A unique set of genes can hold many surprises. We prove it on the example of stars!
Eva Longoria
The “Desperate Housewives” star was unexpectedly related to another famous person – cellist-wunderkind of Chinese descent Yo-Yo Ma. The kinship at the level of distant generations showed DNA test. In addition, the study of the genealogical tree revealed an interesting fact: Eva’s ninth-generation great-grandfather was a Spanish colonizer, and in the 1760s, the actress’ ancestors were granted land in Mexico along the Rio Grande River. After the war between the United States and Mexico, the land ended up on the American side of the border.
George Clooney
Imagine George’s surprise when he found out that he was related to the president, albeit distantly. Thanks to a DNA test it was possible to establish a connection between the star and Abraham Lincoln. To be more precise, Clooney’s maternal great-great-great-great grandmother was a half-sister of Abraham’s mother. Surely the five-dollar bills with the portrait of the 16th president of the United States now remind George of his ancestors.
Julia Roberts
In early 2023, the Oscar winner starred in the program “In search of your roots”. Experts have established that the famous celebrity inherited a loud surname from her great-grandmother, who married a certain Willis Roberts in the mid-nineteenth century. The man died in 1864, and only ten years later, the widow gave birth to John Roberts – the grandfather of the actress. A series of genetic tests helped establish that the boy’s real father was a neighbor of the widowed woman, and his name was Henry Mitchell. For obvious reasons, the son did not inherit the surname of his biological father. The star of “Pretty Woman” admitted to reporters that for her this story was a complete surprise. True, Julia is not going to change the last name to Mitchell.
Benedict Cumberbatch
Benedict Cumberbatch has discovered royal blood in himself with the help of DNA research. The actor has always seemed aristocratic, and apparently it’s not just the fact that he is British. It turned out that he is a descendant of King Richard III. The actor and the monarch are separated by 16 generations. They are connected through several relatives, but the closest is through the monarch’s great-grandmother, Joan Beaufort. Ironically, news of the kinship caught the actor during the filming of the series “The Empty Crown: The War of the Roses”. He was just playing his famous ancestor – probably genes helped to enter the role. In addition, Benedict attended the reburial ceremony of Richard III, whose grave was long considered lost, and then found by chance and with the help of DNA-test.
Steven Tyler
The lead singer of the legendary rock band Aerosmith may have inherited his musical talent from distant relatives. At least his sense of rhythm. It turns out that Steven Tyler traces his lineage back to Robert Elliott, who was a drummer during the War of 1812. His son followed in his father’s footsteps and was also a drummer, but during the Civil War.
