Hollywood may be in the United States, but that doesn’t mean all stars are born there. Canada has produced some of the world’s biggest stars, including artists Drake, The Weeknd, and Justin Bieber, comedian Jim Carrey, and actor Ryan Gosling. But while these stars are well-known to be Canadian, there are also dozens of active celebrities whose birthplace may surprise you. Here are 15 famous Canadians.
Michael Cera
Fresh-faced Michael Cera has been acting since a young age. He is best known for his work on Arrested Development and for his leading roles in movies like Superbad, Juno and Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. The actor, from Brampton, Ontario is also musically inclined. His debut indie-folk album True Thatwas released in 2014 to mostly positive reviews.
Sandra Oh
Grey’s Anatomy veteran actress Sandra Oh got her start in Nepean, Ontario, where she took acting classes and acted in school plays. Her first big role was in the Canadian film Double Happiness, for which she received critical acclaim. Her ten seasons portraying Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy were also highly praised, earning her many awards.
Carly Rae Jepsen
If you remember her from her Canadian Idol days, then it will come as no surprise that Carly Rae Jepsen was born in Mission, British Columbia. But Jepsen didn’t really break into the mainstream music scene until four years later, following the release of her incredibly catchy tune, “Call Me Maybe”. The talented singer has released three albums and landed roles in theater runs of Cinderella and Grease.
Donald Sutherland
Younger people probably know Donald Sutherland as President Snow in the very popular Hunger Games franchise, but his 50+ year career has seen him in many popular works, like M*A*S*H, Ordinary People, and Pride and Prejudice. Sutherland was born in Saint John, Newfoundland and currently resides in Georgeville, Quebec.
Ellen Page
Canadian actress Ellen Page was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is best known for her award-winning performance as the title character in the quirky comedy-drama film Juno. Since then, she’s landed dozens of roles, including a spot in blockbuster Inception, and has also found success as a voice actress in a handful of animated projects.
Shay Mitchell
Born in Mississauga, Ontario, Shay Mitchell got her start in her teens with modeling work, later landing roles in several national commercials. Her big break came in 2009 when she won a part in teen mystery series Pretty Little Liars. Mitchell has portrayed character Emily Fields on the show for seven seasons.
Finn Wolfhard
Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Finn Wolfhard is a child actor best known for his role in the Netflix original series Stranger Things. Wolfhard’s portrayal of Mike Wheeler on the supernatural show has been highly praised. This year, Wolfhard will be starring in the new adaptation of Stephen King’s It, as Richie Tozier.
James Cameron
The powerhouse films Titanic and Avatar both came from Canadian screenwriter, director, and producer James Cameron. Born in Kapuskasing, Ontario, Cameron’s interest in science and special effects started from a young age. His interest in these fields, along with his proficiency for storytelling, have allowed him to create works that changed and challenged the film industry.
Michael Bublé
Despite having a beautiful singing voice, as a kid Michael Bublé actually dreamed of becoming a professional hockey player. Born in Burnaby, British Columbia, Bublé is a huge fan of the Vancouver Canucks. Thankfully, his dream of becoming a singer won out over hockey, and Bublé has released nine albums since 2001, including best-selling holiday album Christmas.
Shawn Mendes
Like fellow Canadian Justin Bieber, singer Shawn Mendes got his start when he was discovered posting song covers on social media. Since signing with Island Records, Mendes has collaborated with artists like Camila Cabello and The Vamps. He was born in Toronto, Ontario and was raised in Pickering, Ontario.
Alessia Cara
Originally from Brampton, Ontario, Alessia Cara is set to become a major player in the pop music scene. Her debut album Know-It-All received largely positive reviews, with chart-topping singles “Here” and “Scars to Your Beautiful”. She also released a powerful cover of “How Far I’ll Go” from the Moana soundtrack.
Howie Mandel
For six seasons, Howie Mandel was the host of the very popular game show Deal or No Deal. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Mandel started his career doing stand-up comedy performances in Toronto clubs. He has served as a judge on America’s Got Talent since 2010, alongside stars like Simon Cowell.
Cobie Smulders
On the sitcom How I Met Your Mother, Cobie Smulder’s character Robin Scherbatsky is often teased by her friends for being Canadian. In real life, Cobie actually was the only Canadian in the show’s main cast. Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Cobie is best known for How I Met Your Mother and for her recurring role as Maria Hill in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Lochlyn Munro
Born in Lac La Hache, British Columbia, Lochlyn Munro’s acting career has spanned over 25 years. He is best known for playing recurring character Jack Sheridan on the supernatural television series Charmed. Currently, he is starring as Betty Cooper’s father Hal in the very popular Netflix original series Riverdale.
Evangeline Lilly
After six seasons playing Kate Austen on popular television series Lost, Evangeline Lilly became a household name. She has since found continuing success with roles in The Hurt Locker and The Hobbit, and as Hope van Dyne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Lilly was born in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, but has since moved to Hawaii.
Though the overwhelming majority of celebrities are born in the United States, Canadian-born celebrities are not as uncommon as you may think. These 15 famous people born across Canada bring tremendous talent to their various industries, making us proud to be Canadian.
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