Famous Actresses You Never Realized Were British

Some of the most familiar screen voices were actually born and raised in the United Kingdom or have deep British roots that are easy to miss behind convincing American accents. From award winners to blockbuster leads, these actresses built global careers that often blur national lines. Here are forty stars with British backgrounds, along with quick facts on their origins, breakthrough roles, and notable credits. You may be surprised how many of your favorite performances came from across the Atlantic.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt was born in London and trained at Hurtwood House before early stage work. She broke out on screen with ‘My Summer of Love’ and reached mainstream visibility in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Her later credits include ‘Sicario’, ‘Edge of Tomorrow’, and ‘A Quiet Place’. She holds British nationality and has worked extensively in both the United Kingdom and the United States.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer is from Liverpool and studied acting locally before television roles in the United Kingdom. She gained international attention as Villanelle in ‘Killing Eve’. Her film and stage work includes ‘The Last Duel’ and the one woman play ‘Prima Facie’. She uses a range of accents on screen that often conceal her British background.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy spent childhood years in Argentina and London after being born in the United States to British and Argentine parents. She is a British national who shifted into acting as a teenager in the United Kingdom. Her breakout came with ‘The Witch’ followed by ‘Split’ and ‘The Queen’s Gambit’. She frequently works in American productions while maintaining strong ties to London.

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown was born to British parents in Spain and grew up in England before moving to the United States. She became widely known for ‘Stranger Things’. Her film work includes ‘Enola Holmes’ and appearances in the MonsterVerse series like ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’. She continues to maintain British citizenship and endorsements connected to the United Kingdom.

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller was born in New York City but raised in London and holds British and American nationality. She trained at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute after schooling in the United Kingdom. Her credits include ‘Layer Cake’, ‘American Sniper’, and ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’. She began as a model and transitioned to British stage and screen roles early in her career.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts was born in Kent and moved to Australia as a teenager while retaining strong British ties. She worked in British television and stage before international recognition with ‘Mulholland Drive’. Her notable roles include ‘The Impossible’, ‘King Kong’, and ‘Birdman’. She has received major award nominations and continues to work in both European and American projects.

Catherine Zeta-Jones

Catherine Zeta-Jones is Welsh and comes from Swansea, where she started performing as a child. She began on the West End before moving to screen roles in the United Kingdom. International success followed with ‘The Mask of Zorro’ and ‘Chicago’. She holds British citizenship and has been honored for contributions to the arts.

Tilda Swinton

Tilda Swinton was born in London and educated in Scotland at West Heath and later at the University of Cambridge. She first worked with experimental theatre and British art cinema. Her filmography spans ‘Orlando’, ‘Michael Clayton’, and ‘Doctor Strange’. She often collaborates with European directors while appearing in major American releases.

Lily Collins

Lily Collins was born in Guildford, Surrey, and moved to Los Angeles during childhood. She began with British television presenting before acting. Her credits include ‘Mirror Mirror’, ‘To the Bone’, and ‘Emily in Paris’. She holds dual connections through family and schooling that link her strongly to the United Kingdom.

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike was born in London and studied English at the University of Oxford. She started with British television and stage before early film roles in ‘Die Another Day’. Her international breakthrough came with ‘Gone Girl’. She continues to appear in British productions alongside American projects like ‘Wheel of Time’.

Rachel Weisz

Rachel Weisz was born in London and studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, where she co founded a student theatre company. Early acclaim came from British stage work that led to ‘The Mummy’. She won major awards for ‘The Constant Gardener’ and later starred in ‘The Favourite’. She is a British citizen who works frequently in the United Kingdom.

Keira Knightley

Keira Knightley was born in London and entered acting through British television as a child. Her breakthrough was ‘Bend It Like Beckham’ followed by ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. She has played leading roles in ‘Atonement’ and ‘Pride and Prejudice’. She maintains a London base and often returns to British period dramas.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was born in Oxford and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She began with British theatre and television work. Her notable credits include ‘Belle’, ‘Beyond the Lights’, and ‘Loki’. She has been appointed to honors lists in the United Kingdom for services to drama.

Hayley Atwell

Hayley Atwell holds British and American citizenship and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She debuted on the West End before film roles like ‘The Duchess’. Global recognition came with Peggy Carter in ‘Captain America’ and the series ‘Agent Carter’. She frequently performs on British stages between screen projects.

Felicity Jones

Felicity Jones was born in Birmingham and studied at Wadham College, Oxford, while working in British radio and television. She earned attention with ‘Like Crazy’. Major roles followed in ‘The Theory of Everything’ and ‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’. She remains based in the United Kingdom for many productions.

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan was born in London and educated at Woldingham School in Surrey. Her screen debut arrived with ‘Pride and Prejudice’ after stage work. She later starred in ‘An Education’, ‘Drive’, and ‘Promising Young Woman’. She supports British arts charities and often returns to the West End.

Lily James

Lily James was born in Surrey and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She began with British television such as ‘Downton Abbey’. Film leads include ‘Cinderella’, ‘Baby Driver’, and ‘Mamma Mia Here We Go Again’. She continues to mix United Kingdom and United States projects.

Michelle Dockery

Michelle Dockery was born in London and trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She became widely known for ‘Downton Abbey’. Her film and television work includes ‘Good Behavior’ and ‘The Gentlemen’. She maintains strong connections to British theatre alongside screen roles.

Emilia Clarke

Emilia Clarke was born in London and raised in Berkshire with training at the Drama Centre London. She gained international fame with ‘Game of Thrones’. Her film credits include ‘Me Before You’, ‘Solo A Star Wars Story’, and ‘Last Christmas’. She has supported British health charities and continues to work in London based productions.

Sophie Turner

Sophie Turner is from Northampton and grew up in Warwickshire, training with the Playbox Theatre Company. She debuted professionally in ‘Game of Thrones’. Her film work includes ‘X Men Apocalypse’ and ‘Dark Phoenix’. She has maintained a presence in British media while filming in North America.

Daisy Ridley

Daisy Ridley was born in London and studied at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. She worked in British television before landing ‘Star Wars The Force Awakens’. Other projects include ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ and ‘Ophelia’. She often returns to voice work and short films produced in the United Kingdom.

Natalie Dormer

Natalie Dormer was born in Reading and trained at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. Her early break came with ‘Casanova’ and British stage roles. She became widely known for ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Tudors’. She continues to split time between British theatre and screen work.

Karen Gillan

Karen Gillan is Scottish and was born in Inverness before training at Italia Conti in London. She first became a household name with ‘Doctor Who’. Her film credits include ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ entries and ‘Jumanji Welcome to the Jungle’. She has written and directed projects while maintaining ties to the UK industry.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton was born in London and grew up partly in Cornwall before studying social anthropology at Downing College, Cambridge. She began with British film roles including ‘Flirting’. Her later credits include ‘Crash’, ‘Westworld’, and ‘Mission Impossible 2’. She has received honors in the United Kingdom for contributions to drama and charity.

Naomie Harris

Naomie Harris was born in London and studied at Cambridge and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She first appeared in British television as a child actor. International roles include ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’, ‘Skyfall’, and ‘Moonlight’. She has been appointed to British honors for services to drama.

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby was born in London and trained with the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School network through private coaching while working in theatre. She gained major attention in ‘The Crown’. Film credits include ‘Mission Impossible Fallout’ and ‘Pieces of a Woman’. She continues to perform on British stages between screen roles.

Imogen Poots

Imogen Poots was born in London and trained at the Young Blood Theatre Company. She appeared in ’28 Weeks Later’ early in her career. Her credits span ‘Green Room’, ‘Need for Speed’, and ‘I Know This Much Is True’. She often alternates between British independent films and American television.

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall was born in London to a British director father and an American mother and studied at Cambridge. She began on stage and in British television. Notable films include ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’, ‘The Town’, and ‘Godzilla vs Kong’. She also wrote and directed the feature ‘Passing’.

Minnie Driver

Minnie Driver was born in London and educated at the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art. She first appeared in ‘Circle of Friends’. Her career includes ‘Good Will Hunting’, ‘Grosse Pointe Blank’, and the series ‘Speechless’. She holds British nationality and has worked as a singer in the United Kingdom.

Andrea Riseborough

Andrea Riseborough is from Newcastle upon Tyne and trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. She began with British television work and stage roles at the National Theatre. Her films include ‘Birdman’, ‘Nocturnal Animals’, and ‘To Leslie’. She frequently collaborates on UK independent features.

Ruth Wilson

Ruth Wilson was born in Surrey and studied history at the University of Nottingham before training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art. She gained acclaim with ‘Jane Eyre’ for British television. Later roles include ‘The Affair’ and ‘His Dark Materials’. She also produces and performs in theatre in London.

Bel Powley

Bel Powley was born in London and started acting as a teenager in British television. Her breakout film was ‘The Diary of a Teenage Girl’. Other credits include ‘The King of Staten Island’ and ‘A Small Light’. She continues to work between the United Kingdom and the United States.

Lashana Lynch

Lashana Lynch was born in London and trained at the Arts Educational Schools in Chiswick. She appeared in British television before film roles grew. Her credits include ‘Captain Marvel’, ‘No Time to Die’, and ‘The Woman King’. She remains active in UK theatre and community arts initiatives.

Hannah Waddingham

Hannah Waddingham was born in London to a performing family and built her career in West End musicals. She transitioned to screen with roles in British television. International recognition came with ‘Ted Lasso’. She continues to host and perform at major events in the United Kingdom.

Phoebe Dynevor

Phoebe Dynevor was born in Greater Manchester and worked in British television from a young age. She became widely known for ‘Bridgerton’. Her film work includes ‘Fair Play’. She maintains connections to UK productions and often films in Europe.

Parminder Nagra

Parminder Nagra was born in Leicester and started on stage with the Leicester Haymarket Theatre. She gained prominence with ‘Bend It Like Beckham’. She then joined ‘ER’ and later appeared in ‘The Blacklist’. She continues to work in British film and television while based in the United Kingdom.

Gemma Chan

Gemma Chan was born in London and studied law at Oxford before training at the Drama Centre London. She began with British television and stage. Her film credits include ‘Crazy Rich Asians’, ‘Eternals’, and ‘Mary Queen of Scots’. She supports UK arts and representation initiatives.

Janet Montgomery

Janet Montgomery was born in Bournemouth and trained in dance before acting. She moved from British television to roles in the United States. Her credits include ‘Black Swan’, ‘Salem’, and ‘New Amsterdam’. She keeps professional ties to projects in the United Kingdom.

Kaya Scodelario

Kaya Scodelario was born in London to a Brazilian mother and British father and is bilingual in English and Portuguese. She started with the UK series ‘Skins’. Film roles include ‘The Maze Runner’ series and ‘Crawl’. She often works in both British and international productions.

Zawe Ashton

Zawe Ashton was born in London and trained at the Anna Scher Theatre School and Manchester School of Theatre. She first gained attention in British stage and television. Her credits include ‘Fresh Meat’, ‘Velvet Buzzsaw’, and ‘The Marvels’. She writes for theatre and continues to work widely across the UK arts scene.

Share your favorite surprising discovery from the list in the comments and tell us who else belongs here.