Chloë Grace Moretz has said most of her tattoos are hidden, partly because covering them can add hours to a shoot day. In a WIRED interview, she talked about the time it takes to cover her ink on set. That is why many pieces surface only in a red-carpet photo, a tattoo artist’s post, or a casual holiday picture. The tattoos she has shown point to family and friendship, with a cross-country drive and a hopeful phrase in the mix. These are the pieces with the clearest public record.
Chloë Moretz’s “Janette Duke” tattoo
A fine-script “Janette Duke” runs along Moretz’s back. It is a tribute to her maternal grandmother, and tattoo artist Jon Boy did the work. Moretz has spoken about how close they were; the tattoo gives her a small way to keep that connection with her. The back placement lets her cover it for a role and show it when she chooses. The photo has a casual feel, with none of the staging of a formal reveal.
The rose, tiny feet and “Memom” tribute
On Moretz’s side, a larger design brings together a rose, small footprints, and the word “Memom”. The name refers to her grandmother. The footprints are connected to her baby sister Kathleen Janette, who died shortly after she was born. In photos, the design can read as a rose on its own or as a grandmother tribute, depending on the angle. Both descriptions point to the same piece, which also includes the tiny footprints.
Her 4,419 tattoo marks a big change
At 18, Moretz drove 4,419 miles across the country, and the number became the center of a tattoo on her hip. Circles, dotted lines, and compass-like points give it the look of a small map. Dr. Woo did the tattoo; the fine lines and neat details fit his single-needle style. Without the story, the number might look abstract. Knowing it marks a cross-country drive gives the design a clear point of reference.
The family initials on her thigh
The letters “TBTKCE” run vertically along Moretz’s upper thigh. They stand for members of her family, including her siblings, her mother, and her late sister. The serif letters have a worn, dotted finish and are spaced like a private list rather than a slogan. The placement also makes the tattoo easy to cover. Family keeps coming up in the designs Moretz has explained, and this one puts the names into initials.
“It gets better than this” under her right breast
Under her right breast, Moretz has the phrase “it gets better than this”. It leaves room for a hard moment without treating that moment as permanent. The lettering is simple and keeps the focus on the words. Because of its placement, the tattoo is easy to miss; it usually appears only in an open neckline or a close-up she chooses to share.
Small matching ink and the tattoos she keeps private
Moretz has also gotten small matching tattoos with friends. One documented example is a white-ink ankle tattoo connected to her friend Kathryn Gallagher. White ink can be difficult to see in photographs and may fade into the skin as it heals, so the design does not show clearly in every picture. Moretz has said she has many tattoos and that most are hidden. That makes an exact count hard to pin down: some lists identify six, while fan records suggest there are more. The clearest record comes from pieces she has shown or an artist has described. Those include family memories, a long drive, and a small mark of friendship. She has not made the full collection easy to see.
What Chloë Moretz’s tattoos have in common
The designs do not share one look. Many are small or fine-lined, and several link back to people or events in Moretz’s life. Her grandmother and sister appear in family tributes; the 4,419 piece marks a drive she made at 18; the matching ankle tattoo is tied to a friendship. Hidden placement has a practical side too: Moretz has said that covering tattoos can add hours to filming. Some pieces stay personal while she takes roles that call for them to be covered. For more actor ink, see the actors tattoos section.