The West Midlands boasts some seriously talented exports, from movie stars and musicians to world class football players.
Recently, we’ve had a look at the famous faces - actors, musicians and even politicians - who were raised in and around Birmingham. Now, we’ve decided to take a look at the famous celebrities who grew up in Handsworth,
Many famous people grew up in the Birmingham district which is steeped in history. The inner-city area is known for its multiculturalism. People were brought over from British colonies in the Caribbean to work in local munitions factories during the Second World War, and more people arrived after the war ended to help rebuild the area. This led to Handsworth becoming a centre for the African-Caribbean community.
Handsworth has a prestigious musical legacy and has produced some notable popular musical acts.
A number of writers, sportspeople, and musicians as well as other famous faces all come from the area. With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the most famous people who are from Handsworth, including those who were born in the areas, as well as those who have lived there at some point during their lifetime.
Let’s take a look:

13. M1llionz
M1llionz is a rapper from Handsworth. He landed a top 40 single, “B1llionz”, in 2020. His breakthrough single was “North-West”, released at the end of 2019. His debut mixtape Provisional License was released on 17 September 2021, with features from Headie One and AJ Tracey. | Getty

14. Bert Freeman
Footballer Bert Freeman played as a centre forward for clubs Woolwich Arsenal, Everton, Burnley and Wigan Borough. Freeman was one of the most prolific goal-scorers of his time, winning one First Division and two Second Division Golden Boots Photo: Wikipedia

15. Bitty McLean
The reggae singer is best known for his three UK Top 10 hits in 1993 and 1994, including his debut offering “It Keeps Rainin’ (Tears from My Eyes)”. | Getty