Who are the 5 best Canadian actors of all time? While the entertainment world is Hollywood Hills, a sizable population of talent comes from actors born and bred in Canada.
These actors have a name on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but Canadians remember them fondly for the roles they played in our childhood.
All of our 5 best Canadian actors of all time have featured in movies. Let’s acknowledge their greatness both on the screen and in our collective hearts.
5. Rachel McAdams
Ontario’s Rachel McAdams had small roles on TV before the high school snob Regina George in 2004’s Mean Girls.
She has claimed multiple awards on Canadian television and films before earning her degree in theatre from New York University.
McAdams won over Hollywood for the first time when she appeared as Jessica in 2002 in the comedy Hot Chick starring Rob Snyder, and went from strength to strength as she racked up titles such as Spotlight and The Notebook.
Fans of McAdams will look forward to 2023, as the actress will be starring yet again in the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, based on the literary classic by Judy Blume.
McAdams prefers to live in her Victorian-style Toronto home instead of Hollywood where her flashy colleagues prefer to reside.
4. Mike Myers
For those who still feel like the ‘90s were yesterday, they’ll remember Mike Myers for his iconic performance as party rocker Wayne from 1992s Wayne’s World, which Myers was a writer for the film.
The comedy classic Austin Powers came out five years later in 1997, and the world cracked up as Myers portrayed a sex-crazed secret agent on a hunt for his mojo.
Over the years, his accolades have added up to seven MTV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, but he is mostly remembered for the belly-aching laughs that many Canadians grew up with.
Myers didn’t come from a well-to-do family. His mom was a data processor, and his dad was an insurance agent in Toronto. He started acting at age two in commercials and developed his career rapidly. Since then he’s been involved in countless films as either an actor, writer, or producer.
3. Ryan Reynolds
It’s 1992, and kid-sized Ryan Reynolds plays bully Billy Simpson to cover up his internal pain in the teen soap opera Hillside. Who knew Billy would become one of the highest grossing film actors of all time?
Reynolds is an actor and producer who has appeared in dozens of movies, many of them being big blockbuster hits. Born in Vancouver, Reynolds biggest break is his role as Deadpool, which were both a huge hit at the box office.
Reynolds’ success and interests aren’t only limited to the big screen, however, and he’s also an accomplished entrepreneur who has stakes in a brand of high-end gin, a mobile carrier, and the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC.
2. Keanu Reeves
Everyone’s favourite “nice guy”, Keanu Reeves is well-known for his role as Neo from The Matrix.
Despite his reputation as a down to Earth person off screen, Reeves’ most successful on-screen personas are serious and formidable.
In 2005 he extended his talent as the violent anti-hero John Constantine in the film Constantine.
Reeves also appeared as a former assassin with a grudge in John Wick, spawning another successful movie franchise.
His most memorable role is the 1989 cult comedy classic ‘Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure‘ in which Reeves portrays Ted Logan in the band Wyld Stallyns. Historical hilarity ensues.
Toronto’s Reeves is also known for covert donations to multiple charities, as well as taking big pay cuts to support other talented people on the set. What a nice guy.
1. Jim Carrey
Lovable Jim Carrey is famous the world over for his laugh-out-loud performances in countless productions. Better still, he was born and raised right here in Newmarket, Canada. We love him so much, that we recently ranked our top five Jim Carrey films.
The 1990s were arguably Carrey’s best years with Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Batman Forever, and Liar Liar. He was a busy man. All came out from 1994-1997.
The funny man also published an award-winning children’s book titled How Roland Rolls in 2013. He has been open about his struggle with depression throughout his life, helping to raise awareness of mental illness.
Carrey has been unapologetic in expressing his thoughts on the politics of the day, as well as his philosophical and spiritual beliefs.
He practices transcendental meditation, is a talented painter and, more recently, he’s even minted an NFT for one of his paintings.
Lauding homegrown talent is one thing, but having their movie odds make money for you is another entirely. Set a reminder to check back in, have fun betting on entertainment news in Canada and join us at Ozoon as we celebrate 5 Best Canadian Actors Of All Time.