Hollywood Actresses You Probably Didn’t Know Are British

Many actors working in Hollywood today have mastered American accents so effectively that audiences often assume they were born in the United States. While some stars are famously British, others have backgrounds that are less widely known due to their upbringing or long-standing presence in American cinema. From rising stars in major franchises to established Academy Award winners, the British influence on the global film industry is extensive. This list explores several prominent actresses who, despite their frequent roles as Americans, actually hail from the United Kingdom.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh was born in Oxford, England, and spent part of her childhood in Spain before returning to the United Kingdom. She gained international recognition for her performance in the independent drama ‘Lady Macbeth’ in 2016. Since then, she has become a major figure in Hollywood with roles in ‘Little Women’ and ‘Midsommar’. Pugh also joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Yelena Belova, debuting in the film ‘Black Widow’. Her career continues to span both large-scale blockbusters and prestige period pieces.

Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown was born in Marbella, Spain, to British parents and moved to Bournemouth, England, when she was four years old. She rose to global fame for her portrayal of Eleven in the Netflix science fiction series ‘Stranger Things’. While she employs a convincing American accent for her most famous role, she speaks with her native British accent in interviews and other projects. Beyond television, she has starred in films like ‘Godzilla: King of the Monsters’ and the ‘Enola Holmes’ franchise. She is one of the youngest people to be featured on the Time 100 list of the world’s most influential people.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Anya Taylor-Joy was born in Miami, Florida, but moved to London at the age of six after living in Argentina. She identifies as a Londoner and holds British, American, and Argentine citizenship. Her breakthrough role came in the horror film ‘The Witch’, followed by a critically acclaimed performance in the miniseries ‘The Queen’s Gambit’. She has since starred in major productions such as ‘Last Night in Soho’ and ‘The Menu’. Despite her varied background, she spent her formative years in the United Kingdom and trained as a ballet dancer there.

Emily Blunt

Emily Blunt was born in London and is the daughter of a former actress and a high-profile barrister. She first gained attention for her role in the British film ‘My Summer of Love’ before finding mainstream success in ‘The Devil Wears Prada’. Although she became a naturalized United States citizen in 2015, she remains a prominent British actress. She has starred in diverse projects ranging from the musical ‘Into the Woods’ to the thriller ‘A Quiet Place’. Blunt has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Lily Collins

Lily Collins was born in Guildford, Surrey, and is the daughter of the English musician Phil Collins and his second wife, Jill Tavelman. She moved to Los Angeles with her mother at age seven but maintains strong ties to her British roots. She is well known for her leading role in the Netflix series ‘Emily in Paris’ and the film ‘The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones’. Her filmography also includes dramatic roles in ‘To the Bone’ and ‘Mank’. Collins began her career as a teenager writing for British magazines like ‘Elle Girl’ and ‘Seventeen’.

Naomi Watts

Naomi Watts was born in Shoreham, Kent, and lived in the United Kingdom until the age of 14. She subsequently moved to Australia, which often leads to the public perception that she is Australian. She rose to international stardom following her performance in David Lynch’s psychological thriller ‘Mulholland Drive’. Watts has since received two Academy Award nominations for her work in ’21 Grams’ and ‘The Impossible’. She has built a prolific career in Hollywood while maintaining her British citizenship.

Rosamund Pike

Rosamund Pike was born in London to opera singers and was educated at Wadham College, Oxford. She began her film career as a Bond girl in ‘Die Another Day’ before taking on a variety of roles in British and American productions. Her portrayal of Amy Dunne in the thriller ‘Gone Girl’ earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She recently appeared in the satirical thriller ‘Saltburn’ and the fantasy series ‘The Wheel of Time’. Pike is also a skilled cellist and fluent in multiple languages.

Carey Mulligan

Carey Mulligan was born in Westminster, London, and attended school in Surrey. She made her film debut in the 2005 adaptation of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ alongside Keira Knightley. Her breakout role in ‘An Education’ earned her a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Since then, she has starred in high-profile American films like ‘The Great Gatsby’ and ‘Promising Young Woman’. Mulligan is known for her range in both stage productions and cinematic dramas.

Thandiwe Newton

Thandiwe Newton was born in London to a Zimbabwean mother and a British father. She was raised in London and Penzance, Cornwall, and studied Social Anthropology at Downing College, Cambridge. Her extensive career includes roles in ‘Mission: Impossible II’, ‘Crash’, and the HBO series ‘Westworld’. In 2021, she announced that she would be using the correct Zulu spelling of her name, Thandiwe, in all future credits. She has been recognized with a BAFTA Award and a Primetime Emmy Award for her acting work.

Gugu Mbatha-Raw

Gugu Mbatha-Raw was born in Oxford, England, and grew up in the town of Witney. She trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London before pursuing a career on television and stage. She gained widespread attention for her lead role in the British period drama ‘Belle’ and the science fiction episode ‘San Junipero’ of ‘Black Mirror’. Since then, she has joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe in the series ‘Loki’ and starred in the film ‘Beyond the Lights’. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2017.

Rebecca Hall

Rebecca Hall was born in London to director Peter Hall and opera singer Maria Ewing. She studied at the University of Cambridge before dropping out to pursue professional acting. Her breakthrough came in Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Prestige’, followed by a Golden Globe-nominated performance in ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’. She has since starred in films such as ‘The Town’ and ‘Iron Man 3’. In addition to her acting work, she made her directorial debut with the acclaimed film ‘Passing’ in 2021.

Alice Eve

Alice Eve was born in London and is the daughter of British actors Trevor Eve and Sharon Maughan. She attended the Bedales School and later Westminster School before studying English at St Catherine’s College, Oxford. She is widely known for her roles in American comedies like ‘She’s Out of My League’ and the science fiction film ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’. Her career also includes appearances in ‘Men in Black 3’ and the series ‘Belgravia’. She holds dual British and American citizenship.

Hayley Atwell

Hayley Atwell was born in London and possesses both British and American citizenship through her father. She trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and began her career on the British stage. She achieved international fame for her portrayal of Peggy Carter in ‘Captain America: The First Avenger’ and the television series ‘Agent Carter’. Beyond the Marvel franchise, she has starred in ‘The Duchess’ and the ‘Mission: Impossible’ film series. Atwell is a regular performer in West End theater productions.

Sienna Miller

Sienna Miller was born in New York City but moved to London at the age of one. She grew up in Chelsea and attended boarding school in Berkshire before returning to New York to study acting. Her film career began with roles in ‘Layer Cake’ and ‘Alfie’, which established her as a prominent figure in the mid-2000s. She has since appeared in ‘American Sniper’, ‘The Lost City of Z’, and the miniseries ‘Anatomy of a Scandal’. Miller considers herself British and has spent the majority of her life and career in the United Kingdom.

Vanessa Kirby

Vanessa Kirby was born in Wimbledon, London, and began her career in theater after being turned down by the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. She gained international prominence for her portrayal of Princess Margaret in the first two seasons of the Netflix series ‘The Crown’. This role earned her a BAFTA Award and an Emmy nomination. She has since transitioned into major action roles in ‘Mission: Impossible – Fallout’ and ‘Hobbs & Shaw’. Kirby also received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the drama ‘Pieces of a Woman’.

Claire Foy

Claire Foy was born in Stockport, Greater Manchester, and studied drama at Liverpool John Moores University. She is best known for her portrayal of the young Queen Elizabeth II in the Netflix series ‘The Crown’, for which she won a Golden Globe and two Primetime Emmy Awards. Her film roles include ‘First Man’, where she played Janet Shearon, and ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’. She began her career in British television with the lead role in ‘Little Dorrit’. Foy has also been active in theater, appearing in productions at the Old Vic.

Jodie Comer

Jodie Comer was born and raised in Liverpool, England, and attended St Julie’s Catholic High School. She rose to international acclaim for her role as the assassin Villanelle in the BBC America series ‘Killing Eve’. Her ability to utilize a wide range of accents for her characters has often led audiences to question her true nationality. She has since starred in films such as ‘The Last Duel’ and ‘Free Guy’ alongside Ryan Reynolds. Comer won both a BAFTA and an Emmy for her work on television.

Felicity Jones

Felicity Jones was born in Birmingham, England, and grew up in the village of Bournville. She started acting as a child and appeared in the television series ‘The Worst Witch’ before attending Oxford University. Her performance as Jane Hawking in ‘The Theory of Everything’ earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress. She also took on the lead role of Jyn Erso in the ‘Star Wars’ standalone film ‘Rogue One’. Jones has balanced her career between big-budget franchises and independent features like ‘Like Crazy’.

Gemma Arterton

Gemma Arterton was born in Gravesend, Kent, and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a full scholarship. She made her film debut in ‘St Trinian’s’ before being cast as Strawberry Fields in the James Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace’. Her career includes starring roles in ‘Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’ and ‘Hansel & Gretel: Witch Hunters’. She has remained active in the British film industry, starring in ‘Their Finest’ and ‘Summerland’. Arterton also runs her own production company, which focuses on female-led projects.

Kaya Scodelario

Kaya Scodelario was born in Haywards Heath, West Sussex, and rose to fame as Effy Stonem in the British teen drama series ‘Skins’. She successfully transitioned to Hollywood with the lead female role in ‘The Maze Runner’ film trilogy. She also appeared in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales’ as Carina Smyth. Her mother is Brazilian, and Scodelario grew up speaking Portuguese fluently at home. She continues to work in both television and film, recently starring in the series ‘The Gentlemen’.

Share your thoughts on which of these British stars surprised you the most in the comments.