List of Famous Expats ranked by fame and popularity. An expat or expatriate is an individual residing in a country other than the country of their birth. The term typically applies to people who are professionals in their field, whereas the term immigrants refers to individuals who do manual labor. Many actors and actresses are expats.
Who is the most famous expat? Mila Kunis tops our list. The “Black Swan” actress was born in the USSR and at age seven she moved to Los Angeles with her family. She said that she felt "blind, deaf and dumb" her first year in the states, as she spoke very little English. Johnny Depp has lived in France for many years. He began dating the French actress Vanessa Paradis in 1998 and the couple remained together until 2012.
Some famous people became expats to avoid going to jail. Chess legend Bobby Fischer turned his back on the United States in 1992 after they forbid him from playing a chess match in Yugoslavia, stating that he was violating sanctions. Fischer disregarded this and played the match. He became a fugitive in the United States and he lived all over the world for the rest of his life. He died in Iceland in 2008.
Would you want to be an expatriate? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
27 Celebrities Who Are Expats,
Charlize Theron
Charlize Theron was born in South Africa, and she moved to Italy with her mother when she was 16 years old to pursue modelling. She moved to New York a year later to train as a dancer.
Gillian Anderson
Although she was born in Chicago, Gillian Anderson currently resides in London. Her family moved to London when she was very young, so it has always felt like home.
Johnny Depp
Johnny Depp has lived in France for many years. He began dating the French actress Vanessa Paradis in 1998, and the couple remained together until 2012. In 2011, he became a US resident again, because France wanted him to become a permanent resident, which he said would require him to pay income taxes in both countries.
Kevin Spacey
American actor Kevin Spacey moved to London in 2003. He originally moved there to be the Artistic Director at a theater, but he fell in love with the city.
Madonna
Madonna married "Snatch" director Guy Richie in 2000. She and Richie had a home together in London. Since their divorce, Madonna splits her time between her homes in New York, Los Angeles, and London.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis was born in the USSR and at age seven she moved to Los Angeles with her family. She said that she felt "blind, deaf and dumb" her first year in the states.
Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson was born in British Columbia, and she moved to Los Angeles in 1989 after she made her first Playboy appearance. She has lived in the states ever since.
Sofia Coppola
American-born director Sofia Coppola lives in France with her French husband Thomas Mars.
Stanley Kubrick
In 1962, American film director Stanley Kubrick moved to England to film Lolita. He loved it there and lived there the rest of his life, although his friends say that he remained a New Yorker at heart.
Tina Turner
Tina Turner has lived in Switzerland since 1994. In 2013, she officially became a Swiss citizen. Turner has also owned homes in London, Los Angeles and France.