It’s called a diastema. That’s the fancy clinical term for the little space between two teeth, usually the front ones. For decades, the "Hollywood standard" meant rows of perfectly uniform, blindingly white ceramic chiclets. If you had a gap, you fixed it. You got the braces, you got the veneers, or you spent your early career hiding your smile from the camera.
But things have changed. A lot.
Honestly, the famous people with gap teeth we see today aren't just "dealing" with their smiles—they’re leaning into them. It’s become a brand. It’s a sign of authenticity in an industry that feels increasingly filtered and fake. Think about it. When you see a gap-toothed smile on a red carpet, it says, "I'm confident enough to not let a dentist 'correct' my personality away."
The Icons Who Refused to Close the Gap
Take Lauren Hutton. She’s basically the patron saint of the diastema. Back in the day, modeling agents told her to fix her teeth or find a new career. She didn’t. Instead, she used a piece of wax to fill the gap during shoots for a while before eventually saying "enough." She became the face of Revlon and graced dozens of Vogue covers, proving that a "flaw" could actually be a signature.
And then there's Madonna.
The Queen of Pop has one of the most recognizable smiles in history. It’s gritty. It’s real. Throughout her massive career, she never succumbed to the pressure of getting that "perfect" symmetrical mouth. It fits her whole vibe—rebellious and unapologetic. When people think of famous people with gap teeth, she’s often the first name that pops up because she made it look cool to be different.
The New Guard of Unique Smiles
The fashion world has always been a bit ahead of the curve here. Look at Lara Stone or Georgia May Jagger. These women didn't just succeed despite their teeth; they succeeded because of them. Jagger, the daughter of Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, turned her gap into a high-fashion trademark. It adds a bit of rock-and-roll edge to a face that might otherwise just look like another "pretty girl."
Fashion editors love it. It’s relatable.
In the acting world, Anna Paquin has been very vocal about her choice to keep her natural smile. She’s an Oscar winner. She’s a True Blood star. She’s told reporters in the past that she finds it rude when people suggest she "fix" her teeth. It’s her face. Why should she change it to fit someone else’s narrow definition of beauty?
Why We Are Obsessed With These "Imperfections"
There is a psychological element to why we gravitate toward famous people with gap teeth. It’s called the "Pratfall Effect." Basically, we like people more when they have a minor flaw. It makes them human. It makes them reachable.
When a celebrity has a perfectly "engineered" face, it creates a distance. You can't relate to a marble statue. But when someone like Michael Strahan flashes that massive, gapped grin on morning television, you feel like you know the guy. It breaks the ice.
Strahan is actually a great example of the internal struggle celebrities face. He’s admitted in interviews that he actually went to a dentist to see about closing his gap earlier in his career. He sat in the chair, looked at the mock-up, and realized it just wasn't him. He got up and left.
Smart move. That gap is now part of his multi-million dollar brand.
The Cultural Significance of the Diastema
It's not just a Western trend. In many cultures, particularly in parts of West Africa (like Nigeria and Senegal), a gap between the front teeth is seen as a sign of beauty, wealth, and fertility. It’s literally a "lucky" trait.
When we see famous people with gap teeth like Uzo Aduba or Issa Rae, we’re seeing a reflection of a much broader, global standard of beauty that rejects the bleached, homogenized look of 1990s Beverly Hills.
- Uzo Aduba: The Orange Is the New Black star has talked about how she grew to love her gap after her mother told her it was a "mark of beauty" in their culture.
- Slick Woods: The model who famously walked for Fenty Beauty turned her wide gap and buzzed head into an icon of modern aesthetics.
- Vanessa Paradis: The French singer and actress is the epitome of "French Girl Chic," and her gap is central to that effortless, slightly undone look.
The Dentistry Shift: From "Fix" to "Enhance"
Even the dental industry is feeling the shift. If you talk to cosmetic dentists today, they’ll tell you more patients are asking for "character" in their smiles. They don't want the "piano key" look. Some people are even asking for "social six" veneers that keep a slight space or a minor overlap because it looks more natural.
It’s a weird full circle. We’ve gone from forcing famous people with gap teeth to change, to regular people trying to look more like them.
A Quick List of Other Notable Gapped Grins:
- Eddie Murphy: One of the most successful comedians of all time, never touched the gap.
- Woody Harrelson: His smile is as rugged as his filmography.
- Willem Dafoe: That gap adds to his intense, expressive performances.
- Seal: His whole look is about unique texture and character.
- Anthony Anderson: The Black-ish star’s gap is as much a part of his comedic timing as his voice.
The "Fix" That People Regret
Some stars did go the other way. Zac Efron famously had a gap as a teen star and had it closed. LeAnn Rimes did the same. While they look great, there's often a bit of a "wait, something's different" reaction from fans. You lose a bit of the soul of the face when you aim for mathematical perfection.
Dakota Johnson is perhaps the most famous recent case of "The Mystery of the Vanishing Gap." When she appeared on a red carpet with her gap closed (it apparently happened naturally after she removed a permanent retainer), the internet literally went into mourning. There were Twitter threads dedicated to the loss of her tooth space.
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That tells you everything you need to know. People want the gap.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Smile
If you’re sitting there with a gap and wondering if you should "pull a Strahan" and keep it, or "pull a Dakota" and close it, here’s how to think about it:
1. Consider Your "Brand" Is your look about being "perfect" and polished, or are you more about character and authenticity? If you work in a creative field, that gap might actually be your strongest visual asset.
2. Consult a Functional Dentist Sometimes a diastema is caused by a "frenum" (the piece of skin under your lip). Sometimes it's caused by missing teeth or gum issues. Make sure your gap isn't causing a "collapsed bite" or speech issues. If it's healthy, it's just a choice.
3. Test the Look If you’re insecure, ask a dentist for a "composite bond" mock-up. They can add temporary tooth-colored resin to close the gap for five minutes just so you can see your face. Most people realize they actually miss the gap once it’s gone.
4. Own the Confidence The reason famous people with gap teeth look so good isn't the teeth—it's the fact that they aren't hiding them. Confidence is the actual "trend" here.
At the end of the day, the obsession with "perfect" teeth is a relatively new invention. For most of human history, we just had the teeth we had. The fact that we are seeing a return to "naturalism" in Hollywood is a good sign. It means we’re starting to value what makes us individuals rather than what makes us look like everyone else.
If you have a gap, you’re in elite company. From rock stars to Oscar winners, the diastema is a badge of honor. Wear it like one.
Next Steps for Your Smile Journey:
Check with an orthodontist to ensure your gap isn't a result of a tongue-thrust habit, which can cause teeth to shift further over time. If your bite is stable, embrace the look. If you decide to close it for health reasons, ask about "minimal prep" options that preserve your natural tooth enamel.