekly quoted her in 2016 as saying, "I met somebody that promised freedom and expression and no judgments. And I was craving danger and excitement. I looked at my mother one day and said, 'Mom, I'm gonna get on this tour bus for eight months and see the world and have a crazy journey and find myself, and if people aren't OK with that, I'm sorry, but I can't live my life for other people.'"

She Likes Both Girls And Boys

Another people that people might be surprised to hear is that Evan Rachel Wood does not really have a preference between men and women, romantically speaking. She is famously open-minded when it comes to love, and is one of the most visible bi celebrities in the world today. She's spoken out many times about her support for people like her, and she's even publicly tweeted various things which encourage other bi individuals to stay strong. She definitely has nothing to hide.

Hollywood Reporter quoted one of her speeches back in 2017, when she spoke at an LGBT Gala. Speaking of her past, she revealed, "I thought women were beautiful. But because I was born that way I never once stopped to think that was strange or anything to fear. I also thought that men were beautiful. Some people don't think that artists should speak up. I choose to reflect the times and situations in which I find myself."

She First Started Acting When She Was 9

It seems like Evan Rachel Wood has been a household name in the entertainment industry for quite some time, and we're sure that she's going to remain a big name for many years into the future. But when exactly did she start acting?

Her first big role was actually when she was just 9 years old, in a film called Digging For China. It must have been an incredible experience for the young actress, and clearly she has been practicing her craft for a long time.

Speaking to Under The Radar in 2008, Evan Rachel Wood said of the film, "It was a big deal for me at the time. It was the first time I ever got picked out of a bunch of girls and my first starring role and my first feature film, so it was wild working with somebody like Kevin Bacon and Cathy Moriarty, Mary Stuart Masterson. Of course, all I could ask Mary Stuart Masterson was, 'What was it like being in Benny & Joon and working with Johnny Depp?' So, it was cool. I had fun. It was hard, though."

Her Brother Is Also An Actor

Many things are important to Evan Rachel Wood, but family is definitely something which Evan Rachel Wood values very highly. She actually comes from an incredibly interesting family. Of course, she now has her own son, but her parents also had a massive impact on her life. According to her Wikipedia page, she is the daughter of Sara Lynn Moore, an actress and a director. Her father, Ira David Wood III, is an actor and a playwright. So it's safe to say that her acting talent runs in the family!

But what most people don't know about her is that she has a brother who is also an actor. His name is Ira David Wood IV, and he's actually been involved in a few interesting projects. According to his Imdb page, he was on One Tree Hill and a number of other interesting projects. Who knows what the future will hold for this actor. But one thing's for sure – this entire family seems to be incredibly talented.

She Dated Katherine Moennig

We've mentioned before that Evan Rachel Wood is interested in both men and women, something that might surprise some of her fans. But has she ever actually dated a woman? The answer is yes, and that person was Katherine Moenigg. Although the two are now broken up, they did have a brief but interesting romance which ultimately ended not long after it started in 2014.

There was a massive age difference, of course, but according to US Weekly, that didn't bother Evan Rachel Wood one bit. The article posted in 2014 also goes on to claim that Evan Rachel Wood was "crazy" about Katherine Moenigg, which means that this must have been a sad breakup for her.

She Was Inspired By Ricki Lake To Have A Natural Birth At Home

We've already mentioned the fact that Evan Rachel Wood has a son, and that's another thing people might not know about her.

One of the most interesting things about this actress is that she will not release her son's name, nor does she want his face to become public. This is probably one of the most admirable things this celebrity has ever done.

She also had a home birth. As Hello Magazine pointed out in a 2013 article, Evan Rachel Wood once tweeted: “I have to say thank you @RickiLake for your inspiring documentary “the business of being born” I never knew I had a choice when it came to labor. It taught me so much & aided my decision in having a natural home birth which my son & I are now forever grateful for.”

She Is An Advocate For Women's Issues

Evan Rachel Wood is also a fierce advocate for women's rights and issues, something that she's always been very passionate about.

She has spoken about women's issues numerous times, and was one of the key figures who became vocal during the #metoo movement and other women's movements over the years.

This is another thing people might not know about this actress. She even said that Westworld helped her to deal with her past issues and traumas. Bazaar quoted her in 2017 as saying, “To go on that journey with her and learn things about myself, and to put my own experiences in what she was going through, and using that as a vehicle to walk through my own false reality, or my own repressed memories or trauma and breaking through and coming out on the other side.”

She Is Passionate About Politics

Like many A-list celebrities today, Evan Rachel Wood is also fiercely political. Besides taking on women's and LGBT issues, she's also very well-informed and politically aware. She often talks about politics on Twitter, in interviews, or even in her own blogs.

This is a woman who's really not afraid to speak her mind, and that's something that's extremely admirable.

In 2017, Evan Rachel Wood posted her very own article which she wrote, through a website called Nylon. She talked about the experiences she had in this new political climate, and her article was actually very illuminating. She's definitely not someone who just accepts the status quo, and doesn't see the need for change where its due. And that's a good thing.

She Was Nominated For A Golden Globe For Thirteen

A lot of our readers will no doubt remember Evan Rachel Wood for her one of her first big breakout roles, Thirteen. Many people absolutely loved this film, and it was as brave as it was gripping. It was so long ago now, and some people might have forgotten that Evan Rachel Wood was even in this movie! She was indeed, and this was a huge opportunity for her to show off her acting skills.

She definitely didn't disappoint, and she was even nominated for a Golden Globe. She was totally deserving of this nomination, but she was not destined to win it at this time. Thirteen came out in 2003, and she was nominated all the way back in 2004. Quite an accomplishment, especially so early in her career, as an article by Bustle points out.

She Was Once In A Green Day Music Video

Evan Rachel Wood's love for musicians is quite obvious, and aside from dating Marilyn Manson, she also starred in a music video by the popular band, Green Day.

She starred in the video for one of their most famous songs, "Wake Me Up When September Ends." She actually acted alongside Jamie Bell, who would go on to be her one day husband and father of her son.

This was all the way back in 2005, fresh off the heels of her Thirteen success. But while people probably remember this song and the music video from back in the day, they might not remember that Evan Rachel Wood was that pretty girl who starred in the video. In a post by Parade, they point out that Green Day was the unexpected thing that brought Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood together.

Marilyn Manson Wrote A Song About Her

We've already touched on Evan Rachel Wood's surprising romance with Marilyn Manson, but there's even more surprising facts to reveal when it comes to this relationship. Marilyn Manson felt so strongly about Evan Rachel Wood at one point that he wrote one of his songs about her, "Heart-Shaped Glasses." If you go to the song's official Wikipedia page, you will find a full explanation into what inspired Marilyn Manson to write this song.

Speaking about his famous song, Marilyn Manson revealed on BBC Radio One (as quoted by Wikipedia): "[...] it was something inspired by my current girlfriend Evan Rachel Wood who's obviously much younger than me, but having the sarcasm to make the point of that and showing up to visit me once wearing heart-shaped glasses, which is the same as the Kubrick movie poster for the film Lolita and me saying what I say in the chorus of the song."

She Has A Black Belt In Taekwondo

Evan Rachel Wood is known for her dramatic acting, but in Westworld, we saw the actress performing in some pretty action-packed scenes. The wild west inspired TV show is full of shootouts and fight scenes, and Evan Rachel Wood often finds herself at the center of them. The epic fight between her and the "Man In Black" in the chapel was especially impressive.

Speaking to She Knows in 2011, Evan Rachel Wood revealed that she's fully capable of kicking some serious butt in real life: "I would totally be a superhero. I really would, actually. I never get offered superheroes. I never get offered comedies, because people have an idea of who I am as an actor. But I have a black belt in taekwondo. I can totally [fight]! I wasn't good at ballet. I was a fighter, I guess. I just needed that. I did it for years, until I got my black belt."

She Has Her Own Electro-Pop Group

Evan Rachel Wood has even more hidden talents that people might not be aware of. She's also incredibly musically gifted, and she's even created her very own band.

Along with fellow actor David Villa, the two have paired up to create Rebel And A Basketcase, one of the most interesting synth pop duos today. This is another example of Evan Rachel Wood really catching people by surprise, and doing things which are totally "out there."

Speaking to Rolling Stone in 2016, Evan Rachel Wood explained how the band started and talked about her musical style: "My vocal style, I think, is the powerhouse belter – Alanis Morissette and Janis Joplin and those types of ladies. I've always had a very loud voice. And I grew up listening to David Bowie and the Eurythmics and Garbage. Sia is also a huge hero of mine."

She Spoke Out Honoring The Victims Of The Orlando Night Club Incident

One of the most devastating attacks in recent memory was the Orlando Nightclub Shooting. This attack seemed to specifically target the LGBT community, which made it even more disturbing than usual for many individuals. One of these individuals was Evan Rachel Wood, who was spoken out numerous times about it.

Speaking to Pridesource in 2016, Evan Rachel Wood admitted: "I tried to make a point of reaching out to a lot of my queer friends, because obviously this is devastating for everyone, a blow to us all, but I think it cuts a little bit deeper to those who feel it could have been them. It’s devastating and we were shaken up by it, but I view myself as a person who can stay strong in the face of despair and ignorance. This is one of those cases where I got really scared and sad, but then angry in a good way because it was motivation and inspiration."

She Loves To Get Massages

So far, we've delved pretty deep into who Evan Rachel Wood really is. But sometimes it's the little things that really help us get to know a person. And sometimes, a person's guilty pleasures give us some awesome insight into who people really are. So what's Evan Rachel Wood's guilty pleasure? Well, she revealed this secret to Allure magazine back in 2013:

"Massages. I have to do it. I carry so much stuff around in my bag that massages are the one thing I will totally splurge on. I think body work is so important because it can ease your pain and your stress levels. Even when I travel, I'll find a place to go wherever I'm staying."

References: usmagazine.com, hollywoodreporter, undertheradar.com, wikipedia.org, imdb.com, hellomagazine.com, bazaar.com, nylon.com, sheknows, rollingstone.com, allure.com, pricesource.com, rollingstone.com, sheknows.com