Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Canadian Spotlight Month: Hotties from Canada

For today’s Canadian Spotlight Month post, I’m taking a break from all things bookish. In the spotlight today are some of Canada’s finest hotties - that’s right, my lovelies, today is dedicated to eye candy! And not just any eye candy - the extremely talented kind! I knew there were a lot of famous Canadians, but in my research to compile this list, I was floored at just how many celebs this awesome country has produced! Later in the month, I’ll be spotlighting Canadian musicians, as well as Canadian comedians, so be sure to keep an eye out for that. 

Who doesn't know (and hopefully love) Ryan Gosling? But did you know he's Canadian? The 31-year-old actor who's best known for roles in The Notebook, Crazy Stupid Love, The Ides of March is from London, Ontario. He also made appearances in many shows that I personally consider staples of Canadian TV in the 90s: Road to Avonlea, Ready or Not, Are You Afraid of the Dark, Goosebumps, and The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, as well as starring in Breaker High, and Young Hercules

Jason Priestley  - Best known for his role as Brandon Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210

Nia Vardalos - Best known for her role as Toula Portokalos in My Big Fat Greek Wedding

Wendy Crewson - Best known for her role as Laura Miller in The Santa Clause trilogy

From Vancouver, British Columbia, 35-year-old Reynolds is best known for his roles in Green Lantern, The Proposal, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, and Blade: Trinity. I first discovered him in 1998 when he played Berg in Two Guys, a Girl, and Pizza Place (later renamed Two Guys and a Girl). 

Evangeline Lilly - Best known for her role as Kate Austen in TV's Lost

Callum Keith Rennie - Best known for his roles in Due South, Battlestar Galactica, and Californication

Pamela Anderson - Best known for her role as CJ Parker on Baywatch

Born in London, Ontario, 33-year-old McAdams is best known for her roles in The Notebook, Mean Girls, The Time Traveler's Wife, Sherlock Holmes, and The Vow. She lives in Toronto, Ontario, and has been seen riding her bike and taking the bus around the city.

Kiefer Sutherland - Best known for his role as Jack Bauer on 24

Rachelle Lefevre - Best known for her role as Victoria in the first two Twilight movies, as well as roles in Big Wolf on Campus, and What About Brian

Keanu Reeves - Best known for his role as Neo in The Matrix trilogy

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, 41-year-old Fillion is best known for his roles as Richard Castle in Castle, and Malcolm Reynolds in Firefly
And, since this is a book blog, I'd like to point you to this amazing article in Parade where Nathan talks about his lifelong love of reading. It made me love him even more! 

Kim Cattrall - Best known for playing the sassy, sexy, kinda slutty Samantha Jones on Sex and the City)

Dean McDermott - He's probably best known as Tori Spelling's husband, but to me he'll always be the hilarious, bumbling Constable Turnbull on Due South. He's been in quite a few movies, and he and wife Tori, along with their three adorable children have starred in different reality shows about their life in Hollywood. 

Scott Speedman - Best known for his roles as Ben Covington in Felicity, and Michael Corvin the lycan/vampire hybrid in the Underworld movies


 
From Toronto, Ontario, 44-year-old Follows is best known for her iconic role as Anne Shirley in the TV miniseries Anne of Green Gables. To me, Follows is the embodiment of Anne. I watched the movies so often as a little girl, it's impossible not to think of Follows when I think of Anne. 

Sarah Polley - Best known for her role as Sara Stanley in Road to Avonlea (the television spin-off of Anne of Green Gables); she's also an award-winning director and screenwriter

Gema Zamprogna - Best known for her role as Felicity King in Road to Avonlea

From Edmonton, Alberta, 51-year-old Fox is an actor, author, producer, activist, and voice-over artist. Best known for his role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy, as well as starring roles on TV shows like Family Ties and Spin City.
After being diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1991, he became an advocate for finding a cure through research, which led him to create the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
On a (slightly random) personal note...you know how every little kid has someone they're in love with and are sure they're going to marry when they grow up? Michael J Fox was that person for me.

Neve Campbell - Best known for her role as Julia Salinger in Party of Five, as well as roles in The Craft and the Scream movies

Shay Mitchell - Best known for her role as Emily Fields in Pretty Little Liars

Cory Monteith - Best known for his role as Finn Hudson in Glee


Born in Vancouver, British Columbia, 34-year-old Jackson is best known for his roles as Pacey Witter on Dawson’s Creek, Charlie Conway in The Mighty Ducks movies, and Peter Bishop in Fringe. He also starred in One Week, an epic Canadian indie movie that was like a love letter to Canada, Canadian music, and life. You must see it. Buy it, rent it, borrow it - you won't be sorry. It's one of the best movies I've ever seen.

Brendan Fraser - Best known for playing Rick O'Connell in the Mummy movies, as well as George in George of the Jungle

Elisha Cuthbert - Best known for her role as Kim Bauer on 24 

Alan Thicke - Best known for his role as Jason Seaver (the dad) on Growing Pains

 Soap Opera Hotties
My favourite soap opera hotties! I love these guys!
Dominic Zamprogna - From Hamilton, Ontario, Zamprogna plays Detective Dante Falconeri on General Hospital.

Cameron Mathison - From Sarnia, Ontario, Mathison played Ryan Lavery on All My Children. Now he's a TV host and contributor for Good Morning America.

Jason Thompson - From St. Albert, Alberta, Thompson plays Dr. Patrick Drake on General Hospital.  

From Calgary, Alberta, Gross is still a hottie, even at 53, but as a young man when he starred as Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Benton Fraser on TV’s Due South, he was quite possibly the most beautiful man I’ve ever seen. He has starred in various television shows and movies, appeared in theatre, and his talents also extend to singing.

Oldies But Goodies

William Shatner - At 81, Shatner's still going strong. Best known for his roles as Captain Kirk in Star Trek, and Denny Crane on The Practice and Boston Legal, Shatner has starred in countless films, TV shows, and stage productions over the last 5+ decades.

Donald Sutherland - The soon-to-be 77-year-old most recently starred as the evil President Snow in The Hunger Games. He's starred in various movies and TV shows since the '60s.

Gordon Pinsent - 82-year-old Pinsent has had many roles in film, television, and theatre. I personally know him as quirky Bob Fraser, the ghost of Benton Fraser's dad in Due South. With a distinctive, easily recognized voice, Pinsent has also done a lot of narrating and voice work - he's been the voice of King Babar in the Babar television shows and movie on and off since the '80s.

Leslie Nielson - Nielson, a well-known actor and comedian died in 2010 at the age of 84. Nielson appeared in 100+ films and 1,500 television programs in a career that spanned almost 60 years. Two of his most memorable roles were in Airplane!, and The Naked Gun movies. 

From Toronto, Ontario, 82-year-old Plummer will forever be known for his iconic role as Captain von Trapp from The Sound of Music. Like the other oldies but goodies, Plummer has had a career that's spanned 50+ years and has included roles in television, film, and theatre. Most recently, he played the role of Henrik Vanger in 2011's The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Hayden Christensen - Best known for his portrayal of a young Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

Catherine O’Hara - Best known for her role as Kate McCallister (the mom) in Home Alone, and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York

Carrie-Anne Moss - Best known for her role as Trinity in The Matrix trilogy



Nina Dobrev
This 23-year-old beauty was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, but moved to Toronto, Ontario at the age of two, and was raised there. She's best known for her role as Elena Gilbert/Katherine Pierce in The Vampire Diaries, but she also starred as Mia Jones in the Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation.
Sandra Oh - Best known for her role as Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey's Anatomy
 
Molly Parker - Best known for her role as Alma Garret in Deadwood; she currently plays Abby McDeere in The Firm

Ellen Page - Best known for her award-winning role as Juno MacGuff in Juno
 

From Hamilton, Ontario, 34-year-old Katic is best known for her role as Detective Kate Beckett in Castle. When I started watching Castle, I thought it was amazing that the two main characters were both Canadian. Pretty cool!

Kelly Rowan - Best known for her role as Kirsten Cohen (Seth's mom) on The O.C.

Taylor Kitsch - Best known for his role as John Carter in the film of the same name
Sarah Chalke - Best known for her role as Dr. Elliot Reid on Scrubs

Reality TV Spotlight
Twin brothers Jonathan and Drew Scott star in W Network/HGTV's Property Brothers. Jonathan is a contractor and Drew is a real estate expert, and together they help people buy and renovate fixer-upper homes, transforming run-down houses into dream homes. I've only been watching Property Brothers since late last year, but I love the brothers. They're smart, funny, resourceful, and seriously have the patience of saints when it comes to dealing with some of the homeowners on the show. Plus, I mean, look at them! I've had a crush on Jonathan and his crooked smile since day one. They're amazingly generous to their fans, answering questions on both Facebook and Twitter, and setting up regular contests for fans.

Cameron Bright - Best known for his role as Alec in The Twilight Saga movies New Moon and Eclipse

Alexander Ludwig - Best known for his role as Seth in Race to Witch Mountain; most recently, he played Cato in The Hunger Games


Born in Massachusetts to an American father and Canadian mother, 42-year-old Perry was raised in Ottawa, Canada. He's best known for his role as Chandler Bing in Friends. He's been making appearances on TV since the late 70s, and has been in many movies, the most recent of which was 17 Again.
Jay Baruchel - Best known for his role as Dave Stutler in The Sorcerer's Apprentice, and the voice of Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon  

Alison Pill - Best known for her role as Zelda Fitzgerald in Midnight in Paris

Emily VanCamp - Best known for her roles as Rebecca Harper in Brothers & Sisters, and Emily Thorne in Revenge
From Winnipeg, Manitoba, 31-year-old Paquin is best known for her role as Sookie Stackhouse in HBO's True Blood. Among many other television, theatre, and movie roles, she also played Marie/Rogue in the X-Men movie franchise. At the age of 11, she won an Oscar for her role in The Piano.

Missy Peregrym - Best known for her roles as Candice Wilmer in Heroes, and Andy McNally in Rookie Blue

Angela Featherstone - Best known for her roles as Chloe in Friends, and Linda in The Wedding Singer

Jessica Paré - Best known for her role as Megan on Mad Men

From Vancouver, British Columbia, 29-year-old Kreuk is best known for her role as Lana Lane on Smallville. She will star in the upcoming TV series Beauty and the Beast

James Cameron - Cameron’s not an actor, but he needed to be on this list, since he’s the Academy Award winning director behind movies such as Titanic and Avatar

Alex Trebek - Best known as the host of Jeopardy! He's made about 2 dozen cameo appearances in various TV shows and movies.

A few fun facts connecting some of these stars:
*Nathan Fillion was in 60 episodes of Two Guys and a Girl, which starred Ryan Reynolds.
*Paul Gross, Callum Keith Rennie, Gordon Pinsent, and Leslie Nielson all starred in Due South
*Rachel McAdams and Ryan Reynolds starred together in The Notebook, dated in real life, and were both born in London, Ontario.  
*Wendy Crewson was in an episode of Due South with Paul Gross and Callum Keith Rennie.
*Alan Thicke's son is the popular R&B singer-songwriter Robin Thicke.
*Dominic Zamprogna and Gema Zamprogna are brother and sister.
*Callum Keith Rennie and Molly Parker now star together in The Firm.
*Donald Sutherland is Kiefer Sutherland's father.
*Sarah Polley wrote and directed the movie Away From Her, which starred Gordon Pinsent.
*Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Kitsch both had roles in X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Did You Know?
Many movies that are set in the States and all around the world are filmed in Canada, because we have such a vast and varied landscape, and because it's generally cheaper to film here.

Here are just some of the many movies that were filmed in Canada:
The Vow, Titanic, Serendipity, X-Men, Chicago, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Mean Girls, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, Hairspray, The Time Traveler's Wife, Shall We Dance, Brokeback Mountain, The NeverEnding Story, I, Robot, Night at the Museum, The Butterfly Effect, Juno, Twilight, Batman & Robin, Catch Me If You Can, Billy Madison, Cruel Intentions, Three Men and a Baby, Public Enemies, Honey, The Prince and Me, The Day The Earth Stood Still, Freddy vs. Jason, Gone in Sixty Seconds, Exit Wounds, The Incredible Hulk, The Day After Tomorrow, The Whole Nine Yards, Johnny Mnemonic, The Terminal, The X Files: I Want to Believe, Capote, Camp Rock, Cold Creek Manor, Crash, Dracula 2000, Police Academy 1-4, Resident Evil, Good Will Hunting, Good Luck Chuck

Who’s your favourite Canadian hottie? Who were you most surprised is Canadian, or did you know all these people were Canadian? Did I miss anyone?

 

This post has been part of the Canadian Spotlight Month. Click the graphic below to check out the schedule and all things Canadian here at Ramblings of a Daydreamer. 

6 comments:

  1. Marie... I LOVE YOU! You just made my night with pictures of the loves of my life. Ahem, specifically, Ryan Reynolds, Christopher Plummer, and my favorite... Nathan Fillion (SQUEE!!!). What's funny is that I never watched Two Guys and a Girl, and I didn't even know that both Ryan and Nathan were on it until half a year ago. So, now it's a MUST WATCH.

    I think I knew most of these, although I'm never shocked to find out an actor was born in Canada. There are a lot of AMAZING actors that are Canadian. You named so many great ones, I can't even think if there are any you might have missed!

    Another fun fact... Matthew Perry was on an episode of Scrubs with Sarah Chalke... AND Brendan Fraser was on a few episodes of Scrubs too! (Both of them making the episodes SO much better with their awesomeness)

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  2. What a great post!! I love seeing all the stars that come out of Canada. :) I had no idea that Nathan Fillian was born in Edmonton?!?!?

    Very cool!

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  3. Geez, who knew all these hotties were Canadian?!?

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  4. Ohhh what a fabo post! And that picture of Ryan Reynolds O's HOT! I wish you'd include a pic of keanu though, he is my ultimate crush ever! :P

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  5. I love this post! I didn't know everyone listed was Canadian.

    My fav is Ryan Reynolds. Definitely very hot! I used to love the show Two Guys and a Girl.

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  6. Wow, that is such an impressive list! Clearly, I need to go to Canada now. :)

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Thanks for visiting Ramblings of a Daydreamer! I love hearing what you have to say, and I appreciate every single comment. I hope to see you here again soon! ♥
~Marie

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