The star of John Wick, Speed and The Matrix films, Keanu Reeves has displayed his wide range as an actor, time and again. The humble Canadian actor has also famously given away his money to recognise the work of crew and to enable the production team to hire good actors.
Success came early to Canadian singer and songwriter Avril Lavigne. At fourteen, she performed with Canadian icon, Shania Twain, and at sixteen, bagged a two-album recording contract with Arista Records. Her debut album Let Go released soon, became a huge success, made her a teen idol and earned Grammy Award nominations. With subsequent albums, her popularity has only increased.
Michael Bublé is a Canadian record producer, singer, and songwriter. He gained international recognition after releasing his fourth studio album It's Time. Also known for his charity work, Michael Bublé was part of a charity concert where he pledged a donation of A$50,000 to those affected by the Black Saturday bushfires in Australia.
Leonard Cohen was one of the most popular Canadian celebrities of all time. After starting his career as a poet and novelist, Leonard went on to become a famous singer-songwriter, exploring themes like sexuality, religion, depression, and romantic relationships in his work. Leonard Cohen was one of the inspirations for Steven Clark and Matthew Bissonnette's 2002 film Looking for Leonard.
Canadian actress Tatiana Maslany began her career as a child star and continued acting throughout high school. By the time she turned 20, she already had a decade of acting experience and found it easy to bag good roles in major TV shows. She also acts in films but is more popular as a TV actress.
Neil Peart was a Canadian songwriter, author, and musician. Best known as the drummer of the popular rock band Rush, Peart was nicknamed The Professor for his technical proficiency. In 1983, Neil Peart became the youngest person ever to be inducted into the Modern Drummer publication's Readers Poll Hall of Fame.
Canadian YouTuber, comedian, and talk show host, Lilly Singh, is one of the world's highest-earning YouTubers. The recipient of four Streamy Awards and two Teen Choice Awards, she is an icon for women of Asian descent across the globe. She is also the author of a best-selling book. The multifaceted personality is also an actress.
Merritt Patterson shot to fame when she appeared in Pretty Little Liars as Olivia. She was first seen onscreen on the TV show Kyle XY. After she made her television debut, a number of film roles followed, and she played the lead in Wolves. Her performance in The Royals was also well-received.
Nia Vardalos is a Canadian actress, filmmaker, and screenwriter. She is best known for her portrayal of Fotoula Toula Portokalos in the 2002 romantic comedy film My Big Fat Greek Wedding, which she also wrote. For her work in the film, Vardalos received several award nominations. Nia Vardalos is also part of the non-profit collaborative art project, 1 Second Film.
Tamara Taylor is a Canadian actress best known for her portrayal of Dr. Camille Saroyan in the popular crime procedural comedy-drama TV series, Bones. Taylor dropped out of high school in order to pursue modeling and travel around the world. Her mother's decision to support her daughter's choice of career proved to be fruitful as Taylor became a successful actress.
Graham Wardle is a Canadian actor, filmmaker, and photographer. He is best known for his role as Ty Borden in the CBC series Heartland. He completed the Motion Picture and Production Program at Capilano University before beginning his career. After appearing in a few TV shows, he started acting in films as well. He is also a producer.
Steven Pinker is a Canadian-American linguist, cognitive psychologist, and popular science author. He is also a supporter of the computational theory of mind and evolutionary psychology. His works have earned him awards from organizations like the National Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the American Humanist Association. In 2013, he was named in Prospect magazine's World Thinkers list.
Glenn Gould was a Canadian classical pianist, counted among the most celebrated pianists of the 20th century. He was also an interpreter of the keyboard works of Johann Sebastian Bach. He was known for his remarkable technical proficiency and unorthodox musical interpretations. He was a writer and composer as well. The Glenn Gould Foundation was established in his honor.
Born in South Africa, Neill Blomkamp later moved to Canada. He began his career as a 3-D and special effects artist and later turned to direction. He is known for his documentary-style filmmaking that uses the cinéma vérité technique. Two of his best-known sci-fi films are District 9 and Elysium.
Charlotte Le Bon is an artist and actress. Following in the footsteps of her mother and her stepfather, Charlotte started modeling at the age of 16. She then established herself as a TV presenter and achieved popularity for her work in Le Grand Journal. She then became an actress and received a César Award nomination for her performance in Yves Saint Laurent.
Renee Paquette is a Canadian television personality and host. She is best known for appearing in WWE, where she worked as an interviewer, presenter, and commentator from 2012 to 2020. In 2013, Renee Paquette received the Slammy Award for her work in The JBL and Cole Show. In 2020, she started hosting Oral Sessions, her own podcast.
Mark Chao is a Taiwanese-Canadian actor and model. He catapulted to nationwide popularity with his TV debut in the series Black & White, for which he won the Golden Bell Award for Best Actor. He soon ventured into films as well and appeared in a string of hit films, clinching numerous awards for his performances.
Paulo Costanzo is a Canadian actor best known for his role in the TV Series Animorphs. The son of a singer-songwriter and an artist, he was drawn to creative professions from a young age and chose to become an actor. He began his career in the early 2000s and became a sensation owing to his good looks and impeccable talent.
Daughter of producer Cheryl-Lee Fast, Canadian actor Alexia Fast began her career with the short film The Red Bridge at the tender age of 7. Known for her supporting roles in Jack Reacher and The Captive, the Leo Award-winning actor has also played a main role in the series Manhattan.
Michael Ondaatje is a Sri Lankan-born Canadian poet, writer, and filmmaker. Born in Sri Lanka, he eventually migrated to Canada. He studied at Bishop's University and embarked on a teaching career. His literary works include poems, novels, and essays. He is the recipient of multiple prestigious awards, including the Giller Prize and the Booker Prize.
Canadian actor, Rossif Sutherland, has been active in the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. The son of actors, Donald Sutherland and Francine Racette, he decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps. Since making his debut in the early 2000s, he has appeared in many TV shows and films. He has been nominated for one Canadian Screen Award.
Michaëlle Jean is a Canadian stateswoman who became the first black person and Haitian Canadian to serve as Governor General of Canada, a position which she held from 2005 to 2010. In 2015, Jean became the first woman to serve as the secretary-general of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, a position which she held until the end of 2018.