Slideshow · Entertainment
10 Celebrities You Didn't Realize Were Immigrants
Many of Hollywood's most iconic stars feel quintessentially American, yet their journeys began far across the globe. Here are 10 legendary celebrities you likely never realized were immigrants, counting down to #1.
All 10 Entries in this Story
10. Emily Blunt
Although her polished Hollywood roles make her feel like American cinema royalty, Emily Blunt was born in London and officially became a naturalized US citizen in 2015 alongside husband John Krasinski.
9. Jim Carrey
Long before dominating 90s Hollywood with Ace Ventura and The Mask, Jim Carrey grew up in Ontario, Canada, working janitorial shifts before moving to Los Angeles and acquiring US citizenship in 2004.
8. Sofia Vergara
Born and raised in Barranquilla, Colombia, Sofia Vergara was already an established television host across Latin America before moving to Miami at age 26, eventually achieving a perfect score on her US citizenship exam.
7. Pedro Pascal
Born in Santiago, Chile, Pedro Pascal's family was granted political asylum in Denmark following the 1973 Chilean coup, later relocating to the United States where he grew up in Texas and Orange County.
6. Natalie Portman
Born Neta-Lee Hershlag in Jerusalem, Israel, the Academy Award-winning actress immigrated to the United States with her parents at age three, growing up in Long Island while maintaining dual citizenship.
5. Mila Kunis
Born in Chernivtsi in the former Soviet Union (now Ukraine), Mila Kunis moved to Los Angeles with her family at age seven on a religious refugee visa, famously landing That '70s Show just seven years later.
4. Salma Hayek
Already a massive telenovela star in Mexico, Salma Hayek moved to Hollywood in 1991 to pursue film, openly discussing her early struggles navigating the visa process before becoming a global powerhouse.
3. Arnold Schwarzenegger
Born in rural Thal, Austria, Schwarzenegger immigrated to the US in 1968 at age 21, translating world championship bodybuilding titles into Hollywood superstardom and the California governorship.
2. Charlize Theron
Born in Benoni, South Africa, Theron worked as a dancer in Europe before arriving in the US on a one-way ticket at age 19, becoming the first South African to win an Academy Award for Best Actress.
1. Keanu Reeves
While widely recognized as a Canadian-American icon, Keanu Reeves was actually born in Beirut, Lebanon, living in Sydney and New York before settling in Toronto and conquering Hollywood.
