16 celebrities from Yorkshire who made it big in the USA

There are some pretty big names here!

Author: Emma DoddsPublished 1st Aug 2024

People who are from Yorkshire are not surprised by the fact that PLENTY of talented celebrities come from God's Own Country. But it's interesting to know just how many Yorkshire folk have made it big across the pond in the US.

From Sheffield's Sean Bean who has starred in a huge number of Hollywood films as well as internationally-acclaimed TV series Game of Thrones, to Leeds lass Mel B who was not only in the Spice Girls, but also landed a spot judging on America's Got Talent... Here is a collection of our favourite famous Yorkshire folk who've become famous in the United States of America.

Huge celebrities that come from Yorkshire:

Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench may have started her acting career on the theatre stage, but she's become one of the most acclaimed actresses in the world. She recently starred in the Kenneth Branagh-directed adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express as Princess Dragomiroff, and is from Heworth in North Yorkshire.

Elizabeth Henstridge

Elizabeth Henstridge is an actress from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, best known for her role as Agent Jemma Simmons on US TV series Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Matthew Lewis

Matthew Lewis is best known for his role as underdog Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter film adaptations, which became internationally beloved. He's from Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Lena Headey

Lena Headey may have been born in Bermuda, but the Game of Thrones actress grew up in Shelley, West Yorkshire. She previously starred in 300 alongside Gerard Butler and also in St Trinian's.

Ed Sheeran MBE

Singer/songwriter Ed Sheeran grew up in Suffolk - but he was born in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire. The singer has become known around the world for his catchy songs and charity work.

Zayn Malik

Zayn Malik is best known as one-fifth of boyband One Direction and has gone on to become huge in the US, even dating Californian model Gigi Hadid. He was born in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

Louis Tomlinson

Zayn isn't the only Yorkshireman in 1D - Louis Tomlinson is from Doncaster, South Yorkshire. One Direction are beloved around the world, and Louis himself has just become one of the new judges on The X Factor panel.

Mel B

Mel B was famous for being in one of the biggest pop bands in history – the Spice Girls. Now, she's a judge on America's Got Talent. She was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Malcolm McDowell

Malcolm McDowell is an actor from Leeds, West Yorkshire - and he'd best known for starring in 1971 film A Clockwork Orange.

Arctic Monkeys

The Arctic Monkeys are a hugely successful band all around the world, and come from Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Sean Bean

Sean Bean may have starred in many major films and TV shows across the pond, including Game of Thrones, but he comes from Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Sir Patrick Stewart

Sir Patrick Stewart is actually from Mirfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire, and has starred in countless Hollywood films, including the X-Men series as Charles Xavier.

Dominic West

Dominic West started out his acting career on The Wire as Jimmy McNulty, and was born in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.

Tom Wilkinson

Full Monty actor Tom Wilkinson has starred in many Hollywood films including Batman Begins and more recently Snowden, and was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Helen Fielding

Author Helen Fielding is the brains behind the Bridget Jones book and film series, and was born in Leeds, West Yorkshire.

Sir Ben Kingsley

Sir Ben Kingsley is an actor best known as accountant Itzhak Stern in Schindler's List and also for portraying Mahatma Gandhi in a film about his life. He's from Scarborough, North Yorkshire.

Now read:

Yorkshire sayings

The best parks to visit in South Yorkshire

The best places for Ice Cream in South Yorkshire

How to listen to Greatest Hits Radio:

Listen to Greatest Hits Radio on the free Rayo app, online or on your DAB digital radio. You can also listen on your smart speaker by saying “Play Greatest Hits Radio”.