Let’s be real—Hollywood is essentially one giant, sparkly family tree, and occasionally its branches will reach all the way to Buckingham Palace. Think your family has drama? Well, Hollywood’s family connections have you beat. From unexpected royal bloodlines to shocking sibling connections, these are the ways in which fame, and sometimes a crown, really does run in the family. Let’s get started, pop culture style.
10. Bob Odenkirk’s Royal Revelation
It turns out that Better Call Saul’s Bob Odenkirk is a little more related to British royalty than you might have thought. On PBS’s Finding Your Roots, he learned that he is the 11th cousin of King Charles III. His response? Complete shock. “That’s wild,” he said with a grin, “But I’m an American—I’m not a monarchist.” It’s not every day that you learn you’re both Hollywood royalty and actual royalty.
9. Hilary Duff – Disney Darling Turned Royal Descendant
Apparently, Lizzie McGuire wasn’t only a pop icon, she was essentially a princess. Hilary Duff is a direct descendant of King Edward III, which makes her an 18th-generation connection to British royalty. She even has distant connections to Queen Elizabeth II. Who knew that “So Yesterday” had such royal beginnings?
8. Angelina Jolie – Hollywood Royalty Meets Real Royalty
Angelina Jolie’s family tree may make Game of Thrones jealous. She’s related to Philip II of France on her mother’s side and is also a 26th cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. Her royal heritage goes all the way back to the 12th century, talking about having queens in her blood.
7. Madonna and Queen Camilla – Cousins in Crowns
The Queen of Pop and the Queen Consort of England? Believe it or not, they’re 10th cousins. Both Madonna and Queen Camilla trace their ancestry to a 17th-century French carpenter named Zacharie Cloutier. It’s a reminder that family trees can take some wild turns. Imagine Madonna and Camilla swapping royal stories over tea; now that’s a crossover event.
6. Benedict Cumberbatch – The Actor and the Ancestor
Benedict Cumberbatch didn’t only act as a king, he’s related to one. The Sherlock actor is second cousin 16 times removed from King Richard III, the very king he played on television in that famous role. Cumberbatch even read a poem at the reburial ceremony of Richard III in 2015. His family connection also makes him related to Queen Elizabeth II and Lady Jane Grey. It’s giving “born for the role” vibes.
5. Beyoncé – The Queen’s Royal Connection
Queen Bey’s nickname might be more accurate than anyone realized. Beyoncé’s Creole heritage in Louisiana traces back to French nobility, including ties to King Louis XIV. She’s also a distant relative of Queen Elizabeth II. So when she says “Bow down,” she’s not exaggerating; royalty is literally in her bloodline.
4. Hugh Grant – A Real-Life Royal Romantic
Hugh Grant isn’t only the monarch of British rom-coms, he’s a royal himself. The dashing actor is a ninth cousin once removed of Queen Elizabeth II and traces his ancestry back to King Henry VII and King James IV of Scotland. And, just for kicks, he’s related to American icons George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. If there were a world family reunion, Grant’s table would be the one to gatecrash.
3. Famous Siblings: Relationships That Constructed Careers
Family is big in Hollywood, and a few sibling relationships are absolute gold. Brother and sister are Jonah Hill and Beanie Feldstein. Hill has even gotten a tattoo in honor of Beanie, referring to her as his “personal hero.” Then there’s Ray J and Brandy, sharing not only musical ability but also being first cousins with Snoop Dogg. As Snoop would say, “Brandy’s my first cousin.”. We just never made a fuss about it.” In Hollywood, one can clearly see talent runs deep in the family gene pool.
2. Rivalry and Favoritism: Family Fuel for Greatness
There is a little healthy rivalry behind many success stories. Studies reveal that younger siblings usually diversify into sports or creative careers, while the elder ones excel academically. Author Lauren Groff credits her brother’s teasing with making her a bookworm, and Olympic triathlete Sarah True confesses that her siblings’ intelligence challenged her to carve out her own niche in sports. Research even claims 65% of households witness parental favoritism, influencing everything from self-esteem to vocational pursuits. It seems sibling rivalry may be the ultimate goad.
1. The Coppola Dynasty – Hollywood’s True Royal Family
If Hollywood’s family crest exists, it belongs to the Coppolas. Oscar-winning director Sofia Coppola and Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage are cousins. Sofia’s father is film legend Francis Ford Coppola, while Cage, born Nicolas Kim Coppola, renamed himself to blaze his own trail. With a cinematic pedigree that includes The Godfather, Lost in Translation, and Leaving Las Vegas, the Coppolas show that movie royalty lives and thrives.
Bonus Round: Family Ties You Never Knew
Just when you think Hollywood family connections can’t get crazier, surprise!
- Dakota and Elle Fanning share a distant cousin with Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales.
- Amy Schumer is genetically linked to Senator Chuck Schumer.
- Liev and Pablo Schreiber are brothers, one’s a Shakespearean force, the other’s killing it in Halo.
- And Elle King? She’s the comedian Rob Schneider’s daughter, but she shed the last name to forge her own path.
You see a movie with your favorite star next time, or browse celebrity gossip, keep this in mind: Hollywood’s all about more than being famous. There’s a family tree of surprises, competition, and, yes, the odd royal link behind every A-lister. Because stardom could quite literally be in their genes in this town.