10 Celebrities Born in Other Countries, you will be amazed

When we watch celebrities take on movie roles, star on our favourite TV shows or perform on stage, you sometimes don’t realise that they may not have been born and raised in the country that many people assume they are from. Check out just 10 of the most shocking celebrity birth places as ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM brings you from International Village -- and many will definitely catch you by surprise.


Emma Watson
From her British accent to her role in the Harry Potter series, many believe that Emma Watson was born and raised in England, but the beautiful Brit was actually born in Paris. After her parents divorced when Emma was 5, she moved to Oxfordshire, England, with her mother and brother and that is where her acting career took off.

Charlize Theron
With her impeccable American accent, it’s hard to believe that Charlize Theron’s first language is actually Afrikaans (South African) The blonde bombshell was born in Benoni, South Africa, where she lived and worked on a farm tending to livestock. When she won a Johannesburg modeling contest at the age of 16, it was history from there as she travelled and ended up in Los Angeles.

Dave Matthews
Singer Dave Matthews is actually from Johannesburg, South Africa. The family moved to New York when Dave was 2. After the death of his father, 10-year-old Dave and his family moved back to Johannesburg. To avoid South Africa’s military service, the family returned to America after Dave completed high school, this time residing in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Mila Kunis
Who knew that whiny Jackie from That ‘70s Show is actually from Chernobyl, Ukrain! At age 7, Mila Kunis immigrated to the United States with her family and lived in Los Angeles, where her career in acting began.

Mischa Barton
For those of us who watched Marissa Cooper on The O.C., it’s hard to believe that Mischa Barton didn’t grow up in sunny Orange County (especially since she nailed the accent!). However, the actress was born in Hammersmith, West London. At the age of 6, her father’s job brought them to N.Y.C. where she performed on the Broadway stage before transitioning to TV and film.

Keanu Reeves
With a half-Chinese and half-Hawaiian father, and an English mother, it’s impossible to guess that The Matrix actor was born in Beirut, Lebanon. When Keanu Reeves was 2, he moved to the Big Apple with his mother and sister, after his parents split. The trio later settled in Toronto.

Natalie Portman
Those who know the meaning behind the name Natalie Portman chose for her son, Aleph (which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet), can guess where the Oscar-winning actress hails from. Born in Jerusalem, Israel, Natalie’s parents immigrated to the United States when she was a toddler. They lived in Washington, D.C., for a bit, then settled on Long Island where she was discovered at a local pizza parlour.

Anna Paquin
Although Anna Paquin is known as a New Zealand actress, she was actually born in Winnipeg, Canada. The True Blood star and her family moved to New Zealand when she was 4. It’s a good thing they did. With no acting experience, Anna beat out hundreds of girls for her first movie role, The Piano, for which she won an Oscar at age 11.

Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix is known for being a bit wacky (remember when he faked being crazy?), and his childhood was no different. The Master actor was born in Puerto Rico and moved frequently at a young age through Central and South America with a cult. At age 4, his family broke free and started their new lives in Los Angeles.

Gene Simmons
Gene Simmon’s mother, a Hungarian Jew and Holocaust survivor, headed to Israel at the end of WWII. There she gave birth to Chaim Witz (Gene’s birth name). His parents split soon after his birth and the singer moved to Flushing, Queens, with his mother at age 8. Soon after arriving in New York, he changed his name to Gene Simmons.