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Original poster

Which actor/actress were you surprised to discover is hugely connected?

458 replies

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:00

Kate Hudson - my god i had no idea her mum is Goldie Hawn

Just finished season 2 of Running Point (really good)

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 16:01

BethBynnag86 · 04/05/2026 16:00

Richard Ayoade is married to Laurence Fox's sister,Lydia.

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I knew that

Not a fan of his though, he seems incredibly elitist

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 16:01

Darrara · 04/05/2026 15:45

It makes it easier if you’re connected, sure, but it’s not the norm for most novelists I know. The best most people are going to do is get an agent recommendation from their creative writing teacher, and even that’s only a matter of avoiding the slushpile — they won’t necessarily sign you.

The ‘celebrity who also writes novels on the side’ like Graham Norton, Tom Hanks, Richard Osman, David Williams etc is a different matter. They already have an agent and a readymade, interested audience, which makes them appealing to publishers..

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Do they use ghostwriters, do you think? 👀

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BethBynnag86 · 04/05/2026 16:00

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:09

I knew about Emilia fox - i think she's good tbh, as is the younger brother who was in Cheaters

The less said about Lawrence the better

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Richard Ayoade is married to Laurence Fox's sister,Lydia.

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 16:00

Darrara · 04/05/2026 15:57

Cillian Murphy. His dad was a school inspector and his mother is a retired teacher. Siobhan McSweeney grew up on a small farm. Brendan Gleeson worked as a teacher for years when he was starting out as an actor. He was in his mid-30s before he got his first film role. Paul Mescal’s dad was a garda who did a bit of acting.

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Hmm

I wonder whether we're getting the full truth there though 🤔

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Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/05/2026 16:00

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/05/2026 15:55

That's not nepotism, though. That's groups of people or pairs of people who can all act and/or write and are all on the same wavelength, so work well together.

See also: League of Gentlemen, Fry & Laurie, Not the Nine O'Clock News, The Young Ones, the group behind Horrible Histories and Ghosts ...

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Oh, and a huge favourite of mine - Beyond the Fringe. What a group. Jonathan Miller, Alan Bennett, Peter Cook, Dudley Moore. Not a showbiz connection between them as far as I know.

DrWhosJazzyScarf · 04/05/2026 15:58

Bellasmellsofwee · 04/05/2026 15:28

One Example - Stath Lets Flats. most of the group who act/created that were all at uni together in the uni drama society.

See also the fast show.

Going all the way back to Monty python.

Same with Emma Thompson and that gang in the early 80s, French and Saunders etc.

It’s very much closed little groups of people.

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Jamie Demetriou is Steve Coogan’s son in law too!

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:57

JustSawJohnny · 04/05/2026 15:52

My fave unexpected celeb relationship!

As for romantic - gotta be Pat Butcher & Hyacinth Bouquet!

Although they never publicly confirmed it, as far as I'm aware.

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Oh wow, now that is interesting!

I did know that pam st Clement is gay - my icon

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Darrara · 04/05/2026 15:57

Spanglemum02 · 04/05/2026 15:41

A lot of the Irish actors aren't from dynasties, Paul Mescal, Andrew Scott etc

Cillian Murphy. His dad was a school inspector and his mother is a retired teacher. Siobhan McSweeney grew up on a small farm. Brendan Gleeson worked as a teacher for years when he was starting out as an actor. He was in his mid-30s before he got his first film role. Paul Mescal’s dad was a garda who did a bit of acting.

Maaate · 04/05/2026 15:57

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:55

They look far too similar, and have the same surname and unusual first name - theres no way its a coincidence!

And the girl is a good actress! Shes really good as lily, Stacey's daughter

Like just admit it, you won't die 😄

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They're not related

GingerBeverage · 04/05/2026 15:55

Sartre · 04/05/2026 15:52

Yeah his dad is very minor though, he’s an annoying Tory comedian. I only know him because he used to go on The Wright Stuff years ago and I don’t think I ever agreed with him once.

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😂 4 kids through private school, at least one parent was doing well enough…

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 04/05/2026 15:55

Bellasmellsofwee · 04/05/2026 15:28

One Example - Stath Lets Flats. most of the group who act/created that were all at uni together in the uni drama society.

See also the fast show.

Going all the way back to Monty python.

Same with Emma Thompson and that gang in the early 80s, French and Saunders etc.

It’s very much closed little groups of people.

Show quote history

That's not nepotism, though. That's groups of people or pairs of people who can all act and/or write and are all on the same wavelength, so work well together.

See also: League of Gentlemen, Fry & Laurie, Not the Nine O'Clock News, The Young Ones, the group behind Horrible Histories and Ghosts ...

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:55

blondebombsite13 · 04/05/2026 15:52

Is she really?

I haven’t watched Eastenders in years so im
mot familiar with her (although famialr with Stacey), looked up her Wikipedia and there’s no mention of her being Lacey turners sister.

that does seem odd / sneaky.

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They look far too similar, and have the same surname and unusual first name - theres no way its a coincidence!

And the girl is a good actress! Shes really good as lily, Stacey's daughter

Like just admit it, you won't die 😄

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mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:54

maras2 · 04/05/2026 15:49

Mariska Hargitay, Detective Benson in Law and Order SVU, is the daughter of the English 'Blonde Bombshell' Jayne Mansfield.
Her dad was a baseball player.

Now this i knew because her mum died in that awful car accident - her car went under a lorry

By law, lorries now have to have a mansfield bar at the back of them

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Pollyanna87 · 04/05/2026 15:53

maras2 · 04/05/2026 15:49

Mariska Hargitay, Detective Benson in Law and Order SVU, is the daughter of the English 'Blonde Bombshell' Jayne Mansfield.
Her dad was a baseball player.

Jayne Mansfield was American. Diana Dors was the English Blonde Bombshell.

blondebombsite13 · 04/05/2026 15:52

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:20

A hill that I will die on is that Lillia Turner (lily in eastenders) is Stacey's real life sister - it doesnt matter but just irks me that theyre not open about it 😄

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Is she really?

I haven’t watched Eastenders in years so im
mot familiar with her (although famialr with Stacey), looked up her Wikipedia and there’s no mention of her being Lacey turners sister.

that does seem odd / sneaky.

JustSawJohnny · 04/05/2026 15:52

treeposer2 · 04/05/2026 15:20

Big Mo and Sirius Black are siblings. Wild.

My fave unexpected celeb relationship!

As for romantic - gotta be Pat Butcher & Hyacinth Bouquet!

Although they never publicly confirmed it, as far as I'm aware.

Sartre · 04/05/2026 15:52

GingerBeverage · 04/05/2026 15:42

Tom Holland’s dad is in the biz.

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Yeah his dad is very minor though, he’s an annoying Tory comedian. I only know him because he used to go on The Wright Stuff years ago and I don’t think I ever agreed with him once.

supersop60 · 04/05/2026 15:52

mumofoneAloneandwell · 04/05/2026 15:43

Oh i did, I must've typed too quickly

Love my iconic Emma

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Check out her parents too

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 04/05/2026 15:52

Charlie Sheen/ Emilio Estevez/ Martin Sheen

IcedPurple · 04/05/2026 15:51

Newsenmum · 04/05/2026 15:50

Who is dan radcliffe connected to?

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His mother is a very successful casting director.

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/05/2026 15:50

spannasaurus · 04/05/2026 15:49

Their mother is also an actress Phyllidia Law and their dad narrated The Magic Roundabout

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Sophie Thompson is my favourite of the sisters - she's fabulously funny, especially in 'Detectorists'.

Newsenmum · 04/05/2026 15:50

OldGothsFadeToGrey · 04/05/2026 15:29

Tony Goldwyn - about as connected as you can get!

Nicolas Cage - although I didn’t know until today that Jason Schwartzman is also a member of the Coppola family.

Chris Pine.

Domhnall Gleeson.

Daniel Radcliffe.

Edited

Who is dan radcliffe connected to?

Sartre · 04/05/2026 15:50

treeposer2 · 04/05/2026 15:20

Big Mo and Sirius Black are siblings. Wild.

I was going to say this one to be honest. The most random pairing ever, I couldn’t get over it for weeks.

VickyEadieofThigh · 04/05/2026 15:50

TomatoSandwiches · 04/05/2026 15:48

I didn't know she did that but I'm not surprised, she really was one to aknowledge her privlege and was a good womans woman.

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It was hilarious - I wish I could find it online.

maras2 · 04/05/2026 15:49

Mariska Hargitay, Detective Benson in Law and Order SVU, is the daughter of the English 'Blonde Bombshell' Jayne Mansfield.
Her dad was a baseball player.