Surprising A-List Connections
They're all famous but some of these stars also have some surprising A-list relations
BBCYou'd think that Paloma Faith and Ricky Wilson might have met when she joined The Voice as a Coach, but that's not the case. The pair actually met years ago when Paloma was a student and worked as a pole dancer in a Leeds bar. Ricky was the supervisor on duty.
Paloma said: "He was at Leeds Met University in the arts school. When I worked with him on The Voice this year, it was hilarious – we were like, ‘We’ve come a long way!’”
Yes, you have!
Getty ImagesKeira Knightley & Danny Dyer
In an amazing coincidence, it turns out that a 17-year-old Keira Knightley used to babysit for Eastenders star Danny Dyer. Well, his daughter Dani, more specifically. "Back then Keira was starting out just the same as I am now. It was only when I got older I realised how much of a big deal it was," Dani said. "She was really nice and fun, and let me stay up past my bedtime, but we didn't tell my parents. Sometimes she let me have sweets too. I would love to see her again and see if she remembered me".
Rex FeaturesJustin Bieber, Avril Lavigne & Ryan Gosling
Justin Bieber, Avril Lavigne and Ryan Gosling aren't just talented Canadians - they're also distantly related. Bieber and Gosling are 11th cousins once removed, while Bieber and Lavigne are 12th cousins through common relatives Mathurin Roy and Marguerite Biré.
Rex FeaturesMariah Carey & Ashley Cole
Mariah Carey discovered she was a distant cousin of Ashley Cole while researching into 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 – the Deep South.”
Rex FeaturesRobbie Williams & Simon Cowell
It certainly is a small showbiz world. In a weird twist of fate, it turns out that the brother-in-law of Robbie Williams’ cousin is none other than Mr Simon Cowell.
Rex FeaturesCourteney Cox & Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage was married to Patricia Arquette for six years until 2001, making him Courteney Cox’s brother-in-law by marriage.
Rex FeaturesGwyneth Paltrow & Steven Spielberg
It’s common knowledge that Steven Spielberg is the godfather of Drew Barrymore but he also counts another famous blonde, Gwyneth Paltrow, as his goddaughter. Spielberg gave Gwynnie one of her first breaks by casting her as the young Wendy in his 1991 film Hook.
Rex FeaturesRalph Fiennes & Prince Charles
Ralph Fiennes has played a Lord, a Duke and a Count but his ability to portray noble characters might not just be down to his acting ability. The star and his younger brother Joseph are the 8th cousins of HRH Prince Charles.
Rex FeaturesBillie Piper & Emilia Fox
These British beauties both have had stellar acting careers but they also have something else in common. Emilia Fox is the first cousin of Billie Piper’s actor husband, Lawrence Fox.
Rex FeaturesSofia Coppola & Nicolas Cage
Nicolas Cage certainly is a very well-connected Hollywood man. He’s the cousin of actress and director Sofia Coppola, making her father, the legendary director Francis Ford Coppola, his uncle.
Rex FeaturesLily Allen & Harry Enfield
It’s no secret that Lily Allen’s father is Keith Allen but, what is less well known, is that her former stepfather is the comedian Harry Enfield. Harry dated Lily’s mum Alison for three years, even moving into the family home to help bring up Lily and her brother Alfie.
Rex FeaturesPierce Brosnan & Emilia Fox
Emilia Fox’s ex-husband is Jared Harris, who is also the nephew of Pierce Brosnan’s late wife Cassandra Harris.
Rex FeaturesLaila Morse & Gary Oldman
Laila Morse spends her day as the mouthy Mo in Eastenders, while her brother, Gary Oldman, appears with the likes of Christian Bale and Jim Carrey in Hollywood blockbusters.
Rex Features/GettyKim Cattrall & Ringo Starr
Kim Cattrall plays a native New Yorker in Sex And The City, but the actress has always been proud she was born in Liverpool. She even revealed recently that her grandmother used to babysit for one of the city’s most famous sons, The Beatles drummer Ringo Starr.
Rex FeaturesElizabeth Hurley & Romeo Beckham
Victoria and David Beckham wanted to cement their friendship with Elizabeth Hurley when their second son, Romeo was born in 2002 - so they asked her to be his godmother.
Rex Features/PA PhotosThomas Sangster & Hugh Grant
After a breakout role in Love Actually and playing Paul McCartney in Nowhere Boy, no one is denying that Thomas Sangster has a budding acting career ahead of him. Perhaps he'll even follow his cousin Hugh Grant into romantic comedies?
Rex FeaturesTelly Savalas & Jennifer Aniston
Who cares about Friends when you have Jennifer Aniston’s family connections? The actress has legendary James Bond supervillain, Telly Savalas, as a godfather.
Rex FeaturesShirley MacLaine & Warren Beatty
Downton Abbey star Shirley MacLaine is one of the few women in Hollywood that Warren Beatty hasn’t bedded – that’s because the actress is actually his older sister.
