It's nothing new -- Canadians have been prominent on the big screen for decades. In fact, for three consecutive years from 1929-1931, the winners of the Best Actress Oscar were Canadian: Mary Pickford, Norma Shearer and Marie Dressler. This trend has not dissipated, with several other Canucks hitting the ultimate film jackpot since then (ahem, James Cameron).

So in hono(u)r of Canada's 145th birthday on July 1, we present to you our very favo(u)rite Canadian movie actors.

(We couldn't possibly name every single Canadian film actor out there, so we just chose a few of our favourites. If there is a very glaring omission, please let us know and we might include!)

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  • Ryan Gosling

    The man is literally unstoppable right now. "The Ides of March," "Drive" and "Crazy, Stupid, Love" all did well -- and those were just released in the past year. Who knows what's to come?

  • Rachel McAdams

    Who doesn't love this woman? A born-and-bred Canadian, McAdams still has a home in Toronto. Her stock has risen exponentially since "Mean Girls," and she's well-liked for her performance in "The Notebook." Her turn in the "Sherlock Holmes" movies (and her recent co-starring role in "The Vow") have only upped her stock.

  • Christopher Plummer

    If he stopped working after "The Sound of Music," he'd still have a beloved career, but the legendary thespian keeps working. He not only appeared in "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," but finally snagged his first Oscar (at the age of 82!) for last year's <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/beginners/10048706/main" target="_hplink">"Beginners." </a>

  • Anna Paquin

    It's a rare thing for an Oscar-winning child actor to move on to further success, but that's exactly what Paquin did! She was terrific as Rogue in the "X-Men" franchise, and now she vamps it up weekly on "True Blood."

  • Ellen Page

    She describes herself on her Twitter account as a "tiny Canadian," and boy is it true! Luckily for her, her personality far outweighs her tiny stature. With starring roles in "Juno" and "Inception," and with two upcoming films, be expecting more from Page in the near future.

  • Ryan Reynolds

    Reynolds has had a couple flops in the past year -- "Green Lantern" and "The Change Up" among them -- but it hasn't seemed to hinder his star power. He's still in high demand, and he was voted People's Sexiest Man in 2010, so we don't think he's going anywhere.

  • Jay Baruchel

    This funnyman has been on camera for most of his life, starting on TV and working his way to movies. In each of his roles, from "Tropic Thunder" to "Goon," Baruchel has a way of connecting with the audience without losing the funny. A diehard Canadian, the actor has a maple leaf tattooed over his heart.

  • Michael J. Fox

    Sure, he hasn't been in very many movies lately, but when you think about his performance(s) in the "Back to the Future" franchise, you remember why he's so well-loved. Plus, "Teen Wolf." That is all.

  • Sarah Polley

    Sara is like indie currency up in the Great White North; with a lifetime of award-winning performances, she decided to up her game by getting behind the camera. Her <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/away-from-her/27285/main" target="_hplink">debut netted an Oscar nom</a> and her second film, the just-released "Take This Waltz," has got serious buzz for the beautfiful, sensual imagery and surprising performances from Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen and Sarah Silverman.

  • Donald Sutherland

    The prolific icon has done it all, starring in some of the most beloved movies in history ("M*A*S*H," "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," "Animal House" to name a few). And he's ingratiated himself to new generations with the perfect depiction of President Snow in "The Hunger Games."

  • Jim Carrey

    He's been laying low recently (save for the occasional guest spot on "The Office" and "30 Rock"). But the rubber-faced madman has earned the right to pick and choose the right projects -- which is why he's not doing <a href="http://news.moviefone.com/2012/06/20/dumb-and-dumber-2-jim-carrey-out_n_1612837.html" target="_hplink">a "Dumb and Dumber" sequel</a>, but will star opposite Steve Carrell in next year's dueling Vegas magicians movie, "Burt Wonderstone."

  • Seth Rogen

    Speaking of <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/take-this-waltz/10067865/main" target="_hplink">"Take This Waltz,"</a> Rogen's turn as a sweet, caring husband who has no idea he's losing his wife to another man, fits perfectly with last year's cancer comedy "50/50" as another example of his growing range as a talented actor. He's smartly proving he's more than just a slacker schlub.

  • Sarah Gadon

    Sure, you may have never heard of her, but she's director David Cronenberg's latest darling. With small-ish roles in "A Dangerous Method" and "Cosmopolis," Gadon's star is on the rise. See her next in "An Enemy," where she stars next to Jake Gyllenhaal.

  • Taylor Kitsch

    Poor Kitsch just can't catch a break. He's getting a terrible rep in the business as a "movie killer" for his latest releases, "John Carter" and "Battleship." We still hold out hope for him, though, with his next film, "Savages."

  • Mike Myers

    What an enigma. You couldn't touch Myers in the '90s -- his movies ("Austin Powers," "Wayne's World") grossed millions and he was considered part of the comedy elite. Somewhere along the way he got a bit lost, but his popularity has recently resurged with an under-the-radar role in "Inglourious Basterds." And let's not forget he's the voice of Shrek.

  • Dan Aykroyd

    OK, so we're probably never going to get "Ghostbusters 3," but at least he's got "Yogi Bear" to fall back on. When he's not busy selling his brand of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Head_Vodka" target="_hplink">Crystal Head Vodka</a>, he's planning on writing a new big-screen team-up with former "SNL" castmate Chevy Chase.

  • Eugene Levy

    Canadian funnyman Levy just has this <em>thing</em>, this certain comedic approach that sucks you right in. Hilarious roles, like his appearance as Jason Biggs' dad in the "American Pie" series, or his various appearances in Christopher Guest's mockumentaries are infinitely memorable. And that's just the tip of the iceberg with this guy.

  • Michael Cera

    Currently on Broadway, Cera has established himself as the awkward-teen-guy in Hollywood. The critically successful "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" and the underwatched "Youth in Revolt" solidified his place in the teen movie canon. We'll enjoy him as much as we can now, since we're not sure how he'll fit into the picture when he transitions to adult roles.

  • Alison Pill

    After turning heads as Zelda Fitzgerald in "Midnight in Paris," she impressed Woody Allen enough to come back for <a href="http://www.moviefone.com/movie/to-rome-with-love/10058952/main" target="_hplink">"To Rome With Love." </a> And you can also see her on HBO's just-premiered "The Newsroom"; not a bad resume start for someone born <em>after</em> "Back to the Future" and "The Goonies."

  • Catherine O'Hara

    O'Hara hardly needs a description -- the woman is one of the funniest actors that ever graced the big screen. She's in so many movies they're hard to count, but we loved her in "Beetlejuice," "Where the Wild Things Are," and her more serious turn as Mom in "Home Alone." Looking forward to her performance in the upcoming "Frakenweenie."

  • Rick Moranis

    Please come back Rick, you are sorely missed! We understand your noble decision to put raising your children in front of a Hollywood career, but as other comedians of your era have aged not-so-gracefully, you went out on a perfect high note and will always have us wanting more.

  • Carrie-Anne Moss

    While her most memorable role was Trinity in "The Matrix," Moss has done many things since, including a role in "Disturbia," the role of Gertrude on TV show "Chuck," and she continues to do awesome things like voice video games (Mass Effect 2 and 3).


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