15 Celebrities That Are Descendants of Great Historical Figures

Families can be a bit confusing. And not just when it comes to behavior and relationships, but also when it comes to bloodlines. Today, many companies use genetics to trace your ancestors, all the way back to many generations. These very companies have researched famous celebrities and found out some surprising facts about their antecedents.

Bright Side delved into just a handful of these celebrities and found some relationships. Enough for us to exclaim that history truly repeats itself.

1. Beyoncé Knowles is the 25th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II.

Beyoncé Knowles, well known for being music royalty, has royal blood running in her veins too. She is the 25th cousin to Queen Elizabeth, once removed since they both share King Henry II as a common ancestor.

2. Angelina Jolie has lineage from King Phillip II of France.

King Phillip II of France ruled from 1180 to 1223 and is known to have brought financial stability to his country. He also increased the royal coffers. Actress Angelina Jolie carries French royal blood considering she is a direct descendant of Philip II. Strangely enough, she played Queen Olympias in the 2004 movie Alexander, opposite Val Kilmer’s Phillip II, only this was Phillip II of Macedonia.

3. Brad Pitt is a descendant of King Henry II of England.

Brad Pitt is no less royal either. He can trace his ancestry back to King Henry II of England, who ruled from 1154 until his death in 1189. Coincidentally, King Henry II’s wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, was first married to French royalty, making Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie somewhat predestined to a failed marriage. This also makes Pitt a 25th cousin, twice removed, to Queen Elizabeth.

4. Jane Austen is Anna Chancellor’s great-aunt.

In 1995, Anna Chancellor starred as Caroline Bingley in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice BBC Miniseries. But she has a deeper connection to Jane Austen as well. The highly venerated author is an 8-time great aunt to Chancellor.

5. H.H. Asquith is Helena Bonham Carter’s great-grandfather.

Helena Bonham Carter is best known for her off-the-beaten-path roles, like that of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. But she comes from illustrious family background. Herbert Henry Asquith, the Prime Minister of the UK from 1908 to 1916, was her paternal great-grandfather. She is also related to Jane Austen, and subsequently to Anna Chancellor.

6. Harry Lloyd is a descendant of Charles Dickens.

Harry Lloyd, who plays Viserys Targaryen in Game of Thrones is the great-great-great-grandson of the famous Charles Dickens, the author. Lloyd’s mother, Marion is the descendant of the seventh child of Dickens, Henry Fielding Dickens, who in turn had 5 children.

7. Benedict Cumberbatch is the 16th cousin to King Richard III.

Benedict Cumberbatch is distantly related to King Richard III, who ruled England from 1452 to 1485. He was the last English king to have died during a battle, and later, there was a whole investigation into finding his remains, enough for a reburial. Cumberbatch, who plays Doctor Strange in the Marvel movies, is the 16th cousin to the king. He also read a poem at his royal ancestor’s reburial.

8. King Henry I is the ancestor of Sigourney Weaver.

There seem to be many celebrities who can trace their lineage right back to English kings. King Henry I, who ruled from 1100 to his death in 1135 may have died without a male heir, but his bloodlines spread far and wide. Actress Sigourney Weaver, known for her role in Alien, is a descendant of Henry I, and this also makes her the 24th cousin of the Queen, once removed.

9. Jake Gyllenhaal has antecedents back to King Edward III.

King Edward III ruled the English from 1312 to 1377 and is known as a rather conventional king, who pursued warfare but could also show great clemency. There are many celebrities who can claim blood relations with him, including Maggie and Jake Gyllenhaal. Others include Michael Douglas, Hillary Duff, and more.

10. Meghan Markle is related to William Shakespeare.

We know Meghan Markle is related to the British Royal Family, by way of her marrying Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. But she already has famous blood in her veins, considering she is cousins with the great playwright, William Shakespeare. Markle is a fifth cousin to the Bard, 12 times removed.

11. Ozzy Osbourne is related to Tsar Nicholas II, and more.

Then there is Ozzy Osbourne, and DNA might prove there is a method to his madness. Researchers say that the singer is not just a descendant of the Neanderthal man, but also a relative of outlaw Jesse James. But his claim to royal fame is with the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas II, whose entire family was wiped out in the revolution.

12. Cary Elwes is a descendant of infamous miser John Elwes.

Actor Cary Elwes is related to John Elwes. As a man, John Elwes may have been unremarkable except for the fact that he was an extreme miser. It is also alleged that he was Charles Dickens’s inspiration behind the miserly character, Ebenezer Scrooge, in the classic A Christmas Carol.

13. The Deschanel sisters are related to Louis IV of France.

Zooey and Emily Deschanel have both made their names in Hollywood. Zooey is the star of the series New Girl, while Emily Deschanel was the heroine of Bones. And both can lay claim to royal French blood, all the way back to King Louis IV of France, who ruled from 936 to 954.

14. Anderson Cooper is Cornelius Vanderbilt’s great-grandson.

Anchor and host Anderson Cooper is the great-grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the shipping and railroad magnate whose familial wealth was once more than the US treasury. His mother, Gloria Vanderbilt was the granddaughter of Cornelius, but Cooper remembers deciding to start work early, considering the family fortunes were much diminished by the time he was in his teens.

15. Robert Pattinson is a descendant of Vlad the Impaler.

Robert Pattinson may have played the love-sick vampire, Edward Cullen, in the Twilight series, but he has a real-life blood connection to “Dracula.” Bram Stoker’s famous character was allegedly inspired by the Transylvania despot, Vlad the Impaler, and Pattinson is related to him, via the British royal family.

So which of these celebrity connections really caught your interest? Do you know of your family’s famous genealogical connections too?

Angelina Jolie’s relationship with her father, Jon Voight, has been complex and fraught with tension. However, they have managed to reconcile their differences, with Voight becoming a supportive figure in Jolie’s life, particularly during her divorce from Brad Pitt.

Pierce Brosnan’s ‘Ageless’ Wife Draws Attention Flaunting Her Curves in Figure-Hugging Pink Dress

In her husband’s most recent Instagram photo, Keely Shaye Brosnan, the wife of Pierce Brosnan, looked stunning and timeless. She had perfect beauty and a lovely pink clothing that many people could not help but appreciate.

The well-liked actor Pierce Brosnan, who is best known for playing James Bond among many other roles, recently shared photos from his Palm Desert art exhibition “So Many Dreams” on Instagram.

His wife, Keely Shaye Brosnan, joined him in a heartfelt show of support, dazzling everyone with her brilliant presence. Among the shared photos, one caught everyone’s attention: Keely, looking stunning in a bright pink lace dress, her grace and elegance perfectly capturing the moment.

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Brosnan at his art exhibition, dated March 2024. | Source: Instagram/PierceBrosnanOfficial

Her timeless beauty was accentuated by simple earrings, which perfectly suited her sleeveless maxi dress, which was both elegant and charming. Thanking everyone who attended and extending an invitation to others to see his art display, Pierce wrote, “My wife Keely and I had the most glorious time in your company.”

The internet was soon ablaze with praise for Keely’s exquisite ensemble and timeless beauty, as well as for Brosnan’s artistic prowess.

“I adore your artwork so much. “Your spouse is a timeless beauty,” someone asserted. “Unique beauty!” exclaimed another. “Keely, you look amazing. Isn’t it amazing to recognize your young face? Bravo,” a third person said.

Others were astounded by her outfit selection and said, “Love your paintings, but gotta address smt else [sic]…” “Your wife looks so beautiful in that pink dress,” and “Keely is so pretty, that color of the dress.”

The fact that Pierce and Keely have been married for more than 20 years is evidence of their strong bond and common life experiences. Their partnership has experienced both happiness and sorrow throughout the years.

Despite these difficulties, their relationship has only grown stronger thanks to their common acting experience and dedication to their family, which includes Pierce’s children from a previous marriage as well as their sons Dylan and Paris.

Brosnan emphasizes their shared spiritual development and freely attributes their long-lasting bond to their love, respect, and journey through life’s ups and downs.

We truly enjoy each other. We really do adore each other,” Brosnan remarked. And like all of us, families experience a great deal of difficulty along the way. However, witnessing someone mature and age alongside you is an incredibly spiritual experience. to observe one another’s transformation, in whatever form.”

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Shaye Brosnan during the Los Angeles premiere of "The Greatest" at Linwood Dunn Theater at the Pickford Center for Motion Study on March 25, 2010, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Friendship and common experiences form the cornerstone of the Brosnans’ enduring marriage. Pierce emphasizes the value of working together to solve issues and sustain a positive connection by understanding and support.

Keely emphasizes the importance of friendship in their marriage, echoing this idea. Pierce praises Keely’s contribution to their family and her encouragement of his job, demonstrating how their partnership and support are evident in all of their personal and professional spheres.

Keely made their home a home and took on a great role as a mother, all while pursuing her work as a journalist and reporter. In addition, she supports Pierce in any way she can and allows him the opportunity to pursue his artistic interests as an actor.

Keely feels the same way about her spouse. Her perception of Pierce as a superhero, both in real life and on screen, is a reflection of her great regard and adoration for him, which is rooted in the compassion and kindness that form the foundation of their relationship.

Pierce Brosnan isn’t afraid to express his love for his wife on social media outside of interviews. The well-known journalist celebrated her 60th birthday recently, and her spouse shared a loving message and photo of the happy couple on social media.

The writer and the Irish actor were seen holding hands and posing in front of roses in the picture. His arm was encircling her shoulder. Pierce wrote, expressing gratitude and blessings for having met his children’s mother:

“On my brown-eyed girl’s 60th birthday, sixty roses.”

Pierce has demonstrated his affection for his cherished wife. The “GoldenEye” actor wrote, “My darling angel heart, Keely, thank you for bringing such love and beauty into my life,” alongside a throwback photo of the blissful couple from April 2020.

Pierce called the brunette beauty his “brown-eyed girl” once more as he expressed his gratitude for making him happy over the course of their 26-year relationship.

In 1994, Keely and Pierce went on a trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. As a television correspondent at the time, she was sent to interview Ted Danson, another actor.

Nevertheless, Keely met her future husband at a party after Ted was called away. In an interview, Smith recounted her initial impression of the movie star and said that she was drawn to him right away. “I thought, ‘Wow! Wow!’” she recalled saying.

A few days later, the two embarked on their first date and have been together ever since. In 1997, they welcomed their first child together, a son named Dylan, and in 2001, they welcomed their second son, Paris. In August 2001, a few months following the birth of their youngest child, the couple exchanged vows.

The Hollywood actress remarked, “I found a great woman in Keely Shaye.” In addition, his spouse was all praise for him, describing him as lovely, intelligent, and possessing “beauty that emanates from the soul.”

Pierce and Keely Brosnan caused quite a sensation when they attended the most recent Oscar Wilde Awards event. Though Pierce was well-known for his James Bond parts and classic movies like “Mamma Mia” and “Mrs. Doubtfire,” it was his wife who made headlines.

For the better part of half of his career, Keely has been Pierce’s friend, lover, and devoted wife. Following the death of Pierce’s first wife, Cassandra Harris, in 1991, they were joined in marriage in 2001.

Today, Keely and Pierce are happily married, and they have four children together: Dylan, 27, and Paris Brosnan, 23, who they share, and Christopher, 51, and Sean, 40, from Pierce’s last marriage. Keely is not just a mother; she is a culinary artist as well.

Keely is an amazing chef, Pierce gushed about his spouse. “When I sit at her table, I always have the greatest table in the house. But Giorgio Baldi [a Santa Monica restaurant] is the place to go on date evenings. We went on our first date there,” the 70-year-old actor continued.

Though the public was not always nice to Keely, Pierce had nothing but praise for his marriage. She experienced online bullying because of her bigger size. Her spouse, on the other hand, doesn’t give a damn about how she looks since he thinks that true love comes from the heart.

Keely arrived to the Oscar Wilde Awards with a noticeably smaller frame after facing years of online criticism for her appearance. Surprised, fans showered the couple’s red carpet photo post with weight-related remarks.

Keely appears amazing. Well done on the weight loss,” one person wrote. “How much weight did Keely lose?” someone else asked. Commenter “Lost soo much weight” concurred.

While Keely received accolades for her impressive weight loss, one fan was unable to let go of the way the public had previously abused the woman. A user questioned, “Didn’t they make fun of her for being overweight?”

They did, but even with Keely’s bulk, her spouse was there for her, encouraging her and expressing his thankfulness for having Keely in his life.

We truly enjoy each other. We really do love each other,” Pierce has stated. “And like all of us, families experience a great deal of difficulty along the way.

Following the death of his first wife from cancer, Keely helped Pierce and was there for him at his lowest points. Together, they overcame the difficulties associated with a Hollywood profession.

“You know we have grown up together into this fantasy world and beautiful world of James Bond,” Pierce remarked, “New York, Radio City, doing Golden Eye, James Bond.” “That role has a significant impact on both our love and life.”

Pierce is not the only one who compliments his wife now. Fans are smitten with Keely’s fresh appearance following their most recent outing.One user wrote, “They look awesome, especially his wife.” What a wonderful bond they have. Fantastic,” said a different commenter. A user commented, “Looking gorgeous and healthy.”

Pierce Brosnan and Keely Brosnan, 2024 | Source: Getty Images

As one of the most successful Irish performers in history, Pierce received an award, so the pair went to the event in honor of him. The actor spoke warmly about Keely as he accepted the prize. “In times like these, being with Keely has been the highlight of my life,” he remarked.

Many find inspiration in Keely’s path from being bullied online to exuding confidence on the red carpet as the pair progresses in life. But Pierce Brosnan, who appreciates the “highlight” of Keely’s life, is there for him no matter how big or small.

Following the release of a picture of Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith before and after in which it looked as though she had gained weight, social media users recently flocked to Twitter to express their opinions.

In the article, the critic advised his followers not to get married, citing the possibility that women’s physical characteristics could change over time after marriage.

Thankfully, a large number of the actor’s admirers stood up for him and Smith, asserting that love transcends outward appearances. One follower replied, “Yes, because the true meaning of eternal love is staying a size 2 forever.”

In response to the critic’s statement, another Twitter user said that the images demonstrate the longevity of a well-maintained marriage. Smith was praised by many others who also thought she looked stunning both then and now.

A admirer wrote on Twitter, “She looks great, she gave him kids, she’s kind to him and faithful, and he’s happy with her.” “In my opinion, his spouse appears stunning in both pictures,” another person commented.

Smith and Brosnan have been together for a lengthy 22 years, and despite their ups and downs, they are still going strong. Several times in public, Brosnan has shown his affection for his wife and praised her.

“Keeley works as a reporter and journalist. She is a self-employed artist. Furthermore, she has created a family for our sons as a woman,” he remarked. Fans can see that Pierce Brosnan is single by following him on social media, where he occasionally posts peeks of their relationship.

He had previously shared a photo of himself and his wife, who looked magnificent in a shimmering gold ensemble. Her spouse sat next to her, gazing lovingly into her eyes.

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