Although the list of Irish American actresses is a tough list to follow, IrishCentral.com have put together a list of those Irish American actors that make women around the world go weak in the knees.
1 George Clooney
George Clooney is the kind of acting legend who transcends generations. Mothers and daughters both are in awe of this brilliant Hollywood actor who’s been on our screens since he shot to fame in his “Roseanne” debut in 1989. Since then, he’s won people’s hearts as Doug Ross in “ER”, as Danny Ocean in all three “Ocean’s” movies and as the title character in “Michael Clayton."
Clooney’s Irishness is all on his fathers’s side. His paternal great-great-grandparents, Nicholas Clooney (of County Kilkenny) and Bridget Byron, immigrated to the United States from Ireland.
2 Ryan Reynolds
So he’s Irish Canadian, but we feel he should be allowed to slip in here. Ryan Reynolds has become a staple when it comes to comedy and action movies of late. He started on in the brilliant sitcom “Two Guys a Girl and a Pizza Place” and now he’s starring in hit comedies like “The Proposal” and absolutely terrifying looking movies like “Buried”.
He was born in Vancouver, Canada is of Irish ancestry and was raised as a Roman Catholic.
3 Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper has become that cheeky chappy in Hollywood who plays the characters that everyone loves to hate. From the worst best man in history in “The Hangover” to “He’s Just Not That In To You”. Now he’s branching out into what looks to be a terrifying horror “Case 39."
Cooper was born and raised in Pennsylvania and is of Irish descent on his father’s side.
4 Robert Downey, Jr.
Not only is he a brilliant actor, and cute to boot, but he’s also managed to go from the rock bottom of drug addiction, and generally being a mess, to being one of Hollywood elite again. From “Ally McBeal” to “Tropic Thunder” and now “Ironman” and “Sherlock Holmes” Downey is a class act.
Downey was born in Manhattan, New York and his father is of Irish and Russian ancestry.
5 Ben Affleck
From small beginnings in “Mallrats” and “Chasing Amy” to his Oscar-winning “Good Will Hunting”, to a list of other blockbuster movies over the last decades, Ben Affleck is now Hollywood royalty. This year Ben Affleck has really proven himself as a director in “The Town." It wouldn’t be that much of a shock if the Boston boy was up for another Oscar this year.
Affleck and his brother Casey were born in California but spent their formative years in Massachusetts. The Afflecks are of Irish, Scottish and English ancestry.
6 Mark Wahlberg
From the horrific beginning of Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch as a rapper, Wahlberg has become one of the busiest actors and producers in TV and film. He has starred in some hugely successful movies like “The Departed” and “The Other Guys” and he’s also a co-executive producer on the HBO series “Entourage." Next he’s going to play the role of Irish boxer Micky Ward in “The Fighter”.
Wahlberg is one of nine children born in Dorchester, Boston. His family is of Swedish, Irish, English and French Canadian ancestry.
7 Ashton Kutcher
Ashton Kutcher is now such a big deal that he seems to make a living off his Twitter account. Kutcher’s career started in “That’s 70s Show” as the loveable eejit Kelso. Since then he’s appeared in movies such as “Dude, Where’s my Car," “The Butterfly Effect” and “What Happens in Vegas." He also helped create TV shows such as “Punk’d," “Room 401” and “Beauty and the Geek."
Kutcher was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Diane (nee Finnegan). He is of part Irish ancestry and was raised as a conservative Roman Catholic.
8 Matthew McConaughey
After some pretty minor roles in the early 1990s, Matthew McConaughy sky-rocketed to fame after his role in “Dazed and Confused." He then starred in movies such as “A Time to Kill," “Sahara” and “We Are Marshall." He’s best know for, one, not being able to keep his top on for long and, two, his roles in romantic comedy’s such as “The Wedding Planner," “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” and “Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past."
McConaughey is one of three boys born in Uvalde, Texas to Mary Kathleen (nee McCabe) and James Donald McConaughey. He is of Irish descent.
9 Chris Evans
Famously Chris Evan’s played the Human Torch in “Fantastic Four” and "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer”. Of course this led to years of jokes like “he’s too hot to handle” et cetera, but we tend to agree. He also starred in a much underrated thriller “Cellular” and soon he’ll be gracing our silver screens as the one and only “Captain America."
Evan’s was born in Sudbury Massachusetts and is of Italian (on his maternal grandfather’s side) and Irish descent.
10 Vince Vaughn
Since his great movie "Swingers" with best friend and comedy soulmate Jon Favreau, we have been of the opinion that Vince Vaughn is “so the money." There’s no denying it that he brings charm, class and comedy to everything he touches. Just some of his more recent films are “Anchorman," “The Break-up” and “Couples Retreat."
Vaughn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and is of Irish, Italian, English, German, and Lebanese ancestory.
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