To get in touch with distant famous relative?

[Cookingrice]

I have a very famous distant relative. Through lockdown she’s cropped up a lot in quizzes. The family spread across the country a generation back, no bad feelings. I thought how nice it might be just to make contact, just to say hi, but would that be weird? I don’t want anything from her at all (except maybe a signed photo for the children 🤣). I’ve found their official web page with contact email, obviously not them but might be starting point.

Is it weird? If not what should I say?

For context, she’s my grandma’s great niece.

Thank you - welcome your thoughts!

CZJ

I'm really close to my 2nd cousin! It's not weird in the slightest!

I've met my second cousins at family parties over the years and even though we don't see each other often it's nice to see them. I think whether the person wants to see OP depends how family oriented she is, but she might like it.

OP,

I think that is definitely close family and for some people they would indeed know their second cousins.

I think you should do it in the context of contacting the wider family.

Why on earth not.

Just because she's famous doesn't mean she wouldn't want to get to know her family, it could be a lonely world she lives in 🤷‍♀️

I know some of my second cousins better than I know my cousins.

They're quite a close relative really, why on earth did you describe this woman as your grandmother's great niece? That made her seem like a very distant relative!

You could always apply to Davina's show 'long lost relatives'

Do it - and do it respectfully and with genuine intentions. What have you got to lose?

I started a family tree on Ancestry during lockdown and have made contact with two second cousins who I found on there and sent messages to. We've been able to pass on family stories and photos. As long as you don't come across as star-struck I think it's fine. If you don't hear from her then you've lost nothing.

@Cas112

No don’t get in touch, I imagine a lot of famous people get pestered off ‘distant cousins’ coming out of the woodwork. You probably wouldn’t even get a response

you know this for a fact ? No you don't ..

OP all you can do is try 🌸

I definitely think you should.

If she wasn't famous I'm sure you wouldn't think twice.

Who wouldn't want to hear from a second cousin and not only that you can introduce her to other members of your/her family.

Good luck

this relative is your second cousin, tbh it’s close enough relative in my book. My DD haven’t met her second cousins except one but I wouldn’t think it’s weird if they would get in touch in a future. It’s just we all live in different countries and there is a big gap between her and them, as her Dad and I are both the youngest and have had her later than our cousins have had their DC.
My nephew lives near one of his second cousins and they are close enough.

Its jk rowling isn't it?

I’m quite close to my grandmas great nieces and nephews. Their grandma and my grandma were sisters and we all spent time together growing up.

I’d contact her, OP. Why not?!

Most people know their cousins well enough to know their children, surely. So most of our second cousins would know our parents, if not us?

Unless some deep dark secret divided the family, I wouldn't find it strange for you to go for it. I know at least fifteen of my second cousins - tends to be the ones of an age to feel like the same generation. Do it!

But why are you contacting her? I mean what would you actually say?

Cookingrice: Hi I'm your distant cousin.
Megafamous Cousin: Hello

The end.

I agree if you have a family history question or something to share that she might be interested in it would make it more natural (.e.g Here's a picture I've found of our shared great grandparent. I've been researching her. Would you like to know more?)

Also, simplify the “grandmothers great niece” bit (it makes people have to do the maths) and just say

Our grandmas were sisters, or
Our dads/mums were cousins

I would.
I'm sure you could frame it nicely. Absolutely no harm in trying!

Just go for it op. What have you got to lose? She may know of other distant relatives who you can get in contact with too.

@maffhew

Is your grandmas great niece even classed as a relation?

Yes.

@Deadringer

Its jk rowling isn't it?

If she was my tenth cousin I'd be on her doorstep

I had a household name cousin - one of my great uncle's children. I never knew him as he died in WW2

He's dead now but I never contacted him although I did meet his wife at my great aunt's funeral. He was away filming and unable to be present.

I think it would definitely be weird.

We have a famous distant relative. We found out when he was on one of the find your family type programmes and he was shown a photo of relatives that we also have in a frame and then later when he was shown some documents with names on we know to be related to us.

My cousin emailed to say hi, given that he seemed to have an interest in family, but heard nothing back!

I'm trying to work out how you're related if she is your grandma's great neice and my brain just won't let me! What's a great neice? Is it your siblings grandchild?

So she's your grand mother's sister/brothers grandchild?