Foreign Actors Who Perfected American Legends On-Screen

Many actors are so excellent at their craft that we often forget the way they speak in character is not always their natural accent. They have become so adept at portraying Americans, whether working with dialect coaches, listening to native speakers, or researching the language that we become fascinated with their ability to come across as authentically American. And they use their talents to depict noteworthy Americans. These foreign actors who perfected American legends on-screen were recognized for their impressive star turns.

Several Hollywood movies are centered on iconic Americans who have impacted U.S. history and culture in one way or another.To compile a list of foreigners who perfected American legends on screen, 24/7 Tempo reviewed the IMDb profiles of nearly 50 actors recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences or the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Only actors born outside the United States and have won or have been nominated for an Oscar or a Golden Globe for portraying real-life Americans were selected. (To check out excellent sports movies, check out the best sports-based true stories).

Here are foreigners who gained acclaim for portraying iconic Americans.

Christopher Plummer

Country of origin: Canada
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Billionaire J. Paul Getty in "All the Money in the World" and criminal attorney F. Lee Bailey in "American Tragedy"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "All the Money in the World"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "American Tragedy"

Cate Blanchett

Country of origin: Australia
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Actress Katharine Hepburn in "The Aviator," musician Bob Dylan in "I'm Not There," and conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly in "Mrs. America"
Oscar recognition: Won best supporting actress for "The Aviator"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best supporting actress for "The Aviator," nominated for best actress in a mini-series for "Mrs. America" and won for best supporting actress for "I'm Not There"

Christian Bale

Country of origin: Wales
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Former U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney in "Vice" and investor Michael Burry in "The Big Short"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Vice" and nominated for best supporting actor for "The Big Short"
Golden Globes recognition: Won best actor for "Vice" and was nominated for best actor for "The Big Short"

Margot Robbie

Country of origin: Australia
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Ice skater Tonya Harding in "I, Tonya"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actress for "I, Tonya"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actress for "I, Tonya"

Russell Crowe

Country of origin: New Zealand
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Mathematician John Nash in "A Beautiful Mind," biochemist Jeffrey Wigand in "The Insider," and boxer James J. Braddock in "Cinderella Man"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "A Beautiful Mind" and nominated for best actor for "The Insider"
Golden Globes recognition: Won best actor for "The Insider, " nominated for best actor for "The Insider," and nominated for best actor for "Cinderella Man"

Cynthia Erivo

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Freed slave Harriet Tubman in "Harriet"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actress for "Harriet"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actress for "Harriet"

Anthony Hopkins

Country of origin: Wales
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Former U.S. President Richard Nixon in "Nixon"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Nixon"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Nixon"

Charlize Theron

Country of origin: South Africa
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Journalist Megyn Kelly in "Bombshell" and serial killer Aileen Wuornos in "Monster"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actress for "Bombshell," won for best actress for "Monster"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actress for "Bombshell," won for best actress for "Monster"

Daniel Day-Lewis

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Crime boss Bill 'The Butcher' Cutting in "Gangs of New York" and former U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in "Lincoln"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Gangs of New York, won for best actor for "Lincoln"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Lincoln," won for best actor for "Lincoln"

Rachel McAdams

Country of origin: Canada
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Journalist Sacha Pfeiffer in "Spotlight"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actress for "Spotlight"
Golden Globes recognition: None (yet)

Ben Kingsley

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: "Mob's Accountant" Meyer Lansky in "Bugsy" and cardiologist Herman Tarnower in "Mrs. Harris"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "Bugsy"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "Mrs. Harris" and nominated for best actor in a TV movie for "Mrs. Harris"

Kate Winslet

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Marketing executive Joanna Hoffman in "Steve Jobs"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actress for "Steve Jobs"
Golden Globes recognition: Won for best supporting actress for "Steve Jobs"

Chiwetel Ejiofor

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Abolitionist Solomon Northup in "12 Years a Slave"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "12 Years a Slave"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "12 Years a Slave"

Liam Neeson

Country of origin: Northern Ireland
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Biologist Alfred Kinsey in "Kinsey"
Oscar recognition: Not for portraying Americans
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Kinsey"

Daniel Kaluuya

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Activist Fred Hampton in "Judas and the Black Messiah"
Oscar recognition: Won best supporting actor for "Judas and the Black Messiah"
Golden Globes recognition: Won for best actor for "Judas and the Black Messiah"

Gary Oldman

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Writer Herman Mankiewicz in "Mank"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Mank"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Mank"

Sacha Baron Cohen

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Activist Abbie Hoffman in "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "The Trial of the Chicago 7"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best-supporting actor for "The Trial of the Chicago 7"

Richard E. Grant

Country of origin: Eswatini
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Forger Jack Hock in "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "Can You Ever Forgive Me?"

Michael Fassbender

Country of origin: Germany and Ireland
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in "Steve Jobs" and slaveowner Edwin Epps in "12 Years a Slave"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Steve Job" and nominated for best supporting actor for "12 Years a Slave"
Golden Globes recognition: Nominated for best actor for "Steve Jobs" and nominated for best supporting actor for "12 Years a Slave"

Tom Hardy

Country of origin: England
Iconic American (s) portrayed: Fur trapper John Fitzgerald in "The Revenant"
Oscar recognition: Nominated for best supporting actor for "The Revenant"
Golden Globes recognition: Not for portraying Americans