With a quiet cove, picturesque cliffs perfect for a long coastal walk and million-pound homes hidden from prying eyes, an unassuming Cornish village is fast becoming a coveted celebrity enclave.
The unspoilt bay of Mawgan Porth on Cornwall’s rugged northern coastline is just four miles north of Newquay and is a hot spot for surfers and locals alike who enjoy its beautiful sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery.
But after it was revealed that Aquaman star Jason Momoa became the latest A-lister to try and snag a swanky home here, it’s starting to become clear why locals have dubbed it “Hollywood-on-Sea.”
If the rumors are true that the 44-year-old actor is going to buy a house on the cliffs that he “fell in love with” while filming nearby, he could run into the likes of Cate Blanchett, Jason Statham and Stanley Tucci in the village pub or supermarket.
So what is that makes Mawgan Porth (or Porth Maugan, which translates to ‘St Mawgan’s cove’ in Cornish), just as popular with the Hollywood elite?
Pictured: Mawgan Porth in Cornwall, called ‘Hollywood-on-Sea’ by the locals
Neighbours: Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, 54, has a holiday home in the same village as Coldplay’s Chris Martin
To withdraw? Aquaman star Jason Momoa, 44, is the latest A-lister to snag a swanky country house in the picturesque Cornish village of Mawgan Porth, near Newquay
A look at where Mawgan Porth is located just four miles from Newquay
The locals take great pride in the fact that Mawgan Porth remains largely undeveloped – which may make it seem like an unspoilt paradise for celebrities.
Mawgan Porth is an area of outstanding natural beauty with little development and bills itself as ‘Cornwall’s best kept secret’.
It has also developed a very tight-knit and friendly community that can appeal to those who may want to go unnoticed and stay under the radar.
The perfect surfing conditions in the coastal town have probably also appealed to the A-listers who come from California’s beaches.
In 2021, a source revealed that Oscar-winning actress Cate, 54, had bought up a property in the town – believed to be worth more than £2 million – with her agent later confirming the news was true.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Mawgan Porth’s story is that Cate bought a house here!’
Cate’s PR rep simply said ‘yes’ when asked if she was on the verge of becoming Mawgan Porth’s first star residence.
She was reportedly the first celebrity to buy a property there.
Since then, she is believed to have been followed by Hollywood star Jamie Dornan, known for his starring role as Christian Gray in the ‘Fifty Shades’ film series.
Hollywood actor and foodie Stanley Tucci also lives in the picturesque Cornish village
Snatch star Jason Statham joined Blanchett and Tucci in Mawgan Porth
The seaside town is just four miles north of Newquay and is a surfer’s hotspot along its beautiful sandy beaches
At the market: Jason Momoa has been spotted by locals looking at a clifftop home that locals have dubbed Hollywood-on-Sea
Just a few months after it became known that Blanchett lived there, a fan couldn’t believe it when they saw Dornan at a local gas station.
Alongside a selfie of herself and Jamie, she wrote on Instagram: “I went to fill up and thought it absolutely couldn’t be true, but it was Mr. Gray himself!” (sic)
There are also rumors that he picked up a house in the village Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels stars Jason Statham and supermodel wife Rosie Huntington Whiteley – who hail from nearby Devon.
Actor Stanley Tucci – a self-confessed foodie who would no doubt love the culinary delights of Cornwall – is also said to have bought a house in Mawgan Porth with his wife Felicity Blunt – the sister of his The Devil Wears Prada co-star Emily Blunt.
In 2021, the The American star revealed that he had been on a ‘road trip to Cornwall’.
He told Instagram followers he enjoyed his “Tucci eggplant parmagiana” while taking in the sights of the West Country.
Actress Imogen Stubbs and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin are also said to have bought properties in the village.
The small village of Mawgan Porth was also home to the famous German sculptor Faust Lang from 1936 to 1949.
When news broke that Momoa was planning to move there, a local resident introduced him ‘fell in love’ with the pace of life in the scenic area after filming his blockbuster DC move in nearby Devon.
They added: ‘These kinds of houses are transformed into the luxury places you see on Grand Designs, so he could make it very special. It’s Mawgan’s story that Jason will be the next big star to come and live here.”
With a number of daily flights between Newquay Airport and Heathrow and designated helicopter landing areas, international travel is easier than ever for the rich and famous traveling from afar to their Cornish haven.
But while some are “thrilled” at the thought of performing mundane tasks and rummaging around the grocery store alongside the DC superhero, not all locals are thrilled at the idea of celebrities descending on the village.
Some argue that on top of the housing crisis, the influx of vacation rentals, second home owners, and celebrities moving to the area is making it even harder for younger generations to stay.
Jamie Dornan, pictured at the EE Bafta Awards earlier this year, also has a house in the town, which stands for Morgan’s Cove in Cornish,
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According to census data, Cornwall is Britain’s most popular second home destination, with 6,080 holiday homes used by 14,230 people.
Second home owners could soon be forced to pay twice as much in council tax as the government prepares to give local authorities more powers to raid holiday homes.
More than 100,000 holiday home owners will see their bills rise at the first chance, including in tourist hotspots in Devon, the Lake District, Norfolk and Cornwall, which have already approved the change.