While the cinematic world’s beating heart pumps its silver blood from the hills of Hollywood, out to the world, a sizable population of its cinematic talent – some starring in blockbusters and audience favourites – comes from actors born and bred right here in Canada.
For those actors who jumped the fence and made a name for themselves among the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Canadian fans remember them fondly for the roles they played in our childhood – from dramatic soap operas to comedies that we still quote today.
Almost all of these actors have been featured in movie odds at one time or another, and the best Online Casino in Canada, Bodog, would love to take a few minutes and acknowledge their greatness both on the screen and in our collective hearts.
5. Rachel McAdams
Before we saw the high school snob Regina George shut down “fetch” from being the new it word in 2004’s Mean Girls, Ontario’s Rachel McAdams was taking on more humble roles on the small screen.
Earning her degree in theatre from New York University in 2001, the former “mean girl” claimed multiple awards for working in Canadian television and various film productions.
McAdams won over Hollywood for the first time when she appeared as Jessica in 2002 in the comedy Hot Chick starring Rob Snyder, and went from strength to strength as she racked up titles such as Spotlight and The Notebook.
Fans of McAdams will look forward to 2023, as the actress will be starring yet again in the film Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, based on the literary classic by Judy Blume.
Staying true to her roots, McAdams has stated that she prefers to live at home in Toronto in her Victorian-style home instead of Hollywood where her flashy colleagues prefer to reside.
4. Mike Myers
For those who still feel like the ‘90s were yesterday, they’ll certainly remember comedian Mike Myers for his iconic performance as party and rock n’ roller Wayne from 1992s Wayne’s World, in which Myers was a writer for the film. The comedy classic Austin Powers came out five years later in 1997, and the world cracked up as Myers portrayed a sex-crazed secret agent on a hunt for his mojo.
Over the years, his accolades have added up to seven MTV Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, but he is mostly remembered for the belly-aching laughs that many Canadians grew up with.
Myers didn’t come from a well-to-do family. His mom was a data processor, and his dad was an insurance agent in Toronto. Despite that, he started acting at the age of two in commercials and developed his career rapidly throughout Canada, the UK, and the USA, and since then he’s been involved in countless films as either an actor, writer, or producer.
3. Ryan Reynolds
It’s 1992, and Billy Simpson, played by a kid-size Ryan Reynolds, turns to bullying to cover up his internal pain in the teen soap opera Hillside. Who would have thought young Billy would amend his bullying ways, and move on to be one of the highest grossing film actors of all time?
Reynolds is an actor and producer who has appeared in at least 63 movies, many of them being big blockbuster hits. Born in Vancouver, Reynolds biggest break is considered to be his role as Deadpool in the film of the same name in 2016 and Deadpool 2 in 2018, which were both a huge hit at the box office as well as with Marvel betting fans at Bodog.
Reynolds’ success and interests aren’t only limited to the big screen, however, and he’s also an accomplished entrepreneur who has stakes in a brand of high-end gin, a mobile carrier, and the Welsh football club Wrexham AFC.
Expect to see Reynolds on screen again in 2023 as he plays a man who can interact with peoples’ imaginary friends in the film Imaginary Friends released by Paramount Pictures.
2. Keanu Reeves
As everyone’s favourite “nice guy”, Keanu Reeves, is most well-known for his role as Neo, the One, from The Matrix which first came out in 1999.
Despite his reputation as a generous and down to Earth person off screen, Reeves’ most successful on-screen personas are serious and formidable. In 2005 he extended his talent as the violent anti-hero John Constantine in the film Constantine. In 2014 Reeves first appeared as a former assassin with a grudge in John Wick, and he will appear again as the same character in the fourth follow up film John Wick: Chapter 4 which will be released in 2023.
That isn’t to say we’ve forgotten Reeves’s most memorable comedic role in the cult comedy classic Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure from 1989 in which Reeves portrays Theodore “Ted” Logan in the band Wyld Stallyns.
Living up to his good-guy name and reputation, Toronto’s Reeves is also famous for his secret, massive donations to multiple charitable organisations, as well as taking big pay cuts in films in order to support other talented people on the set. and the persistent youthfulness that belongs in an Anne Rice novel,
1. Jim Carrey
Actor and comedian, the inimitable Jim Carrey, is famous the world over for his laugh out loud performances in countless productions, and he was born and raised right here in Newmarket, Canada. We love him so much at Bodog, that we recently ranked our top five Jim Carrey films.
The 1990s were arguably some of Carrey’s best years when films like Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, The Mask, Dumb and Dumber, Batman Forever, and Liar Liar which all came out from 1994-1997.
The world’s favourite funny man also published an award-winning children’s book titled How Roland Rolls in 2013, and he has been open about his struggle with depression throughout his life, helping the public in its awareness of mental illness.
Carrey has been unapologetic in expressing his thoughts on the politics of the day, as well as his philosophical and spiritual beliefs; he practices transcendental meditation, is a prolific and decidedly competent painter and, more recently, he’s even minted an NFT for one of his paintings.
Lauding homegrown talent is one thing, but having their movie odds make money for you is another entirely. Set a reminder to check back in, enjoy online gambling in Canada and join us at Bodog as we celebrate the wealth of talent that graces our screens and our sportsbooks odds.