With St.Patrick’s Day being celebrated on March 17th, it’s time we take a look at some of the most famous celebrities who are Irish. These celebrities are full blown Irish or have come from Irish descent.
1) Courtney Cox
Courtney Cox, most known for her roles in “Friends” and the “Scream” franchise, is actually Irish! Courtney’s paternal great-great-grandparents were Irish. Funny enough, Cox and her then boyfriend, Johnny McDaid, spent Christmas in Ireland. She is of English, French, Welsh, Irish, and German descent.
2) Anna Kendrick
Actress and singer Anna Kendrick, best known as Becca in “Pitch Perfect” is of English, Irish, and Scottish descent. Her father’s family’s original surname, McGinn Connolly, is very Irish. In an interview, she admitted that Kendrick is actually a made-up name her family assumed when they came to the states. Kendrick grew up in a very Irish neighborhood, so she has been exposed to many Irish customs!
3) Nicole Kidman
Despite being known for her Australian accent, Kidman actually is of English, Irish, and Scottish ancestry. According to Kidman, her father’s ancestors came to Australia from Ireland some time in the 1830s. Kidman is very proud to embrace her Irish roots and looks.
4) Jack Nicholson
Jack Nicholson is one of the most well-known actors of all time. Although his mother is of Irish, English, and Dutch ancestry, Nicholson identifies as fully Irish. He claims that he comes from “The Lynches of Sligo.” Nicholson has compared himself to Eugene O’Neill, who is also known for his Irish heritage and characters.
5) Robert De Niro
Believe it or not, Robert De Niro, known for playing very Italian characters, is actually Irish. Three out of his four grandparents all come from Irish ancestry. His father was half-Irish and his mother was fully Irish. He even traveled to Ireland, exploring Dublin to Galway, in his teenage years. His Irish roots are not as known as his Italian ones, but that does not mean that they are not there.
6) Barack Obama
The 44th United States President, Barack Obama, is actually of Irish descent. In 2007, Obama found out that his great-great-grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, traveled from Ireland to Liverpool, and then to America in the 1850s. The president embraced his Irish roots by traveling to his great-great-grandfather’s home town of Moneygall. He is part of the 22 out of 45 U.S presidents who were or are Irish.
7) Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves is one of the most recognized actors of our time, known for his role in “The Matrix.” Not much of his history and heritage is known, but part of his ethnicity is known. Reeves has a very diverse ethnicity with being Native Hawaiian, Chinese, English, Portuguese, and even Irish! It is believed that his Irish ancestry comes from his father’s side although that has not been confirmed.
8) Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is one of our favorite gingers! Although gingers aren’t always Irish, Sheeran is a part of the majority that is. Sheeran’s grandparents on his fathers side came from Ireland. In one of his most popular songs, “Gallway Girl”, Sheeran chose an Irish girl to play the lead in the music video. Sheeran has stated that he is proud of his Irish heritage. His Irish grandmother even inspired Sheeran to write “Nancy Mulligan”.
9) Gwen Stefani
Gwen Stefani has a very Italian last name, from her father, but she is actually Irish and Scottish on her mother’s side. Stefani grew up with traditional Catholic and Irish influences. She grew up listening to folk music, which influenced her future music career. Stefani has also identified as Japanese which has sparked major debate. It is unknown what some of her other ethnicities are but it is known for a fact that Gwen Stefani is Irish.
10) John Travolta
In an interview in 2010, Travolta announced that he was half-Irish and half-Italian. His mother was an Irish American. He hasn’t spoken much about being Irish but on a press tour, Travolta stated that his Irish side comes from his co-star, Jonathan Rhys Meyers. Travolta also grew up in an Irish American household and community. He was raised Irish Catholic. His Irish roots trace back to his mother’s grandfather who was born in Kenmare.
