If you have ever looked at Sydney Sweeney and thought she bore more than a passing resemblance to Marilyn Monroe, it turns out there may be a distant family connection behind the comparison.
Research by MyHeritage, the Israeli-founded global genealogy platform, found that the two actresses share a common ancestor, although the relationship is a very distant one.
Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe
(Photo: Baron/Hulton Archive/Getty Images, Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)
According to the research, Sweeney’s father, Steven Sweeney, and Monroe’s father, Charles Stanley Gifford, were both descended from Ezra Perry, a resident of Sandwich, Massachusetts who lived in the 17th century.
Roy Mandel, MyHeritage’s director of research, told Entertainment Weekly that the longstanding comparisons between the two actresses helped inspire the investigation.
“People have always noticed similarities between Sydney Sweeney and Marilyn Monroe, but seeing their paths intersect on a deeper level inspired us to look for a real connection in our archives,” he said.
“Uncovering their shared branch was remarkable. It is a powerful reminder that humanity is one enormous family tree and, when we dig deep enough, we discover just how extraordinarily connected we all are.”
The parallels between Sweeney, 29, and Monroe have long gone beyond facial resemblance.
Like Monroe, Sweeney is a natural brunette who became known for her blonde look, and both actresses have seen their physical appearance become a major part of their public image, at times overshadowing discussion of their acting.
Sweeney also has openly leaned into her status as a sex symbol and has drawn fashion inspiration from Monroe, paying tribute to her at major events and on red carpets.
More recently, another possible similarity has emerged around Judaism.
Monroe converted to Judaism before marrying Jewish playwright Arthur Miller in 1956. Sweeney, meanwhile, has been the subject of reports claiming she is considering converting to Judaism for her partner, music executive Scooter Braun. Those reports remain unconfirmed.
Monroe went on to become one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons, but her life ended in 1962 at the age of 36. Authorities ruled her death a suicide, although conspiracy theories surrounding the circumstances have persisted for decades.
Sweeney and Monroe are hardly the only famous figures whose distant family ties have surfaced through genealogy research.
The PBS series "Finding Your Roots" previously revealed that U.S. politician Bernie Sanders and comedian Larry David, who famously portrayed Sanders on Saturday Night Live, are related. David later joked that they were “third cousins or something.”
In another case, Ancestry.com found that Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Meryl Streep are sixth cousins through relatives Thomas Smith and Elizabeth Kinsey.
Streep greeted the discovery with humor, telling Entertainment Weekly: “Well, that explains everything, as our ancestors used to say. I’m delighted and my heart is glad!”