The TV Addict 

First off, to all the REELaddict readers whom I am honored to call my fellow countrymen and women, I’d like to wish you a wonderful Canada Day, no matter where you may be spending it, and who with. Second, for those of you who may accidently stumble onto the internet and this site during the course of your day, I thought that in honor of Canada Day I’d throw out a quick list of ten of my favorite Canadian actors. Because all Canadians rock, and today shouldn’t be about competition, I’ve only listed them alphabetically.

Please feel free to contribute your own favorites. You can even throw in other Canadian filmmakers if you like, whether it be directors, producers, screenwriters, etc. Also if there are any Americans out there who also have Canadian filmmakers they love, please feel free to throw in your two cents as well.

Will Arnett
Though he is making his way more and more into film, Will Arnett will forever hold a special Canadian place in my heart for his consistently hilarious performance as Gob on the much-missed TV-show ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT.

Sarah Carter
I’ve had a pretty big crush on Sarah Carter since her sexy guest spots on both SMALLVILLE and ENTOURAGE. After a few unsuccessful films, Carter has found a permanent place on the TV show SHARK, making her one of the many Canadian actors representing our country on the boob tube. Hm. That was probably a bad time to use the expression “boob tube.” Pun not intended. I think.

Tom Cavanagh
I wish Tom Cavangh were my best friend. I think he’s awesome, whether it be his charming roles on the now defunct show ED and LOVE MONKYE, his amazing recurring character on SCRUBS, or his turns in the films ALCHEMY (with fellow Canadian, Sarah Chalke), GRAY MATTERS, or BREAKFAST WITH SCOT. Besides the latter was not only a Canadian film, he played a former Maple Leafs hockey player. It doesn’t get more Canadian than that folks.

Sarah Chalke
Sarah Chalke has long been one of my favorite Canadians because of her awesomeness on the TV show SCRUBS. Her recent migration to another favorite TV comedy of mine (HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER) only makes her even cooler. Also, the girl is fluent in German, and as a German-Canadian myself that pretty much seals the deal for me. It’d be great because we could say mean things about you right in front of your face, and you would never know.

Caroline Dhavernas
I’ve been an admirer of Caroline since her turn in the quickly canceled, Niagra based TV show WONDERFALLS. Really, that would have been enough to endear her for years to come, but she’s kept it going with appearences in Canadian films like THESE GIRLS, NIAGRA MOTEL, and SURVIVING MY MOTHER, as well as representing Canada in high profile American films such as HOLLYWOODLAND and BREACH.

Nathan Fillion
If you don’t know who Nathan Fillion is then shame on you. Go to a video store, rent the TV show FIREFLY and the movies SERENITY and WAITRESS. Then come back here, and you’ll understand why he’s on this list. For those of you who do know him, now would be the appropriate time to do what I always do when I think of Nathan FIllion: sigh.

Brendan Fraser
Though Fraser wasn’t actually born in Canada, his father was Canadian, he has dual citizenship, and speaks fluent French. What I like about him most is that unlike many actors he seems so incredibly comfortable doing comedy and drama. He is so much goofy fun in films like GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE, BLAST FROM THE PAST, THE MUMMY movies, and SCRUBS on TV (what is with Canadians and SCRUBS?), Yet he’s also powerful in dramatic performances in GODS AND MONSTERS, THE QUIET AMERICAN, and THE AIR I BREATHE. You wouldn’t even find a greater range than that in the farm country of Alberta.

Ryan Gosling
Regardless of nation, Gosling is one of the best actors of his generation, what with films like THE BELIEVER, HALF NELSON, FRACTURE and LARS AND THE REAL GIRL. That of course doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be all the more proud to claim him as one of our own, especially after putting something like this behind him.

Bruce Greenwood
Ever since THIRTEEN DAYS where he was robbed of an Oscar nomination for playing perhaps one of the quintessential American presidents (JFK), I’ve been waiting for Greenwood to break out. He’s done okay for himself, obviously, starring in no end of high profile pictures, but he rarely has gotten the leading role I think he would excel at. That doesn’t mean I’m not always happy to see him, and don’t continually root for him to bring Canada the Oscar that I know he could. One day, Greenwood. One day.

Ryan Reynolds
The very fact that Reynolds managed to get Scarlett Johansson I think should be celebrated as a shared national accomplishment. That’s like winning the Gold Medal of the relationship Olympics (even if he had to dump a fellow Canadian, i.e. Alanis Morissette to get there). It doesn’t hurt either that the guy seems infinitely cool in a distinctly Canadian way, has supported Canadian films in the past (FOOLPROOF), and has starred in amusing comedies, action films, and dramas. With his career seemingly taking off now, we can add another mega-movie star to our national list.

For theTVaddict.com’s list of Favorite Canadian Small Screen Stars, click here.