Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole to Sandi Bogle and Naomi Campbell… 22 celebs you had no idea were related
It might seem like the stuff of make believe, but we promise there are links between all these stars
THERE are same famous people everyone knows are related. We’re thinking the Jackson family or the Kardashian clan.
But there are more than a few people you probably don’t realise have a connection - here are some of the most surprising...
Mariah Carey and Ashley Cole
Yes, we’re talking about multi-award winning US recording artist Mariah and British footballer Ashley.
Now stick with us, because obviously this sounds ridiculous, BUT it’s come from Mariah’s very own mouth.
In 2007, she revealed the link investigating her family history: “It’s fascinating. My grandmother was a Cole before she married and it turns out she comes from the same area of Alabama as Ashley’s ancestors in the Deep South.”
Holly Valance and Benny Hill
The former Neighbours babe actually has links to comedian Benny, and they aren’t even that tenuous.
The pair are first cousins twice removed, because 33-year-old Holly’s grandad was late star Benny’s cousin.
Holly : “My great-grandmother was very close to him.
“She’d always tell me stories about him, but it took me a while to realise she was talking about one of the most famous entertainers in the world.”
Laila 'Big Mo' Morse and Gary Oldman
This is an oldie but a goodie.
Laila Morse, otherwise known as her EastEnders alter ego Big Mo, is Gary Oldman’s older sister.
In fact, she got her big break thanks to Gary when he cast her in his 1997 movie Nil by Mouth.
Kim and Cam-ye
While they might seem poles apart, the UK Prime Minister is actually related to everyone’s favourite reality TV queen.
David made the revelation, explaining he is the 13th cousin of Kim and her family.
Genealogy website geni.com explains the pair have a distant relative, called Sir William Spencer, in common.
Snoop Dogg and Brandy
The Drop It Like It’s Hot rapper and former Moesha star are first cousins.
He apparently chatted about the connection during an interview with MTV, but Brandy was more circumspect when she was asked about it, : “My brother [Ray-J] and Snoop really believe they're related, so I guess I'll just go along with it.”
Sofia Coppola and Nicolas Cage
The Coppolas are one a true Hollywood dynasty.
Sofia is the daughter of legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, but it's less well known that Nicolas is part of it too.
The Face/Off actor's real name is Nicolas Kim Coppola, and he's the nephew of Francis thanks to his dad.
So that makes him one of Sofia's cousins.
Jack Whitehall and Nigel Havers
OK, on first glance you might find it hard to believe that young comedian Jack and housewives' favourite Nigel are related, but stick with us.
While not technically a blood link, these two definitely call each other family.
Nigel is Jack's godfather, as is late actor Richard Griffiths.
Jack's previously given a little insight into the connection when he of when he'd been born: "My dad got drunk.
"Nigel Havers turned up in a dinner jacket because he had been out, and then the gynaecologist also turned up in a dinner jacket, because he was on the way to a gynaecological dinner convention.
"And so there were all these men standing around my mum wearing dinner jackets as if they were in Downton Abbey."
Louis Theroux and Justin Theroux
Well, the clue is in the name to be honest isn't it?
UK documentary maker Louis is US actor (and husband of Jennifer Anison) Justin's cousin.
Their dads are brothers, with Justin previously admitting he felt a bit daunted by Louis and his brother Marcel when they were little.
He : "Louis and Marcel would sit around reading Chaucer at a young age and Louis tells this story of looking up at one point to see me eating a styrofoam cup.
"[He asked me why I was doing it and I said,] 'Why wouldn’t I?'
“I think I did then throw it up. And in a weird way that sums up our different career trajectories.”
Justin Bieber and Ryan Gosling
They may have 13 years between them, but this Canadian pair are beloved by women all over the world.
According to ancestory.com their could be something in their genes, as pop star Justin, 22, and 35-year-old actor Ryan are actually cousins.
You do have to go way back to get the connection - they're 11th cousins once removed - but who cares?
Bonus fact: Justin's 12th cousin is none other than Avril Lavigne.
Steven Spielberg and Gwyneth Paltrow
Everyone knows film director Steven is Drew Barrymore's godfather, but did you know he has a link to Gwyneth Paltrow too?
He's her godfather, and he's even been spotted on holiday with the star.
It was also Steven who got Gwynnie into movies, as he explained in 2012.
He, his wife Kate Capshaw and Gwyneth's dad Bruce Paltrow had taken her to see The Silence of the Lambs in the cinema.
On their way home Steven noticed how scared she looked, which gave him the idea to cast her in 1991's Hook.
He explained to : "I turned around and said, 'Do you want to make a movie?' She got a SAG [Screen Actors Guild] card because of it."
Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Hugh Grant
You'll know Thomas as the little boy in Love Actually, plus he's been in Doctor Who.
But did you have any idea he's related to Four Weddings and a Funeral star Hugh? The pair are second cousins - and starred together in Love Actually!
Thomas : "Hugh Grant is a relative, but I don't see him on a regular basis.
"I think the last time was at the Love, Actually premiere.
"He is some type of cousin a couple of times removed."
Sandi Bogle and Naomi Campbell
During her appearance on the Summer series of Celebrity Big Brother 2017, Gogglebox star revealed that she has a connection to the stars beyond her sofa- namely her supermodel cousin, Naomi.
Naomi also copied Sandi when she featured in a charity special of Gogglebox, alongside best pals Kate Moss and Noel Gallagher.
Sandi said: “You wouldn’t expect to see Naomi on a sofa having a drink and cracking jokes while watching those shows.
“But she does that every day or every other day, just like normal people.”
