We focus a lot on everyday Americans leaving the United States, some in search of a different quality of life, others fleeing Trump’s second term. But the truth is, moving east across the Atlantic isn’t a new trend; many creative Americans – writers, actors, directors – of the past century have moved to Europe, whether it’s for inspiration, finding artistic communities, or simply a chance to sip wine in a café and enjoy a slower pace of life.
Whether it’s Fitzgerald or Hemingway and the rest of the Lost Generation moving to Paris, or Stanley Kubrick and John Singer Sargent moving to the London area, many creative Americans over the years have realized they feel more at home abroad. And these days, many celebrities are making the same choice.
Who are they? Let’s take a look:
Rosie O’Donnell – Ireland
Actress, comedian, host and activist Rosie O’Donnell, has been making headlines lately as US President Trump threatens to revoke her citizenship. Lucky for O’Donnell, it seems like she might not care much either way, considering she has already made a new home for herself abroad – in Ireland.
She applied for citizenship through descent and moved on 15 January, mere days before Trump’s inauguration. Now, O’Donnell lives with her partner and son in Dublin where she says her child is adjusting well to their new school and neighborhood.
O’Donnell has had a years-long feud with Trump, who relentlessly bullied her after she – on her show, “The View” – criticized his ability to be a “moral authority” after his multiple affairs and divorces. She was driven to Ireland not only by the political climate, but also out of a sense of protection for her child. As Rosie said, “I know myself enough to know that this was something I needed to do for the safety and sanity of myself and my non-binary child.”
Ellen DeGeneres – England
The actress (“Finding Nemo”) and talk show host faced a huge scandal in 2022 when some of her less savory behind-the-scenes behaviors and treatment of crew members became public. DeGeneres apologized and disappeared from the spotlight for a while, coming back with a Netflix special in 2024 called “For Your Approval.”
She had hinted before her special that, after it was done, she would leave Hollywood altogether. And leave she did, buying a mansion in England’s Cotswolds district with her long-term partner, Portia de Rossi.
Though she hasn’t publicly commented on her reasons for the move, many suspect it’s a combination of her wanting to stay out of the U.S. limelight after her scandal and the current political climate in the U.S.
Eva Longoria – Spain
Texas-born, Spanish-fluent Eva Longoria now calls Marbella home, living in a mansion with her husband, Jose Bastón, and her son Santiago. The “Desperate Housewives” actress bought her house in Spain in 2023, putting her LA mansion up for sale the following year, signaling that she intended to stay abroad.
However, Longoria has gone on record to clarify she didn’t move because of political turmoil or other such issues but because her work took her abroad. Longoria and her family had been splitting time between Spain and Mexico for years while filming series such as the Prime mini-series “Searching for Mexico,” and grew to love life abroad. At the same time, she felt the entertainment industry and general atmosphere in the city she had called home for years – Los Angeles – was changing and not in a good way. So, she decided to make the move permanent.
Josh Hartnett – England
If you were wondering where Josh Hartnett had been before his appearance in the blockbuster “Oppenheimer,” the answer is: living a quiet life in the English countryside. Hartnett and his wife, British actress Tamsin Egerton, moved to England before the birth of their third child in 2019. Part of the reason was to be closer to Egerton’s family. But as Hartnett has stated, he also never really felt at home in LA.
As he told PEOPLE magazine:
Hollywood is more than a place; it’s like a state of mind. If you’re around people who are constantly talking about the movie business, your life is going to be pretty much one note. And I’ve never wanted that.
Hartnett and his wife are now raising four kids in Hampshire where they can enjoy the countryside while raising animals and living away from the limelight.
Minnie Driver – England
It might not sound that surprising that London-born Minnie Driver finally decided to move back to England, but the “Good Will Hunting” actress called Los Angeles home for a whole 27 years before going back across the pond. She has even said, “I identify as Californian.” However, Driver’s son Henry switched to a UK school during COVID, and seems to have found a deep love for his British origins. So, as any loving mother would, Minnie followed her son back to London.
The actress hasn’t nixed the idea of going back to the U.S. entirely; she told the Times of London, “I will always be between both places, but my son’s at school here, so if I’m not working, I’m wherever he is.”
Richard Gere – Spain
Acclaimed actor Richard Gere has moved permanently to Spain with his wife, Alejandra Silva. According to Gere, it was only fair that he should sell his Connecticut home to move to Spain, as his Spanish wife had spent years away from her home to be with him in the U.S., so he thought he should return the favor.
He told Vanity Fair Spain, “for Alejandra, it will be wonderful to be closer to her family, her lifelong friends and her culture.” However, the actor has also said the couple plan to return to the U.S. after a few years abroad.
George Clooney – France
As if George Clooney didn’t have a charmed enough life, with movie star good looks and money as well as an accomplished, beautiful wife, he has also now moved to idyllic Provence. Clooney and his wife Amal purchased an 18th century estate spread over 425 acres in Brignoles for $8.3 million back in 2021.
Today, the couple lives there along with their twin daughters and have been embracing life in France, tending to their vineyard and luxuriating in the stunning countryside. Of course, country life isn’t new for Clooney, who grew up in Kentucky. He’s said he enjoys being back in a more rural setting and even drives a tractor around his new estate.
Shania Twain – Switzerland
Canadian singer Shania Twain has lived in Corseaux, Switzerland for more than 10 years, sharing a home on Lake Geneva with her husband, Frederic Thiebaud. When Twain first decided to move, she was at the peak of her popularity. She later shared with various media outlets that the fame and attention she was getting at the time felt overwhelming. Moving to the quiet countryside of Switzerland, living in a culture with a deep respect for privacy, was a reprieve.
Her husband at the time was also Swiss, which influenced her decision to change residences. Switzerland is honored that Twain now calls the country home, even naming a Golden Pass Express train after her: the “Shania Train.”
Lily Collins – Copenhagen
“Emily in Paris” actress Lily Collins has been working in Europe for years now, thanks to the hit Netflix show she stars in, but in 2023 she decided to make the move across the ocean permanent. Instead of Paris, Collins and her husband, Charlie McDowell, chose Copenhagen as their new home. According to her interviews, she’s been loving every minute of her life in Denmark.
As she told Elle Danmark, “life here is just so wonderful and so calm and bright … it feels like a big city but also very intimate, and everyone is so nice.” Having her residence in Copenhagen must make flying back home for the weekend from “Emily in Paris” shoots much, much easier.
This post is just a partial list and will be updated periodically.
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Joanna Kalafatis
Joanna Kalafatis is a Greek-American travel writer and actress who has lived in Greece, the U.S., and the UK, and currently resides in Athens, Greece. She wrote "Best of Greece" for Moon Travel Guides and has a travel blog at LosetheMap.com; her work has also appeared in Time Out New York, Business Insider, and Matador Network. Joanna has traveled to over 50 countries and plans to visit every destination in the world.
