17 of the best celebrity photobombs of all time

Celebs, they're just like us. They like to ruin each other's photos too.

Celebrity photobombs.jpg
Celebrity photobombs.jpg
(Image credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Celebs, they're just like us. They like to ruin each other's photos too.

Celebs, they're just like us. Apart from the gabillion pound salaries, stylists, perfect bodies, perfect skin, international travel and teams of people do do everything for them. So, okay, they're not really like us at all. But one of the few things we do have in common with these stars, is that famous or otherwise, it's really fun to upstage someone else's photo. If you've ever looked back through photos from a night out and realised there's someone behind you pulling focus, then you're in very good company.

For the uninitiated, photobombing is when someone who isn't supposed to be in your picture, decided that they want to be in your picture. It's not new, people have definitely been doing it since the camera was invented, but recently, the celeb set have embraced it in a big way.

It's all the range on the red carpet. Even really serious actors like Meryl Streep and Dustin Hoffman are at it. Even the actual Queen of England has indulged in a little photobombing (though we're not completely sure she did it on purpose).

So why has photobombing become all the rage? Our guess is that it's because celebrities get a bit bored. It might look exciting and glamorous from the outside, but by the time you've walked fifteen red carpets in one week, you need something to liven up the process of walking quite slowly and having your picture taken.

Sometimes it's a celebrity sneaking into another celebrity's photo, other times it's a celebrity popping up in a regular person's pics, or it might be a regular person sneaking into a picture taken by a famous person. Either way, there's something universally funny about a photobomb.

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

celebrity photobombs
(Image credit: BFAnyc.com/REX/Shutterstock)

So who could possibly upstage the beautiful, talented, Oscar winning actress Julianne Moore on the red carpet? That would be beautiful, talented, multiple Oscar winning actress Meryl Streep. Oops.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda

celebrity photobombs
(Image credit: Startraks Photo/REX/Shutterstock)

Clearly Jane still thinks it's important to work out every muscle in the body, including the tongue, given this attention grabbing pose with Melanie Griffiths.

The Queen

The Queen

celebrity photobombs
(Image credit: Jayde Taylor/REX/Shutterstock)

You know how it goes, you're taking a selfie with your bestie after a game of hockey, and when you check it back you realise the actual Queen of England has got herself into the background. Classic.

Jared Leto

Jared Leto

celebrity photobombs
(Image credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

Anne's face looks like an older sibling with an irritating younger brother. Which is probably because this picture is just one of about twenty of Jared bombing her. Lucky Anne.

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman

celebrity photobombs
(Image credit: Guy Bell/REX/Shutterstock)

You'd have to be an actor of serious international standing to get away with pranking national treasure Dame Judi Dench. Which is probably why Dustin Hoffman is the only person on record ever having done it. Good on you, Dustin.

Oprah

Oprah

celebrity photobombs

Sometimes having your photo bombed is annoying. Sometimes it's a dream come true. Kerry Washington definitely felt it was the latter. "Best photobomb ever!" Kerry wrote under the picture.

Adele

Adele

celebrity photobombs

Adele fan Kerry Scot was taking a cheeky photo of her favourite singer, when Adele noticed and decided to get involved in the action. The photo promptly went viral.

Hilary Clinton

Hilary Clinton

celebrity photobombs

Even when you're Kim Kardashian,Queen of the selfie, it's not every day you get to take a picture with a presidential candidate. Which might be why husband Kanye West decided he wanted a slice of the action too.

Meredith the cat

Meredith the cat

taylor swift cat

Everyone knows that the real star of Taylor's Instagram are her cats, Meredith and Olivia. Even in a selfie with Swifty and Sarah Hyland, the feline manages to steal the spotlight. Good work Meredith.

Simon Cowell

Simon Cowell

photobomb
(Image credit: James Shaw/REX/Shutterstock)

They've had a complicated ride over the years, from best mates to worst enemies and back again, but that doesn't seem to stop Simon from getting cheeky with Cheryl on the red carpet.

Kris Jenner

Kris Jenner

photobomb
(Image credit: Beretta/Sims/REX/Shutterstock)

Apparently watching Kris Jenner play with an oversized Chanel handbag was so fascinating that this young women was willing to risk some serious face damage. We're willing to bet she regrets it, since this accidental photo bomb went viral.

Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum

photobomb
(Image credit: David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

What's better than one Magic Mike star? A double helping. Channing Tatum muscles in (get it?) on this pic with co-star Joe Manganiello.

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

We've all had that moment when a lovely picture is ruined by strangers in the background. Only in this case the woman in the front of the picture is heiress Alice Bamford, and the strangers in the background are mega stars Kim Kardashian and Kanye West, who were dining with baby North at the Nobu LA.

Karl Largerfeld

Karl Largerfeld

Karl Largerfeld

Kelly Brook illustrates here the lesser known art of the reverse photobomb, where she captures herself in a picture without actually having to ask the super-famous designer if he'd like to pose next to her.

George Clooney

George Clooney

George Cloony

Don't you just hate it when you're relaxing at your villa in Ibiza and George Clooney jumps in and ruins it? Cindy Crawford and Rande Gerber probably do.

David Miliband

David Miliband

David Miliband

This picture of Ed Miliband and Laverne Cox might just be about to join the hall of fame for weird celebrity photos, alongside the time Martine McCutcheon hung out with Michael Jackson at Liza Minnelli's wedding. Admittedly it makes a bit more sense when you realise they're both being given honorary degrees from the New School in New York.

The leading destination for fashion, beauty, shopping and finger-on-the-pulse views on the latest issues. Marie Claire's travel content helps you delight in discovering new destinations around the globe, offering a unique – and sometimes unchartered – travel experience. From new hotel openings to the destinations tipped to take over our travel calendars, this iconic name has it covered.