18 British and Irish Actors Who Are Entirely Different from What the World Knows Them as in Their Home Countries
You probably won’t recognize them in these countries.
Actors are unique because of their ability to transform into other people. However, what’s it like when the other person they're changing into is themselves?
Fascinating, right? There are so many famous British and Irish actors in Hollywood who differ from the personas that the mainstream media portrays, and sometimes, the contrast between who everyone knows them as and who they are in the United Kingdom and Ireland is too hilarious for words.
Americans may know an actor as a total hunk, only to watch them in a television show or movie produced in their home country and see them entirely differently.
While we love these actors – because who doesn’t? – we can’t help but find the transitions both hilarious and shocking at the same time. It took us a while to recognize them, and if you are not a fan of TV shows produced in the UK or Ireland, you will feel the same way.
We have taken the liberty of compiling a list of some of the most famous stars who have different reputations in their home countries compared to the rest of the world.
We bet that after scrolling through this, you’ll find several pictures of these actors that you would never have assumed were them. Let’s get right into it!
1. Tom Ellis
Even after placing both pictures side by side, you still feel like they are two completely different people, don’t you?
BBC, Fox/Netflix2. Olivia Colman
A complete 360-degree transformation.
Channel 4, Netflix3. Aaron Taylor-Johnson
While he may no longer be stealing hearts in the British teen drama “Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging,” he continues to steal hearts worldwide.
Warner Bros. Pictures
4. James Corden
Would you have recognized him on a good day?
Baby Cow/BBC, CBS
5. Dev Patel
Dev Patel may not have been the main character in “Skins,” but he’s definitely main character material in our books.
E4, The Weinstein Company/Transmission Films/Entertainment Film Distributors
6. Daniel Kaluuya
Did you know that before Daniel Kaluuya became famous for his role in “Get Out,” he was Posh Kenneth in “Skins”?
E4, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
7. Robert Sheehan
Such a HUGE difference. Don't you agree?
E4, Netflix
8. James McAvoy
It’s not just the hair; it’s everything.
Channel 4, Universal Pictures
9. Jodie Comer
You see the difference, don’t you?
E4, BBC America
10. Nathalie Emmanuel
You may know her as Missandei from Game of Thrones, but British fans know her as Sasha Valentine from Hollyoaks.
Channel 4, HBO
11. Charlie Hunnam
American fans know him as Jax Teller from Sons of Anarchy, while British fans know him as Nathan from Queer as Folk.
Channel 4, FX/REX
12. Chris O'Dowd
Channel 4, Universal Pictures
13. Himesh Patel
These are two different people. You can’t tell us otherwise.
BBC, Warner Bros. Pictures
14. Craig Roberts
One word: Growth!
CBBC, Netflix
15. Martin Freeman
The magic of grey hair.
BBC, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
16. Will Poulter
E4, Netflix
17. Gemma Chan
Different, but still delectable.
ITV2, Warner Bros. Pictures
18. Phoebe Waller-Bridge
Channel 4, BBC
You had fun going through this list, didn’t you? We bet you were shocked too — we can relate.
Some of these pictures look like two completely different people, and if we didn’t have movie credits and the internet to prove it, we wouldn’t believe these pictures are factual.
Did we omit anyone from this list? Tell us in the comment section below!
