When it comes to Canada, the northern country is known for its maple syrup, polite people, and of course, the sport of ice hockey, however, one thing many people tend to forget is that Canada has a number of talented exports, made up of singers, actors, directors, and athletes. Many Hollywood stars find themselves in Canada shooting a film or television series, which is quite commonly done throughout the country, leading to many major films being shot in Canada.
While it's known that major names such as Justin Bieber and Celine Dion reign from Canada, it appears as if there are a ton of other Canadian celebs that are mistaken for American. From the likes of Jim Carrey, Matthew Perry all the way to 'X-Men' alum Anna Paquin, here are 10 celebrities you didn't know are Canadian.
10 Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is certainly one of the biggest actors around! The star is most known for playing the role of Chandler Bing in the hit Warner Bros. series, Friends. Despite living in Los Angeles for most of his professional life, Perry was actually raised in none other than Ottawa, Canada!
The actor holds dual citizenship, as his mother is Canadian, and during his time growing up in Canada, a young Matthew Perry and his friends actually "beat up" Justin Trudeau, who is the current Prime Minister of Canada.
9 Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson is without a doubt an icon in her own right! The star reigned throughout the '90s, notoriously playing the role of C.J Parker on Baywatch. Although she spent most of her on-screen time-saving lives at the beaches of Malibu, California, Anderson actually grew up in Ladysmith, British Columbia. Ladysmith is located on the East of Vancouver Island, which is surrounded by gorgeous waters, making for great practice come to her television success alongside David Hasselhoff and Yasmine Bleeth
8 William Shatner
While you might know William Shatner from his time on Star Trek, the legendary actor is known to Canadians as a national treasure. The star was born in the beautiful city of Montréal, Quebec, one of the countries largest French-speaking areas. In addition to being a true Canadian, Shatner was honored in 2019 with the Order of Canada. The Canadian-native has officially been inducted in the Order in recognition of his 60-year acting career and philanthropic work. Shatner received the honor from Governor General Julie Payette, a feat that is considered to be the nation's highest civilian honor, proving just how Canadian he really is!
7 Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen has appeared in countless films that have kept us laughing for years! Whether you are a fan of his work in Bad Neighbours, Knocked Up, or The Interview, there is no denying just how hilarious the actor is. Well, when it comes to fun facts about Seth, many fans might be surprised to know the star was born and raised in Vancouver, Canada.
Seth isn't super vocal about his Canadian status, however, when someone in the press gets something wrong about Canada, Seth is quick to step in! In 2019, Seth corrected the New York Times as to what a Nanaimo bar is after the publication referred to it as a "cookie". This didn't sit well with Seth who is only an hour away from Nanaimo, B.C, proving that he really is Canadian after all.
6 Anna Paquin
Anna Paquin is yet another major Hollywood star who happens to be from Canada! While she may have grown up in New Zealand and then gained notoriety in Los Angeles, Paquin is actually from Winnipeg, Canada. The star didn't get to spend much time as a child in Canada, however, that all changed when she began acting. Paquin is currently filming two shows in her native country, something she is very happy about. While she may not have expected to spend so much time in the true North, her CBC drama, Bellevue and miniseries, Alias Grace, have allowed her to visit her home country unlike ever before!
5 Mike Myers
Mike Myers has spent his career playing some of the most iconic characters! From Austin Powers to Shrek himself, the star is without a doubt one of the best of our time. Despite his success in Hollywood, many fans of Myers don't know that the actor is actually from Canada. Mike was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, a town just outside of Toronto. The star takes pride in his Canadian roots, saying he is proud to live up to the Canadian stereotype of always being polite! "We're very politically correct at times, and I always think, well, isn't politically correct just being considerate and nice for the most part?", he told The National.
4 Rachel McAdams
"Is butter a carb?" Rachel McAdams has played an array of roles throughout her career, her most iconic being Regina George in the hit 2004 film, Mean Girls. Rachel went on to play roles in films such as Red Eye, The Vow, and The Notebook, to name a few. Although the actress found success in Hollywood, Canada will always be her home!
Rachel grew up in London, Ontario, which is 2 hours south of Toronto. She later moved to the Six permanently, where she is often seen riding her bike, grabbing groceries, and living quite a relatable Toronto lifestyle.
3 The Weeknd
When it comes to music, Canada is known for many celebs including Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Justin Bieber, and of course, Drake, however, one fun fact about Canadian singers is that The Weeknd is one of them! While this is commonly known amongst Abel's die-hard fans, the singer/rapper is often mistaken for being American.
The Weeknd grew up in Toronto, Canada, where he was inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame back in 2014. Although similar artists such as Drake reference Toronto a lot in his music, The Weeknd tends to keep his hometown a bit more of a secret when it comes to his lyrics.
2 Jim Carrey
Jim Carrey truly is a Canadian national treasure, it's just that not too many people know that! The star has taken on some of the most iconic roles from The Mask, to Bruce Almighty, all the way to The Number 23, all of which showcase Carrey's acting abilities. Jim has been working in Hollywood since his big breakout back in 1994 playing the role of Ace Ventura, so it's understandable as to why folks would assume he's from the United States, however, Jim was proudly born and raised in Newmarket, Ontario. The star adores his home country, so much that he boasts about their healthcare system versus that in the United States, referring to it as "fantastic", says Global News.
1 Sandra Oh
Sandra Oh has definitely appeared on your television at one point or another throughout her incredibly successful acting career. Sandra has taken on roles in films such as Princess Diaries, and Sideways and of course, her two most prolific shows, Grey's Anatomy, and Killing Eve, which scored the star an array of accolades, including a Golden Globe and Emmy Award. Well, much to many's surprise, Sandra is also Canadian! The actress grew up in Nepean, Ontario, a town outside of Ottawa, where she was also inducted into the Canadian Walk of Fame in 2011.