Becoming a world-renowned star is not an easy journey, and more often than not it’s bound to take you far from home. For many artists, leaving their homeland was one of the steps they had to take in order to make it into the entertainment industry. With big opportunities, massive celebrity news outlets, and a huge audience, the United States tends to be one of the go-to places for all these aspiring celebrities. For others, it’s the place where they consolidate their already blossoming career. Keep reading to find out more about where some of your favorite celebrities came from, how they made it into the business and how connected they continue to be to their roots.

Salma Hayek – Frida, Born in Mexico

Salma Hayek started her career as a model in Mexico. Later, she would transition into acting, getting started in telenovelas and then starring in movies such as Miracle Alley, before moving to the United States in 1991. Her 2002 role in the movie Frida earned her an Academy Award nomination and worldwide recognition for her talent. She has continued to appear in different roles, including more comedic roles such as Grown Ups and Ugly Betty. Hayek is an activist against domestic violence and has donated to shelters in her native Mexico. She has also spoken in front of the United States Senate regarding this matter.

Oscar Isaac – Star Wars, Born in Guatemala

Oscar Isaac has been acclaimed as one of the best actors of his generation. He was born in Guatemala but was brought to the United States when he was a baby. He was raised in Miami and started his acting caree. He also started a band there that was successful, however, after getting accepted into Julliard he focused solely on acting. He has been in numerous projects including the new Star Wars sequel trilogy as well as the HBO show Show Me A Hero, for which he earned a Golden Globe Award. The last installment of the Star Wars franchise will be released on December 10 of 2019.

Sofía Vergara – Modern Family, Born in Colombia

Sofía Vergara is the highest-paid TV actress at the moment and she has fought hard for it. She started her career back home, with a Pepsi ad that revolutionized the country. Later on, she went to Miami with her son Manolo and got an opportunity in the Latin channel Univision. However, she eventually made it into the English-speaking market, in movies like Big Trouble and Four Brothers. She’s currently starring in the long-running TV comedy Modern Family, which is in its final season. Sofía has a net worth estimated at $160 million and she’s been married to fellow actor Joe Manganiello since 2015.

Javier Bardem – No Country For Old Men, Born in Spain

Javier Bardem was born in the Canary Islands, in Spain and his gene inheritance was, without a doubt, being a performer. Many of his relatives, including his siblings and grandparents, were involved in the industry. He started his career when he was only a kid but as he grew older he struggled to find success. However, he got a starring role in a Spanish film and from there, started a successful career in his country. With the movie Before Night Falls, he entered the English market, and he was nominated for an Academy Award. He would win the award years later for his role in No Country For Old Men.

Catalina Sandino Moreno – Maria Full of Grace, Born in Colombia

Catalina Sandino was born in Bogotá, where she grew up and went to college to study advertising. However, she had also attended acting school and in 2003, she was cast for the main role in Maria Full of Grace, which caused her to drop out of school. She received an Academy Award nomination for her performance and became an instant star, however, she had said that she wasn’t prepared for the scripts she would get. Catalina continued to appear in blockbuster movies such as Twilight and has also had recurrent appearances in the TV show The Affair. Also – ever the unquiet spirit – she started her own production company alongside her brother.

Adriana Barraza – Babel, Born in Mexico

Adriana Barraza spent most of her career in Mexico. She got started as a theater director but soon after started producing and directing different TV projects like the long-running Mujer, Casos De La Vida Real. However, when she decided to get in front of the camera, her success was immediate. The movies that have put her in the spotlight in the United States are Amores Perros and Babel, both directed by Alejandro González Iñarritu. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her role in Babel. She has been living in the United States for years and is now dedicated mostly to teaching young actors her craft.

Diego Boneta – Luis Miguel, Born in Mexico

Diego Boneta is a Mexican actor and Singer who rose to fame for his role in the Mexican teenage TV show Rebelde. Later on, he appeared in the English-speaking movie Rock of Ages and he has had roles in TV shows like 90210, Jane the Virgin, and Pretty Little Liars. His most famous role to date was in the biographical TV show Luis Miguel, which must have come with a pretty nice paycheck. It has been in confirmed in May of 2019 that the second season of Luis Miguel will be taking place but a release date has not been established.

Edgar Ramírez – ACS: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, Born in Venezuela

Edgar Ramírez started his career as an actor appearing in soap operas in his native country, Venezuela. After reaching great success and starring in Venezuelan movies, he transitioned to the international market with movies like Carlos and Zero Dark Thirty. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, where he interpreted the role of the famous designer. He has been trying to raise awareness regarding the situation of his country through his social media outlets, especially during the crisis that has taken place in 2019. His newest project is a Netflix movie titled The Last Days of American Crime.

Antonio Banderas, The Mask of Zorro, Born in Spain

Antonio Banderas was born in Málaga, Spain and from a young age, he showed an aptitude for the theater. He went to various drama schools and pursued a degree in the College of Dramatic Arts. Eventually, he was accepted as part of the Spanish National Theatre. He gained international recognition for his roles Pedro Almódovar’s movies and, when he transitioned to Hollywood, he gained critical praise for his role in The Mambo Kings. He continued to have a successful career and was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Nine. He has also produced and directed numerous projects and he’s currently working on directing a play in his native Málaga.

Penélope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Born in Spain

Penélope Cruz started her career in Spain at the young age of 16. Since then she has become one of the country’s biggest star and is also a well-recognized artist is the United States, with one of her first appearances in the English-speaking industry in the movie Vanilla Sky. Her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona earned her an Academy Award and she recently interpreted Donatella Versace in ACS: The Assassination of Gianni Versace, for which she was nominated for an Emmy. She had a very private wedding in 2010 with fellow Spanish actor Javier Bardem and they have two kids together.

Rita Moreno – West Side Story, Puerto Rico

Rita Moreno was born in Puerto Rico but she moved to New York with her mother at a young age. She started dancing lessons soon after and had her Broadway debut at 13. She participated in several movies, but her favorite roles were in The King and I, and the film adaptation of West Side Story, which earned her an Academy Award for her interpretation of Anita. She took an acting hiatus as she was hoping to get less stereotypical roles; something that didn’t happen at that time. Her personal life has been tumultuous but she eventually married a doctor, Leonard Gordon, and they were together for over 30 years.

Andy Garcia – The Godfather Part III, Born in Cuba

Andy Garcia was born in Cuba and moved with his family to the United States when he was five years old. When he was in high school, he took an acting class during his last year and knew right then and there that this was what he wanted to pursue. He started with minor roles in action movies but his breakthrough role was that of Vincent Mancini in The Godfather Part III, which earned him an Academy Award nomination. He also participated in the Ocean’s Eleven franchise and has recently starred in projects like Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and The Mule, alongside Clint Eastwood.

Wilmer Valderrama – That ‘70s Show, Raised in Venezuela

Wilmer Valderrama was born in Miami, but he was raised in Venezuela until he was 14 years old. At that time, he moved to the United States with his family and started taking acting lessons. He became known for his role as the hilarious Fez in That ‘70s Show. He’s currently part of the cast of the long-running TV show NCIS. Wilmer has had a very close relationship with singer Demi Lovato, despite breaking up after six years of romance. He was there for her when she went to a drug rehab clinic in 2018 and she has maintained throughout the years that he’s one of her greatest supporters.

Ricky Martin – Livin’ La Vida Loca, Born in Puerto Rico

Ricky Martin is a Puerto Rican Singer who started his career in the boy band Menudo before going solo and attaining huge success. He became a worldwide phenomenon after his song titled The Cup of Life, which was that year’s FIFA World Cup anthem. Livin’ La Vida Loca was one of his biggest successes and he’s considered as one of the first Latin artists to introduce Latin music into the English market. He’s a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has participated in numerous campaigns against child abuse and child trafficking. In May of 2019, he has announced a new collaboration with Maluma titled No se me quita.

Shakira – Waka Waka, Born in Colombia

Shakira is one of the biggest singers of her generation. She started her career in Colombia, where she was born, and quickly won over the Hispanic market. She entered the English market with her album Laundry Service, with hits like Whenever, Whenever and later on, her song Hips Don’t Lie became a worldwide success. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, she sang the anthem Waka Waka and while filming the video met her now partner Gerard Piqué. She started the Barefoot Foundation in Colombia, which focuses on bringing education to children in impoverished areas of the country.

Morena Baccarin – Homeland, Born in Brazil

Morena Baccarin’s acting talent might be part of her DNA as she is the daughter of actress Vera Setta. She started studying the art from a young age and attended Julliard in New York, where she had moved with her family when she was only seven. She became known after her role in the sci-fi TV show Firefly and has also been part of the Stargate franchise. In 2013 she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her role in the Showtime TV show Homeland, where she acted with former classmate Claire Danes. She’s currently married to Gotham co-star Ben McKenzie and they have a daughter born in 2016.

Demián Bichir – A Better Life, Born in Mexico

Demián Bichir was born in Torreón, Mexico in a family heavily involved in the entertainment industry. He started his career in the Mexican theater, winning various awards for his performance in Shakespeare and Dostoyevsky plays. His first full movie was Cilantro y Perejil, in Mexico. He later appeared in what might be considered as his biggest role yet in the movie A Better Life, for which he received an Academy Award nomination. Bichir is very involved in immigration issues and he is an ambassador for immigration rights for the American Civil Liberties Union. He will soon be starring in the ABC adaptation series Grand Hotel.

Lupita Nyong’o – 12 Years a Slave, Born in Mexico

Lupita Nyong’o was born in Mexico to Kenyan parents and they moved back to Kenya when she was only one year old. She has been acting since her school years, participating in Romeo and Juliet when she was only 14. She starred in Kenyan television programs and eventually moved to the United States and studied at Yale, where she participated in different plays. Her big breakthrough role was in the film 12 Years A Slave, which earned her an Academy Award. Lupita has launched numerous campaign with her organization Wildaid, which seeks to stop poaching in Kenya. Her most recent project, Us, has been praised by the critics.

Nina Garcia – Project Runway, Born in Colombia

Nina Garcia has dedicated her life to fashion. She was raised in Colombia but moved to the United States for her higher studies, which were all focused on the industry she loves. She is known by many for her role as one of the permanent judges in Project Runway. Before becoming the editor-in-chief at Elle magazine, she started at Perry Ellis and Marc Jacobs, working for their public relations department. Today, she is one of the most important figures in the fashion industry. She has published numerous works regarding her passion, such as The Little Black Book of Style, which was an immediate success.

Joaquin Phoenix – Walk The Line, Born in Puerto Rico

Joaquin Phoenix was born to a nomadic family, which went through all of Latin America during his childhood years. Joaquin and his siblings would perform on the streets in order to make some money for the family. Eventually, after the family moved to the United States, all of the kids were discovered by an agent in Los Angeles and that’s how Joaquin’s career started. One of his first groundbreaking roles was in the movie To Die For, and from there he continued to star in successful movies like Gladiator, Walk The Line, and The Master, which have all earned him Academy Award nominations. His new movie, Joker, will be released in 2019.