Hollywood loves a plot twist, but some of the biggest surprises happen off-screen. Over the past decade, more American celebrities have traded red carpets for cobblestone streets, countryside retreats, or tropical escapes. Whether for privacy, politics, or a slower pace of life, these stars have moved abroad. Here are 10 of the most surprising celebrities who left the U.S.—and why.
10. Michael Sheen
In 2018, the Welsh actor Michael Sheen relocated from Los Angeles back to his hometown in Wales, Port Talbot. His reason for moving was deeply personal: not only did he want to reconnect with his roots, but he also wanted to give back to his community. The social and economic hardships he witnessed at home inspired Sheen to stay and make a difference, refocusing his attention on activism and local causes. Home became something more than just a place for him; it became a mission.
9. Josh Hartnett
The once omnipresent Josh Hartnett of Hollywood now lives a quiet life with his wife, Tamsin Egerton, and children in Hampshire, UK. Hartnett has related that it is only in the cities of New York or LA that people care about your career, adding that he can live without that kind of spotlight in Hampshire. The anonymity allows him to focus on family and the simple things in daily life.
8. Christina Milian
Christina Milian traded in Los Angeles for Paris, making the city home with her French husband, singer M. Pokora, and their children. The family, tired of commuting across continents, found that Paris gave their kids the chance to grow up bilingual and enveloped in a rich, cultural environment. Milian has spoken fondly of life in the city, enjoying the mix of family, culture, and everyday life in France.
7. Lily Collins
For Lily Collins, life has mirrored her role in Emily in Paris-only she’s living it out in Copenhagen, Denmark. She and her husband, Charlie McDowell, moved to the city in 2023 after falling in love with it during their honeymoon. Collins characterizes Copenhagen as calm, bright, and friendly, embracing the biking culture and close-knit community atmosphere.
6. Pamela Anderson
Pamela Anderson has traveled from Malibu to Marseille and back to her roots in Vancouver Island, British Columbia. After a spell in France, when the pandemic called, she came back to Canada searching for quiet and inner peace. Gardening, for Anderson, became a metaphor for personal reinvention to reconnect with herself and her family while leaving the public scrutiny behind.
5. Gabriel Macht
“Suits” star Gabriel Macht relocated out of the country after the series ended, keeping the exact location private. Macht has said the move was about exploring the world, experiencing new cultures, and giving his children broader perspectives. He enjoys the slower pace, anonymity, and simple joys like long walks, often without the paparazzi in tow.
4. Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria has been splitting her time between Spain and Mexico, following both career opportunities and her husband’s family roots. Insisting that her relocation wasn’t political, with the shifted energy in California, she considers herself lucky to have the choice to live abroad while she keeps up a balance of work and family.
3. Rosie O’Donnell
Rosie O’Donnell moved to Ireland with her 12-year-old child, Clay, citing the U.S. political climate as one of her major factors for doing so. Worried about civil rights and equality, O’Donnell is pursuing Irish citizenship, embracing her new home as a place of safety and stability, even though she continues to miss other family members and friends in America.
2. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi
Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi settled in England’s Cotswolds, enchanted by a countryside farmhouse Ellen fell in love with. After the second presidency of Donald Trump, the move became permanent, driven by a yearning for simplicity and peace. Ellen has praised the UK’s people, their kindness to animals, and the overall slower pace of life that made their new home a sanctuary from the public eye.
1. Richard Gere
Richard Gere leads the list as he relocated to Spain along with his wife, Alejandra Silva, and their children. The move was largely about family and culture: Gere wanted his children to grow closer to Alejandra’s heritage. He has also kept a home near New York and has stated that in the next few years, the family may return to the U.S.; however, for now, Spain is where they call home.
These celebrities join a larger trend of Americans moving abroad, a phenomenon that surged over the 2024 election. For example, Spanish immigration services received a 300% increase in inquiries from Americans, while searches for “move abroad” reached record highs.
But what’s fascinating is this: Are they expats or immigrants? It’s often just about semantics, not visas. Shows like Emily in Paris show us that Americans in Europe are often called “expats,” but others who live in similar situations are often labeled “immigrants.” Factors like social status, money, and race play a huge part in how these moves are viewed.
This is not a new pattern in Hollywood. During the McCarthy era, blacklisted writers and filmmakers, among them Norma Barzman and her husband Ben, fled to Europe and stayed there in exile for decades. Their stories marked how politics, art, and personal freedom have always shaped where and how Hollywood’s brightest choose to live. Whether it’s through politics, peace, or the mere pursuit of a better croissant, these stars prove that sometimes, the best way to find yourself is to get a little lost abroad.