Numerous high-profile American celebrities, actors, musicians, and filmmakers choose to live in the United Kingdom, frequently settling in exclusive London neighborhoods like Notting Hill, Kensington, St John's Wood, or leafy countryside estates outside the capital. Famous Hollywood stars such as Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, actor Ryan Reynolds (who spends significant time in the UK alongside his Welsh football commitments), musician and producer Pharrell Williams, and director George Lucas have all established notable residences or spent extended years living across Britain. The UK appeals strongly to American public figures because it offers a vibrant cultural scene, world-class theatre, excellent international schools, and a degree of personal privacy and discretion that can sometimes be harder to maintain in Los Angeles or New York.