Many Americans already bow down to the famous and beautiful celebrities that walk down the red carpet. But it might surprise you to learn that many of Hollywood’s royalty actually have royal roots.
It’s shocking to learn that so many of the famous faces in our movies come from famous families of the past. From cousins of Kate Middleton, to distant relatives of the current Queen of England, a few of our favorite celebs are directly related to royalty.
1. Angelina Jolie-Pitt
The reigning Queen of Hollywood is actually descended from a King. The French King Philip II, who ruled 1180 to 1223, is an ancestor on her mother’s side.
2. Brad Pitt
Much like his “royal” wife, it makes sense that the second half of the power couple that is Bradgelina also comes from a line of royalty. Pitt’s mother has a direct line to King Henry II of England, who ruled from 1154 to 1189.
3. Ellen DeGeneres
DeGeneres is arguably the Queen of Comedy, but she is related to more than one royal. She is the 15th cousin of everyone’s favorite royal, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge. She is also a descendant of King Edward III, who ruled England from 1327 until his death in 1377.
4. Brooke Shields
Arguably one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, Shields has a few royal members on her family tree. She is a descendent of King Henry IV of France, who ruled from 1589 to 1610, and also has ties to Catherine de Medici and Lucrezia Borgia, some of the richest rulers of Italy.
5. Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman is related to Edward Longshanks. Don’t recognize the name? He was famously portrayed as the villain of the movie ‘Braveheart.’ He was also known as Edward I of England, and he ruled England from 1272 to 1307.
6. Tom Hanks
Another celebrity whose ancestor is portrayed as a villain, Tom Hanks is a descendant of King John of England, who is often portrayed poorly in stories of Robin Hood.
7. Hugh Grant
Maybe best known for his amazing depiction of the British Prime Minister in “Love Actually,” it isn’t that surprising that Grant has some royalty in his blood. He is related to Henry VII, who ruled from 1485 to 1509.
8. Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal
The famous brother and sister are also related to Edward III, much like Ellen DeGeneres. But because the duo are related to the famous king on their father’s side, they are also 19th cousins to the current ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth II.
9. Ralph Fiennes
Everyone’s favorite evil wizard, along with his actor brother Joseph, come from the line of James II of Scotland, who reigned from 1437 to 1460.
10. Hilary Duff
The “Younger” actress is another celeb that is related to King Edward III–which means that she is in great company. But the star is also apparently distantly related to Queen Elizabeth II, the current queen.
11. Michael Douglas
Adding to the list, Michael Douglas is another distant relative of the current Queen Elizabeth II, due to his lineage from King Edward III. Apparently, that’s a trait many Hollywood A-listers share.
12. Johnny Depp
This actor is related to Queen Elizabeth II too, but in a different way. Depp proved in 2011 that his family comes from the Deppes family (maybe not that surprising) who were French Huguenots in the 14th century.
[Featured Image Credit: beevoz.com]
