# The most famous people from the least-noticed countries **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 23, 2023, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986 "2023-06-23T09:58:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Chad\_Sudan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chad_sudan/32/4509_2.png) [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/1 "2023-06-23T09:58:05Z")
Please name someone who is known around the world who comes from a country that gets little international attention. The higher-profile the person and lower-profile the country, the better! ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 10:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/2 "2023-06-23T10:00:58Z")
I doubt most people can name anyone from Mongolia aside from Genghis Khan. ---
**Author:** ![Cugel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cugel/32/1199_2.png) [@Cugel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cugel)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 10:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/3 "2023-06-23T10:11:46Z")
First thing I thought of was Anthony Nesty, Olympic gold medallist from Suriname. ---
**Author:** ![kk\_fusion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kk_fusion/32/15276_2.png) [@kk\_fusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kk_fusion)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/4 "2023-06-23T10:32:08Z")
Melania Trump might count, though she only briefly lived in an independent Slovenia. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 10:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/5 "2023-06-23T10:38:51Z")
She is rivalled though by world class bicycle racers Primoz Roglic (Giro, Vuelta and Olympic gold medal winner) and Tadej Pogacar (two times Tour de France winner). ETA: another world class athlete from a small country came to mind, Kim Collins from Saint Kitts and Nevis, 100m world champion in 2003. > **[Kim Collins](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kim_Collins)** > > Kim Collins (born 5 April 1976) is a former Kittitian track and field sprinter. In 2003, he became the World Champion in the 100 metres. He represented his country at the Summer Olympics on five occasions, from 1996 to 2016, and was the country's first athlete to reach an Olympic final. He competed at ten editions of the World Championships in Athletics, from 1995 to 2015, winning five medals. He was a twice runner-up in the 60 metres at the IAAF World Indoor Championships (2003, 2008). At regi... ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/6 "2023-06-23T11:47:33Z")
Cesária Évora aka the barefoot diva was a singer from Cape Verde. I saw her perform twice and got to meet her once. Extraordinary talent. > **[Cesária Évora](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ces%C3%A1ria_%C3%89vora)** > > Cesária Évora GCIH (Portuguese pronunciation: \[sɨˈzaɾiɐ ˈɛvuɾɐ\]; 27 August 1941 – 17 December 2011), more commonly known as Cize, was a Cape Verdean singer-songwriter. She received a Grammy Award in 2004 for her album Voz d'Amor. Nicknamed the "Barefoot Diva" for performing without shoes, she was known as the "Queen of Morna". > Évora began singing as a young woman in bars in her hometown of Mindelo, and came to international prominence in the 1990s. > Cesária Évora was born on 27 August 1941 in... ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/7 "2023-06-23T11:57:49Z")
Richard E. Grant is probably the most famous actor from Eswatini (formerly Swaziland). > **[Richard E. Grant](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_E._Grant)** > > Richard E. Grant (born Richard Grant Esterhuysen; 5 May 1957) is a Swazi-English actor and presenter. He made his film debut as Withnail in the comedy Withnail and I (1987). Grant received critical acclaim for his role as Jack Hock in Marielle Heller's drama film Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018), winning various awards including the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He also received Academy Award, BAFTA, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Grant is known ... ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/8 "2023-06-23T12:31:53Z")
Not a person, but a company, the Avedis Zildjian Company (known for their cymbals) was founded in Constantinople in the Ottoman Empire in 1623. > [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > ETA: another world class athlete from a small country came to mind, Kim Collins from Saint Kitts and Nevis, 100m world champion in 2003. Alexander Hamilton was also from Nevis, although it was a British colony at the time. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/9 "2023-06-23T12:43:54Z")
Author [Jamaica Kincaid](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaica_Kincaid) is from Antigua. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/10 "2023-06-23T13:52:12Z")
[Xander Bogarts](https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/bogaexa01.shtml), a well known baseball player, is from Aruba. ---
**Author:** ![JakeRS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ab097/32.png) [@JakeRS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JakeRS)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/11 "2023-06-23T14:17:28Z")
Serbia: Novak Djokovic (nr.1 tennis player in ATP ranking) , Nikola Jokic (20-21 and 21-22 NBA MVP) and by extension a Serb from what was then Austrohungary and today in Croatia, Nikola Tesla. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/12 "2023-06-23T14:17:50Z")
Another baseball one is Jonathon Schoop, who is from Curacao. Pop singer Akon is from Senegal (he was born in the U.S., but spent his early childhood in Senegal where his family origniates) Basketball star Manute Bol was from South Suden (although it was regular Sudan at the time) ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/13 "2023-06-23T14:24:32Z")
It’s not clear if you’re restricting yourself to living people and it’s not clear if you want to know where they currently live or were born. The science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke lived the majority of his life and died in Sri Lanka. Admittedly, this is something entirely different, but my favorite chain restaurant is Nando’s. It’s based on the food served in Mozambique by Portuguese immigrants. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/14 "2023-06-23T14:50:07Z")
If the country where they currently live counts, I think the Pope always wins. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/15 "2023-06-23T15:04:45Z")
Mother Theresa from Albania? ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/16 "2023-06-23T15:09:30Z")
Elon Musk from South Africa. [While South Africa got a lot of international attention when it was white-ruled, it doesn’t anymore since it has become black-ruled] ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/17 "2023-06-23T15:31:17Z")
Milana Vayntrub is the only Uzbek I can name. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/18 "2023-06-23T15:33:59Z")
Iman (model/actress/David Bowie’s widow) is from Somalia. Rihanna is from Barbados. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/19 "2023-06-23T15:42:11Z")
Freddie Mercury was born in Zanzibar (then a British protectorate, now non-existent) and raised in Zanzibar and India before immigrating to England in his late teens. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 23, 2023, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986/20 "2023-06-23T15:53:53Z")
Father of science fiction Hugo Gernsback was from Luxembourg. > **[Hugo Gernsback](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugo_Gernsback)** > > Hugo Gernsback (/ˈɡɜːrnzbæk/; born Hugo Gernsbacher, August 16, 1884 – August 19, 1967) was a Luxembourgish–American editor and magazine publisher, whose publications included the first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories. His contributions to the genre as publisher were so significant that, along with the novelists H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, he is sometimes called "The Father of Science Fiction". In his honor, annual awards presented at the World Science Fiction Convention are named t [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-famous-people-from-the-least-noticed-countries/985986.md?page=2)