16 Celebrities Who Are Actually Canadian
Canada gets a bad rep in America all too often. We frequently “blame” it, call it America’s hat, and generally hassle its citizens for being hockey-loving and overly polite. But Canada is a beautiful country that has given the world some amazing inventions. For example, you can thank Canucks the next time you bite into a spoonful of peanut butter, use a walkie-talkie, or need to plow your driveway with a snowmobile—yep, all Canadian inventions. And in the spirit of niceness, they didn’t stop there. Canada produced some of the greatest entertainers in the game, and in honor of Canada Day, we’re sending a big shout oot and aboot to these 12 celebrities who you might not have known hailed from the great northern motherland.
1/18Canada gets a bad rep in America all too often. We frequently “blame” it, call it America’s hat, and generally hassle its citizens for being hockey-loving and overly polite. But Canada is a beautiful country that has given the world some amazing inventions. For example, you can thank Canucks the next time you bite into a spoonful of peanut butter, use a walkie-talkie, or need to plow your driveway with a snowmobile—yep, all Canadian inventions. And in the spirit of niceness, they didn’t stop there. Canada produced some of the greatest entertainers in the game, and in honor of Canada Day, we’re sending a big shout oot and aboot to these 12 celebrities who you might not have known hailed from the great northern motherland.
Boston Globe via Getty Images2/18Justin Bieber
As if we could start this list with anyone else. He has audiences screaming his name all over the world, but the Biebs got his start in Canada. True Beliebers will already know this of course, because your boy Justin does know how to rock a hockey jersey like no one else can.
WireImage3/18Shay Mitchell
Got a secret, can you keep it? Shay Mitchell is from Canada! The Ontario-born beauty is best known for playing Emily on Pretty Little Liars, and we’d bet a loonie and a toonie that she loves to get down on poutine in between takes on set.
FilmMagic for MTV4/18Ryan Reynolds
He’s starred in rom-coms and superhero flicks, and he developed his leading man potential in Canada. (Of course, his movie The Proposal flipped everything on its head when he played an American who had to marry his Canadian boss.) Is anyone else wondering if he and Blake Lively visit his home country often? Do they ice skate and wear flannel?
WireImage5/18Ellen Page
Ellen Page has starred in movies like Inception, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and Juno. Here’s to guessing that Halifax has a lot of hometown pride for the talented actress and LGBTQ activist.
Getty Images6/18Shawn Mendes
You probably knew that Shawn was from Canada — was it the constant comparisons to fellow Ontario-born singer Justin Bieber, or the perennial niceness that tipped you off?
FilmMagic7/18Rachel McAdams
From playing Regina George in Mean Girls to Allie Hamilton in The Notebook, Rachel McAdams has cemented her role as an American icon. But didja know she’s from Canada? Yep, you betcha. Maybe in addition to Canada Day, Canadians will start celebrating Rachel McAdams day soon too…it has a nice ring to it.
Getty Images8/18Hayden Christensen
Although new-age Star Wars fans might not remember watching Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker, his performances were pretty epic. Since then, he’s been a little off Hollywood’s radar, which makes us wonder if he’s hiding out in a scenic cabin somewhere in British Columbia.
NBAE/Getty Images9/18Drake
Do you do a double-take at the name "Aubrey Graham"? Sounds familiar, right? That’s because it’s the given name of the one and only Drake. Before he was the most woke rapper in the game, Drake was spending his days in Toronto like any normal Canadian kid — aside from the fact that he starred on Degrassi: The Next Generation — and going by the name of Aubrey.
Getty Images for ELLE10/18Nina Dobrev
Your favorite Vampire Diaries star was born in Bulgaria but grew up in Canada. She might live in LA nowadays, but we have to wonder if she’s ever seen any supernatural sightings during her time as a Canuck—are there any vampires in Canada?
Getty Images11/18Alessia Cara
Born in Brampton, Ontario, Alessia is proof positive that so much of the best music these days is coming from up north. Thank you, Canada, for all of your talent.
WireImage12/18The Rock
This one's on a technicality. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has always lived in the U.S., but he’s got dual Canadian citizenship thanks to his dad, Rocky Johnson. (He even played football in the Canadian league!)
Getty Images for Hilarity For Charity13/18Seth Rogen
Lately it seems like Seth Rogen might have superhuman abilities. He writes, directs, acts, and produces one audience-pleasing favorite after another. Perhaps he absorbed some of his powers from his Canadian homeland.
Getty Images for The CW14/18Kristen Kreuk
You know she played Lana on Smallville and Catherine on Beauty and the Beast, but did you know Kristin Kreuk is from Canada? Yep! The CW’s favorite leading lady is from Vancouver.
Getty Images15/18Ryan Gosling
If you’ve ever watched The Notebook and thought, “Where can I find a love like this?!”, maybe you should try looking for your soul mate in Canada. At least, we’re assuming that’s where Ryan Gosling developed his rom-com chops. Can someone please phone Eva Mendes to verify if it’s true?
WireImage16/18Fefe Dobson
Raise your hands if you remember Fefe Dobson. The singer and songwriter had some epic girl-power hits in the early '00s, but she's still making music and is often based out of her hometown of Toronto.
WireImage17/18Sandra Oh
Cristina Yang saved tons of lives — and kept even more doctors in check — at Seattle Grace, but hails from Ontario. Where would any of us be without her? (We're not even going to think about what that answer would be for Meredith Grey.)
You will never regret choosing kindness. Be nicer to people, including yourself. What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Biz Markie's "Just a Friend." You got what I neeeeeed. What fashion item seems to always be on your shopping list?
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