These celebrities are citizens of not one, but two countries. From being born abroad to receiving honorary citizenship for their artistic talents, read on to find out how these stars get to hold more than one passport.
Ricky Martin
The legendary Livin' la Vida Loca singer was born in the Puerto Rican capital of San Juan and consequently is a U.S. citizen. In an interview with ABC, Martin explained that his family origins are Spanish.
Ricky's relatives left Europe in 1779. It was for this reason that the performer requested to become a Spanish citizen. The country was honored and granted Martin and another Puerto Rican artist citizenship in 2011, recognizing them both for their talents.
Jordana Brewster
Jordana Brewster had her debut role in an episode of 1995's All My Children and made her mark in Hollywood after starring in the Fast and Furious franchise. But what some action film fans might not know is that Jordana is a citizen of more than one country.
The actress was born in Panama City, Panama, to an American banker and a Brazilian model. Growing up, Brewster spent time in Brazil and the U.S. and now holds dual citizenship in both countries. Summers in America and Brazilian winters? Count us in, Jordana!
Lupita Nyong'o
While Nyong'o grew up in Kenya with Kenyan parents, the Us protagonist was actually born in Mexico City, Mexico. Lupita's mom and dad sent the actress back to her country of birth to learn Spanish when she was 16 years old. In 2014, Nyong'o's dual nationality triggered a debate over which country gets to "claim" the star.
"I'm Mexican and Kenyan at the same time," the Black Panther star said as she put the debate to rest. "I've seen quarrels over my nationality, but I'm Kenyan and Mexican at the same time. So again, I am Mexican-Kenyan, and I am fascinated by carne asada tacos." Oh, we feel you!
Boris Kodjoe
Kodjoe was born in Austria to a German mother and a Ghanaian father. The actor spent the first 20 years of his life in Germany before coming to the U.S. "It took a lot of effort for me to be able to fool people into thinking I'm from here," Boris said.
He continued, "Learning the language was hard enough and speaking it without an accent." While he is not a citizen of Ghana, the star is connected to that side of his family history, too. Kodjoe regularly visits the country with his family and even other celebrities!
Emily Blunt
Emily Blunt was born in the London borough of Wandsworth and had her breakout performance in Gideon's Daughter before her praise-worthy role in The Devil Wears Prada. After spending many years working in the United States, the access became a dual citizen over five years ago.
Blunt clarified that she mostly became a citizen for "tax reasons." "But I felt quite sad, actually. Having to be sworn in to a country that wasn't mine," said the starlet. "I know at the core of it I haven't given up anything, but it was sort of bittersweet ... It was odd."
Benicio del Toro
This critically acclaimed actor has garnered much recognition throughout the years, including receiving an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Benicio was born in Puerto Rico, so he was already a U.S. citizen when Spain offered him citizenship in honor of his artistic talents.
While the country traditionally obliges its citizens to give up any other nationality, Spain grants exceptions for some citizens of Latin American countries and other places including Puerto Rico. So lucky del Toro now holds one Oscar and two nationalities.
Samuel L. Jackson
This iconic actor was born in Washington, D.C. but recently traced his ancestorial origins to Gabon's Benga tribe. After reconnecting with his roots, Samuel became a dual citizen. "A lot of people tried to trace themselves and find out where they came from - all they could find out was maybe a country," he said.
"So to go through what I went through - to find out what tribal ancestry I had and to be able to step back into it - it was a really emotional, satisfying feeling," Jackson continued. "There's a fullness that comes upon me every time I land in Africa. As I step on the ground, everything sort of changes."
Salma Hayek
The gorgeous starlet was born in Veracruz, Mexico, and is of Lebanese and Spanish descent. When she was 12 years old, Hayek moved to the U.S. to finish her schooling. The actress lives outside of Mexico to this day but makes sure to teach her family Mexican traditions.
"I have taught my child to embrace her Mexican heritage, to love my first language, Spanish, to learn about Mexican history, music, folk art, food, and even the Mexican candy I grew up with," Hayek said. "I have tried my whole life to represent my Mexican roots with honor and pride."
Jidenna
Jidenna, known for his collaborations with Janelle Monae, was born in Nigeria and is a citizen of the U.S., as well. "My first seven years were spent in Enugu, Nigeria before I moved to the United States," the rapper explained during an interview while visiting his home country.
"So that means I learned all the primary things here first," Jidenna continued. "I learned to walk here; my facial expressions come from here, I gained wisdom from Aunties and Uncles here, so by the time I got to the U.S., everything I saw was from a Nigerian perspective or a wider African lens."
Tiffany Haddish
The Girls Trip star was born in the U.S., and her father came to the country as a refugee from Eritrea. In 2018, the comedian showed pride in her heritage as she walked the Oscars' red carpet in a Zuria gown, a traditional dress worn by women in the East African country.
Haddish visited Eritrea during the country's independence week in 2019 and proudly became a dual citizen of her father's birthplace. An Eritrean diplomat said it was a "Very touching moment of our independence week," and congratulated the star.
Tom Hanks
The Forrest Gump star was born and raised in California but holds dual citizenship with Greece. After the actor and his wife helped victims of a deadly 2018 wildfire in Athens, the country's president signed an honorary naturalization order for the whole family.
"The Hanks family gave a signal all over the world for immediate relief actions to help our fire-stricken fellow citizens," the order said. It added that in their charity efforts, the famous actor and his wife had provided "exceptional services to Greece."
Tristan Thompson
Basketball player Tristan Thompson was born in Brampton, Ontario, and moved to the U.S. on a student visa for high school. Since then, the athlete has established his career in America and is raising a daughter, True, with reality TV star Khloe Kardashian.
In November of 2020, the Canadian native proudly became a citizen of the United States. "I came to the U.S. on a student visa and have always had big dreams," Thompson said. "I'm now truly living the American dream." Congratulations to him and the Celtics!
Kumail Nanjiani
Nanjiani rose to fame with his role as geeky programmer Dinesh in HBO's Silicon Valley. The actor then wrote 2017's The Big Sick, for which he won an Academy Award. But before moving to the U.S. at the age of 18 and establishing himself in Hollywood, Kumail lived in Pakistan.
The comedian is a citizen of both countries, and proudly so. Nanjiani's show Unpronounceable focused on his cultural identity rooted in Pakistan and the U.S. "It was about me growing up in Pakistan... and then coming to America and the culture shock of coming to America," he said.
Natalie Portman
Natalie Portman's claim to fame is rooted in the United States, but the actress was actually born in Israel. When she was young, Portman's family moved to Washington, D.C., and, well, the rest is history. Today, the talented star holds an Oscar and two Golden Globe Awards.
In 2015, Portman returned to her home country to direct A Tale of Love and Darkness, a drama film written by the actress. The movie set in Israel was Natalie's directorial debut and later screened at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival.
Kim Cattrall
Some stars hold dual citizenships, but this Hollywood icon is a triple-threat with not two but three nationalities. Cattrall was born in the Mossley Hill district of Liverpool in England, and her family moved to Canada when she was only three months old.
The Sex and the City actress moved back to the U.K. for a year when she was eleven and later made her way to the United States of America at the age of 16. While Cattrall certainly established her career in the city that doesn't sleep, she now lives in Vancouver Island with her significant other.
Idris Elba
Known for his hit roles in The Wire, Luther, and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, this talented actor was born in the London borough of Hackney. Idris's mom and dad came to the country from Ghana and Sierra Leon, respectively. In 2019, Elba became a dual citizen.
The British star was granted Sierra Leone citizenship, which he called "the biggest honor" he could get. "I'm no stranger to Africa: I've been in Africa, I've made films in Africa, I've championed Africa," Elba said. "But Sierra Leone, it's a very different feeling because it's my parent's home."
Nina Dobrev
Dobrev was born in Bulgaria and moved to Toronto, Canada, with her family at the ripe age of two. The Vampire Diaries star now lives in Los Angeles, but Nina revealed in a 2020 Instagram boomerang that she still holds her "Canuck," or Canadian citizenship.
We don't know whether she also remains a citizen of Bulgaria, but she is certainly proud of her heritage. "Everyone who knows me knows I am Bulgarian and that I am proud of it," Dobrev said. "I speak Bulgarian with my family, and when my friends hear it, they say, 'Wow, that's so cool!'"
Sofia Vergara
This stunning starlet was born in Barranquilla, Colombia, and made her first television appearance when she was 17 years old. The debut was for a Pepsi commercial that aired in Latin America. Vergara then moved to Miami, Florida, in her 20s and continued an acting career there.
In 2014, the Modern Family actress went on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and announced she was officially a U.S. citizen. "I got all the questions perfect," Vergara said, referring to the citizenship test she had to take. "Yes, all of them... I got all the questions!"
Michael Buble
Michael Buble hails from Canada, but his roots are actually in Italy. In 2005, the singer became a naturalized Italian citizen because of his ties to the country. "As for speaking Italian, I know some words and phrases, but I'm not fluent," Buble explained.
"My grandparents, as second-generation Italians, are more Italian than the Italians in Italy," he continued. "Because they left the old country so long ago, they have preserved the old ways and traditions, and passed them down to us. That's why we share a love of music, food, and family."
Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie was born and raised in the U.S., but you may be surprised to learn she is also a citizen of Cambodia. In 2005, she was granted the honor for her humanitarian work in the country. "The king signed the legal papers, and that means she now has Cambodian citizenship," the government said.
"This is what we have dreamed for her for a long time," added Mounh Sarath, director of the Cambodian Vision in Development group. He said that Jolie was worthy of citizenship "not because of the money she has given but [for] her good heart and love" for the Cambodian people.
William Levy
You may recognize William Levy for his time on Dancing with the Stars or his part alongside Queen Latifah on Fox's hit series Star. The actor has also featured in many Spanish speaking movies and shows, as he is originally from Cuba and holds dual citizenship in the U.S.
Levy explained that his Cuban heritage helped him in his role as Mateo Ferrera in Star. "It matters where you come from," William said. "For me as a Cuban, it makes things easier when it comes to understanding my character - the way he thinks and what he wants when it comes to achieving the American dream."
Camila Cabello
Fans might not be surprised to learn that the Señorita and Havana singer was born south of the United States in the Cuban capital. Cabello's dad is Mexican, and the singer feels a strong bond to her many cultural identities. Camila recently discussed her family's immigrant experience in a Grammy speech.
"My parents brought me to this country with nothing in their pockets but hope. They showed me what it means to work twice as hard and never give up," she said. "I'm a proud Cuban-Mexican immigrant, born in east Havana, standing in front of you on the Grammy stage in New York City."
Kirsten Dunst
The former Spider-Man star is originally from Point Pleasant, New Jersey, and grew up in the Garden State. But Kirsten's dad is German, and her mom is of German and Swedish descent. In 2011, Dunst revealed to European tabloid B.Z. that she had become a citizen of Germany.
"Now I'm a real international lady who can do films in Europe without any trouble at all," Dunst teased. The starlet clarified she can only speak "kid's German," but hopes that will change. "It would be the greatest thing to be able to act in a German film," Kristen added.
Drake
It's no secret that the legendary rapper is Canadian, as he constantly references the country in his music and sits courtside at the Toronto Raptors' games. Drake's 2016 album, Views, mentions a place or person from his hometown in most of the tracks.
But American fans need not be completely jealous of the artist's love for "the 6," as Drake is also a naturalized citizen of the United States! Although it's likely that he did it for practical business reasons, as the Hotline Bling singer still resides north of the border for the most part.
Charlize Theron
The Bombshell actress has led an impressive career in Hollywood, earning her an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award along the way. But what some people might not know is that while she's an American citizen, Charlize is from South Africa and a citizen there, too.
"I left three weeks after I turned 16," Theron explained. "I won this modeling contest, and one of the prizes was a trip to Italy with a modeling contract. And my mom was just incredibly encouraging of me doing. She felt like it was a great opportunity."
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis is from Ukraine and moved to the U.S. in 1991. When the starlet was in Budapest for the filming of The Spy Who Dumped Me, her hubby suggested she visit Ukraine for the first time since leaving at the age of seven. But Mila later said didn't feel a strong connection to her home country.
"I was never going to go without my parents. So my parents came to Budapest, then onto Ukraine, and Ashton and I went for one day," Kunis shared. "It was trippy. There's a part of you that wants to feel something... [but] I had nothing." But she can still hold both citizenships!
Ludacris
In 2020, this Grammy award-winning rapper became a dual citizen of the U.S. and Gabon, the home country of his wife, Eudoxie Mbouguiengue. "Africa, I'm official! Momma and kids too," he wrote on Instagram after the event. Before that, Ludacris was in Ghana for 2019's The Year of Return.
"Our ancestors never gave up Faith. You can never imprison our minds nor our spirits," he wrote while visiting Ghana. "They empowered me to Return. I have completed the cycle, and I'm beginning a new Cycle. The Chains have been Broken and the indomitable resilience of African People Triumphs."
Nicki Minaj
Nicki Minaj was born in St. James, Trinidad, and moved to the U.S. when she was five years old. During a 2011 visit to her home country, the performer said she is proud of her heritage and revealed a desire to collaborate with Trinidad artists Machel Montano and Destra Garcia.
"I actually wanted to do a track with Destra and Machel for my album, but we didn't get it together in time," Minaj explained. "I didn't want to put them on something with me and dilute their true essence. I want it to be an authentic-sounding song."
Olivia Wilde
This Hollywood icon was born in New York and raised in Washington, D.C. but holds dual citizenship with Ireland. Olivia's father was born in London, and she spent childhood summers on Irish land. Wilde later returned to Ireland to study acting in Dublin's Gaiety School of Acting.
"It was also important to me to maintain a connection with my Irish roots and to spend as much time there as possible," Olivia said. "The course I did specialised in Irish playwrights... and I wanted to spend time learning about these people from people who would understand them."
Sandra Bullock
The star of Netflix's Bird Box was born in the suburbs of Arlington, Virginia, to an American dad and a German mother. Thus, Bullock was a dual citizen of the U.S. and Germany until the age of 18. In 2009, the actress reapplied and was re-granted German citizenship!
Sandra might have lost citizenship for a while, but she certainly didn't lose touch with her family history. The Miss Congeniality protagonist surprised audiences with wise words in German when delivering a speech and even taught Jimmy Kimmel some German during a live appearance.