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Many people from around the world, including Americans themselves, would be surprised to learn that a large number of American film industry professionals, specifically actors, are not at all from the United States, but rather Canada. Oftentimes this revelation can cause quite the guffaw or look of shock among Americans, as a number of them might attribute these Canadians as being representative of American cinema and culture–how can they not be American?!

It is no secret that Canadians learn a lot about the United States while growing up, so it makes sense that those from Canada would be able to blend in. For decades, media in Canada has been America-centric, showing TV shows and movies–even commercials for companies and services that do not even exist in Canada–produced by our southern neighbour. Of course, Canada continues to create its own content, namely local and national news stories, government channels, educational programming, French-language media from Ottawa and Québec, children’s shows, and the sporadic work of general fiction in television, streaming and/or full-length film formats. This bevy of film entertainment, however, is not that abundant, especially in its distribution and advertising. So, much of it becomes overlooked by, or inaccessible or irrelevant to many viewers, both local and international. Of course, there are exceptions to this (see blog post Hollywood In Canada, Part III), but the Canadian film industry, as far as production goes, generally pales in comparison to that of the United States.

As such, many Canadian go-getters interested in a Hollywoodian life must move to America if they are wanting to make it big, pursuing their dreams. The following list looks at some of the most prominent of these actors, as of today.

RYAN REYNOLDS

Known for his quick sarcastic wit and endearing charm, this Vancouverite has become a Hollywood staple in both comedy and action films. Among his much applauded blockbuster roles–Deadpool in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as being one of them–he is also known as a major player in the realm of film production, screenwriting, and even gin production with his brand, Aviation Gin, which famously releases the most hilarious commercials. If you don’t know him from these professional pursuits of his, you might know him for his deadpan humour on Twitter, bantering with his talented wife Blake Lively, or his cameo appearances in Taylor Swift and Céline Dion music videos.

MOVIES YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM

AVIATION GIN COMMERCIAL

RYAN GOSLING

One of the most famous Canadian actors to don the Hollywood stage is multiple-Academy-Award-nominee Ryan Gosling. Born in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada, this canuck first made a name for himself in the American entertainment industry when he appeared alongside then-new-to-fame singers Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake on a musical variety show called The Mickey Mouse Club. In his early years, he was known by Canadians for his acting roles on the ‘90s dramedy Breaker High and the action drama Young Hercules. Since then, he has become an A-list celebrity in the American acting scene, starring in blockbusters like The Notebook, La La Land and more. If you don’t know him for his movies, then you certainly know him from his memes, where fans of his have created visual jokes about his apparent good looks and dramatic refusals to eat cereal in his movie roles.

MOVIES YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM

HEY GIRL MEMES

RYAN GOSLING WON’T EAT HIS CEREAL MEMES

RACHEL MCADAMS

Often remembered for her heartbreaking performance alongside Ryan Gosling in The Notebook, Academy-Awards-Nominee Rachel McAdams is a prolific actress, born in London, Ontario, who has rightfully made her own name in Hollywood. Over the past couple decades, she has starred in many of the industry’s most anticipated films, showcasing her raw and diverse talents, which have landed her in a variety of projects, ranging from dramas to romantic comedies, and action/fantasies to suspense/thrillers. Most notably–of course, in addition to her work in the Nicholas Sparks film adaptation previously mentioned–McAdams is recognized for being the “queen of ‘the Plastics,’” Regina George, in Tina Fey’s cult classic, Mean Girls.

MOVIES YOU MIGHT KNOW HER FROM

SETH ROGEN

Known as the “Stoner of Hollywood,” Seth Rogen is a public advocate for the use of marijuana, which–though illegal in many countries around the world, including most states in the USA–is legal in Canada, and according to Canadians is most popularly consumed in his hometown of Vancouver, British Columbia. This, accompanied by his characteristic smoker’s laugh, makes it no wonder that he has starred and continues to star in the biggest movies of the raunchy late-night comedy genre. This being said, this has not been his only foray into Hollywood, as he is equally cast in voice-acting roles for animated features whose target audiences include both children and adults, alike. Among his acting accolades, he is known for being a successful producer and screenwriter, as well as the interim voice of TransLink, the public transportation system of his hometown.

MOVIES YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM

KEANU REEVES

Originally hailing from Beirut, Lebanon, Keanu Reeves and his family trotted around the Globe from Asia to Europe and the United States before declaring their home in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, Canada. Growing up in the GTA, Reeves officially became a Canadian citizen by means of naturalization. He is probably most well-known in Hollywood for his protagonist role in The Matrix film franchise, which came out during the late ‘90s and early ‘00s. Since then, he has remained an A-list actor in both action and romantic comedy films in the United States, even despite his years-long hiatus from the industry in the late ‘00s and early 2010s. Nowadays, as many of his fans claim, we are experiencing the comeback of Reeves, a “Keanu-Reeves-aissance” if you will. Maybe you have seen him in some of the major roles that he has been nailing since his return a few years ago.

MOVIES YOU MIGHT KNOW HIM FROM

SANDRA OH

Though Nepean-Ontario-born Sandra Oh has been in the Hollywood game for decades, it was not until her breakout role as the brash prodigy Dr. Christina Yang in Grey’s Anatomy that she started to achieve A-list status. Since leaving the long-time-running medical drama, she has seen success in a variety of television series and animated movies, garnering multiple prestigious awards and nominations along the way, including those regaled by members of The Golden Globes, the Primetime Emmys and the Critic’s Choice Awards. She only continues to climb the Hollywood ladder as her upcoming projects include her working alongside the likes of industry icons, both old and new: Robert Downey, Jr., Will Ferrell, Awkwafina, Michelle Yeoh, Henry Golding, George Takei, Jason Schwartzman, and Holland Taylor.

There is so much Canadian talent burgeoning throughout Hollywood that it is difficult to summarize it all in just one article. Keep your eyes peeled for for new posts focusing on the subject. Part II is on its way…

Had you heard of any of these actors before? Which ones surprised you as being Canadian? What movies and shows have you seen them in? Let me know in the comments below.