This week we highlight Five to Watch Save the Planet in 2011 – celebrities that caught our eye this year as they got more and more notice for their Green activism around the world.  We thank you – and we are hopeful that you’ll do even more in the coming year and beyond.  Keep up the good work!

Leonardo DiCaprio.  Leo, you’re back!  With your focus on saving the Brazilian rainforest and your film about global warming, you originally you led the pack when it came to Green.  But in recent years Ed, Matt and others took center stage and we heard less about you.  We were sad, but now we’re happy.  This year your  $1m pledge to the World Wildlife Fund to save tigers in Africa and Asia and your meeting with Jairam Ramesh, India’s environmental minister got our attention.  We know you’ll do more on a worldwide scale.  Rainforests, tigers, and global warming all tie together – good job.  And your decision to design and feature TAG Heurer watches  in your movies with funds going to environmental causes is a very nice touch.  Thank you, Leo.

Adrian Grenier.  Adrian, last year we noticed you were breaking in to Green causes but this year you gained solid ground with your Oceana t-shirt and hosting Charity:Water’s annual ball.  Keep it up!  We see you’re committed and want to see more.  We’ll be watching!

Natalie Portman.  Natalie, who knew that of all the Hollywood celebs embracing vegetarian eating that you’d be at the top of our list!  That’s a very crowded field.  But you moved way out in front this year – congratulations.   You seem to know more than others that actions speak louder than words, and you’ve been very vocal this past year.  We noticed that you moved to vegan from vegetarian and as a vegan you lent new meaning to ‘walk the talk’ when as the face of Dior you convinced the design house to make  vegan shoes for you to wear for the brand.   We can’t wait to see what you do next!

Prince William and Kate Middleton.  There’s nothing more exciting than a royal who embraces Green, and it appears we have two making Green choices together.  Over the years we’ve noticed that Prince William loves natural and remote places, especially mountains.  So, we were pleased to see that he proposed to Kate Middleton in a Kenyan log cabin with no electricity.   With talk about a Green wedding dress and the possibility of living in an eco mansion all that’s left is serving local and organic food at the wedding!  Congratulations on your choices and we wish you all the best in the years to come!

Michelle Obama.  Michelle, we really admire you.  It’s not easy to be First Lady, and you’ve done a great job with your relaxed, friendly, confident style and your focus on healthy eating for children.  From planting a garden at the White House, a vegetarian menu for your first State Dinner, and your recent program to encourage greener eating habits for children at elementary schools you are helping our planet in a way that goes beyond politics.  Keep up the good work – we are behind you all the way!

That’s our lineup of celebrities to watch in 2011 for their Green – and good – works.  We can’t wait to see what they do in the coming year!  All the best as we each try to save our planet in 2011.  Happy New Year!