Boasting a tranquil bay, picturesque cliffs perfect for a long coastal walk and multi-million pound homes hidden from prying eyes, an unassuming Cornish village is rapidly becoming a highly-coveted celebrity enclave.
Located just four miles north of Newquay, the untouched bay of Mawgan Porth on Cornwall’s rugged northern coastline is a hot-spot for surfers and locals alike who enjoy its stunning sandy beaches and breathtaking scenery.
But, after it was revealed that Aquaman star Jason Momoa became the latest A-lister to try and snap up a swanky home here, it’s beginning to become clear to see why locals have dubbed it ‘Hollywood-on-Sea’.
If rumours are true that the 44-year-old actor is going to buy a home on the cliffs he ‘fell in love with’ while filming nearby, he could be bumping into the likes of Cate Blanchett, Jason Statham and Stanley Tucci at the village pub or supermarket.
So, what is it that makes Mawgan Porth (or Porth Maugan, which translates to ‘St Mawgan’s cove’ in Cornish), just so popular with the Hollywood elite?
Pictured: Mawgan Porth In Cornwall, which locals have dubbed ‘Hollywood-on-Sea’
Neighbours: Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett, 54, has a holiday home in the same village as Coldplay’s Chris Martin
Moving in? Aquaman star Jason Momoa, 44, is the latest A-lister to snap up a swanky mansion in the picturesque Cornish village of Mawgan Porth, near Newquay
A look at where Mawgan Porth is located just four miles away from Newquay
Locals are particularly proud that Mawgan Porth remains largely undeveloped – which may make it seem like something of an unspoilt paradise to celebrities.
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with few building developments, Mawgan Porth considers itself ‘Cornwall’s Best Kept Secret’.
It has also developed a very close-knit and friendly community which may be attractive to those who may not want to be noticed and fly under the radar.
The seaside village’s perfect surfing conditions are also likely to have been alluring for those A-listers coming from the beaches of California.
In 2021, a source revealed that Oscar-winning actress Cate, 54, had snapped up a property in the town – thought to be worth more than £2m – with her agent later confirming that the news was true.
A source told MailOnline: ‘The talk of Mawgan Porth is that Cate has bought a home here!’
Cate’s PR rep simply said ‘yes’ when asked if she was about to become Mawgan Porth’s first star resident.
She was reportedly the first celeb to buy a property there.
Since then, she is thought to have been followed by Hollywood star Jamie Dornan, known for his starring turn as Christian Grey in the ‘Fifty Shades’ film series.
Hollywood actor and foodie Stanley Tucci also lives in the picturesque Cornish village
Snatch star Jason Statham joined the likes of Blanchett and Tucci in Mawgan Porth
Located just four miles north of Newquay, the seaside town is a hot-spot for surfers who line its stunning sandy beaches
On the market: Jason Momoa has been spotted by locals eyeing-up a clifftop home which the locals have dubbed Hollywood-on-Sea
Just a few months after it was revealed that Blanchett was living there, a fan couldn’t believe it when they spotted Dornan at a local petrol station.
Alongside a selfie of herself and Jamie, she wrote on Instagram: ‘I went to get fuel and thought no way it can’t be but it was Mr grey himself!'(sic)
Also rumoured to have snapped up a home in the village is Snatch and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star Jason Statham and supermodel wife Rosie Huntington Whiteley – who hails from nearby Devon.
Actor Stanley Tucci – a self-confessed foodie who would no doubt love Cornwall’s culinary delights – is also said to have purchased a home in Mawgan Porth with his wife Felicity Blunt – sister of his The Devil Wears Prada co-star, Emily Blunt.
In 2021, the American star revealed he had been on a ‘road trip to Cornwall’.
He told Instagram followers he was enjoying his ‘Tucci eggplant parmagiana’ while enjoying the sights of the West Country.
Actress Imogen Stubbs and Coldplay frontman Chris Martin are also reported to have bought properties in the village.
The small village of Mawgan Porth was also the home of famed German sculptor Faust Lang from 1936 to 1949.
When news broke out that Momoa was planning on moving there, one local suggested he ‘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 home are being transformed into the luxury places you see on Grand Designs, so he would be able to make it very special. It’s the talk of Mawgan that Jason is going to be the next big star moving in.’
Jamie Dornan, pictured at the EE Bafta awards earlier this year, also has a house in the town, which translates to ‘St Mawgan’s cove’ in Cornish
What their movie millions could buy: This six-bed mansion overlooking the beach is on the market for £2,250,000
This Cornish farmhouse has gone up for sale for £1,200,000
Fit for a Bond villain, this 12 bedroom, 10 en-suite detached property is on the market for £2,900,000
With a number of flights daily between Newquay airport and Heathrow and designated landing areas for helicopters, international travel is easier than ever for the rich and famous travelling from afar to their Cornish bolthole.
But while some are ‘excited’ at the thought of going about everyday tasks and finding themselves browsing in the supermarket next to the DC superhero, not all locals thrilled at the idea of celebrities descending on the village.
Some argue that on top of the housing crisis, the influx of holiday rentals, second home owners and celebs moving into the area is making it even harder for younger generations to stay.
According to census data, Cornwall is the most popular destination in the UK for a second home, with 6,080 holiday homes used by 14,230 people.
Indeed, second-home owners could soon be forced to pay twice the amount of council tax as the Government prepares to hand local authorities more powers to raid holiday homes.
More than 100,000 holiday homeowners are set to see their bills rise at the first given chance, including in tourist hotspots in Devon, the Lake District, Norfolk and Cornwall, which have already approved the change.