Major Celebrities Who Left the U.S. Amid Trump Presidency and Current Political Climate

Over the past decade a noticeable group of stars have shifted their lives outside the United States. Some did it to raise kids closer to extended family or to find a quieter daily routine. Others wanted stricter privacy laws, different schools, or a fresh creative base in Europe, the Middle East, or Oceania. A few were open about feeling worn out by the political temperature back home and said life felt calmer elsewhere.

This list gathers major names who established a primary base abroad during or after the Trump years. For each one you will find where they moved, when they made the change, and what they said about the reasons behind it. Many still work regularly in the States, but their day to day lives run from new addresses overseas.

Amber Heard

Amber Heard relocated to Spain following her high profile legal battles and settled in Madrid with her daughter. She has said Spain offered privacy, a slower routine, and a place where she could walk around without being followed. She has been learning Spanish and has described locals as respectful of boundaries.

Workwise she began taking more European projects and built her schedule around her daughter’s schooling. Friends close to the move said the plan was to keep a long term base there while returning to the U.S. only for specific shoots and court obligations.

Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp established a base in the English countryside and spends long stretches in Somerset when not touring or filming. He has spoken about preferring a rural routine where he can go into town for groceries and not be photographed every minute.

He keeps professional commitments across Europe, including music tours and film work that often shoots on the continent. The quieter setting gives him space to paint and record, with brief trips back to the U.S. strictly for work.

Pamela Anderson

Pamela Anderson sold her Malibu property and moved home to Vancouver Island in Canada. She described the decision as a reset that let her be near family and return to a place that felt grounding.

From the island she wrote, developed projects, and restored her property while keeping travel minimal. She has said she enjoys being anonymous in local shops and beaches, which helps her focus on writing and advocacy work.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan has made Dubai her home for years and stayed there through the Trump era and beyond. She has said the city’s strict privacy culture and low paparazzi presence allowed her to live a normal day without harassment.

Her family life is based in the United Arab Emirates while she accepts film and television roles that shoot in Europe and the U.S. When work calls she travels, but her day to day routine, health care, and schooling choices are all centered in Dubai.

James Corden

After finishing his late night run in Los Angeles, James Corden moved his family back to London. He explained that he wanted his children to grow up near grandparents and cousins and that the window to do that was closing.

Corden launched audio and production ventures from the U.K. and now flies in for short U.S. jobs rather than living full time in California. He also noted that a school routine in London made travel easier to plan than the nonstop schedule of a nightly show.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan moved to Mexico in 2020 and has been candid about feeling calmer living outside the U.S. She said the political atmosphere and constant noise around her activism took a toll and that she needed a place where she could walk in peace.

She set up a small creative workspace, continued writing, and appeared remotely for interviews. McGowan has said the slower rhythm in the Yucatán region improved her sleep and daily health, which made her more productive.

Chris Hemsworth

Chris Hemsworth shifted his family life to Byron Bay in Australia after years in Los Angeles. He has said the move was about raising kids near grandparents and giving them more space to run around near the beach.

From Australia he takes global productions and commutes for work when needed. The family routine revolves around local schools and sports, and he has emphasized that the distance helps him switch off between films.

Zac Efron

Zac Efron spent extended time living in Australia during the pandemic and sold a Los Angeles property while he was based there. He spoke about enjoying the community feel in coastal towns and how the lifestyle helped his fitness and recovery.

Work commitments still take him around the world, but he has kept close ties in Australia through reality adventures and film shoots. The period abroad pushed him to look for projects that did not require a permanent Los Angeles address.

Sacha Baron Cohen

Sacha Baron Cohen moved his family out of Los Angeles during the pandemic and spent time in Australia before re establishing a base in the United Kingdom. He said being closer to extended family mattered and the travel grind with children had become too heavy.

His production work now splits between London and European locations, which reduces long haul flights. He returns to the U.S. for selected roles or promotion but does not treat Los Angeles as home.

Isla Fisher

Isla Fisher made the same shift alongside Baron Cohen, first to Australia and later back to the U.K. She has described how schooling and proximity to relatives drove the change more than any single job.

Fisher continued to book projects across Australia and Britain and has said that being close to family support made her work schedule more manageable. The United States remains a work stop rather than a living base.

Madonna

Madonna moved to Lisbon while her son trained in an elite youth academy there. She said she wanted to be in the same city while he chased a dream and she also loved immersing herself in local music scenes.

While based in Portugal she collaborated with Lisbon artists and developed new sounds, then later shifted back for tours and U.S. residencies. The years abroad proved that she could rework her career from Europe without losing momentum.

Alicia Vikander

Alicia Vikander has lived in Lisbon with Michael Fassbender and has called the city safe and calm for raising a family. She said the scale of Lisbon made everyday errands simple and that she could move around without constant attention.

Her film choices kept her in Europe for long stretches, with occasional U.S. projects added when timing worked. She has highlighted that a European base makes both stage and film work easier to juggle.

Michael Fassbender

Michael Fassbender settled in Lisbon as well and spoke about wanting a place that worked for both acting and his motor racing schedule. A European base puts major racing circuits and film hubs within short flights.

He continues to work in Ireland, the U.K., and continental Europe, with U.S. trips focused on premieres and specific roles. Family life in Portugal provides the consistency between projects that he said he was missing.

Shania Twain

Shania Twain has long kept her primary home in Switzerland and doubled down on that choice over the past decade. She has cited privacy and a peaceful environment as reasons it works for her family.

Living in Europe has not slowed her career, since tours and recording can be planned around seasonal moves. She returns to North America for extended runs, then heads back to a lake region in Switzerland that she describes as restorative.

James Cameron

James Cameron built a large sustainable farm in New Zealand and has spent much of the last decade living there. He has talked about the space, the environmental goals of the property, and the ease of filming large scale projects in the region.

He still oversees work in North America, but the practical base for his family life and much of his production planning sits in New Zealand. He has said the setup allows him to focus without the daily churn he felt in Los Angeles.

Simon Baker

After years in the States for television work, Simon Baker re established his base in Australia. He spoke about reconnecting with friends and family and about wanting to tell more Australian stories.

His recent projects shot locally, which kept him at home for longer stretches. Baker still travels to the U.S. for select roles, but his primary home and creative circle are now back in New South Wales.

Gillian Anderson

Gillian Anderson has spent much of her recent career based in London and maintained that choice through the Trump years. She has said the U.K. gives her access to stage roles and British television that fit her schedule as a parent.

Anderson works frequently in Europe and returns to the U.S. only for concentrated shoots or awards season. The London base keeps her close to collaborators and lets her avoid the constant cross Atlantic commute.

Keira Knightley

After long stints working from Los Angeles earlier in her career, Keira Knightley built her family life in London. She has spoken about prioritizing privacy, a consistent school routine for her children, and a shorter commute to most of her roles.

Knightley continues to shoot on both sides of the Atlantic but treats London as the stable home address. The change reduced travel time and gave her a predictable family schedule between projects.

Jason Statham

Jason Statham and his family have been based in London in recent years after long spells in Los Angeles. He has focused more of his business and training life in the U.K., which puts him near European shoots and partners.

Statham still films in the States when a project calls, but the family calendar centers on schools and work in London. The move also placed them closer to relatives and a familiar support network.

Daniel Day-Lewis

Daniel Day-Lewis stepped away from acting and settled into a quiet life in Ireland after years of splitting time with the U.S. He has kept a very low profile and is rarely photographed, which is easier to maintain there.

The shift abroad coincided with his retirement, so travel to the U.S. now happens only for personal reasons. Friends noted that the countryside pace suits the routines he prefers away from film sets.

Share the names we missed and tell us where they moved in the comments.