While a lot of celebrities were born and raised in the United States, there are quite a few who were born in other countries that you wouldn’t even expect! We have compiled a list of 20 celebrities who were born and raised in locales that might surprise you! Check it out!
20. Mischa Barton
Although it is easy to assume that Mischa Barton was born in Orange County, California, she was actually born in Hammersmith, London, UK. Barton moved to New York City when she was six. In 2006, she became a naturalized citizen of the United States, but she has also retained her British citizenship.
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19. Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman was born in Jerusalem, Israel, although her parents met at Ohio State University. After leaving Israel, Portman’s family first lived in Washington, D.C., then Connecticut and then Jericho, New York, on Long Island. Portman has dual American and Israeli Citizenship.
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18. Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis was born in Chernivtsi, Ukraine. When Kunis was seven, her family moved to Los Angeles, California. Kunis couldn’t understand a word of English when she arrived, so she enrolled in acting classes to improve her English. This led to Kunis securing a manager and landing her first acting job on “Days Of Our Lives.”
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17. Emma Watson
Although Emma Watson seems like the quintessential British girl, she was actually born in Paris, France. When Watson was five, she moved with her mother and younger brother to Oxfordshire while her father moved to London. Unfortunately Watson isn’t fluent in French!
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16. Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron was born in Benoni, South Africa, where she lived with her parents on a farm. Theron went to school in Johannesburg and then won a one-year modeling contract and moved to Milan, Italy. After spending a year modeling in Europe, Theron then moved to New York City and Miami, Florida.
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15. Hugh Jackman
Although his parents are British, Hugh Jackman was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. His parents moved there as part of the “Ten Pounds Poms” immigration. When Jackman was eight, his parents divorced and his mother moved back to England with his two sisters while he stayed in Sydney with his father.
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14. Rebel Wilson
Rebel Wilson was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Wilson spent a year in South Africa when she was based there as a Rotary International Youth Ambassador for Australia. While there, Wilson contracted malaria and had hallucinations that she was an Oscar winning actress. After that, she decided to pursue a career in acting!
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13. Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves has lived everywhere! He was born in Beirut, Lebanon, but lived in Sydney, Australia then New York City, USA and then Toronto, Canada. Reeves primarily grew up in Toronto.
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Kathie Lee Gifford
Kathie lee Gifford was born in Paris France. Gifford’s father was a US Navy Chief Petty Officer who was stationed in France when she was born, but the family quickly moved to Bowie, Maryland, and that is where she grew up.
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11. Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich was born in Kiev, Ukraine, but left when she was five and moved to London, England. Her family then moved to Sacramento, California, and then Los Angeles.
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10. Vanessa Minnillo
Vanessa Manillo was actually born in Angeles City, Pampanga, Philippines. Minnillo’s father was in the Air Force, so the family moved around a lot. Minillo lived in Washington, California, Nevada, Florida, Germany and Japan.
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9. Dominic Monaghan
Dominic Monaghan was born in Berlin, Germany, but his family moved around every four years, so he also lived in Düsseldorf, Stuttgart and Münster. When He was 11 years old, his family moved to Heaton Moor in Stockport, England.
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8. Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan was born in Florence, Italy, and spent her early childhood as part of the cult Children of God, moving throughout Europe from commune to commune. McGowan moved to the United States when she was 10, relocating to Oregon and then Seattle, Washington.
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7. Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis is actually German-American. His father was an American solider and his mother was a German citizen. Willis was born in Idar-Oberstein, West Germany, and moved to Carneys Point, New Jersey, when he was two.
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6. Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee was born in Athens, Greece, to a US Army serviceman and a Greek mother. When Lee was only a year old, he moved to West Covina, California, and that is where he grew up.
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5. Nina Dobrev
Although Nina Dobrev was raised in Canada, she was actually born in Sofia, Bulgaria. When Dobrev was two, her family moved to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was raised in the Greater Toronto Area.
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4. Isla Fisher
Isla Fisher is generally thought to be Australian, but she was actually born in Muscat, Oman! Her family then relocated to Bathgate, Scotland and, when she was six years old, Fisher moved to Perth, Australia, where she spent her formative years.
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3. Amy Adams
Amy Adams was born in Vicenza, Italy. Her father was an American serviceman and would move the family from base to base. Adams’ family finally settled in Castle Rock, Colorado, when she was eight years old.
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2. Samaire Armstrong
Samaire Armstrong was born in Tokyo, Japan, to a Scottish father and an Italian mother. Her family lived in Japan for five years and then moved to Hawaii and then Sedona, Arizona. Armstrong also spent time living in Malaysia and China while she was growing up.
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1. Joaquin Phoenix
Joaquin Phoenix was born Joaquin Rafael Bottom in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He lived there until he was six and then his family returned to the United States. Phoenix’s family actually belonged to the religious group Children of God and began traveling throughout South American, which is where all five of their children were born.