The eight most successful American celebrities from south Africa right now –On The Verge of Stardom

Those who have made it big in the United States as actors and actresses from South Africa hail from various cultural and ethnic origins. Everyone is welcome in Hollywood. It casts performers from all walks of life in Mzansi, including those who identify as different ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, faiths, tribes, etc. To learn more about South African actors in Hollywood. 

American celebrities from South Africa are rightfully proud of the many famous natives who have worked tirelessly to spread the country’s name worldwide. There are also well-known actors and actresses of South African ancestry who have taken the Hollywood leap and made it big in the United States.

Read on to learn about some of America’s biggest stars who trace their roots to South Africa. Several will take you by complete surprise.

Top Famous American celebrities from South Africa

We all know that Charlize Theron, Sharlto Copley, and Arnold Vosloo are all South African actors working in Hollywood. Similarly, American filmmakers Neill Blomkamp and Gavin Hood are making waves in Hollywood.

Since we are already aware of their origins, we have chosen to find out who else may claim Rainbow Nation ancestry by birth or blood. Our top eight discoveries of American celebrities from South Africa are listed below.

1- Elon Musk

As reported by Forbes, the world’s wealthiest individual hails from South Africa.

Elon Musk’s mother is Canadian, but her father was born in South Africa. Therefore he has a South African father and a Canadian mother. His early years were spent in Pretoria, South Africa, but at 17, he fled to the United States to evade induction into the army.

Elon Musk is the chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of Tesla and SpaceX, respectively. He is also the company’s chief engineer. He helped start some companies, including Paypal.

Elon Musk is one of the wealthiest persons in the world, with an estimated $221 billion to his name.

2- Arnold Vosloo Arnold 

That guy, Arnold Vosloo Arnold, is an outstanding performer who has achieved his level of success on the strength of his abilities. As an actor, he has garnered widespread acclaim and several accolades. Arnold made essential contributions to the national theater of his birth country of South Africa. 

Arnold’s South African stage works, including “More Is ‘n Lang Dag,” “Don Juan,” and “Torch Song Trilogy,” have garnered him several accolades. He was a mainstay at the State Theatre in South Africa and starred in the film Savages. 

3- Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is a highly paid-and respected Hollywood actress.

She’s been in a tonne of movies and received a tonne of accolades. She made history by being the first South African to win an Oscar for Best Actress.

Charlize is a South African native, having been reared in the city of Benoni in the province of Gauteng. Her mother shot and murdered her drunken father, who threatened to hurt her and her sister Charlize while she was only a teenager.

Theron currently has dual citizenship with the United States and South Africa.

4- Harry Potter 

The Harry Potter film franchise is worth an estimated $21 billion, making it one of the most successful in the history of the cinema industry. There are American celebrities from South Africa. The film’s protagonist, Harry, is the show-stopper. 

Daniel Radcliffe, the series’ main character, has a net worth of $110 million. Also, the fact that Radcliffe’s mom, Marcia Jacobson, is from South Africa is a massive feather in our saffa cap. This Hollywood star has family in South Africa.

5- Lesley-Ann Brandt

 If you’ve seen the American TV show Lucifer, you may recall the stunning demon named Mazikeen, portrayed by Lesley-Ann Brandt.

Lesley-Ann Bradt, now 40 years old, was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1981. Later, she moved to New Zealand with her family, where she began her career as a model and actress.

She has also starred in other TV shows, such as Spartacus: Gods of the Arena and Spartacus: Blood and Sand, in addition to her involvement in Lucifer.

6- Sasha Pieterse

Sasha Pieterse is another successful Hollywood actor; she’s also a singer, songwriter, and multi-talented American superstar.

The 26-year-old has been nominated for and won a few accolades for her roles in some films and TV programmes, including Pretty Little Liars and Family Affair.

However, there are American celebrities from South Africa. After being born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Sasha Pieterse moved to the United States with her family and became a prominent Hollywood actress.

7- Trevor Noah

Trevor Noah, a comedian, is one of the funniest people alive.

A product of an African mother and a Dutch father, the 38-year-old grew up in Soweto during the Apartheid era.

Trevor Noah was already well-known as a radio broadcaster, TV personality, and comedian when he moved to the United States in 2011.

After relocating to the United States, he first appeared on The Tonight Show in 2012, then hosted Tonight with Trevor Noah before becoming a reporter and then host on The Daily Show.

Currently, Trevor Noah is achieving all his American dream goals. His humour has gone global, and he is successful professionally and financially.

Among the highest honours in the entertainment industry, Trevor Noah presided over the Grammys in 2021.

8- Fana Mokoena

Fana Mokoena was starring with Brad Pitt in the apocalyptic horror flick World War Z (2013). In addition to his acting career, the actor is active in the Economic Freedom Fighters. Between May 2014 to August 2016, he served as a member of parliament for the Free State and, in that capacity, as a representative to the National Council of Provinces. American celebrities from South Africa, National Assembly appointed Fana Mokoena as a full member in August 2016, and her term will run until October 2020. 

Conclusion

American celebrities from South Africa are a top-tier intellectual and technical powerhouse on the African continent. Furthermore, the administration has seen great promise in the field of entertainment. This article looks at some of the highest-paid South African actors and actresses, who are very successful both at home and abroad and bring in significant foreign exchange for the country.