20 Welsh icons who have made a big impact in the US

Raised among Wales’s distinctive landscapes and communities, these standout figures have carried their roots with them as they’ve built international reputations. Here are 20 of the most recognisable Welsh names to make a lasting impact across music, sport, film and business in the US.

Proud to be from Cardiff’s Tiger Bay, Dame Shirley Bassey is the legendary voice behind three James Bond classics - Goldfinger (1964), Diamonds Are Forever (1971) and Moonraker (1979). Being part of a huge film franchise has helped make Bassey one of Wales’ most well-known musical exports. Beyond Bond, Bassey was the first Welsh artist to get a UK number one single with As I Love You, and she is also well known for iconic hits like Big Spender, and her glamorous on-stage persona that has ensured her presence on the cultural scene for over seventy years.

Well-known as Britain’s bestselling classical artist of the past 25 years, Katherine Jenkins has bought her strong Welsh vocals to stages across the globe, from the Sydney Opera House, to her first US appearance at Joe’s Pub in New York City, and in doing so her distinct mezzo-soprano vocals have won over a global fanbase. Katherine also competed in the 2012 series of Dancing with the Stars, finishing as a runner-up with her partner, Mark Ballas.

With hits like It’s Not Unusual, Delilah and What’s New Pussycat?, Sir Tom Jones is among the most recognisable voices in global music. Born in the Welsh mining town of Pontypridd in 1940, Tom was deeply inspired by American soul music in his youth. Later, as his star ascended, Jones brought Wales to the world, and was a particular hit in the US where he dominated stages from coast to coast, with his unique brand of showmanship particularly suited to the bright lights of Las Vegas. His TV variety show This Is Tom Jones was broadcast by ABC and saw the Welshman nominated for best actor at the 1970 Golden Globes.

The award-winning Welsh bass-baritone has performed on stages from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera, to London’s Covent Garden. His US debut as Figaro at the Santa Fe Opera in 1991 was one of the performances that sparked his international career. Terfel was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his contributions to opera and was knighted in 2017.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of his generation, Joe Calzaghe is the longest-reigning super-middleweight world champion in history. He held the title for more than a decade, successfully defending it 20 times, and retired undefeated with the longest world-title reign of any active boxer at the time. Known fittingly as The Pride of Wales, Calzaghe cemented his international reputation in 2008 when he won his first fight in the United States, becoming a household name among boxing fans on both sides of the Atlantic.

A football legend who played for Tottenham, Real Madrid, LAFC and the Welsh national team, Gareth Bale has consistently put Wales on the world sporting stage. He scored Wales’ first goal at a World Cup since 1958 at Qatar 2022, has won more Champions Leagues than any other British player and scored what is widely regarded as the greatest ever Champions League final goal. One of his last touches in club football is the latest goal in MLS history, tying the game in the 128th minute of an MLS CUP final. LAFC went on to win the first cup in their history on penalties.

As the first Welshman and third Brit to win the Tour de France, Geraint Thomas is a cycling legend. A double Olympic gold medallist, he was one of few riders in the modern era to achieve significant elite success both on the track, and the road. He retired from the sport in autumn 2025, crossing the Tour of Britain finish line for the final time in the city where he was born and raised – Cardiff.

A three-time World Snooker Champion, Mark Williams is a household name for fans of the sport around the globe. Known for his calm precision and long potting ability, the snooker icon who hails from the Welsh valleys has been nicknamed The Welsh Potting Machine. His most recent success was at the 2025 Xi’an Grand Prix where he became the oldest player ever to win a ranking event at 50.

Widely considered to be one of the world’s most talented actors, Sir Anthony Hopkins, is a two-time Oscar winner, well known for his role in The Silence of the Lambs, alongside countless other film and theatre classics. Other awards to his name include four BAFTAs, two Primetime Emmys and a Laurence Olivier Award. Born in Port Talbot in south Wales he credits his Welsh upbringing for shaping his success. He is now a naturalised American citizen but retains his British citizenship.

An Oscar, BAFTA and Tony winner, Catherine Zeta-Jones rose to global fame with Chicago and The Mask of Zorro, before appearing in Netflix smash hit Wednesday where she currently plays the role of Morticia Adams. Hailing from Swansea, Catherine has been making waves on screen and stage for decades, ever since she made her theatre breakthrough with a leading role in 42nd Street in 1987. In 2010, she was awarded a CBE for her film and humanitarian work. She has been married to two-time Oscar winning American actor Michael Douglas since 2000.

Cardiff-raised Matthew Rhys rose to fame in the US playing Kevin Walker in the family drama series Brothers & Sisters and Philip Jennings in the spy drama The Americans, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Actor. More recently he appeared in the eight-part Netflix thriller The Beast in Me, alongside American actress Claire Danes. Rhys has a child with US actress Keri Russell, who he has been in a relationship with since 2014 after meeting on the set of The Americans. He lives in Brooklyn with his family but maintains a close connection with Wales and recently starred in the Welsh National Theatre’s Playing Burton, in support of his close friend Michael Sheen, the theatre’s founder and Artistic Director.

Taron Egerton has played several biographical roles with his portrayal of Elton John in Rocketman winning him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. Other notable performances include his starring roles in the Kingsman films and his titular role as iconic Olympic ski jumper, Eddie the Eagle. He also has numerous TV appearances in his portfolio and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his leading role in the miniseries, Black Bird.

Known mostly for his roles in The Hobbit trilogy, Dracula Untold, Fast & Furious 6 and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Pontypool-born Luke Evans has taken his acting talent to the global stage. However, he began his career in musical theatre, performing in West End productions of Miss Saigon, Rent and Piaf. His career in Hollywood took off when he was cast in the 2010 remake of Clash of the Titans.

Known internationally for his performance as Ramsay Bolton in the HBO mega-series Game of Thrones, Iwan Rheon’s love for acting began with school drama productions during his time at secondary school in Cardiff. Born in Carmarthen, he first made a name for himself with his role as Simon Bellamy in the E4 series Misfits. When he’s not acting, he’s also a singer songwriter and released his second album in 2025.

With roles in Hollywood films including Evita, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Two Popes, not to mention Game of Thrones, Flintshire’s Jonathan Pryce has received numerous awards and nominations for his diverse portfolio of work over the decades. These include two Tonys, and two Laurence Olivier Awards, alongside nominations for an Oscar, three BAFTAs, and five Emmy Awards. He is also known for Broadway appearances in productions such as Miss Saigon and Hamlet, establishing himself as a versatile actor across all disciplines.

Port Talbot raised Michael Sheen has a career spanning stage, film and television, establishing himself as one of the most respected actors working today. His body of work is impressive and his most recognisable roles include performances as David Frost in Frost/Nixon, Tony Blair in The Queen and Brian Clough in The Damned United , as well as television roles as the angel Aziraphale in Good Omens and Dr William Masters in the Showtime series Masters of Sex, for which he received a Golden Globe nomination. The stage has also played a major part in Sheen’s acting career and in 2025 he founded the Welsh National Theatre, announcing that he would be its Artistic Director and star in many of its future productions.

Raised in Aberdare in the South Wales valleys, Ioan Gruffydd has starred in some of Hollywood’s biggest productions, including Titanic and Fantastic Four. Away from the silver screen, he has also appeared in several UK, Australian and American television dramas including the CW series Ringer and the Sundance TV series Liar. He now resides in Los Angeles.

Born in Cardiff, Sir Michael Moritz is a Welsh billionaire venture capitalist, philanthropist and author. He began his career as a journalist before joining Sequoia Capital, where he helped shape the modern day Silicon Valley through early investments in Apple, Google, PayPal and WhatsApp. In 1984 he wrote a book about Apple after Steve Jobs had contracted him to document the development of the Mac computer. He’s known as being one of Wales’ most globally impactful business figures.

Billionaire Sir Terry Matthews has founded more than 100 high tech companies, including Mitel, Newbridge Networks, Newport Networks, as well as the Celtic Manor Resort in south Wales – which was chosen to host the 2010 Ryder Cup golf tournament and the 2014 NATO summit. Born in the city of Newport in south Wales, Matthews helped transform the global telecommunications sector, and still spends a considerable amount of time in Wales, where he is a key investor in several technology and tourism companies.

Born in Cardiff, Welsh-American Sir Howard Stringer is an influential figure in global media and technology. After earning a degree at the University of Oxford, in his early 20s he moved to the United States where he had a 30-year career at CBS and served as president of CBS News. After leaving CBS he became president and CEO of Sony Corporation between 2005 and 2012. He is now a non-executive director of the BBC.