The terms ‘English Movies’ and ‘Hollywood’ go hand in hand. But it does not imply that everyone who acts in Hollywood flicks is American. Likewise, singers too are from other countries besides the U.S. Don’t get too confused, ‘coz I’ll be letting you in on some details about those celebrities who most of you thought were American.
“And if you look over his career, it’s kind of fitting that this should be the case. Kiefer does have the kind of resume you’d associate with a British actor. Played a few villains, tends to be good at taunting people, has grown stubble in order to play a hard-boiled but unlucky professional in the emergency services for a hit TV show. Apart from all the punching and rolling around, he’s basically Hugh Laurie, Dominic West or Idris Elba, only with a better North American accent.”
―BBC America on Kiefer Sutherland
If you want to make a name for yourself in the world of showbiz, one of the best places to do so is the United States. Which is why, there are many actors and singers, not only British, Canadian, or Australian, but from other countries too, who have shifted base to the U.S. Some may call them foreign celebrities in American movies and music, but neither do they care, nor their millions of fans. They have gone on to make a name for themselves, so much so, that most people around the world, including a majority in the U.S. simply assume that they are American.
Before I get down to the list, let me clarify one thing. Of course there will be many out there who know a few of these celebrities aren’t American, but this page includes those that most around the world assume to be from the United States itself, besides the many in America too. And, some have adopted the U.S. as their home now, and hold dual citizenship too. So feast your eyes on some of the most famous actors and singers you thought were American.
Female Celebrities You Thought Were American
Natalie Portman
Born: June 9, 1981
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel
Occupation: Actress, Director, Producer
Known For: Star Wars, V for Vendetta, Goya’s Ghosts, The Other Boleyn Girl, Thor
Rachel McAdams
Born: November 17, 1978
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Actress
Known For: The Hot Chick, Mean Girls, The Notebook, Wedding Crashers, The Family Stone
Charlize Theron
Born: August 7, 1975
Birthplace: Benoni, South Africa
Occupation: Actress, Producer, Model
Known For: The Devil’s Advocate, The Cider House Rules, Monster, Young Adult
Mila Kunis
Born: August 14, 1983
Birthplace: Chernivtsi, Ukraine (USSR)
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Max Payne, The Book of Eli, Friends with Benefits, Ted
Kim Cattrall
Born: August 21, 1956
Birthplace: Liverpool, England
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Police Academy, Mannequin, Masquerade, Star Trek, Sex and the City
Carmen Ejogo
Born: January 1, 1974
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actress, Singer
Known For: What’s the Worst That Could Happen?, Away We Go, Alex Cross, The Purge: Anarchy
Shania Twain
Born: August 28, 1965
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
Known For: Country, Country Rock, Country Pop, Pop
Marianne Jean-Baptiste
Born: April 26, 1967
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actress, Director, Singer, Songwriter
Known For: Secrets & Lies, Without a Trace, Spy Game, Broadchurch
Carey Mulligan
Born: May 28, 1985
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Pride & Prejudice, An Education, Never Let Me Go, Shame, The Great Gatsby
Malin Åkerman
Born: May 12, 1978
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation: Actress, Singer, Model
Known For: The Heartbreak Kid, 27 Dresses, Watchmen, The Proposal, Couples Retreat
Naomi Watts
Born: September 28, 1968
Birthplace: Kent, England
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Mulholland Drive, The Ring, Eastern Promises, The International
Nicki Minaj
Born: December 8, 1982
Birthplace: Saint James, Trinidad and Tobago
Occupation: Actress, Singer, Songwriter
Known For: Hip Hop, Pop; Ice Age: Continental Drift, The Other Woman
Rose Byrne
Born: July 24, 1979
Birthplace: Balmain (NSW), Australia
Occupation: Actress
Known For: The Goddess of 1967, 28 Weeks Later, Insidious, X-Men, Bridesmaids, Neighbors, Spy
Naomie Harris
Born: September 6, 1976
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actress
Known For: Pirates of the Caribbean, Skyfall, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom
Male Celebrities You Thought Were American
Kiefer Sutherland
Born: December 21, 1966
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, Voice Actor/Voice Over
Known For: 24
Hugh Laurie
Born: June 11, 1959
Birthplace: Oxford, England
Occupation: Actor, Writer, Director, Musician, Singer, Comedian, Author
Known For: House M.D.
Jim Carrey
Born: January 17, 1962
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Stand-up Comedian, Screenwriter, Producer
Known For: Ace Ventura, Dumb and Dumber, The Mask, Liar Liar
Ryan Reynolds
Born: October 23, 1976
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Two Guys and a Girl, Hillside, Blade: Trinity, X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Keanu Reeves
Born: September 2, 1964
Birthplace: Beirut, Lebanon
Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, Author, Musician
Known For: Point Break, Speed, The Matrix
Ryan Gosling
Born: November 12, 1980
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Musician, Entrepreneur
Known For: The Notebook, Half Nelson, Lars and the Real Girl
Christian Bale
Born: January 30, 1974
Birthplace: Pembrokeshire, Wales
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, American Hustle
Drake
Born: October 24, 1986
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Singer, Songwriter, Record Producer
Known For: Rapping
Ed Westwick
Born: June 27, 1987
Birthplace: Hertfordshire, England
Occupation: Actor, Musician, Model
Known For: Gossip Girl, Son of Rambow, Chalet Girl, Romeo and Juliet, Last Flight
Andrew Lincoln
Born: September 14, 1973
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor
Known For: The Walking Dead, This Life, Teachers, Love Actually
Dominic West
Born: October 15, 1969
Birthplace: Sheffield, England
Occupation: Actor, Musician, Comedian, Director
Known For: The Wire, Appropriate Adult, 300, Johnny English Reborn
Eamonn Walker
Born: June 12, 1962
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Oz, In Sickness and in Health, Othello, Chicago Fire
Charlie Hunnam
Born: April 10, 1980
Birthplace: Newcastle, England
Occupation: Actor, Screenwriter
Known For: Sons of Anarchy, Queer as Folk, Undeclared, Nicholas Nickleby, Pacific Rim
Sam Worthington
Born: August 2, 1976
Birthplace: Surrey, England
Occupation: Actor, Writer
Known For: Avatar, Terminator Salvation, Clash of the Titans
Lennie James
Born: October 11, 1965
Birthplace: Nottingham, England
Occupation: Actor, Screenwriter, Playwright
Known For: Les Misérables, Critical, Jericho, The Walking Dead
Tom Hardy
Born: September 15, 1977
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Black Hawk Down, Star Trek: Nemesis, RocknRolla, Inception
David Harewood
Born: December 8, 1965
Birthplace: Birmingham, England
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Homeland, The Merchant of Venice, Blood Diamond
Will Arnett
Born: May 4, 1970
Birthplace: Ontario, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Voice Artist
Known For: Arrested Development, 30 Rock, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Adrian Lester
Born: August 14, 1968
Birthplace: Birmingham, England
Occupation: Actor, Writer, Director
Known For: Primary Colors, The Day After Tomorrow, Doomsday
Seth Rogen
Born: April 15, 1982
Birthplace: Vancouver, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Producer, Comedian, Voice Actor
Known For: The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People
Idris Elba
Born: September 6, 1972
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor, DJ
Known For: The Wire, Luther, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Prometheus, Pacific Rim
Tom Hiddleston
Born: February 9, 1981
Birthplace: London, England
Occupation: Actor
Known For: Thor, The Avengers, Midnight in Paris, The Deep Blue Sea, War Horse
Nathan Fillion
Born: March 27, 1971
Birthplace: Alberta, Canada
Occupation: Actor, Voice Artist
Known For: Dracula 2000, Castle, Firefly, Serenity, Justice League
Alexander Skarsgård
Born: August 25, 1976
Birthplace: Stockholm, Sweden
Occupation: Actor, Director
Known For: True Blood, Generation Kill, The Last Drop, Battleship
As you can see, these are some of the really famous celebrities of present times that most people assume are American. Surprised? You’ve been stumped by more than a few too? Well, relax! You’re in the company of the majority. Any other celeb you’d like to add to this list? If so, then spare a couple of moments and let your thoughts be known through the comments section below.
