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Sheena McStravick

Famous people you didn't know were born in Northern Ireland

We know our wee country has produced some of the biggest names in sport, TV, film and music but we bet there are some famous faces you didn't know had Northern Irish roots.

You might be surprised to learn that some people you're used to seeing on TV and in blockbuster films were actually born in good old Northern Ireland.

Such as...

1. Bear Grylls

Bear Grylls (NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

Yes, you read that right. Survival expert and all round king of the outdoors Bear Grylls was actually born in Donaghadee, Co Down before leaving Northern Ireland at the age of four.

2. Eddie Izzard

Comedian, actor and mammoth marathon runner Eddie spent his early days in Bangor, Co Down, and stayed there until he was five.

3. Sam Neill

Sam Neill (Getty)

Movie star Sam Neill who you'll recognise from his role playing Dr Alan Grant in Jurassic Park and more recently in TV series Peaky Blinders and Merlin.

Sam was born in Omagh, Co Tyrone in 1947 before they moved to New Zealand in 1954.

4. Jackie Woodburne (Susan from Neighbours)

Jackie Woodburne and Karl Kennedy (Getty Images)

We bet all those evenings before your dinner you spent watching Susan Kennedy in Neighbours you didn't know she was from Northern Ireland.

The actress was born in Carrickfergus in 1956 before the family moved to Australia when she was just three.

5. Peter Dickson

You might not instantly recognise his name – or face – but you will DEFINITELY know his voice.

Peter is the man whose voice has been igniting the X Factor for years. He's also worked on Britain's Got Talent, Family Fortunes and Live At The Apollo – to name but a few.

He is from Belfast and is a former pupil of Belfast Royal Academy and a graduate of Queen's University. He previously worked for Radio Ulster.

6. Amanda Burton

Star of stage and screen, she's best known for her roles in Silent Witness, Waterloo Road and Peak Practice.

She was born and raised in Derry where her dad was headmaster of a primary school. She moved to Manchester when she was 18.

7. Lembit Opik

A member of the Liberal Democrats, he served as an MP for the constituency of Montgomeryshire in Wales from 1997 until 2010.

He is also a high-profile figure because of his relationships with weather presenter Sian Lloyd and one of the Cheeky Girls.

Lembit was born to Estonian parents in Bangor, Co Down. He was a student at RBAI. His grandfather worked as an astronomer at the Armagh Observatory.

8. Paula Malcolmson

She is best known for her role as Trixie in HBO hit series Deadwood. She also appeared in The Hunger Games and as the wife of the title character in Ray Donovan.

Paula was born in Belfast in 1970.

9. Michelle Fairley

Michelle Fairley as Catelyn Stark (Allstar Collection/HBO)

Best known for her role as Catelyn Stark in Game of Thrones, Michelle was born in Coleraine. She has appeared in a number of big productions including Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows, Philomena and The Others, also starring Nicole Kidman.

- Bear Grylls

- Eddie Izzard

- Sam Neill

- Jackie Woodburne

- Peter Dickson

- Amanda Burton

- Lembit Opik

- Paula Malcolmson

- Michelle Fairley

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